I Rode My Bike Today...

Old&InTheWay said:
I figured that the best thing I could do today was ride my bike, so I did. Went to Maple Springs, certain that the gate would be closed. Got rained on a lot going up. Good thing I was covered in Gore-Tex . When I arrived at 4 Corners it was cold, windy and still raining. That was enough. Put on a couple extra layers of insulation and a third pair of gloves. Shortly after starting to head back, it stopped raining and patches of blue sky appeared. The dirt was in primo condition and the ride back down was about as good as it gets on Maple Springs. Started raining again on last 1.25 miles. :thumbsup: :)

4 Corners
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Parking is available at the lower lot
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So was the gate closed?
 
Got a text from @Bill last night asking if I wanted to do the patented Maple-Motorway loop...

We set out at 10:00 and were thrilled to find the gate closed. :thumbsup: Up the pavement, up the dirt and before I knew it, we were at Four Corners.

Hmmm... One of these black beauties is a little beefier than the other. :eek:
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Fun ride across Main Divide, with some fun downhills, a not so fun hike up the climb at Bedford, and some HAB around the mud pit in the usual spot. Soon enough we were at the Silverado Trail. Fun romp down, with a few regroups here and there. :thumbsup:

Fun time- And I'm glad that bill reached out.

No other riders... Until we were almost at the bottom of Motorway. I pulled over for two guys who were climbing. In hindsight, maybe I shouldn't have pulled over. :cautious: I don't consider the Motorway climbable. I've done it... once. And there was a lot of HAB. I guess I just need a different mode of transportation like those two guys. :thumbsdown:

17/3700
 
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went out early this evening. I was surprised, my tires were black. Last night I road after the drizzle was over and caked some wet trail dust into my tires so I washed them off with a pressure nozzle, not all of it came off. Well today in the sunlight I was dazzled by jet black rubber. I have never seen my tires like this before. Now tonight they are back to that dust stained rubber that upon I ride. Ride was great, saw the sunset out over the Santa Barbara Channel. The water was a bright robins egg blue. Sunset was at 7:00 PM PDT which means I could easily ride to 7:45 without lights so I did.
Happy sunset trails
 
Wed night spin at Oakmont. Two hikers frantically trying to leash their dogs as I rode up. Two trail runners. A guy on a minibike riding around with his cute kid. Awesome they're out having fun, but get the F@ck out of the city park, please. All that and a bunch of kids riding in circles. I'm feeling a little craptastic, but it was great being out. I just cruised most of it. Ended up getting back with everyone gone and my kids being the last there. Sorry coach, I had no idea :-( But other than that, a nice time out!

11.5/1,100/1.5

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Got some riding in this past weekend. Headed up to OC. I knew I wouldn't get up early enough to beat traffic on San Juan so I decided climbing up Chiquito and descending San Juan would work better. Plus with reports of downed trees and PO on Chiquito I could do some trimming and scout the rock features for a future ride.


Most rock features are in good shape but a couple are missing their transitions, so look before you leap (this one is fine)

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Chiquito waterfall was dry

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Cool rock spine has a new challenge, the stalks growing out between the rocks is all PO.

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Only saw a few hikers on Chiquito. No one on new San Juan until right at Cocktail rock, where I saw a couple just before it. Stopped to have a snack and almost gagged. Cocktail rock reeks of piss. Is it too much to ask for people to walk 20-30ft away to do that? Disgusting. Then a couple e-bikers rolled through. Completing the tri-fecta of annoyance one had backpack speakers blasting. Both were wearing full face helmets. One was wearing jeans and what I swear was a Nascar jacket. Had to get out of there and eat elsewhere. The only other 2 riders were also on e-motos, climbing up about half way. I pointed out their motorcycles weren't allowed. Got the typical response "I didn't know". Followed by the somewhat amusing "but what if it's turned off?". Well, it wasn't "turned off" so what's the point of asking?


Ocean view plus San Clemente and Catalina Islands

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Fun ride. Hopefully we can get trees and PO cleared off Chiquito as its a better ride going the other way. I cut back some PO but my little hand saw couldn't do much for the downed trees.

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Had a few hours of daylight left so I decided to check out Sitton Peak truck trail on the opposite ridge. Cool views over to the mountains I'd just ridden in

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It was "a bit" brushy for a few miles

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Also had some really cool sections. It's an out and back and with the brush it's not a great ride, but glad I checked it out. Turned around at dark before the high point near Sitton Pk.

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evdog said:
Got some riding in this past weekend. Headed up to OC. I knew I wouldn't get up early enough to beat traffic on San Juan so I decided climbing up Chiquito and descending San Juan would work better. Plus with reports of downed trees and PO on Chiquito I could do some trimming and scout the rock features for a future ride.


