I Rode My Bike Today...

I tried riding today

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Obsidian said:
I was intrigued by the singletrack @mtnbikej mentioned in his ride report yesterday, so I downloaded the ride and decided to do it this morning. I got up about an hour later than planned and did not get on the bike until nearly 10. It was also nearly 80 degrees out there. Fortunately it cooled down and got breezy the higher I got.

Pretty much the same route as J did yesterday, except I went back up to the gate and also dropped the top singletrack before doing Booby Trap. The new to me singletrack was interesting ... Booby Trap on steroids. I passed two rattlesnakes, both of which were very unhappy. :eek: After the slippy slidey part of that trail, Booby Trap felt super easy. :Roflmao

Tons of hikers and bikers out, but it thinned out the further I rode. The weather turned out to be great. I paced myself on the climb and took some pics because I did not know exactly how far I was going to be riding past the ball, but it turned out to not be that far. Good fun.

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Anyone know where this trail comes out? Last time I dropped into an unknown singletrack on Blackstar it turned nightmarish. :laugh:

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Glad you enjoyed it.

Yeah, that is the top access to the Falls......don't tell anyone, let them all take the turn down in the canyon.
 
Another Harding Joplin Luge loop in the books yesterday. Really enjoying this ride, its got a good mix of everything. Weather was pretty much perfect for it, cool for the most part and barely a hint of breeze. A couple of trail runners on Harding and passed a couple of riders trying to take some arty shots near the top, otherwise the climb was a peaceful one. Hardings getting a bit loose for the SS sine they bladed the rockfalls away. Back tire was struggling for traction in more than the usual spots. Didn't push it on the way up but still turned my best time, gate to gate was just under the 1.5hr mark, happy with that! One lonely truck parked at 4 corners otherwise I had the place to myself. Moseyed over to the saddle and didn't see a soul.
Could hear some voices at the top of Joplin but they were behind me up on Modjeska somewhere. Joplin was the same as last week, dry, sketchy, lose and fun. 2 lots of hikers walking up but they obviously heard me pinballing of rocks and where well out of the way before I got to them. Had a bit of an achievement as well, finally cleaned the last techie bit :thumbsup:. @mtnbikej had shown me a better entry than I was taking last week so I tried that and it kind of unfolded the rest of the way through the rocks. Quick breather at Old Camp before the climb up to STT.
Nearly had a head-on with an e-bike wanker on the run down STT to the Luge. I was just coasting down and rounded a corner into said wanker charging up the hill. I had to dive of the side of the trail into the brush. He didn't even say a word :mad:. There was a bit of a group at the flag but they were all milling round looking very sheep like. A young couple looked like they were about to drop in so I asked if they minded if I went ahead and got out of the way. They said no problem so I got out of there. I think its fair to say my speed down there has come back. Lowered my pb on the hardtail again :sneaky:.
Roadie back past Cooks and up the hill to home.

25mi, 5200ft
 
I’ve been riding some bad azz bikes lately. This one was full on wannabe swinn wo working breaks and fender making a very loud clunk clunk. Rode from historico central to Reforma to some big park and back. Pretty much the center of cdmx or Mexico City. U thought Aliso was crowded?? 30 million!! Dodging taxis walkers and the occasional horse. I had no idea where I was going so I followed this old lady on an ebike. She was bad azz. W formal gma outfit glasses and curly permed grey hair speeding weavin. Awe it was fun following her!!! My bike started makin even more noises so I turned back. Playin chicken is fun. Had two near misses w suv and taxi. I’m not Mexican but it’d I was I be damn azz proud of the history and culture in the cdmx. I saw a nobleman children school excavated from 1500s. The stairs had three foot print still noticeable. Not sick of tacos. Everywhere.
But of course nothing beats the oaks after a rain.

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Missed the weekend warrior traffic by choice but got out yesterday for 2 rides.

