I Rode My Bike Today...

Went for a Quick Whiting run today, and as entered at Glenn Ranch noticed the parking lot was FULL of cars. Apparently a Whiting run today with about a 100 runners. Walked the bike through the start with the usual "pardon me, excuse me, pardon me, I promise I will not run you over on the trail " etc.
Altered the ride to mostly fire road with the plan to avoid them, which we were 99% successful in the avoidance. Went down Dreaded hill for the first time. Take it from me, the Single track is much better.. :thumbsup:
Good ride, although short. Ran into a new transplant to OC from Dallas and told him about our fun little center of the Mtb universe. Be good if he jumps in if for no other reason than to find trails to ride in his new home turf.

Plan on the same short little 13 mile ride tomorrow, then pack-up the kitchen for the remodel starting this week. Looks like I'll be eating out or BBQ'ing for the next couple weeks...
 
Danimal said:
Went for a Quick Whiting run today, and as entered at Glenn Ranch noticed the parking lot was FULL of cars. Apparently a Whiting run today with about a 100 runners. Walked the bike through the start with the usual "pardon me, excuse me, pardon me, I promise I will not run you over on the trail " etc.
Altered the ride to mostly fire road with the plan to avoid them, which we were 99% successful in the avoidance. Went down Dreaded hill for the first time. Take it from me, the Single track is much better.. :thumbsup:
Good ride, although short. Ran into a new transplant to OC from Dallas and told him about our fun little center of the Mtb universe. Be good if he jumps in if for no other reason than to find trails to ride in his new home turf.

Plan on the same short little 13 mile ride tomorrow, then pack-up the kitchen for the remodel starting this week. Looks like I'll be eating out or BBQ'ing for the next couple weeks...
Click to expand...

Hope I didn't mislead you on riding down Dreaded.. I'm a sucker for fast fire road descents. Not recommended when the park's crowded though, along with Whiting Road or Edison Road (descents in both directions).

Sounds like a good ride. Good luck with your kitchen, staying on budget and holding ground on your waistline! ;):thumbsup::)
 
Did what I threatened to do in the "I'm Gonna Ride Somewhere" thread... Took my friend Scott down 5-Oaks for his first time, then Cholla, Rock-It, Mathis, Meadows.

I posted somewhere recently that the crowds in Aliso aren't all that impactful most of the time. That was not true today. First, a group of ten hikers on 5-Oaks. They were pleasant, courteous and unnecessarily impressed, but I rarely encounter hikers on 5-O, and if I do, it's ones or twos. Given that it was Scott's first time on the trail, and our encounters were on the trickiest part of the trail, it was pretty distracting for him. But he did well and seemed to enjoy it regardless. He is a very talented rider, who sells himself short.

Then Rock-It was an absolute mess of humanity. That same group of ten hikers were climbing the rock garden when we got there. We also had to contend with timid cyclists, and other groups of hikers. I stopped on the rock garden and walked back up. Didn't help much, as I encountered two hikers right at the tightest part. I slowed to a crawl and was polite and courteous. I did get to smoke the rest of it, and impressed a herd with my nifty up-and-over route on the short climb.

Climbing Mathis, we encountered a couple of 12 yr. old boys hauling ass towards us. OK. Then they hauled ass back up the hill past us - with their motors. We continued leapfrogging the e-bike kids and e-dad for the next 20 minutes, until they pulled away from us riding through the Alta Laguna neighborhood.

Down Meadows - and into a group of about 15 hikers, but get this - they were single file and hugging the side of the trail. We had bells jingling, so they must have heard and adjusted before we got there. We slowed a little and thanked profusely. Good run down Meadows. Then we just slogged it back to the cars, via Coyote.

15 miles. 2300' High temp of 75°. Bikes are fun, and especially sharing the fun with a good riding buddy. :thumbsup: :cool: :)
 
Last edited:
Fun couple hours in the south hills this a.m. with @riiz Basically trying to connect some quality stretches of dirt on the southern boundary of the town. Views for miles, nobody on the trails except us. There were a couple riders we passed on the roads, that's it. Kinda' surprising given the perfect weather. Showed Eric some new dirt, which is always pretty cool. Had a great ride down a ridgeline that had one rock feature I maybe shouldn't of taken, but ended up cleaning it. 20 miles, 2k climbing, all smiles!