Most rock features are in good shape but a couple are missing their transitions, so look before you leap (this one is fine)

View attachment 62629


Chiquito waterfall was dry

View attachment 62630


Cool rock spine has a new challenge, the stalks growing out between the rocks is all PO.

View attachment 62631


Only saw a few hikers on Chiquito. No one on new San Juan until right at Cocktail rock, where I saw a couple just before it. Stopped to have a snack and almost gagged. Cocktail rock reeks of piss. Is it too much to ask for people to walk 20-30ft away to do that? Disgusting. Then a couple e-bikers rolled through. Completing the tri-fecta of annoyance one had backpack speakers blasting. Both were wearing full face helmets. One was wearing jeans and what I swear was a Nascar jacket. Had to get out of there and eat elsewhere. The only other 2 riders were also on e-motos, climbing up about half way. I pointed out their motorcycles weren't allowed. Got the typical response "I didn't know". Followed by the somewhat amusing "but what if it's turned off?". Well, it wasn't "turned off" so what's the point of asking?


Ocean view plus San Clemente and Catalina Islands

View attachment 62632


Fun ride. Hopefully we can get trees and PO cleared off Chiquito as its a better ride going the other way. I cut back some PO but my little hand saw couldn't do much for the downed trees.

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Had a few hours of daylight left so I decided to check out Sitton Peak truck trail on the opposite ridge. Cool views over to the mountains I'd just ridden in

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It was "a bit" brushy for a few miles

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Also had some really cool sections. It's an out and back and with the brush it's not a great ride, but glad I checked it out. Turned around at dark before the high point near Sitton Pk.

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I've hiked up to Sitton Peak from the Bear Canyon Trail, but never tried going that way... Is it open to bikes all (most of?) the way or is there a hard stop?
 
Faust29 said:
I've hiked up to Sitton Peak from the Bear Canyon Trail, but never tried going that way... Is it open to bikes all (most of?) the way or is there a hard stop?
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It is fully open to bikes for about 9 miles from the bottom. First it goes through some Caspers property then crosses onto Forest Service land. I think the wilderness boundary is just before 4 corners. I didn't go up that far as the trail looked like it would drop down some. But you would have gone through that section if you hiked to Sitton Peak from Bear Canyon.

It's too bad that can't be incorporated with Chiquito / San Juan as a loop. Looking at maps it would be possible to build new trail from the truck trail down to the Candy store outside of wilderness. Seems like a waste to have the truck trail not connect. Well it does, just not for bikes : (
 
Tomorrow is the big ride day for the HS team, and I wanted the kids to get spin a bit before that. Ended up 50% successful and got Middle Child out. Firstborn is determined to watch all the X-Men movies today, so what can you do...

Due to the rain it was either Mentone wash trails, or Sycamore Cyn in Riverside. I didn't want to drive that far, so Mentone won! Parked and pretty much hit dirt right away and stayed on it. Glorious views of the mountains and valley. A little sprinkle, but no real rain. Slow going as the ground was water-saturated DG. So not muddy, but definitely wet and slow. Went out to the USFS station in Metone to get an annual ATBP, but they are closed due to current events. Downhill cruise back to the car on the wash trails is always a blast!

13/1,100/2

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Slept in a bunch until the body said it was good to go and got a late start at Maple Springs. Gate still closed. Had to park 2/3 mile below. Drizzle and light rain going up. When I got to 4 Corners was starting to feel the chill and added on some more insulation. I think I would have been ok if it snowed but it was only 37 degrees when I made it to the Modjeska Towers. The ride back down was great and I dropped out of the clouds at 4 Cs. 19/3300

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Old&InTheWay said:
Slept in a bunch until the body said it was good to go and got a late start at Maple Springs. Gate still closed. Had to park 2/3 mile below. Drizzle and light rain going up. When I got to 4 Corners was starting to feel the chill and added on some more insulation. I think I would have been ok if it snowed but it was only 37 degrees when I made it to the Modjeska Towers. The ride back down was great and I dropped out of the clouds at 4 Cs. 19/3300

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Beautiful photo!

Nice work.
 
Old&InTheWay said:
Slept in a bunch until the body said it was good to go and got a late start at Maple Springs. Gate still closed. Had to park 2/3 mile below. Drizzle and light rain going up. When I got to 4 Corners was starting to feel the chill and added on some more insulation. I think I would have been ok if it snowed but it was only 37 degrees when I made it to the Modjeska Towers. The ride back down was great and I dropped out of the clouds at 4 Cs. 19/3300

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Yes, another great photo!!! Loving it!
 
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