Pushed off with some buddies from Ridge Park in the AM, everything was closed besides T&A. From Laguna Ridge you could see the fire damage, a little smoke & hand crews still working on it. One of the buddies is still recovering from a rib injury & was done riding after that one DH, so we hammered out Willow to RP. 10/1400



Went back for more on the Aliso side in the afternoon til the sun had set. Went off trail to take a leak & 4 deer about 15-20 feet away just watched me. 16/2500
 
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Mellow El Prieto loop this morning... I chatted with a few hikers here and there, and ended up riding with a newb for part of El P. He was taking it really easy and checking out all the features for the first time. :thumbsup:

It was running really rough after the last two storms, but it's settling in nicely... Still extra chunky, but new lines are forming. It's also wall to wall green with all the recent moisture. Very cool, except that some of the green is poison oak. :eek:

12.5/1550

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Big Ass Loop with @SnakeCharmer :D - Up Lower Sam Merrill, Across the Mount Lowe Trail, Up the Mount Lowe Fire Road, down the Mount Wilson Road (closed due to ice patches), down the Gabrielino, detour for tacos, extra credit pavement to hit 5000.

My brief summary above does not do the heart of the ride justice- The Gabrielino. From Red Box to JPL is a 13.5 mile segment that only has 600 feet of climbing. It's skinny. It's rocky. It's remote. It's back country rugged. It's pretty close to heaven... :inlove: Even with some sections having been re-written by Mother Nature.

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Faust29 said:
Big Ass Loop with @SnakeCharmer :D - Up Lower Sam Merrill, Across the Mount Lowe Trail, Up the Mount Lowe Fire Road, down the Mount Wilson Road (closed due to ice patches), down the Gabrielino, detour for tacos, extra credit pavement to hit 5000.

My brief summary above does not do the heart of the ride justice- The Gabrielino. From Red Box to JPL is a 13.5 mile segment that only has 600 feet of climbing. It's skinny. It's rocky. It's remote. It's pretty close to heaven... :inlove: Even with some sections having been re-written by Mother Nature.

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Switzer Falls. Looks insigificant in the image but you'd be very dead if you fell over the falls. Snowfall was way down low on the Gab. The image is from the Redbox to Switzer section.

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Solid ride today from the house. I was thinking about my usual Coal Canyon Loop but from home instead of driving to Blackstar. So I ventured out leaving Irvine for Peters Canyon. A quick and chilly loop around the park lead me to Oaks.

By now it was getting warm and the strip show began. Up the 3B’s and up whatever that next peak with the flag is called and out the backside. Made my way around to Weir and down to Santa Ana River Trail.

As soon as I reached the right turn for Coal I knew it was going to suck. Wind gusts started seriously picking up and remembering how poor the trail is right now about half way up to the top, I decided climbing it sounded miserable. Instead, I climbed Green River to Skyline. That wasn’t much better.

For the first time I can remember I had a tailwind going up Skyline. Woohoo. The trail was fairly empty and not as warm as usual. Made decent time up and down Blackstar.

Coming out the bottom flat of Blackstar I passed a hiker with two large dogs off their leashes. One dog didn’t seem the care but the other gave chase. I didn’t really it was on me until I heard the owner yell. I glanced back and the German Shepard was nearly biting my heel. I pinned it but the dog was still very close. Knowing I probably couldn’t outrun the dog and not wanting to stop, I unclipped and kicked at the dog. I didn’t hit it I just wanted to scare it away and fortunately it worked.

At this point I was way past the owner so I don’t know if the dog turned around and ran back or what. Not my problem. I almost waited at the gate to have a few words with the owner but why. Dipshits will be dipshits.

The usual slog back through the canyon to Jamboree and home. Aside from the dog it was a good loop with perfect weather. Had to take advantage. 54 miles 5800 feet.

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Stubborn Approach said:
Felt like suffering, but the DH was feeling too good out in Aliso. 5+ hours, cleaned all the stupid climbs like Big Cholla & Meadows, did double duty on a couple DH trails, loved every minute of it. 34.5/5100
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I have never seen ANYONE post those kinds of numbers in a single day in Aliso. You are a BEAST! And I am assuming you put the Firebird to the test on the DHs you selected.

On the other hand, I haven't ridden since Dec. 4th, so there's that. @Mikie can relate.
 
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herzalot said:
I have never seen ANYONE post those kinds of numbers in a single day in Aliso. You are a BEAST! And I am assuming you put the Firebird to the test on the DHs you selected.