Morning prep:

37788584806_2ea6b66b5b_b.jpg

Break time:

37805222712_2c9ee5c157_b.jpg

Eyeing the route down:

37788581956_e92f72ab79_b.jpg

Like a boss:

23984746818_0250a41344_b.jpg
 
herzalot said:
I posted somewhere recently that the crowds in Aliso aren't all that impactful most of the time. That was not true today. First, a group of ten hikers on 5-Oaks. They were pleasant, courteous and unnecessarily impressed, but I rarely encounter hikers on 5-O, and if I do, it's ones or twos. Given that it was Scott's first time on the trail, and our encounters were on the trickiest part of the trail, it was pretty distracting for him. But he did well and seemed to enjoy it regardless. He is a very talented rider, who sells himself short.

Then Rock-It was an absolute mess of humanity. That same group of ten hikers were climbing the rock garden when we got there. We also had to contend with timid cyclists, and other groups of hikers. I stopped on the rock garden and walked back up. Didn't help much, as I encountered two hikers right at the tightest part. I slowed to a crawl and was polite and courteous. I did get to smoke the rest of it, and impressed a herd with my nifty up-and-over route on the short climb.

Climbing Mathis, we encountered a couple of 12 yr. old boys hauling ass towards us. OK. Then they hauled ass back up the hill past us - with their motors. We continued leapfrogging the e-bike kids and e-dad for the next 20 minutes, until they pulled away from us riding through the Alta Laguna neighborhood.

Down Meadows - and into a group of about 20 hikers, but get this - they were single file and hugging the side of the trail. We had bells jingling, so they must have heard and adjusted before we got there. We slowed a little and thanked profusely. Good run down Meadows. Then we just slogged it back to the cars, via Coyote.

15 miles. 2300' High temp of 75°. Bikes are fun, and especially sharing the fun with a good riding buddy. :thumbsup: :cool: :)
Click to expand...

Peter's and SO being closed might have something to do with the extra humans. I doubt the wildlife made the commute.
 
Different loop of Cheeseboro and Las Virgenes Open Space today. First time on Dublin. Fun descent but steep AF to get to the start of it. Finished with a blast down Ireland. Great day.
https://www.relive.cc/view/1240799730
IMG_20171021_131427_726.jpg
 
Last edited:
Went and rode some of the other single tracks in Moro & LCWP. Set a PR on rattlesnake still didn't ride it as well as I think I can. Then I rode BVD down this weekend after the hike a bike up last weekend that was much funner but strange I didn't notice all the cacti in the Apexes of the turns so I didn't flow as well up front but that is a fun trail to descend. Although there is a serious bad smell right where it meets Emerald Canyon smelled that last week too not sure what's going on.

Also rode lizards (as usual) pretty fast today (I waited till almost the hikers were gone) especially part 2 where it gets almost like your Slalom skiing your body takes a pretty straight path / fall line and I just pumped the bike stay off the brakes through those tight little turns it's awfully fun. Also got a little drifting in here and there in some corners it's that time of year.

Not too busy on the west side of the 133 today. Beautiful day.

Bikes are fun.

20mi 3k
 
Last edited:
Unwitting Wrightwood Meet Up!?!?!?
@Voodoo Tom and I met @scan and special appearances from @hill^billy AND @NewEnglander at Jackson Lake in Wrightwood today.
We rode up Boy Scout over to Log Jammer and found a bunch of OC Hooligans of the worst kind! :eek: Yup! You guessed it. @mtnbikej , @horsebikerider , @Faust29, and Jeremy. Well, accept for @horsebikerider ... she's alright. What the...??? What are the odds???
So we shot the breeze and then all bombed Log Jammer, crossed over to Fault Line to Leprechaun, bombed Leprechaun, where New Englander broke a chain and scan got a flat. Climbed out of Leprechaun back up to Jackson Lake, around Jackson Lake and re-climbed Boy Scout where "some of us" bailed back down Boy Scout :rolleyes: , then over to Middle Jackson Trail, bombed that, then climbed "back" up Boy Scout a third time then bombed back down Boy Scout. Yeah! Great day on the bike. Voodoo Tom made the huge mistake of borrowing his Dad's Santa Cruz Hightower just like mine. I have Never, and I mean never seen a smile as big I did on his face ever after bombing Log Jammer. I'm thinking the orange one is probably already on order...:whistling:
unwitting.wrightwood.PNG
 
