Pushakona 3 rr

[Pain Freak]

What a great ride this was today. Not sure of the total group size, but it was a big one. I'd guess close to 30? It's been a few years since I'd done Horsethief so the pain memory had subsided and I felt it was time to give it a go again. The ride got started fairly well, some guys getting warmed up first and others taking off like screaming banshee's. But we all got to the Holy Jim Trailhead in about the same time. The lower section hasn't changed a whole lot since the last time I rode it, except it has been brushed and it is fairly easy going up this section. We did happened to see the Warriors out there doing some trail maintenance and it looked really good. Going up I couldn't help but remember the torture of doing the Vision Quest, and climg it today made me smile a whole lot more knowing I wouldn't be doing it in the near future.

The weather was a little to cold for me, but a lot of the guys were saying how nice it was, so maybe that's just me.The main divide was, well it was the main divide (a fireroad) but a welcome relief to all the climbing we had just done. The group splintered a little here, but soon regrouped at the start of the Pinos trailhead. This is the first of many hike-a-bikes along this route. If your legs weren't screaming by now, you're not human, or you're a mutant (of which we had a few along on the ride). Some of these guys were very impressive with pushing and riding their 40 pound bikes up some really steep stuff. After a few climbs we hit the peak/turnoff for Bell Ridge and went down some really sweet singletrack, although it was very steep in some places and you had to stay on your game here or over you'd go. I hit one fairly steep section with some rocks to ride through that also had a drop involved in it. You have to roll this little drop because there is no run out and you need to turn fairly quick to make it, I called out a warning but I don't know if I put enough urgency in my voice and Gurp was coming down behind me. He didn't make it here and bruised a rib pretty good. After a few more hills we finally hit "I can't see bottom", and let me tell you this SOB is beyond steep.I was looking ahead to see if I could find a line and seen a few guys go by and try to make it, they didn't. DFT then yelled out to see if it was all clear and he launched off. He rode this at a pretty good clip, and almost made it look easy (almost). By this time I'd worked my way down to the bottom ,getting on and off the bike. I was watching the others trying it out and then it came to CalEpics turn. Most of you guys know he has some really good skills, but today Bell Ridge owned him. Over he went. Damage was a cut ear and a badly dislocated finger. He says it's not that bad though. By this time the rabbits had already taken off so I and a few others went after them in pursuit. We got out quite a ways from the main group, so that's about all I can say for the group ride. I did manage to get stabbed pretty good right below the throat and have a bruise the size of a softball now right under my throat. Makes it real hard to swallow, but if that's the price of admission, I'll gladly give it again.

[Schecky]

Great RR! I'm looking forward to more.

[Pain Freak]

Forgot, here's the ringleader.

[Pain Freak]

bigger

[kentonn]

Yeah, I was really sorry that I had to miss this one. I am going to do Bell Ridge sometime in Feb. Thanks for the RR

[tkblazer]

you guys are hardcore man... lets see the battle wounds

[bjammin]

Wow, now I'm realy bummed I didn't get to go. (house shopping).
Hey CalEpic - Are you gonna be able to ride Palm Springs on the 3rd/4th?
Ben

[andy aka rut]

More RR...
Getting up was pretty difficult on Saturday morning. It was frost cold, early and I was tired. Once all 31 of us got to the meeting place, we headed out. The total mileage I got was 22 miles with almost 5000 ft of climbing. I think most everyone had a great time. It was a lot of fun getting meet new people and ride with a few old friends. West Horsethief sucked, but we all knew that. Bell Ridge was a blast as always and boy is it in great condition.
Thanks to Maxwell for getting this huge event organized!
1) Group shot at the parking lot of Holy Jim
2) Keith the president of SHARE and Mark owner of Hoss
3) Winston in all is glory
4) Pain Freak showing what his name is all about
5) Bell Ridge

[Pain Freak]

Got one of the Rut too.

[SScheetz]

Great RR! Sounds brutal. I’ll have to put 20 lbs dumbbells on my bars and try this next year.

[Winston]

Ok, if you insist.

CalEpic - One tough SOB!

you guys are hardcore man... lets see the battle wounds

[ThinkFast]

Is it just me or does that finger look crooked still in the pic?

Hope your driving finger heals up quick.

[gurp13]

It's not you. Nobody re-located it (undislocated?) while on the trail because nobody knew how. He manned up and rode back to civilization with it like that. We're talking miles to go still with lots of downhill. I was very impressed.

This ride beat me like a pinata at a quincinera. I was whooped! I was fighting off cramps in my quads, calves, and especially groin muscles. At one point I had to just sit down and stretch while I ate a Gu gel. Thankfully that helped, but this was at the start of the Los Pinos/Bell Ridge area. We'd already gone 12 miles by then and had at least that many to go! Then, I fell on the singletrack. I hear Pain Freak call out, "It gets pretty sketchy up here!" Well, I was already fishtailing on the loose, loamy ground that was steeper than it looked so I said, "Yeah, I noticed that." Then, I saw what he was talking about, tried to stop, went OTB and landed face down on a rock. Knocked the wind out of me and bruised a rib. It hurts worse today than yesterday.

The Bell Ridge singletrack was suh-weet. I did not even attempt the Can't-See-the-Bottom drop. It's so hairy that it's even hard to hike your bike down it! All I knew was that as I approached the "launch pad" I saw Craig about to go. He went and there was quiet then everybody in unison said, "Ooooh" as in, "That's gonna hurt!" You couldn't see from where I was because this drop is aptly named. So, Maxwell says, "You guys might want to take a look at it before you try it." I laughed and said, "No need for me to look, I'm not riding it." And, with my pride trailing behind me in tattered remains, I skittered and skidded my red bike down the obstacle.