On the other hand, I haven't ridden since Dec. 4th, so there's that. @Mikie can relate.
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Bike felt planted & using the brakes seemed almost unnecessary given the amount of grip that was available. Been a while since things have clicked like that & it just got better with every DH. Gotta get these weak shoulders used to this longer bike though if I want to do my Tide Pools to Mtn Peak 100/10,000 ride before the spring comes.
 
mtnbikej said:
Gotta route for this?
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Starting near the Great Park heading down Sand Canyon toward Quail Hill, but heading into Bommer Canyon & climbing up to Bommer Ridge in Newport Coast, down to TNA then to down to Laguna & the waves/sand/tide pools. From there I climbed up to Laguna Niguel after Aliso Creek last time but thinking Disneyland to Mentally Sensitive next time, then Aliso Creek Bike Trail up to Cooks Corner (I leave a vehicle there to refill water/carbs) before climbing Harding to Santiago Peak, down Joplin/Luge & back to the Great Park.

Not the most scenic or interesting ride/route, but has been challenging to do. My last attempt failed at 73/9000 because it got cold & windy as I was climbing Harding as the sun was setting so I bailed out at Joplin. Rode all of Joplin to Cooks in the dark & drove home from there.
 
Stubborn Approach said:
Starting near the Great Park heading down Sand Canyon toward Quail Hill, but heading into Bommer Canyon & climbing up to Bommer Ridge in Newport Coast, down to TNA then to down to Laguna & the waves/sand/tide pools. From there I climbed up to Laguna Niguel after Aliso Creek last time but thinking Disneyland to Mentally Sensitive next time, then Aliso Creek Bike Trail up to Cooks Corner (I leave a vehicle there to refill water/carbs) before climbing Harding to Santiago Peak, down Joplin/Luge & back to the Great Park.

Not the most scenic or interesting ride/route, but has been challenging to do. My last attempt failed at 73/9000 because it got cold & windy as I was climbing Harding as the sun was setting so I bailed out at Joplin. Rode all of Joplin to Cooks in the dark & drove home from there.
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Got it.....was trying to figure out how to you got 100/10000 just by riding from the coast to the peak.
 
Bommer Canyon open access day this morning. I started early @ 7:05 and it was pretty chilly, but it warmed up fast .... right around the point I climbed Quail which seems almost vertical. :gag: I managed to clean it though.

Down Cattle Crest which is always good fun, then over to Fox Run which I climbed/walked. I wanted to check the changes to the trail before I rode it down. I won't climb that one again though, very much no fun.

Down Fox Run and then Shady Canyon. Over to East Fork and down which was a nightmare. Sooo many hikers and I could not get any flow since they were everywhere. :eek: Oh well, next time.

Up Ridge Route and back over to Fox Run for attempt number two. This time there were some hikers and one guy climbing. Up Rabbit Run and I was just too tired to go down and back up so I decided to call it a day.

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Tonto mountain 50 race day. Got to the trail head about 30 before the start and it was cold and windy. Checked the temps per hour and made the decision to be slightly cold at the start and was happy later in the day. 9 of us at the start, small field but 2 others on single speeds. Course does a short loop thru Usery and up over Usery pass to maricopa trail into hawes. A good size loop thru hawes with the highlight being twisted sister and big sister trails. Leaving hawes is about 5 mile climb back over Usery pass back into the park with two 10 mile laps in Usery to get the 50. This stretch is a little boring and can get spinny hurting my knee toward the end. Finished strong remembering to eat and drink throughout the day so I wouldn’t bonk like last time with about 10 to go. I also rode with one earbud in and gave myself a goal on the last half of the lap to finish before the album Suffer ended from Bad Religion. I was slow by about 3/4 of a song, that album is to short haha. Awesome day finishing 5th out of 9, twenty minutes faster than last time and most importantly beating the other two single speeds.

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singlespeedrider said:
Tonto mountain 50 race day. Got to the trail head about 30 before the start and it was cold and windy. Checked the temps per hour and made the decision to be slightly cold at the start and was happy later in the day. 9 of us at the start, small field but 2 others on single speeds. Course does a short loop thru Usery and up over Usery pass to maricopa trail into hawes. A good size loop thru hawes with the highlight being twisted sister and big sister trails. Leaving hawes is about 5 mile climb back over Usery pass back into the park with two 10 mile laps in Usery to get the 50. This stretch is a little boring and can get spinny hurting my knee toward the end. Finished strong remembering to eat and drink throughout the day so I wouldn’t bonk like last time with about 10 to go. I also rode with one earbud in and gave myself a goal on the last half of the lap to finish before the album Suffer ended from Bad Religion. I was slow by about 3/4 of a song, that album is to short haha. Awesome day finishing 5th out of 9, twenty minutes faster than last time and most importantly beating the other two single speeds.

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Nice one, Mark... :thumbsup:
 
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