I Rode My Bike Today...

knucklebuster said:
Is that section by the Edna Spaulding trailhead, that goes by the old watertank? When I used to ride the Arroyo trail alot I would take that to connect with the doubletrack Live Oak and Vista. That was a steep mofo, I was never able to make it clean either.
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Yes... It's the real beginning of Live Oak. Most people skip it. They cleaned out all of the rocks and made it 6 feet wide. It's still a little steep at the top, but it's easily cleanable with how smooth it is. I expect they'll do the other little section too...

I liked to use it, and the next little section for hill repeats... Up the pavement to the water tower and down the little fun sections.
 
Back to Tuesday afternoon at the Oaks.

Headed out with Suz, but she was on her CX bike and just gonna do a quick spin around IRP. I split off and went up Goat. Legs felt way better tonight.

Seven ups....seven downs. Park was mostly quiet. Seemed like it got darker earlier than usual....but it was just the clouds.

Did see 2 motos/e-motos, so I asked Suz to call it in to the rangers. All I know is that the took Anaheim Hills Rd from Barham to fast without pedaling. I couldn't hear if they were motorized or not, as some asshat had his music blaring as he rolled up. Eventually saw the ranger heading up Oak, but 35'ish mins later....they were already gone. At least they made an effort.

Good day on the bike otherwise.

21 / 3200'

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Tuesday evening Blackstar ride Tree Farm to Beek's Place.

Great day for a ride, such was the consensus of the 10 or so people encountered along the way including @Jeremy. The cool air and fog was acting a shield from the worldly hubbub and providing a welcomed sense of serenity. The farther up I went the denser the fog became. Also the farther up I went the more air leaked out from the bike's rear tire. Had to walk the homestretch segment to the gate up at the top because the Nobbby Nick couldn't get enough traction to ride. At the gate I was completely engulfed in thick fog and totally focused on putting some sealant into and inflating the rear tire. After doing that I looked up and realized that I was now standing above the clouds and witnessing a beautiful sunset.
Having learned from Friday's " Summer Solstice ?? Ride " , I had brought some winter riding gear today. That was a good thing, I enjoyed being at Beek's Place in the wind and cold after the sun had set and feeling warm at the core ! As soon as I had gone back down through the upper gat I was into thick low visibility fog. Also my hands started feeling cold and hurting right away. No problem, pulled the extra insulated gloves out of the backpack and the hands were warm all the way down. Visibility was very low all the way to just before the end of the second set of switchbacks. Unless I was passing through some well known feature, I had no idea of were I was. Nothing wrong with that, reminded me of Harding. After that clear and drizzling.

Lots of Fun :thumbsup::thumbsup: :):)

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No mud but drizzle and dust made a paste that was sticking to the bike.

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One inch long baby frog came to visit me back at the car.

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Got out of work late today but there was a little sunlight left in the sky. So I went over to space and was treated with this about 3/4 up the climb. It is a Delphinium Cardinale. They are not rare but I never see them. It was quite a treat as I have never seen them on space mtn. The plant is about 5 feet tall and almost all blooms
Happy trails at the edge of night

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Mixed it up again....this is becoming a thing lately.

Anyway, I rode from home and met @Faust29 at the shopping center at Chapman/Jamboree. 6.5 flattish miles into a headwind.

Up Chutes, down Goat, quickie climb you oak to the 2nd picnic table before dropping back down to go over and meet up with @cajun

Stopped and chatted with the patrol ranger in the park....talked Ebikes. If you see them, report them.

Back up Oak, ran into @horsebikerider walkong the ponies. Down Yucca, up Coachwhip. My legs died going up Coachwhip. Made it up...slowly. Climbed up to the top of 3rd B to pick up @H2oChick

Down Barham, down Cactus, up Goat. Parted ways with Kay and Greg and dropped down Chutes.

The ride home was slow.

Good times out there.

27/3100’
 
Arroyo Trabuco up to O'Niel proper, and over the first sanitized hump of Live Oak that @Faust29 mentioned. It's pedalable now, even for me (barely) and the very short descent is kinda fun as a diversion (until they sanitize that too). On to Ding Dong, damn that hike-a-bike up Bell Ridge in the hot sun is fun :gag: At one point I have my head down just pushing looking at my feet move slowly forward and a snake goes flying right through. Garter thankfully.

Last time I rode Ding Dong was a month ago in tacky dirt. It's not tacky anymore. Off into the bushes twice, little traction to slow down, I was trying to ride it like last time when it was tacky and fast. Need to reel that in for the summer. At least there's little exposure and lots of bushes to catch you when you go off o_O

From top of Ding Dong
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Stoked getting ready to drop Ding Dong
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A purple fro flower at the bottom of Ding Dong. Sure don't want to run into one with all those spikes
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RSM and out to the coast from top of DD
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Not that it matters, almost 18mi and 2300ft (800 of that elevation coming in one mile on Bell Ridge). What really matters, big smile most of the ride :D
 
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Mixed it up bigly today! Variety is the spice of life, says the spice merchant....