Last edited:
Mikie said:
Unwitting Wrightwood Meet Up!?!?!?
@Voodoo Tom and I met @scan and special appearances from @hill^billy AND @NewEnglander at Jackson Lake in Wrightwood today.
We rode up Boy Scout over to Log Jammer and found a bunch of OC Hooligans of the worst kind! :eek: Well, accept for @horsebikerider ... she's alright. Yup! You guessed it. @mtnbikej , @Faust29, and Jeremy. What the...???
So we shot the breeze and then all bombed Log Jammer, crossed over to Fault Line to Leprechaun, bombed Leprechaun, where New Englander broke a chain and scan got a flat. Climbed out of Leprechaun back up to Jackson Lake, around Jackson Lake and re-climbed Boy Scout where "some of us" bailed back down Boy Scout :rolleyes: , then over to Middle Jackson Trail, bombed that, then climbed "back" up Boy Scout a third time then bombed back down Boy Scout. Yeah! Great day on the bike. Voodoo Tom made the huge mistake of borrowing his Dad's Santa Cruz Hightower just like mine. I have Never, and I mean never seen a smile as big I did on his face ever after bombing Log Jammer. I'm thinking the orange one is probably already on order...:whistling:
View attachment 32961
Click to expand...


They let anybody out there on the forest trails. SHEESH :rolleyes:
 
Mikie said:
Unwitting Wrightwood Meet Up!?!?!?
@Voodoo Tom and I met @scan and special appearances from @hill^billy AND @NewEnglander at Jackson Lake in Wrightwood today.
We rode up Boy Scout over to Log Jammer and found a bunch of OC Hooligans of the worst kind! :eek: Yup! You guessed it. @mtnbikej , @horsebikerider , @Faust29, and Jeremy. Well, accept for @horsebikerider ... she's alright. What the...??? What are the odds???
So we shot the breeze and then all bombed Log Jammer, crossed over to Fault Line to Leprechaun, bombed Leprechaun, where New Englander broke a chain and scan got a flat. Climbed out of Leprechaun back up to Jackson Lake, around Jackson Lake and re-climbed Boy Scout where "some of us" bailed back down Boy Scout :rolleyes: , then over to Middle Jackson Trail, bombed that, then climbed "back" up Boy Scout a third time then bombed back down Boy Scout. Yeah! Great day on the bike. Voodoo Tom made the huge mistake of borrowing his Dad's Santa Cruz Hightower just like mine. I have Never, and I mean never seen a smile as big I did on his face ever after bombing Log Jammer. I'm thinking the orange one is probably already on order...:whistling:
View attachment 32961
Click to expand...
Definitely, good times riding with ya'll! It was certainly a pleasure getting to ride with you Northerners!
 
Mikie said:
Unwitting Wrightwood Meet Up!?!?!?
@Voodoo Tom and I met @scan and special appearances from @hill^billy AND @NewEnglander at Jackson Lake in Wrightwood today.
We rode up Boy Scout over to Log Jammer and found a bunch of OC Hooligans of the worst kind! :eek: Yup! You guessed it. @mtnbikej , @horsebikerider , @Faust29, and Jeremy. Well, accept for @horsebikerider ... she's alright. What the...??? What are the odds???
So we shot the breeze and then all bombed Log Jammer, crossed over to Fault Line to Leprechaun, bombed Leprechaun, where New Englander broke a chain and scan got a flat. Climbed out of Leprechaun back up to Jackson Lake, around Jackson Lake and re-climbed Boy Scout where "some of us" bailed back down Boy Scout :rolleyes: , then over to Middle Jackson Trail, bombed that, then climbed "back" up Boy Scout a third time then bombed back down Boy Scout. Yeah! Great day on the bike. Voodoo Tom made the huge mistake of borrowing his Dad's Santa Cruz Hightower just like mine. I have Never, and I mean never seen a smile as big I did on his face ever after bombing Log Jammer. I'm thinking the orange one is probably already on order...:whistling:
View attachment 32961
Click to expand...
When life gets less hectic I really would like to learn that area. Nice ride gents
 
