RR: San Clemente Singletracks

[OMR]

OK, so I showed up a little late (end of the ride) and without my bike... at least I got to go for pizza & beer (although all I had was a salad... didn't earn anything else!). All I could see when I pulled into Steed Park parking lot was those stupid smiles all over everybody faces... yeah, that is a really great place to ride and you can get a real work out and not ride very far... it's either up or down... the trail just works you... concentration has to remain very high as it an unforgiving area.... way too much fun!

The people that have been doing most of the trail work over the last 10-15 years are called Team What the F*ck! (TWTF). They've been recently joined by Swift Racing. FYI: They don't mind riders coming down and riding as long as you bring them a beer if they are there.

I think I'm going to start bringing the bike to work and take off for an hour around noon and work up a smelly sweat!

[granny ring]

Hey John, I was wondering why I was in so many shots and then it dawned on me, CAUSE I WAS SLOW AS SIN. You had plenty of time to stop, get set up, and get the picture. Great trails and a great guide as usual. I will miss your Tuesday adventures for us work slackers.

Hey Troy I was going to drop you a note to tell you to meet us but I flaked. Sounds like you were busy so I don't feel as bad.

[BrewMaster]

Great RR guys. I look forward to riding these trails sometime.

[ThinkFast]

Drop me a note and if I can make it I will. I love riding this place. There is always something next. OMR nailed it, your concentration is up as there is always something different right around the corner.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

Drop me a note and if I can make it I will. I love riding this place. There is always something next. OMR nailed it, your concentration is up as there is always something different right around the corner.

Yep, as I often tell first-timers to these trails..the trails are so attention-demanding that you are going to have a hard time just having time to grab your Camelbak tube to sip from until we stop to re-group.

KeepsWhatHappens

[ThinkFast]

John, I had a hard enough time grabbing the right gear let alone my Camelbak tube that first time I rode out there with you.

[kdog4130]

Man! Those trails look fun! How does one get there?

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by kdog4130

Man! Those trails look fun! How does one get there?

I-5 south, exit Avenida Pico, go left, rt on Avenida La Pata,
This is where we usually meet. Just expand the map to find the I-5 fwy, then go from there.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?saddr...&t=h&z=17&om=1

[foofighter]

totally agree, the time that i rode this trail i didnt bobble much except for one of the bridge crossing but my concentration was HIGH but totally fun...i think the subsequent rides would be more fun and faster

[mr.hobbs]

A quick hello and then some words of advice for navigating your way around this place.
Met OMR on the trail the other day, Hello again. I joined up to see what the latest buzz is.

If your planning on riding this place for the first time, keep a couple things in mind. If it looks like an animal trail, it is. There are several off shoots from the main trails that have developed in the past year without rain. Mostly due to people riding down an animal trail that has no end. There is a bunch of deer down in the creeks feeding on the golf course run-off water, so they have their own trails and alot of them.

Now to set the names straight on a couple new trails. I can only speak for what our group worked on and all due respect to the TWTF. Straight out of the dog park is "Holeshot" (aka "fences plus"). right of the park is "Qualifier" , left on the bottom of "wallstreet" is "Glitter Gultch".
As for the method behind them, it's simple. We laid them out as if it was a motorcycle enduro at 1/4 the speed. Basicly sections of special tests with about 100ft of rest in between. All the while trying to elminate the main fire road from being apart of the ride and giving more options to get from bottom to top. So all 3 were started as uphills, (that you can also ride down). And I think our group is done building. It's about maintence now.

A tour guide is your best bet for navigation.

[foofighter]

thank you for your contribution to this wondeful amusement park

[dstepper]

I rode out there today, I want to thank those that spent time on the trails. Someone did alot of brush work, the bridges are great.

I did not have any problem finding my way around...I probibly would not be able to go the same route again as I went up over around and through...but good fun. Between the power lines and the flood lights near the dog park it is easy to keep your bearings...when you get tired just start heading back towards the light poles, they are very tall and visible.

Dean

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I rode out there today, I want to thank those that spent time on the trails. Someone did alot of brush work, the bridges are great.

I did not have any time finding my way around...I probibly would not be able to go the same route again as I went up over around and through...but good fun. Between the power lines and the flood lights near the dog park it is easy to keep your bearings...when you get tired just start heading back towards the light poles, they are very tall and visible.

