RR: New Year's Eve Bang Ride

[allison]

Made ya look, though, didn't I?

There were 21 of us at the Trabuco Creek Rd. wash this morning that took off toward Trabuco at 8:30 am. We were actually rolling at 8:33, which I think is great for a big group.

Gabe stopped early on for something, and Joel's neighbor had a chain issue, so Joel and Maxwell stopped to help him out.

I guess we had all left Justin in our dust (he was riding the Slowcom) on the road up. Personally I think he deserves it cause normally he is one of the fast riders

We all regrouped at the Holy Jim trailhead before heading up the final stretch of fire road before Trabuco.

Up the singletrack we all went. It was fairly smooth going, with a few short hikes here and there. We had another regroup at the turn off for West Horsethief before continuing to the top.

I was really surprised with how much of Trabuco I was able to climb. I've descended it many times (unfortunately never on my Enduro!), and always thought it'd be a pain to climb. It was doable, even with so many people on bigger heavy bikes.

We regrouped again for food and to chill out at the top of Trabuco.

We turned and started up Pinos. Maxwell was a bit behind, after Justin dropped my arm pads at the bottom of the first hairy descent. I had to stop and put them on (no room to carry them).

Joel and his neighbor had bailed to go back down Trabuco, but since everyone else was in front of us it was too late to ask if anyone else wanted to join them! I think we were all feeling pretty good, though.

Early on you go through some really closed in trees. A few steep sections, but mostly just tight singletrack.

The next thing I remember were the two gigantic hike a bikes. Denny hung out near the back and asked me about halfway up the first if I wanted him to come back for my bike (he'd helped me on Coldwater this summer, and was my savior). I said I was good, and slowly picked my way up the hill.

As promised, the second gigantic HABage was even worse than the first.

I made it to the top and everyone was chilling on the ground recouperating. It was "hella" windy up there.

Not long after we reached Can't See Bottom. While I missed the early guys that went down, I did get a few photos. No major crashes, but Maxwell slid over early on, then got back on the Kona and kept going. Went smoothly until he did a nose wheelied into the bushes and off the trail. Nothing major, though!

The trail continues to go up and down roller coastering its way along the ridge. Around mile 14.5-15 I was really getting tired. I didn't feel like eating because of the ups (stomach fighting legs and lungs for blood, yknow). The steep loose descents were forcing me to walk/run/slide... not fun

But, eventually we made it down to a split. Justin and a few others took a singletrack off to the right while the rest of us went left, as is normal.

Some more ruts, baby heads, and the final paved culvert and we were in the neighborhood. Whooo.

I actually didn't feel too bad! Made it back to the truck safe and sound, just a few scratches on my shins.

I was surprised at how not horrible the ride was. It definitely isn't something I'll do again soon, but I had imagined it would be a much more difficult day than it was.

I think we finished around 6.5 to 7 hours after starting, which really isn't bad at all with a group the size we had!

Really enjoyed riding with Jeff S from Kernville, Denny and Dell again (new dads), as well as Maxwell, Clinky, Tom, Geronimo, Pain Freak, Jeff... also cool to ride with Ken again (we found out about geoladders from him back in like Oct/Nov of 05 when we met him at hurkey creek, but never had ridden with him since!). Was nice to ride with Gabe, and meet Denny's buddy's Steve and? Also nice to meet Mark and a few others. Sorry if I didn't meet a few of you!

Photo's forthcoming, but first I have to give a special shoutout to those of you dumbasses that voted for Bell Ridge and then didn't show up!!!

To those of you that are pansies

cjwally/Craig
elab
Gene
Hoosierdaddy/Jeff
MTBCat/Bret
Socal Ridur

None of you are allowed to vote for NYE 08!

Without you we could've had a nice Chiquito shuttle

Thanks again to all that participated in ending my 2007 riding year with a bang!!!

[OMR]

Nice RR: I would have loved to have been able to join you this morning... I always enjoy Bell or Coldwater as they are truly backcountry mountain biking at its best. I sat at work until 12 noon then took off and rode SC Single Tracks. The weather was absolutely the best today. Glad you made it down without any major blood left on Bell... that's a real accomplishment.

Best to you and Justin - Happy New Year 2008. Looking forward to more rides together.

[mechmann]

i didn't clean CSB, one dab. i don't feel too bad though, two riders that are much better than me also failed to clean it.

bell would be a great trail if it didn't have multiple HAB sections. i would prefer one ginormous HAB to having every decent section followed by HAB, followed by more HAB, with a side dish of HAB.

anyway, if you can't tell, i am totally over hiking with my bike after today!

i had a great time and enjoyed everyone's company. thanks for showing us a new trail!!!

