RR: Aliso Woods 12/22/07

[northshore]

I rode with Duan and Bon (his first time on a converted SS) after I think a month off of no riding. Fairly casual ride. According to Duan, Bon (must be a long lost brother) climbs like no tomorrow and he was hurting with a 32t/20t combo going up Cholla. Watching Bon in so much pain made me wonder why I was building one.

Plenty of crap talking was being passed around. References to satellite dishs, dinner plates, pie pans, and tasting your lunch again were always proper and welcomed. We crossed upper West Ridge to the Top of the World which really amazed me. I never made it to the Top of the World without stopping. Pacing Duan, it was my first successful attempt on that dreaded incline. I felt pretty good and proud of myself for doing that! Actually the DW-link did all of the work. Check out the crappy cell phone photo of Bon nearly puking on my I.H. and Duan sucking wind. I was sucking wind as well but I'm the one with the camera. By the way, thanks for suggesting the rebound adjustment for the rear Bon. Helped a ton.

We decided to bomb down Mathis since I have never been on that trail. A bit scary with washed out ruts everywhere and had to slow many times for the saftey of hikers/bikes coming up. I had a single close call when I hooked a curve to the right, steered quickly to the left to avoid a rut and nearly went sailing into the bushes.

After our quick arrival at the bottom of Mathis, we headed back out the canyon through the Coyote single tracks which I never rode backwards before. All three of us attempted to hammer up the steep incline. Duan in the lead didn't make it so thankfully nobody was looking to film the domino effect that resulted of it. However, folks at the bottom of the decline had the pleasure of watching my front tire slip off the side of a rock and me going down with it. A large number of riders were roaring through but three riders really stuck in my head. A father and his two boys. I'm guessing they were around 6 to 7 years old and just hammering away on their little BMX bikes trying to keep up with dad. Now that was really cool!!

Overall, a great ride, great time, killer views, and always cool people I meet along the trails.

[foofighter]

i like to make a correction to this RR...we didnt clear that first steeper at the very beginning but we both bon and i cleared that little steeper towards the end of coyote bon was behind me yelling dont stop!!! so i had to clear it.

and yes sucking wind up TOTW in middle ring...gotta build that strength for that monocog