I Rode My Bike Today...

SnakeCharmer said:
Last two rides have been on the Verdugos and today’s ride was on the steel rig. I didn’t realize how much I have missed riding there and both rides were fabulous. A bonus today was a couple of reptile encounters I had. And hero dirt! The route was, loop from home, up Beaudry North, West on the Motorway, take a breather at the bench above Whiting Woods, and then blast down Whiting Woods back to civilization.

9.83 miles
1981’ gain

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I love Horney Toads (horned lizards?)!
 
Local loop through Cherry Canyon mid day today. Plenty of riders and hikers out.

11.36 miles
1624' up

As usual, there was a few dog walkers with their dogs off the leash and for the second time in the last two rides, I almost got bit. The scenario plays out the same almost every time and this has happened to me many times there over the years there.

1) I approach from behind and walkers with their dog off the leash move over to allow me to pass.
2) I pass without incident.
3) Once I get about 20 feet beyond them, their dog charges and barks and snaps at me.

It is clearly posted at all entry points and some major intersection points within the area that dogs must remain on the leash. Sheriff says to call Animal Control.
 
SnakeCharmer said:
They are super unique. When I was a kid, there were colonies of them all over the place down in the valley were I live but development slowly covered their homes. I rarely see them anymore, this was the first one in a few years.
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That’s a bummer! I’ve heard they’re numbers are slowly dwindling:(
I’ve always seen them out on the trails and fire roads, there are a few up here that let me catch them, I pet their bellies until they fall asleep:inlove:
 
mike said:
Another ride without starting the car. We pedaled to Boca Reservoir, then across the dam, which is closed to vehicle traffic due to construction. From there, :40 of sublime forest road pedaling took us to the northern end of Lloyd's Loop, a black up/down "loop" off the main dirt road that held some high-quality Tahoe-area ST with emphasis on rough.

Lloyd's is not long, so we did it heading south then up a fire road and down the northbound goods. A few bikes out. This area is laced with OHV trails, so many of those were seen. Only a rare patch of snow on the ground. A great exploratory ride for future enchainments, and good fun as always hanging with the weez. For me nothing beats seeing her send the tricky stuff – and she does it well, lately.

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That’s the best right there! The bond that MTBiking can create is priceless!
 
Rode out by the Santa Ana yesterday... it was amazing! Not the SART (either end of it) but the sandy stuff in between. I had no idea there was so much water, so I barreled out to Church St. which drops straight in. And a raging torrent awaited me!
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That way was a no-go, so I rode out to Boulder Ave, and found some sandy doubletrack paralleling along the north bank. Rode that till it disappeared into the wash again...
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...and from there had to bush-whack to get to the trails I was aiming for
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Out on the north-side trails, there were several tributaries that needed to be forded. I got my hubs wet, but not my feet!
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Finally made it to Greenspot bridge, and the entire channel was full of water... more than I have ever seen in the 25 years I've lived here!

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Seven Oaks dam in the background, where all the water is being released from. Rumor is that it's being released from Big Bear originally, but cannot confirm.

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Epic-fun ride, just banging around through the sand and the rocks. Very glad to have the fluffy-tired bike for it, although the rear brake is screaming again after a thorough cleaning and adjustment. Gotta' say, only riding once a week is not the way to do things! I was worn out after this relatively short/flat ride!

https://www.strava.com/activities/2360371574
 
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Cyclotourist said:
Gotta' say, only riding once a week is not the way to do things! I was worn out after this relatively short/flat ride!
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IKR. My problem is letting my wife know I can do things. I am currently painting the entire interior of the house, replacing all the electrical outlets and switches, replacing all the wood baseboards, and painting all the interior window trim. I was LUCKY to get out yesterday :)
 
I cranked out of Truckee River canyon toward the Tahoe Rim on some obscure (but apparently plowed) roads to scope conditions and get some cardio.

Climbed for 9+ miles on paved and dirt roads. More private property signs than you’ve ever seen. Past a couple gates. Took a bunk turn near the end and chose to call it. Little point in pushing through to TRT...I think there might be snow on the trail.

The cool breeze at 8000’ felt wintry. Cloud cover building as a storm moves in.


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PS: @Cyclotourist: All that water! TFPU.
 
