Blackstar-Skinsuit-Skyline-Smashface.....

[maxwell]

Today a few of us did Blackstar-Skinsuit-Skyline-Smashface, and two of us still came up short!

A few days back I got word of this ride happening today, and jumped at the chance to do it!

Last time I hit Smashface with the guys, it was freak'n HOT, I puked, and felt like I'd been hit by a truck! Blackstar to Smashface -Somebody Please Slap ME!

On Labor Day we did the Blackstar-Skinsuit-Skyline loop, in the heat, and was completely worked when I got done! Maxwell's Labor Day Ride 9/7/09 - Blackstar/Skinsuit/Skyline

So what better way to redeem myself, than to do them both, in the same day, in nice COOL weather.

Then the voices started in on me.

Why not head up Silverado Canyon Rd. to Maple Springs, to Joplin, and down The Luge?
"Come on, you can do it", they said!

I shot the guys e-mails about my add-on to their route.

The response I got from Slayer, went something like this...

"You're freak'n nuts Darin!! I'll stick with ending with Smashface."

Dan (d-man), on the other hand, has been spending way too much time riding with me, and bit hook line and sinker!

So, we dropped off a car at Cook's, and met up with our group at 6:45am.

FUN group of guys to ride with for sure.


It was nice and cool....and WINDY!

It actually made the ride up Blackstar nice. The head wind wasn't too bad, and the cool air felt like someone turned on the AC just for me!

Dan climbing Blackstar


Chris pedals in to Beeks


Once we got to Beeks, the wind was really going hard. We figured it would help out on the climb back up Skyline, and could make Skinsuit a bit more exciting!

Dust clouds over Corona


The little climb to Skinsuit went pretty quick. It would be a nasty, nasty thing the second time up!

What can I say about Skinsuit, that I haven't already said? Fast, flowy, short HAB, slightly steep. Big FUN factore!

Dan on Skinsuit


Mash Cabron, MASH!


Push Cabron, PUSH!


Ken gets his Skinsuit on!


As does Slayer!


Dan and Chris getting close to the bottom.


After having all that FUN, it was time to get back to climbing. Since Dan and I were trying to race the moon, we took off a bit sooner than the others.

Skyline was a little on the warm side at first. But the higher we climbed, the more the cool wind came back into play. We were making pretty good time, and I felt decent. In fact, I felt pretty dog gone good! I love cool weather!

Off to Smashface we go!

Dan on the Main Divide.


We made good time getting to Smashface. And we got to the trail head just in time to watch this guy do a touch down!

SCORE!!






Dan with our "intended" destination, Modjeska Peak, over his right shoulder.


After all that climbing, it was time to have some more FUN! Smashface, here we come!

Smashface is not all about steeps. It has plenty of FLOW too!


Which of course, lead to the steeps!


Which lead to more flow!


And all that goodness gets topped off with a nice, nasty hike-a-bike! Sorry, no pictures of the HAB. I wouldn't want to scare anyone away!

Smashface. A GREAT ridge line trail for sure!


So, we get down to my car, and start the refueling process. Dan made some fine ham & cheese bagels, and I grabbed a cold drink for the general store. We were both feeling fairly good. But, we still had roughly 12 miles of climbing ahead of us to get to Joplin. It was already close to 2:30, and dark comes around 5:30-6pm.
We'd have to push pretty hard to get done before dark. Granted, we both had lights with us, but after eating the bagel, my stomach just wanted more company!
I was ready to relax, and stuff myself full of FOOD, not lactic acid!

So I tapped out!

I'm sure Dan could have gone the distance, and I'm pretty positive I had a good shot.

But today, food ruled the roost, and I'm OK with that.
I do ride, so I can EAT!

Here's what my GPS showed for the ride; http://connect.garmin.com/activity/18874864

Distance:28.54 mi

Elevation Gain: 6,704 ft

Elevation Loss: 6,724 ft

Time: 05:21:24

[minimusprime]

wow man you're nuts. I rode with Dan on the path night ride last week. Super cool dood. hopefully I'll make it out to ride with you some day man. You're ride reports look like absolute torture and fun all at the same time.

[dft]

nice max!! good to see smashface getting alittle more burnt in.

[metalmtbr]

Well done RR, Maxwell. The elevation gain and distance is impressive. Great photos, too.

[maxwell]

nice max!! good to see smashface getting alittle more burnt in.

It really is in great shape right now. And after cleaning the bottom steeps the last two rides on the Stinky, I came up short today on the Dawg. No crashes, but a foot down once to twice!

[coolbreeze]

wow man you're nuts. I rode with Dan on the path night ride last week. Super cool dood. hopefully I'll make it out to ride with you some day man. You're ride reports look like absolute torture and fun all at the same time.

