Tour De Santa Ana's

HBkites said:
I'll simplify it....... I don't like Motorway.
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I'd love it... if it were ever worked. Instead trail conditions range from "bad" to "extremely bad". The only technical part of riding the trail is avoiding being thrown because you slipped into a trail washout, had your bike slip out from under you because you are in 6" of loose scree, or other trail condition issues. Right now the trail is one big washout from top to bottom. If the trail were ever worked... nirvana.
 
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Rumpled said:
I prefer Motorway over the Luge...
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Does not compute...

I know I've often said that we like different things, but I can't get my head around enjoying loose rock and scree over the yummy goodness of a singletrack trail that offers actual dirt, vegetation, berms, turns, and a few "treats" along the way (small 1' ledges, little kickers, etc). Even the last 4 turns are a hoot - even if a bit infested by braking bumps.

Seems our hardtail riders are the ones who dislike The Luge most.

Ahhhh, to each, his/her own I suppose.
 
herzalot said:
Does not compute...

I know I've often said that we like different things, but I can't get my head around enjoying loose rock and scree over the yummy goodness of a singletrack trail that offers actual dirt, vegetation, berms, turns, and a few "treats" along the way (small 1' ledges, little kickers, etc). Even the last 4 turns are a hoot - even if a bit infested by braking bumps.

Seems our hardtail riders are the ones who dislike The Luge most.

Ahhhh, to each, his/her own I suppose.
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I’ve only ridden motorway once in wet/tackier conditions and agree with what you said, definitely prefer the luge. Which reminds me.. I haven’t ridden it in a year. :(
 
BonsaiNut said:
...trail conditions range from "bad" to "extremely bad". The only technical part of riding the trail is avoiding being thrown because you slipped into a trail washout, had your bike slip out from under you because you are in 6" of loose scree, or other trail condition issues. Right now the trail is one big washout from top to bottom.
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I think you just nailed what I like about every less-traveled trail in the Santa Anas. Shotgunning 100-proof rotgut ain't for everyone.
 
mike said:
I think you just nailed what I like about every less-traveled trail in the Santa Anas. Shotgunning 100-proof rotgut ain't for everyone.
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Actually, the Motorway was pretty good today :) I think the grasses and foliage on the side of the trail, now that they have recovered somewhat from the fire, are firming up the edges of the trail so it isn't being washed out so much. That, and the horrifically bad water bars that some trail crew put in two years ago have finally worn down to reasonable height.
 
BonsaiNut said:
Actually, the Motorway was pretty good today :) I think the grasses and foliage on the side of the trail, now that they have recovered somewhat from the fire, are firming up the edges of the trail so it isn't being washed out so much. That, and the horrifically bad water bars that some trail crew put in two years ago have finally worn down to reasonable height.
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I love going down motorway, one of my favorites.
 
BonsaiNut said:
If I do that double loop, I'm looking at around 7000 feet and 35 miles, and at my glacial riding pace should be able to do it in 5:30 - 6:00(?) The MS/Motorway loop is normally about 3:00 for me, and the Harding out and back is 2:30.
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According to my Garmin today, the ride was 7,014 feet, 34.97 miles, and 3439 calories(!) Total ride time including stops was 5:51. I did not feel that strong today, and I was adding time on pretty much every segment. At the second switchback in the dirt up Maple Springs (the one in the big trees) I actually had to lay down and put my feet up on a rock for about five minutes. Even the descent down Harding wasn't that fast...

But like I said this was a really big ride for me and I'm glad that I stuck it out and finished it. I have to admit when I was at the bottom of the Motorway, it took some uber will power to turn left and start climbing Maple Springs :)
 
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herzalot said:
Does not compute...

I know I've often said that we like different things, but I can't get my head around enjoying loose rock and scree over the yummy goodness of a singletrack trail that offers actual dirt, vegetation, berms, turns, and a few "treats" along the way (small 1' ledges, little kickers, etc). Even the last 4 turns are a hoot - even if a bit infested by braking bumps.

Seems our hardtail riders are the ones who dislike The Luge most.

Ahhhh, to each, his/her own I suppose.
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Motorway is more natural. No man made berms. Plenty of vegetation. Lots of rock....lots of chunk. And most of all.....no breaking holes.
 