Mikie said:
Unwitting Wrightwood Meet Up!?!?!?
@Voodoo Tom and I met @scan and special appearances from @hill^billy AND @NewEnglander at Jackson Lake in Wrightwood today.
We rode up Boy Scout over to Log Jammer and found a bunch of OC Hooligans of the worst kind! :eek: Yup! You guessed it. @mtnbikej , @horsebikerider , @Faust29, and Jeremy. Well, accept for @horsebikerider ... she's alright. What the...??? What are the odds???
So we shot the breeze and then all bombed Log Jammer, crossed over to Fault Line to Leprechaun, bombed Leprechaun, where New Englander broke a chain and scan got a flat. Climbed out of Leprechaun back up to Jackson Lake, around Jackson Lake and re-climbed Boy Scout where "some of us" bailed back down Boy Scout :rolleyes: , then over to Middle Jackson Trail, bombed that, then climbed "back" up Boy Scout a third time then bombed back down Boy Scout. Yeah! Great day on the bike. Voodoo Tom made the huge mistake of borrowing his Dad's Santa Cruz Hightower just like mine. I have Never, and I mean never seen a smile as big I did on his face ever after bombing Log Jammer. I'm thinking the orange one is probably already on order...:whistling:
View attachment 32961
Click to expand...
I love this tribe I'm a part of!
 
hill^billy said:
Great day today in the woods. Good to see my old buddies and nice to finally meet the southern faction! Thank you all for waiting, and waiting for me. :)
Click to expand...
Solid ride today dude. For someone who hasn't seen a lot of seat time lately you were strong and as always you are a gifted descender that I like to try and follow cause you make it look easy and guys like me can learn a lot from you. Nice new pickup to.
 
Ha! What are the odds? 100 miles from home and we run into a group of IMTBers! Perfect day, and some unexpected company... :thumbsup: It was nice to see the group, and put some more faces to screen names: @hill^billy , @NewEnglander , and @scan ! Great to meet you guys.

Enough words... Today was easy cruise day, with frequent stops to smell the roses. On last week's death march, I honestly didn't notice the colors like I did today. Crazy up there...

Wrightwood is a hidden gem with some of the best riding around. Great idea to head back up there, @mtnbikej!

Hillbilly, New Englander, Scan, Voodoo Tom, Jeremy, Horsebikerider, Mikie, and Mtnbikej
IMG_1350.jpg



IMG_1351.jpg


Climbing Boy Scout...
IMG_1370.jpg


IMG_1377.jpg


IMG_1378.jpg


IMG_1385.jpg
IMG_1406.jpg
 
Got in a couple laps of Exploration yesterday afternoon. Started about an hour later then I wanted so I had to hussle to get those two laps in, but I got them. Had a blast flying down the trail. Not in the best shape at the end of the season, and a ton of hikers (most I have seen), but still great. I just slowed to a crawl, gave a greeting, then shredded off.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1241214565

Then met up with @LLPoolJ and others for a couple hours of Skypark!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1241214585

I have some video, but I have to edit it. And I'm "working" right now...

(Okay, I actually have some work I need to go do now)
 
Harding for the win! One of the few trails that doesn't show the late season wear and tear that badly. Saw a hunter out with his son in the early morning hours in the first mile... and then had the trail to myself until I was heading back down below the springs and ran into my first hiker (figuratively speaking). Not a single other biker on the trail today.

Desert winds are definitely blowing. I could see Catalina and San Clemente islands clear as a bell. I could even see the Hollywood sign and Century City.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top