Describe SoCal fun/technical terrain with a picture

Varaxis

Varaxis

Well-Known Member
Let's play a game, and also help bring attention to what makes a good trail worth riding over and over. Post a picture of a fun/technical section of trail that makes you happy riding it over and over.

A few rules to keep in mind: no fighting, no whining/complaining/hating, and no derailing the thread to talk about poop or whatever. Short video clips are fine and discussion leading to riding such trails is encouraged. SoCal only, Kern and SLO included, but exceptions may be made if you're extending an invitation and/or offering hospitality to see your fun in person.
 
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Chutes Ridgeline is always fun and since I pedal to Oaks from home I ride it over and over.. then again.

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Log drop at the end of a trail in LCWP...
Log Drop 2-19-15.jpg

On the above trail, the rider has just navigated a butt-puckering steep chute into a left hand turn. The trail relaxes for about 40 feet, then you make a right and - whoa - what's this? Better not roll it! 4' drop to complete the run. No ride arounds - surprisingly and thankfully. Too many of the tougher trails now have cheater lines, p-lines and ride arounds.

Stairs in Aliso...

Hiking Stair Steps.jpg

Pushing up is really the only way you get to do this trail. If you ride it first, then push back up, you get to see what you just came down and it gives you a great sense of accomplishment. If you push up first, you can scope out preferred lines, but things look gnarlier when pushing up then when riding them, so I get a little nervous.
 
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Car Wreck, Aliso - looking up at Knucklebuster, Cougar and Mikie
Car Wreck Wreck.jpg

This is the toughest part of Car Wreck. It's an off-camber, chunky mess with no clean lines. The rider typically hugs the left, because the holes in the middle and right are tire stoppers. At the bottom is a significant, but rollable drop right to the wrecked car. On this day, Captain Mikie had a nasty OTB just above this section. Once he collected himself and repaired his bike, he rode this like a champ. I would have walked it after such a crash - but I think he had his bell rung a little.
 
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Runs with Scissors said:
The stuff that is truly gnarly doesn't get photographed...too busy trying to stay rubber side down and among the living.
Click to expand...

You'd like to ride such over and over as if it were fun, as something you'd like to have on your usual loop? :eek: Was talking about PG with Loic Bruni yesterday, and that one sharp left after a steep rocky ledge... if someone calls that fun (in a do over and over way, not as an occasional thrill), I'd be posting about them in the celeb-sighting thread.

Trying to keep it simple here. Could just be part of Fully Loop that's interesting, maybe a drop from a parking lot. Just a matter of how someone looks at it. The definition of fun/technical is different for everyone. Not asking for the "most technical" thing you can barely ride, without being petrified from fear. For example, I watched a "BMX wallride" video today that further opened up my mind on of how I see terrain.

Someone could just post pictures of ruts, roots, braking bumps, switchbacks, and I'd just think that's how they roll. While someone else can post pics of groomed/sculpted bike parks features, and I'll think that's how they roll. It could just be a smooth twisty, up and down trail, and that's perfectly fine (ex. cyclotourist's avatar pic). Need something of substance to balance the onset of screenshots of Strava, bike selfies, food, wives, ocean views, etc...

There's various ways to mount cameras nowadays and you can take a frame from a video to post. Quality doesn't have to be high. Just trying to encourage folks to share some of the stoke of riding.

Figured this might lead to motivation to try new things, other trails, and/or setting up new small group rides to check out such fun features in person. I barely even know the geography of SoCal, let alone the trails, or even a fraction of the people who post here. Just wanting to get to know the mtb community better, maybe reaching out to some to check these places out.
 
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Santa Ana River Trail, right after it crosses a stream (Postal Loop?). Just prior to this a ton of exposure and rocks, dropping down to a stream crossing, have to quickly turn in a new direction at the crossing, and now going uphill so you have to lay on the power. Oh, and it's soft sand with boulders interspersed and off-camber. Most the time I make it. This time I stopped and took a picture!

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Surprised that wall isn't full of deep ruts. Or maybe I'm not seeing them, as I'd at least expect ruts from all the locked up wheels going the other way. Ruts add to the challenge. ;)
 
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