Crazy Ride - Noob

[stumpygonewild]

So first off, i wanted to say hello to everyone on STR. I have been stalking the forums for the last few weeks and finally decided i had to join. I try and ride every weekend and am looking for some riding buddies to hit different trails with. The STR group rides sound great as well.

So let me begin by telling the tale of my last ride on Sunday. Went to Eaton Canyon in Altadena with a friend. We set off excited as ever to ride eaton to mt. wilson toll road to the top of wilson at the observatory to relax and eat then to the tunnel of no return and then down a single track. It all sounded like a great time from what i had read on socalmtb.com

We set off and road for no less that 5 minutes when I ran into the HUGE landslide that hasn't been cleaned up yet. We hiked-a-bike across it making sure our footing was sure. And off to climb for 12 more miles we went. 1/2 way up we where startled by a man in full camo (basspro style) who came out of no where with a bow and arrow who yelled at us for ruining his shot of some game. This guy with arrows yelling at us? hah sooo then we are 3/4 the way up the toll road when my friend, dan's, leg shot straight out. Turns out he was severely dehydrated and pulled and cramped his right quad pretty badly. Meanwhile, both he and I are out of water in our camel backs. But its ok cuz we are almost to the top. Only 4 more miles to go.

Make it to the top (dan walked the rest of the way up) and the observatory is closed! No water, no nothing! luckily the Angeles forest police department was relaxing inside and gave us several bottles of Gatorade and water. They saved us! It's about 5:30pm now. We didn't want to journey back down the toll road and have my friend with the busted leg have to negotiate the terrain. We decided to head down Angeles crest hwy. about 2 miles down we think it'd be faster to take the tunnel of no return and hit the single track. It's all down hill right? Well, the single track was tons of fun, but it was getting darker, quickly. 30 minutes later it was very very dark and we are under the canopy of trees. Luckily i just by chance threw a red tail light and handlebar headlight into my backpack. Turned that sucker on and was able to see directly in front of me.

So we follow this trail for another hour. It leads usno where near the bottom but we have come to far to turn around. The trail heads up hill, we hike a bike for another 2 hours till it meets up with the toll road and then road REAL slowly back down to my car.

What a ride!!!! poor planning, but we had a blast. It was so dark we couldn't see our hands infront of our faces. Boy am i glad that i brought that light!

Does anyone have any recommendations for how to carry more water on your rides?

So, with that story, i want to say that I am uber excited to be a new member of the STR community.



JT

[allison]

Did you both have 3L/100oz Camelbak's? Even on the warmest of day's it takes me 3 hours or so to go through that much water.

If you've got room on your frame, take at least 1-2 bottles of plain water, or you can get an energy drink mix such as HEED, Cytomax, or similar products from Gatorade, Clif, Power Bar, etc...

[stumpygonewild]

Yes we both had the 3L camelbaks however we drink a decent amount of water and we where out riding from 12 noon till 11pm.

I'm going to put on the water bottle holder on my bike. Maybe that'll help a bit. I always do a half gatorade half water mix in my bag.

Thanks for the tips though.

JT

Originally Posted by allison

Did you both have 3L/100oz Camelbak's? Even on the warmest of day's it takes me 3 hours or so to go through that much water.

If you've got room on your frame, take at least 1-2 bottles of plain water, or you can get an energy drink mix such as HEED, Cytomax, or similar products from Gatorade, Clif, Power Bar, etc...

[BrewMaster]

allison pretty much covered it. bottles and a bigger camelbak. I also throw bottles of water in the cargo portion of my pack if I think I am going to need them.

Welcome to the madness stumpygonewild. I hope you can check out our newbie ride next weekend in Chino Hills State Park. It will be a fun ride, no lights needed and no water refills needed (probably).

[stumpygonewild]

I'll be there! (work permitting of course)

pretty excited about the newbie class prior as well.

Thanks!

JT

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

allison pretty much covered it. bottles and a bigger camelbak. I also throw bottles of water in the cargo portion of my pack if I think I am going to need them.

Welcome to the madness stumpygonewild. I hope you can check out our newbie ride next weekend in Chino Hills State Park. It will be a fun ride, no lights needed and no water refills needed (probably).

[COLEKO]

It will be heavy but some hydration bags can hold a second reservoir.

[genusmtbkr5]

Welcome aboard the goodship STR

[Pho'dUp]

Welcome.

As far as hydrating, what everyone else said.

Also, maybe you guys should try to pre-hydrate a day or two before. You can check your status by your urine color (clear and copius).

Might help your buddy if he has a banana or some gatorade too the night before. Pickle juice if he really cramps a lot.

See you out there soon.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Might help your buddy if he has a banana or some gatorade too the night before. Pickle juice if he really cramps a lot.

I smell a new flavor of Gatorade: Banana-Pickle Juice. For the slightly more adventurous, the Mustard-Banana-Pickle Juice flavor will be released at the same time.