This was in the top two hardest rides I have ever done. Well, maybe even top three. There was the extra credit after Just Outstanding in Kernville (which I probably just lacked the strength and skills for and probably is not as hard as this one, but it was HOT that day), the Plunge itself, and now this ride. My legs are still screaming. But, I'm glad I went.

[CalEpic]

What a ride! First off a big thanks to Maxwell for inviting STR to his annual event. Other than my unfortunate incident I had a great time.

There was a very large group of riders in attendance. I believe 32?

Partial group shot at the start:


We make our way up Trabuco Creek Rd:


Once at the Trabuco/Holy Jim parking area Pain Freak lets everyone know he's bored with Gurp pulling up his pantyhose:


The beginning of a theme pattern - West Horsethief:


Near the top of West Horsethief the trail becomes rideable again - what a relief for my screaming, under developed calves.

Once at the top of Trabuco/Pinos trailhead a few decided to call it quits and ride Trabuco down instead of more fun on Pinos/Bell.

More Hike-a-bike on Pinos:


Bell Ridge is a beautiful ridgeline trail:


Bell Ridge is not for the faint of heart. Steep climbs and loose, sometimes sketchy descents.

We came to a gnarly section appropriately called Can't see bottom. Sorry no pics. It starts with a little step down followed immediately by a right hander, then left hander into a series of steep, loose chutes. I'm not sure but I think only one person rode the entire section clean.

After watching a couple attempts I gave it a try. I was so focused on the steep loose section I guess I wasn't paying attention to the step down at the start and immediately stacked hard into a bush. I didn't think I hurt myself at first but when I tried to pick up my bike, my left hand would not cooperate. I looked down and noticed my middle finger was sticking at an odd angle and I couldn't move it. I took my glove off and confirmed that I dislocated my finger. Fortunately it didn't really hurt too bad and I rolled down to the bottom to clear the way for others. I then felt blood running down my face and dripping on my shirt. Great. Now what? Sid took a look at my ear and confirmed a gash. He gauzed and taped it with encouragement from Dirty D and others. A side note: Tire levers make a great finger splint. Thanks guys. Also - to the guy whose name I forget, thanks for the Ibuprofen. It really helped. Unfortunately the picture of my finger came out blurry.

Sid's handywork - Thanks Bro:


The rest of the ride was pretty tough for me. The only comfortable way to ride was one-handed. This was not possible on the downhills so I had to endure my finger being bounce around on the bars. Also - I couldn't effectively use my front brake so going downhill was tricky.

Once we made it back to the start point I loaded up for a trip to the Doc in a Box right down the street. I was greeted with "Hey guys, we got another mountain biker in". I guess I'm in good company. I wasn't really concerned about my ear. Just my dislocated finger. X-rays looked wild - my knuckle on down was completely separated from the rest of my finder at that joint! I tried to get a copy but they wouldn't give me one. The doctor gave me a choice. Take the pain shot in my finger that will sting going in or tough it out while she pops my finger back into joint. She said it's about equally painful unless the finger gives her problems then there's some tweaking and pulling that could get uncomfortable. Being the big puss I am, it was an easy decision. And it was a good one. She had a hell of a time getting my finger reduced. While she was pulling on my finger I had to suppress a laugh at the pull my finger joke that was just dying to come out .

When she looked at my ear she became concerned about bleeding under the tissue and torn cartilage that would require plastic surgery. WTF! I just wanted it cleaned up and a bandaid put on it. Now I had to drive over to Mission Hospital since Doc in the box couldn't handle this. A long story short, No plastic surgery required but several sutures and an end to my ear modeling career. I finally made it home about 9:30 pm. My good wife had some carne asada tacos and beer waiting for me. mmmmmm

It looks like I'm off the bike for a while now until I get the splint off my finger.

Sorry this was so long. It truly was a great ride and I'll be riding Bell again (without WHT this time. That sucked balls)

C

Wow, now I'm realy bummed I didn't get to go. (house shopping).
Hey CalEpic - Are you gonna be able to ride Palm Springs on the 3rd/4th?
Ben

Sorry Ben. Working plus bum finger.

C

[gurp13]

Dang, what did I do to piss you off? All the pics you took and you gotta post one of my pasty white thigh? I look like a big enough tool even when I'm *not* yanking my knee warmers up. Thanks.

You know damn well Pain Freak wasn't yawning. He was propositioning me.

I accepted.

[LBmtb]

That photo of you with a slashed ear and a huge ear is awesome! Ride sounds like a lot of fun. Props to everyone who tried that cant see bottom section - sounds gnarly. More photos, please?

[maxwell]

Hey guys, thanks for showing up!

I'll have some pics up here a little later.....

By the way CalEpic, nice finger ya got there!!

[dstepper]

Nice RR guys.

Craig after looking at your picture, I might think again about the plastic surgery.

[guero]

amazing RR's by everyone and great pix! sounds like that was one helluva ride/hike/adventure!!!

hope ya heal up quickly craigger!

[Winston]

A little "Can't See Bottom" Action.



Video:

Can't See Bottom (Please right click and Select Save Target As...)
Duration = 3:05
File Size = 26.5 MB

Remember, most of us are gased before we even got to this section of trail.