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Last day of the Utah trip... A quick out and back on the Bearclaw Poppy Trail before hitting the road back home. This is the least technical part of the True Grit course. The Three Fingers of Death at the beginning provide multiple ways to get to the "pump track" that runs for about 4 miles downhill...

mtnbikej hitting the harder line on the Three Fingers...


I think it was about 10 miles and 1000 feet. Fun way to end the trip!
 
snakiago oaks... yesterday... was going to make it a oaks lunch work day but was just having too much fun so kept riding and never went back to work..
saw some young guys sessioning chutes... so I had to drop chutes again.. I still remember my old friend (RIP) and I looking at chutes waterfall and thinking no way anyone can ride down this crazy thing.. then some old dude not even stopping and blowing by us, just sending it!
even ran out of water... Irvine park water is cool and refreshing!
ran over a king snake by accident, saw at least 4 sanke tracks up the Bs, and one other possible rattler... yikes!
oaks is so fun right now.. a bit sandy but still flowery... and not too dusty...
 
Faust29 said:
Enchanted enough to put the 3.0s back on! The Lizard looks good that way... :thumbsup:
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It pretty much glided over this stuff. Lots of sand, and a fair amount of river rock baby-heads to go over. Ate it up!
I keep toying with the idea of selling it, but then I enjoy it when I ride it. I'm kicking around the idea of getting a lighter weight plus-sized wheelset to swap out on the Tallboy. Then if that meets all my needs, selling the Lizard. Or just leave it as is, and use it occasionally. I have a new set of brakes in the mail, so I'm still putting money into it!
 
Back in OC for a few weeks so did a quick Whiting loop this morning before work. Managed a PB up Dreaded Hill which was amusing as I was in beer sweating out mode and not hammer time. Cannot believe the height of the vegetation on the side of the trail. Someones been down cactus and vulture with a weedeater and trimmed things back which is nice. Having to re-adjust my riding, haven't been on the dusty stuff for awhile!
 
Exploration Yesterday with T-2 . We climbed it then bombed it. I crashed it in the middle. Clipped a cut off root at speed and landed on my rt forearm that was padded and protected my core. Bruised ribs, both thighs and shoulder. It could have been much worse. Finished the ride no problem. If you are gonna do trail maintenance cut the whole root out! The base of the threaded part of my x1 shifter got stripped as the crash pulled the bolt out. Tom helped me zip tie it to the brake and we were good to go. Fyi when I got home I notices a little allen screw next to the striped out mounting hole on the shifter body. I was another mounting hole for the bar clamp. Yeah fixed! No need to buy a new one. Explo is quite a bit trickier. Rain has exposed more rock and roots. Good stuff though . Good thing for pads.
 
Tom the Bomb said:
Exploration Yesterday with T-2 . We climbed it then bombed it. I crashed it in the middle. Clipped a cut off root at speed and landed on my rt forearm that was padded and protected my core. Bruised ribs, both thighs and shoulder. It could have been much worse. Finished the ride no problem. If you are gonna do trail maintenance cut the whole root out! The base of the threaded part of my x1 shifter got stripped as the crash pulled the bolt out. Tom helped me zip tie it to the brake and we were good to go. Fyi when I got home I notices a little allen screw next to the striped out mounting hole on the shifter body. I was another mounting hole for the bar clamp. Yeah fixed! No need to buy a new one. Explo is quite a bit trickier. Rain has exposed more rock and roots. Good stuff though . Good thing for pads.
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Wow Tom! Glad it didn't turn out worse. Heal up!
 
Tom the Bomb said:
Exploration Yesterday with T-2 . We climbed it then bombed it. I crashed it in the middle. Clipped a cut off root at speed and landed on my rt forearm that was padded and protected my core. Bruised ribs, both thighs and shoulder. It could have been much worse. Finished the ride no problem. If you are gonna do trail maintenance cut the whole root out! The base of the threaded part of my x1 shifter got stripped as the crash pulled the bolt out. Tom helped me zip tie it to the brake and we were good to go. Fyi when I got home I notices a little allen screw next to the striped out mounting hole on the shifter body. I was another mounting hole for the bar clamp. Yeah fixed! No need to buy a new one. Explo is quite a bit trickier. Rain has exposed more rock and roots. Good stuff though . Good thing for pads.
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Good save, amigo :thumbsup: TFPU!
 
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