Dean

kind of reminds me of an excerpt from OMR's novel when he was riding out in the booney's

[sir crashalot]

great RR- inspired me to explore there solo this morning and do a similar loop. Started with Fences Plus, up Blind Lemons (great bridge near the top) down Wall Steet, but near the bottom I took the right hand fork that starts with that little roldown and connected over to Hully Gully (the downhill you took after the no-name climb) down Hully Gully, back north along the singletrack at the bottom (No Tools?), up Use Your Sock, back down Fences Plus, but this time I took the right-hand s-track at the intersection partway down, then north past the bottom of Fences Plus and climbed back up via the trail that wraps around back up to the start from the north, which I've gone down before but I don't know what it's called. Amazing variety of singletracks, props to Team WTF. Is it all legal? If so, it is the most single-track rich riding area in the OC and my new favorite place to ride. Hot out there today though.
I'm thinking a good loop would be to start with Qualifier, down Wall Street, connect over to Hully Gully and go down that or the noname one I cimbed last time, back north along No Tools, up Blind Lemons or Use Your Sock, then do Fences Plus and climb back up.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by sir crashalot

great RR- inspired me to explore there solo this morning and do a similar loop. Started with Fences Plus, up Blind Lemons (great bridge near the top) down Wall Steet, but near the bottom I took the right hand fork that starts with that little roldown and connected over to Hully Gully (the downhill you took after the no-name climb) down Hully Gully, back north along the singletrack at the bottom (No Tools?), up Use Your Sock, back down Fences Plus, but this time I took the right-hand s-track at the intersection partway down, then north past the bottom of Fences Plus and climbed back up via the trail that wraps around back up to the start from the north, which I've gone down before but I don't know what it's called. Amazing variety of singletracks, props to Team WTF. Is it all legal? If so, it is the most single-track rich riding area in the OC and my new favorite place to ride. Hot out there today though.
I'm thinking a good loop would be to start with Qualifier, down Wall Street, connect over to Hully Gully and go down that or the noname one I cimbed last time, back north along No Tools, up Blind Lemons or Use Your Sock, then do Fences Plus and climb back up.

I must say you are good at deciphering GPS/Googlemaps and verbal directions. I really respect that quality. We need to meet. Sounds like you had a great ride.

Yes to my knowledge it's all legal. The story goes like this...The trails were illegally built in San Onofre State Park, But now those trails are rightin the planned 241 toll road extension which the state (miraculously) opposes. So they have gone in and put in official state signs so that the tollroad " appears" to be affecting exisiting park users (which is true).

Some of the newer trails like "Qualifier" are not builyt by WTF but by some dudes who work in the business park above Steed Park.

I do think there are plenty of trails already so we shouldn't really be building any more. That's just asking for the state to shut us down.

Also, on a couple occasions I've noticed motorcycles riding these trails. Please report them to the state park ranger if you see them. These guys not only destroy the trails, but are a fire hazard and could potentially lead to getting the area closed for mountain bikers as well.

Happy Trails,

KeepsWhatHappens

[OMR]

Originally Posted by mr.hobbs

A quick hello and then some words of advice for navigating your way around this place.
Met OMR on the trail the other day, Hello again. I joined up to see what the latest buzz is.

If your planning on riding this place for the first time, keep a couple things in mind. If it looks like an animal trail, it is. There are several off shoots from the main trails that have developed in the past year without rain. Mostly due to people riding down an animal trail that has no end. There is a bunch of deer down in the creeks feeding on the golf course run-off water, so they have their own trails and alot of them.

Now to set the names straight on a couple new trails. I can only speak for what our group worked on and all due respect to the TWTF. Straight out of the dog park is "Holeshot" (aka "fences plus"). right of the park is "Qualifier" , left on the bottom of "wallstreet" is "Glitter Gultch".
As for the method behind them, it's simple. We laid them out as if it was a motorcycle enduro at 1/4 the speed. Basicly sections of special tests with about 100ft of rest in between. All the while trying to elminate the main fire road from being apart of the ride and giving more options to get from bottom to top. So all 3 were started as uphills, (that you can also ride down). And I think our group is done building. It's about maintence now.

A tour guide is your best bet for navigation.

Always good to meet another member of the Tribe... and one that does trail work is special... see you out there again.

[mr.hobbs]

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

Some of the newer trails like "Qualifier" are not builyt by WTF but by some dudes who work in the business park above Steed Park.

I do think there are plenty of trails already so we shouldn't really be building any more. That's just asking for the state to shut us down.



Happy Trails,

KeepsWhatHappens

Those same dudes also work on "all" the trials one day a week and have for the last 10 yrs., your welcome. hehehe
We'll see you at 11:35 at the dog park for a ride,the other 4 days of the week also. Some days, it's the only reason I even make the drive to work.

[sir crashalot]

I must say you are good at deciphering GPS/Googlemaps and verbal directions. I really respect that quality. We need to meet. Sounds like you had a great ride.

To be fair, I did print out your route map first and brought it with me, and it hepled a lot (The previous time I rode there, with Duan, Bon, and the Radciffes, despite the geoladdrs directios I printed with the tiny pictures, we got kinda lost-still had fun though as we found Fences Plus by accident). It'd be good to ride with you there sometime, you seem to know it well. Can you ever ride on wed or thurs?
happy trails

p.s. be warned I'm a slow climber