It's more tortuous for him because he's riding a 37 pound Kona.

Great RR D. No "crash" max moment this time around?

[minimusprime]

any guy that can put in 6700' of climbing in with a totem on his bike... is a Bad-A guy to me.

[dirtmistress]

Great Max!! I gotta try that loop with you sometime and stop at the food for sure!!

[slayer]

Great report and pics as usual Darin! It was a great day to be out in the mountains, temps were good and all in all the wind wasn't too bad. Ken, David and I hit the bottom of Smashface at around 3:15, making our ride a little over 8 hrs total. When we didn't see your car, we knew you made the wise choice. Plus we were glad you didn't continue because that would have made us look bad. My wise choice of the day was to ride my 36lb Dawg and leave the 45lb Stinky at home. We had no flats and no mechanicals, but I did taste the dirt a few times on Smashface.

This was my first time down Skinsuit, fun trail, and my second down Smashface. That is such a great trail, fast and flowy and then it just drops off into the abyss.

It was great riding with everyone today and it was nice meeting you Dan. Definitely a good day to be out on the trail with some fellow STUPIDASS'.

[MohammedInABearSuit]

Maybe when I get a "real" mountain bike I'll join you on this ride.
The name "Smashface" doesn't seem all too compatible with my current ride

[CPATCRASH]

Wow! I will have to check this ride off my list soon. I didn't get out to ride until about 9:30 so just headed to Old Camp. I did ride the 35lb UZZI though.

[Cabron]

Good riding with ya Maxwell, and it was nice meeting you Dan. While you guys were racing for the moon, we took it nice and easy on the climbs but actually felt pretty good once we hit the last HAB after Smashface. But boy ill tell ya, I was so happy to see the cars at that peak that I almost took off down the last steep chute with my helmet and pads strapped to my pack!
First time on Smashface & it didnt disappoint, great ride indeed fellas.

[kentonn]

Great ride and I think we all handled it better than we expected. I pedaled the 42 lb. DirtBag and felt strong the entire day. I'm not sure where it came from but I even found the energy to ride some of the HAB at the end. I still couldn't imagine trying to head up Maple Springs after that ride though. Darin, your just plain crazy to even consider it.

By the way, did the store owner give you guys any crap about the exit from Smashface. He certainly told us about his worries. They are concerned that the new trail that has formed will eventually lead to erosion and/or land slide. He was also telling us that it is private property from the Crosses down. Interestingly enough, he felt that walking down the last section would be a suitable solution.

[chanson]

great route. going to have to do this one sometime soon.

[Chewyeti]

estan beastos! LOL

[Ladd Jasper]

By the way, did the store owner give you guys any crap about the exit from Smashface. He certainly told us about his worries. They are concerned that the new trail that has formed will eventually lead to erosion and/or land slide. He was also telling us that it is private property from the Crosses down. Interestingly enough, he felt that walking down the last section would be a suitable solution.

Sounds like an ideal STUPIDASS recruit. I know you thanked him for his concern, but did you remember the informational packet and complimentary sticker?

[d'man]

Good day for a great ride Nice to meet and ride with Ken, Chris and Dave

I think to have pulled of Maple Springs and Joplin in the same ride we would need to ride up Blackstar in the dark and be at the top of Skinsuit at first light. The temps really made as difference as I felt way better than either of the Labor Day Skinsuit ride or the Charbroil Smashface ride. I think with some better planning logistics we can bag the BIG ride...but when you are with Darin BIG is all relative because before we even had a chance to finish our sandwiches he starts telling me about his goal next year to do a 100 mile mountain bike ride in a single day . Of course, he is not talking about a fire roadie day, but something with big climbs and steep descents.

As for the the bottom of Smashface, we had a similar discussion last time with the shop owner. We meant to mention it to you guys, but forgot. We walked the last part down to the road and carried our bikes and everything seemed cool.

[dft]

good to hear its in good shape. i rode it once and it was great, but it did have some off camber loose unridable sections in the middle, they might still exist, but no big deal. your exit still sounds alot better than mine, i ended in someones backyard and they had to open an electric fence for me to get out! (i apologized alot for that).

[OMR]

Maybe when I get a "real" mountain bike I'll join you on this ride.
The name "Smashface" doesn't seem all too compatible with my current ride

Mark,

Smashface is a "perfect" trail for drop bars... he he he he... sorta make's the trail's name come alive...

[kentonn]

good to hear its in good shape. i rode it once and it was great, but it did have some off camber loose unridable sections in the middle, they might still exist, but no big deal. your exit still sounds alot better than mine, i ended in someones backyard and they had to open an electric fence for me to get out! (i apologized alot for that).

Made that mistake on the previous ride....