BonsaiNut said:
I'd love it... if it were ever worked. Instead trail conditions range from "bad" to "extremely bad". The only technical part of riding the trail is avoiding being thrown because you slipped into a trail washout, had your bike slip out from under you because you are in 6" of loose scree, or other trail condition issues. Right now the trail is one big washout from top to bottom. If the trail were ever worked... nirvana.
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You described all the things I like about Motorway... :D
 
I did ride down MW today. It was in very good condition IMO.
I actually PRed it (15:19).

I didn’t particularly enjoy it, and I stand by my “I don’t like it” statement.



The rest of the ride was great. We had 4 guys on SS, and today’s ride was the longest ever SS ride for me. I’m more confident then even that I can ride the CC on the “pain bitch”
 
Timing worked out where I got to ride with the group for a bit and still made it to my daughters flag football game.

Not quit the stats as the others but still a solid ride.
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mtnbikej said:
Motorway is more natural. No man made berms. Plenty of vegetation. Lots of rock....lots of chunk. And most of all.....no breaking holes.
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Best part of it is there's no LCF to dumb it down. Motorway is nowhere near my favorite, but I still firmly believe in leaving the trails alone unless there is danger of the trail itself ending up at the bottom of the slope.
 
Runs with Scissors said:
Motorway is nowhere near my favorite, but I still firmly believe in leaving the trails alone unless there is danger of the trail itself ending up at the bottom of the slope.
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Actually, there's been a ton of work done on the Motorway to keep it from failing and/or repair it when it did. Had it been left alone, it'd be gone. The WS did most of the work, and I did some, and that post-fire crew did some as well. Maybe a little overkill on their part, but it survived last winter's storms, so mission accomplished.

It's just another of the old roadbeds we're stuck with around here. Steeper than some, rocky, loose, hard to get to and not really recommended for novice riders, and managed with the intent to keep it challenging and raw.

Some like it, some don't, but it's nice to have variety so we have at least a bit of a choice.
 
kioti said:
Actually, there's been a ton of work done on the Motorway to keep it from failing and/or repair it when it did. Had it been left alone, it'd be gone. The WS did most of the work, and I did some, and that post-fire crew did some as well. Maybe a little overkill on their part, but it survived last winter's storms, so mission accomplished.

It's just another of the old roadbeds we're stuck with around here. Steeper than some, rocky, loose, hard to get to and not really recommended for novice riders, and managed with the intent to keep it challenging and raw.

Some like it, some don't, but it's nice to have variety so we have at least a bit of a choice.
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That's pretty much what I said...keep it from falling down the slope, but otherwise don't mess with it.
 
kioti said:
But you also said it's nowhere near your favorite. So is there anything you can think of to make it better, or does it just have inherent characteristics you don't enjoy?
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You could plant a few trees :) I personally love the line of travel, it's the trail condition that gets me down.

There are two sections that could use a little love, in my opinion.

(1) There is a section in the middle where the trail has completely washed out so that it is just a gully on the left. The travel line has now moved up so that people tightrope ride the trail edge on the exposed right side. It isn't a sustainable line because people will either start blowing the line off the side to the right, or slipping off the new line back into the gulley on the left. Plus, the gully will just get progressively worse/deeper with each rain.

(2) The section at the bottom in the creek bed that was washed out last year with a landslide. Ditto above - needs some love and with the next rain is just going to get worse.

Neither of these I consider trail "sanitation" but more general trail "maintenance".
 
BonsaiNut said:
You could plant a few trees :) I personally love the line of travel, it's the trail condition that gets me down.

There are two sections that could use a little love, in my opinion.

(1) There is a section in the middle where the trail has completely washed out so that it is just a gully on the left. The travel line has now moved up so that people tightrope ride the trail edge on the exposed right side. It isn't a sustainable line because people will either start blowing the line off the side to the right, or slipping off the new line back into the gulley on the left. Plus, the gully will just get progressively worse/deeper with each rain.

(2) The section at the bottom in the creek bed that was washed out last year with a landslide. Ditto above - needs some love and with the next rain is just going to get worse.

