LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Backbone Trail - Great Single Track
The Back Bone trail out in the Malibu Creek Area is some of the nicest single track that I have now ridden.
Made the trip to Kanan Rd out in Malibu Creek Area and parked right before #1 Tunnel. Plenty of parking and the area was marked well. I was eager to get out but being the first time and no GPS I was concerned on finding my way around. I ran into the ranger in the parking area and he was very helpful on telling me about the trails.
The main trail is the Back Bone and this thing can go quite a long way. I asked the ranger for the more difficult/climbing way and he pointed me due east on the trail (Back Bone Trail). Nice to have a ranger spend a least five mins discussing trail options. He did say the start was a little steep and loose.
With no warm up from the parking lot the trail took a a serious up hill start with chunky rocks and loose stuff. I thought I was going to pass out since I had no warm up and had to grind right at the start. Got through the section with only one dab but I am sure I was redlined. Crossed over the tunnels on top and was on my way up/down the Back Bone.
I would say at least 80% has some type of canopy cover which is really nice. Also the ocean breeze was blowing nice and steady with a very cool feel.
Trail maintenance was great. I give a double thumbs up for the people up there that maintain the trail. They have done a great job. The weed slap was not that bad! Too me that is part of riding single track and coming home with a few nice scratches that looks like you had one hell of night with the wife/girlfriend!
The trail was all single track but had long steady up hills and then you would drop back into another canyon. That was great since you were rewarded with some downhill and some rest. But once you got to the bottom of the canyon it was time to hit another and start climbing. The trail maint. was great but it was very loose and made the climbing very difficult. I guess it made me a better climber since you had to relax and not gun it to hard or you would spin out. The problem was that it was not a short up hill. Those climbs went on for a while.
Ran into only about 6 riders overall and they were all very helpful about the questions I had. They kept pointing me east on the trail and I kept hammering. I made it all the way through Mesa Creek Motorway. To that point it was all single track with a lot of climbing. Time was long but I had packed extra water and snacks. I thought it would be best to turn since I had been on the trail well over two hours and had several hard climbs back.
Made a quick snack stop and then made my u-turn back to the parking lot. The Mesa Creek Motorway had some serious climbing back out. But it seemed once I got back on Back Bone that it rolled much easier or it seemed that I had more downhill and less climbing. By then my legs were feeling a little tired so any climbs did take toll on my legs.
Kept the speed in check since I was solo and didn't see many peeps and crashing out there you could be stuck for days. I pushed but slowed as needed to keep things safe on the downhills.
Overall....I recommend this trail for some of the best single track I have ridden in my limited ride years. I want to go back and try to ride west on the trail and make it to Point Mugu State Park and get closer ocean views. That would be another True Epic ride.
Since I dont have a GPS or Odo. I estimated about 24+ miles with at least 2000+ elevation. Again, just a great trail overall. Pics to follow......
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by dirt lover
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.7
Bookmarks