[genusmtbkr5]

Glad to hear you guys had a great ride. I didn't get off work till noon today and I thought about you guys as this is the second Bell Ridge ride I've missed do to work. Nice RR as always. Look forward to the pics.

[ThinkFast]

It was great riding with you guys today! It was awesome to watch so many people going down Can't See Bottom. When I left the house this morning I was hoping to see at least one person make CSB and I wasn't disappointed. I think about half the group attempted it, 3 clearing the whole thing (or was it 4?) and a few more who came real close but just missed. I thought Tom, Justin and Denny made it look easy with only one dab.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Bell Ridge or as the Warriors used to call it "White Hawk's Trail" (when we kept) it secret is the kind of trail you have to ride once. Not many go back for more or at least very often. Congrats to those who rde it today!

Glad to hear there were no deaths or dismemberments.

KeepsWhatHappens

[queenwilhelmina]

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

Glad to hear there were no deaths or dismemberments.

Wow that sure makes me want to do this ride one day!

Glad you guys had fun! Happy New Year!

[maxwell]

Man, what a FUN day!!

Allison, you were GREAT today! The only girl out there, and riding most of the stuff like you're just one of the guy's!!

We had a really great group out there today, with everyone being strong, and skilled!
Joel, and Tim were bummed about bailing out at Trabuco. They have both done Bell before, and knew what was waiting for them up ahead, and decided that it would be better to enjoy the Trabuco decent, insted of taking a chance and holding up the group.

It was a blast watching this group on "Can't See The Bottom"!
There were more guy's clean it, and come REALLY close to cleaning it today, than I've ever seen!
Denny and Justin both got 99% clean but hab one small dab each. Then Justin talks Denny into trying it on his Slocom, and even HAB'ed it up for him to try it out!

Bell is truly one of SoCal's best epic trails! I'm a firm believer that every great ride has at least one mean HAB section. Bell does not disapoint!

For me, I couldn't think of a better way to end the year! Thanks to all that showed up!!

Here's the few pics I took today....

Allison and DirtyD just riding along!



Our "DIRT" pelleton.



Allison heads up Trabuco.



Trabuco conga line...



This isn't so bad....



WHAT did he just say??



The easy hike-a-bike up Los Pinos



The first not so easy HAB.....



DFT on Can't See The Bottom...





Talk about your epic rides, with GREAT views...





Almost done, and she's still smiling!





Pain Freak enjoying the single track back down to the wash. It beat riding through the neighborhood!



Happy New Year!!!

[Pain Freak]

I left my camera in AZ, so I won't be able to add to much to this. I was impressed with the group today. Excellent time doing this ride. I thought it was a little over 6 hours. I brought up the rear on the climb up Trabuco and I was dying out there. I guess riding a century before doing this route was not the best way to do it. I was tired before we started the climb!

A couple guys coming down CSB, were very impressive. I really thought DFT would make it look easy again this time, but he too had a dab. I was amazed at how many folks attempted it. I think that guy Steve was about the smoothest and Denny trying it with 2 different bikes was a good effort. Poor CalEpic bit the dust again this time, but in much better shape then last time. But not on CSB, later on down the trail.No real carnage at all to speak of. Crash lived up to his name a few times too.
One particular part I liked best of all was that little hill before the last part of the singletrack/fireroad split...The wind was blowing pretty hard right then and I only had to turn the cranks 3 or 4 times to get all the way to the top, the wind just pushed me right up. The singletrack that Steve took us on was pretty technical and just as steep as CSB in a few short places. I went off trail once and flipped over and rolled a little, I then got up to get my bike and Justin came around the same corner and did the exact same thing, but he was able to lay it down there and didn't go tumbling.

Gawd, my legs are tired, but I'm going to ride from Fontana to the Rose Parade tomorrow.

[sailcalifornia]

What a great day in saddle. Thanks everyone for a good ending to my year. My favorite part of the ride was the single track at the end that Steve lead us on. Looking foreword to the rest of the pictures.

Also, quote of the day from Maxwell, "I love to peddle, i have not found anything I can't hike up"

[allison]

Last group shot of 2007!



Heading up the wash





Regroup at Holy Jim trailhead









Let the hiking begin! Trabuco singletrack









The new dad's







Maxwell



Jfsh



Last token handlebar shot of 2007











The Christmas Tree still stands



Top of Trabuco

[allison]

The beginning of the HABage







Still hiking



And some more





Top of the horrid hike



Is this some downhill I see?





Top (and bottom) of Can't See Bottom



Tom takes off





Dell



Downhill hiking!



Steve



Crash liked the look of the dirt



Going for it





Oops



Justin



Denny



Shannon?





Pavement at last



Parting shot

[allison]

Crash - awesome photos, thanks!!!