RR: Chantry Flats

[xhuskr]

Noel (Hanzo), Nam (tkblazer), Kevin (KBL), Tim (Grandpa), Ann (Slowspokes), Andy (Sprockethead), Toby (ODB) and myself hit the Chantry Flats today. First time in the San Gabes...Hanzo had been trying me to get out there for quite some time and today was it. Kevin (one of two in the group) led the way starting at the parking lot and into the forest. For a place called Chantry Flats, I do not remember many flats (except for a tire) on the ride. Narrow trails with climb/decent, climb/decent...repeat were not only fun and challenging at times, but also a quick way to make you tired. Had a couple hucksters out there today including Hanzo who pulled of an incidental nose wheelie on a huck attempt (video when he posts it). Andy, as usual hucks most things and makes it look easy...except for his first one which he ALMOST endoed but pulled it out. Kevin had the fall of the day. On a steep climb that included 2 jump ups, he cleared the first one, but got stopped by the 2nd one. Off to the side and down the hill he went..good style points for both the bike and his legs flipping, but hard to watch a fellow rider go down like that. Good thing was that he was OK. He continued to lead as he had all day. I had a nice fall/slip towards the end causing my bike to be about 10ft below the trail. A little human rope and both bike and I were back on the trail, albeit a little more weary and slower and a few scratches.

Had some nice downhill towards the end that was hindered by my new Juicy7s locking up and skidding on the trails. Great day out there. Awesome scenery and hard to believe you were so close to the city......until we hit the freeway on the way home .

Hanzo and others should be posting pics/video soon, so no "means nothing without pics" posts, eh?

[Hanzo]

I was thinking of going back to the San Gabriels and low and behold KBL shoots me a PM asking me if I want to go. Geez its a hard call, but I gave in reluctantly and as it turns out it was a nice cold day.

8 of us took started at the parking lot and climbed Upper Winter Creek, desended Lower Winter Creek and back up Gabrielino to Sturtevant to Mt Zion back down Upper Winter Creek to the parking lot. Ive done all of these trails before but never in that order. Its weird when you ride your normal route in reverse, you get a whole new outlook. Its almost like new dirt.





ODB sportin his new Specialized Pitch



Xhunker not even sweatin the exposure that he was soooo worried about.



Your STR Weight Loss Challenge Official



Nambo going medieval



Xhunker (as Nam calls him) has second thoughts











KBL in the zone



WTF??? KBLs new BIODOME. He had taped his helmet to keep his noggin warm. Brewmaster your not the only inventor.



No horses in the Gabes. WHAT???



The happy couple



STR doing trail maintenance









grandpa checkin out his line



ankle warmers



stoneface

[sdyeti]

I have got to do this ride sometime soon!! Thanks for the pics...looks like a lot of fun!

[Sprockethead]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

I'm really not bored with the trail. Turning my head must have made me think I was railing the trail,

[Dino Brown]

Nice RR!!! I would LOVE to ride the San Gabriel's some day.
All kidding aside, WE have been trying to tell everyone- it doesn't get any better than The San Gabriel's!!! Don't take our word for it....

The NO HORSES sign.... pay it no attention!
Nam's horse was on the trail... Dino was riding his Horse in the San Gabriel's on Saturday..... I believe seeing one more Horse that day. Who could that have been...

[Sprockethead]

We had a great time out there today, eventhough we didn't finish the ride with you guys. The trail back towards Sturtevant was fun. Lot's of fast flowy corners to bank, the only thing that sucked was all the water crossing. It kinda killed the flow and the hikers that wouldn't move outta my way. No, not what you think, I was really nice and polite, just some of the hikers wouldn't let me pass em on the way down.

We made a stop at Sturtevant Falls, which had a pretty good flow going. It's been probably 9 years since I had last seen it.

Next time, we'll have to check out Mt. Zion, Ann was pretty worn out from the HAB once we got to Sturtevant Camp.

Late AM start, Thanks!


Kevin got the only flat of the day


Noel


Nam and Ann




Noel


Trailside falls


Check out the size of that leaf!


AirSpokes


SlowSpokes


Sturtevant Falls





Kevin, you got some crazy skills. It was really fun following you down Winter Creek and watching your lines.

[Pain Freak]

Looks like it was a little cool over that way too.

[allison]

Nice pics, guys!! Great hunkage going on.

[Hanzo]

Thats the most water Ive seen from that waterfall in a long time. Nice pic!

[ODB]

Awesome day out there. Perfect trail conditions, fantastic route (thanks, KBL), great buncha people and everyone rode really well. I'm feeling the HAB big-time in my calves today. Actually, i'm feeling the ride all over my aching body. Must have something to do with all the technical climbing, cuz those mere 13 miles felt more like 20, 25 to me.

[sheclimbs]

Looks like fun! Love that shot of Ann & Andy at the falls.

[tkblazer]

wooot GREAT RIDE! thanks to Kevin (KBL) for leading the way and setting up the ride... it was good seeing you at the regroups! you are one fast dood..

Andy, Ann, Noel, Tim, Toby and Kevin aka xHunkr always good riding with you bubbs..

This was my third time in the San Gab's and the third variety of trails so it was all new dirt for me which was nice... Lots of exposure that doesn't really bother me, but was sketchy nevertheless. I'd have to say that this ride was up there on the effort level with steep climbs and short descents the entire ride. I ran out of water right before we started on the last 2 miles of trail, but thankfully there was not too much climbing left to be done. I believe i was the only one that middle ringed the entire ride and only had to walk sections that the others did as well... legs still feel good today after taking some sports legs and aleve. i wouldn't mind trying the other variation of this ride and see how it goes.

the ride leaders early on



andy in the woods



one of the many dams along the trail



smilespokes



tim enjoying some shot blocks while Kevin looks on



xHunkr's extreme action shot



Noel practicing his rapping



all the climbing gave me some downhill blue balls



andy gives a thumbs up for lunch



who else has a grandpa that hucks?



Noel pre-nose manual



andy up a switchback



bubbs riding along



noel still climbing



andy doesn't mind the exposure



Tim cruising along on the 39lb. beast



love the colors along the trail



andy once again JRA



at this switchback i told andy that toby had cleaned it, his reply was "that f*cker!"



kevin isn't the tallest bubb, but he really does look micro machine sized compared to the trees



"more climbing?"



the Tuna King overseeing the campground



this pretty much sums up the ride

[xhuskr]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

xHunkr's extreme action shot

one of Nam's blue balls that he left on a climb j/k...Nam kicked some arse with only a middle ring

[COLEKO]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

I ran out of water right before we started on the last 2 miles of trail, but thankfully there was not too much climbing left to be done.

I ran out of water as well when I was up there because my hydration pack had a leak. But right where ODB is standing there is a fountain with filtered water to use for refilling.

[Sewellymon]

i consider those trails some of the absolute best in the world

sprokethead wrote,"I was really nice and polite, just some of the hikers wouldn't let me pass em on the way down"

these trails are hiker-intensive on weekends. i consider the proper ethic to pull over for every hiker going up and down. i am in as big a hurry as anybody and want to shred as much as anybody.. but i don't pee in the soup i drink. this is my home turf, so i try to be a total good will ambassador

as opposed to the times i ride the obscure and unused portions of the Pretty Cool Trail

oh, and sproket? most those stream crossings are rideable, so just chalk em up to technical challenge