Neither of these I consider trail "sanitation" but more general trail "maintenance".
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The tightrope has been there since the trail reopened in September 2016 and has improved over time. At first, the "gulley" to the left was less rideable. I think someone cleared out some of the baby heads recently. I like that section and usually take the skinny line on the edge of the ridge. Yesterday with the wind, I took the gulley...

In 47 times down that trail, I think it's ridden 47 different ways. It's what makes it one of my favorites...
 
Getting back on track.......


RR:

It is starting to become a thing....these rides are more than just myself and @Faust29 . Starting the ride at 6:15(roll time was 6:00 o_O) with 6 people. It was dark.....it was cold. Garmin said 37*

However, once we started climbing....which on Harding is immediately it warmed up. Within 10 mins it was light enough to see clearly. It was also warming up....kinda. The group splintered up a little bit. Charles was out front, Amy, @HBkites and myself were a little behind him...while @BonsaiNut and @Faust29 were back a little ways. We didn't push the pace, but were social, so the climb went by kinda quick. At 5 mile turn it was a little breezy and cold. I decided to wait there for the other 2 rather than freeze at 4 Corners where I knew the wind would be blowing.....which turns out i was right. Just after 5 mile turn another rider caught us.....he asked if we were doing the Death March today...... o_O How did he know. Turns out it was @MegaLurker . He hung with us up to 4 Corners then continued on towards the peak. It was nice to catch up.

At 4 Corners we picked up @singlespeedrider who came up Maple Springs. Turns out our delayed start worked out perfect....it didn't have to wait long for us to get there. We quickly started across Main Divide. It is loose...it is dry...it is getting very rocky and chunky. Somehow the 4 SS's were out in front on the DH's while the FS's were out the back. :cautious: Sharone kept asking if we had reached the first of the 3 big climbs before the Motorway. We made quick work of the ride to Motorway. :41 from 4C to Motorway, only a few mins slower than my PR.

We said adios to Greg and Sharone at the top of Motorway while the 5 of us continued on our way. Fast, fun, loose DH before the ball buster climb to Eagle. Again Amy and Charles took off out front....damn geared people. The 3 SS's made it up a ways before giving in. It was pretty loose and I knew I was gonna need my legs for later. Got to the top and dropped into Eagle. Amy and Charles had already rolled. Sweet.... :sneaky: meant I had some rabbits to chase down Eagle. I would catch Amy about 2/3rd's the way down and Charles just before the bottom. Eagle has grown back into a true singletrack, however it is getting loose in some places. Mark turned around before we dropped the final chute and climbed back up. :gag: The final chute was loose, and steep, and rutted....but it is a fun challenge. The only one without a dropper post rode it. :whistling:

Short roadie over to Skyline. Quick water refill then up we went. Bottom of Skyline was bordering on hot....no shade. About 1/2 way up the breeze kicked in. Up near the top the winds started howling and the temps dropped. At Beeks' we said adios to Charles as the remain 3 of us began out assault on Main Divide. Had hoped for a tailwind to push us across. We would get one from time to time. Lots of Jeep traffic on MD today...and they were all driving way too fast. At Hagador we were just getting blown around. Put my sunsleeves on because of the cold. Amy was long gone. Main Divide is getting really loose. Now I didn't remember this til we were passed Pleasant's Peak(where I later learned that winds were blowing 45-55 mph). We had done B* / Motorway a week ago and we commented on how loose and slippery the road had become. Had I remembered this before I created this route, we may have done something different. It was a slow traverse of Main Divide. Walked some areas I normally don't. However, eventually we made it to the top of Motorway....only to find that Amy kept going. We got rolling quickly.

Again, Motorway is Motorway.....I like it. I like the variety. I was tired, but not burnt. Just kept moving today. No issues on Motorway and we all made it down cleanly. Amy was waiting at the bottom. We had already decided at Beeks' that the climb back up Maple Springs wasn't going to happen. It would have been a 3 hr climb back up to 4C. So we roadied it down Silverado....again hoping for a tailwind....not sure we got one or not.

Back on out Santiago Canyon it was easy spin back to Modjeska Canyon.

Fun day on the bike. Good group and good company. It's a good route....a difficult route. I enjoyed it.

https://www.relive.cc/view/1378603126

52 / 9000'
 
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