Did about 3/4 out and back Exploration and 28 min at Skypark (Arrow and Jumpline x 2). :Roflmao

What can I say...Squatches/Gigantopitheci like their spices bland! Slim Jim is a liar!!!

Smashed it up this time...finally figured out why the Pike doesn’t feel as poppy as the rest of the bike...my rebound was too low...Finally thought to check :facepalm:
 
Stubborn Approach said:
Rode laps around Aliso Tuesday w/ some buddies, June gloom was awesome 18.3 mi / 3300 ft

Rode Aliso/Laguna/Newport Coast solo yesterday, sun was out, but cooled off quickly 17.5 mi / 3400 ft

Just crossed 1k miles on this thing. Looking forward to the next 1k, but not the cost of the service it will likely need long before then. :whistling:
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You forgot to mention the part about heckling some guy on youtube today though. :gag::whistling::laugh:
 
knucklebuster said:
Hey @Sassyquatch what is the reason for the 3/4 of the way up on Explo? Is it because of the ups and downs in that last 1/4? Besides that I can't think of a reason not to go up and enjoy the entire downhill. Just curious....
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Fair question...mostly revolves around trying to fit in max fun, which for me involves some good tech up, lotsa fun down, and some flow/jump work, while trying to get back home not too long after the kids are awake. (4 kids 8 and under ATM).

That last upper part is a bit up and down, so not as much of either of 1 or 2 as the rest of the trail, so I pick a few fun laps I of Flow in skypark instead. 3/4 gives you pretty much the best sustained downhill (with a couple little punchy climbs thrown in), and 2/3 still feels like a decent chunk of it. I could forgo Skypark and do it all and still feel ok about family time, but that little extra shot of adrenaline in the endorphin cocktail really adds value!

Could probably climb the road and drop the trail in similar timeframe, but the challenge and extra cardio of the trail is too big a draw for me.

I used to out and back it all routinely before Skypark was birthed, especially when I lived 30 min away instead of 45 now. I keep telling myself one of these days I will just do Explo again....
 
Sassyquatch said:
Fair question...mostly revolves around trying to fit in max fun, which for me involves some good tech up, lotsa fun down, and some flow/jump work, while trying to get back home not too long after the kids are awake. (4 kids 8 and under ATM).

That last upper part is a bit up and down, so not as much of either of 1 or 2 as the rest of the trail, so I pick a few fun laps I of Flow in skypark instead. 3/4 gives you pretty much the best sustained downhill (with a couple little punchy climbs thrown in), and 2/3 still feels like a decent chunk of it. I could forgo Skypark and do it all and still feel ok about family time, but that little extra shot of adrenaline in the endorphin cocktail really adds value!

Could probably climb the road and drop the trail in similar timeframe, but the challenge and extra cardio of the trail is too big a draw for me.

I used to out and back it all routinely before Skypark was birthed, especially when I lived 30 min away instead of 45 now. I keep telling myself one of these days I will just do Explo again....
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Makes sense. There are some dips and steep pitches up top that are a bit of a pain. I like climbing the tech but it takes me forever, would make it hard with time constraints. Wouldn't want to spend the precious time gasping for O2 on the side of the trail
 
I had plans with the girls to walk some laps around the park this evening but they flaked so I only had time to do a baby Cherry loop since it was getting late. Saw a few dog walkers, hikers, runners, and fellow mtn bikers. I often see guys introducing their gals about mountain biking there. It's a great place to learn because it's got it all. And, I am happy to report that once again, the dog walkers had their dogs on leash! :thumbsup:

My energy level is starting to blossom thanks to this detox diet thingy I am doing.

8.85 miles
9.1mph av speed
1152'

LIFE IS GOOD! :cool:
 
Mikie said:
Rode the lower “Little G.E.” Yesterday after work. Did the fire road climb and just made a left at the DH back to the vehicles. Just less than 10 miles and I tried to sprint most of the fire road climb.
I rode by myself. I hate riding by myself. :thumbsdown: But I rode... :thumbsup:
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That’ll do!:thumbsup::D
Hoping to hit it again Fri afternoon or Sunday, I’ve been teaching a lot of classes this wko_O
 
SnakeCharmer said:
I had plans with the girls to walk some laps around the park this evening but they flaked so I only had time to do a baby Cherry loop since it was getting late. Saw a few dog walkers, hikers, runners, and fellow mtn bikers. I often see guys introducing their gals about mountain biking there. It's a great place to learn because it's got it all. And, I am happy to report that once again, the dog walkers had their dogs on leash! :thumbsup:

My energy level is starting to blossom thanks to this detox diet thingy I am doing.

8.85 miles
9.1mph av speed
1152'

LIFE IS GOOD! :cool:
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Yes, life is rad!:)
 
I rode my bike today with Mrs. imtbtrails. She had not ridden Golden Eagle since the early 90’s. :eek:
She said today was the day. So we rode most of it. We climbed the fire road and jumped on section 2. Rode to the end of section 2 and turned around and head back to the G.E. DH and cruised that back down to the Trailhead! Proud of her, she is getting stronger and bolder. :thumbsup:

Then we went to Bakersfield and did our biweekly grocery shopping. :gag:
Today was a good day. :cool:

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