RR: Viper

[1x1clyde]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

whoooahh first time I see this!! we must do it soon!! is it really that tuff to do on the SSer? I'm in either way!!

Lets do it Mang ala SS!

[northshore]

Looks like fun!

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by OMR

Very nice video. Viper is one trail that is on my "To Do" list for 2008. Perhaps we can hook up and do a ride together... I'll bring some of the guys from OC up and you can guide... or Gene and I could do a Newbie ride there and kill somebody... he he he he..

Keep me informed, Looks fun and painful at the same time.

[kanga]

We did it a week after the first big storms of the month, and it changed quite a bit... a lot more rutted. Haven't seen it since the last round of storms though.... I can always be talked in to riding it so if someone wants to do it and I'm around, I'm there.

[Tedroy]

Do not ever ride behind Kanga. His legs are some sort of Roo-Human hybrid! His calves are divided into two different hemispheres. They are truly intimidating! This dude is not of this earth. Be warned!

[1080P]

Originally Posted by kanga

We did it a week after the first big storms of the month, and it changed quite a bit... a lot more rutted. Haven't seen it since the last round of storms though.... I can always be talked in to riding it so if someone wants to do it and I'm around, I'm there.

Hmmm, sounds like the Edison Brothers should go up there to "see the light" on the current conditions. That way you'll get experience and input from the Noob and the Pro.

Steve, I'm not bagging on you, cause I know you can ride most anything fearlessly but "Oh sh*t! Chute" has been, how shall we say this... either not included cause you didn't ride it and had to walk it, or edited out. You know the chute I'm talking about, it's so steep the sun don't shine on it in the winter time and the ruts are the size of 4x4 track in a mud bog.

In the interest of good "beta" and preparing noobs and fresh meat for the worst, a little video of that for full disclosure, from several angles would be rather useful.

Originally Posted by Tedroy

Do not ever ride behind Kanga. His legs are some sort of Roo-Human hybrid! His calves are divided into two different hemispheres. They are truly intimidating! This dude is not of this earth. Be warned!

That's BS, I ride behind him all the time... about 5 to 15 minutes at the top. ;-) If you are in to looking at mens legs, there's pretty much only 2 ways to see Kanga's.... at the beginning of the ride or at the end, the rest of the time, it's just a blur.

[ddmansprty]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

Is there an easy way up this? Or do you have to pay to play?

You can shuttle the trail. Camp 9 is a fire base on the eastern side of the mountain. There is a fire road that will take you to the trail head that is easy to ride. About 2 or 3 miles to the trailhead from Camp 9. Viper ends at the park n ride off the 14 Freeway (San Fernado Rd off ramp) You can take Sand Canyon to the turn off for the firebase (cant recall the cross street right now. I'm sure someone knows the name.)

There is a parking area just before the fire base. Ride through the base and take the fire road to your right.

[1080P]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

Is there an easy way up this? Or do you have to pay to play?

Not too bad, 1800 feet in about 4 miles. Learn to love pain, and you are good to go! Earn your turns!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by 1080P

Steve, I'm not bagging on you, cause I know you can ride most anything fearlessly but "Oh sh*t! Chute" has been, how shall we say this... either not included cause you didn't ride it and had to walk it, or edited out. You know the chute I'm talking about, it's so steep the sun don't shine on it in the winter time and the ruts are the size of 4x4 track in a mud bog.

Actually, it is in there... I just don't slow down enough to notice it, and the video doesn't really give you the vertical perspective...... It's the part that says -100% grade in the corner (because it is a -100% grade going downhill). It's at 5:30 in the video, when Powderfinger is singing "happy memories"...

Here's a still shot looking at it from the top of the rise right after it (this photo is from before the rains... the ruts are much deeper now):

[1080P]

PowderFinger sounds like some Ski Punk band. I hit the mute button, I guess my musical tastes have gotten away from punk and heavy metal.

[sheclimbs]

Originally Posted by kanga

We (OTB Club) rode Viper today as our year opener.... Dave had a heart attack on Bulldog six months ago, and this was his first ride back. Gary, a 73 year old animal was already at the top.

Gary, our septegenarian, went OTB on one section of Viper but was fine, got up, laughed, and kept going. He's an inspiration! Viper is like a roller coaster ride with grades from flat to 30% grade climbs, to -100% descents; it's fast and fun! Top speed was 30.7 for me, can't speak for our other riders.


It was a fantastic way to start the year. Tacky dirt, good friends (some of whom are on STR) and a good dose of all-around fun riding. 9800' of climbing, 38 miles.

I know you and Hans are animals but are you serious...and I was impressed watching you move those boulders on Valley Forge!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by sheclimbs

I know you and Hans are animals but are you serious...and I was impressed watching you move those boulders on Valley Forge!

Now I'm gonna go and turn all red.....

The official ride that day was about 16 miles and 4000' of climbing or so.... I just did two extra laps, one before, one after the club ride, down Wilson canyon, across from Viper.

[1080P]

Originally Posted by kanga

Now I'm gonna go and turn all red.....

The official ride that day was about 16 miles and 4000' of climbing or so.... I just did two extra laps, one before, one after the club ride, down Wilson canyon, across from Viper.

He was either doing 1 of 2 things.... slacking, he would have done 64 miles if he had the time, or getting ready to make room for Christmas dinner calories. I can think of a dozen guys in OTB at the top, that think it's fun to kill each other, either on the climbs or on the descents. Lotta testosterone on those club rides.

Ride with them, and learn how they do it. I do.

[El Presidente]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Damn, we climb that much on the road over a 100 miles and we're screaming "mommie", and you do it in 38 in the dirt? That is scary! Man, I'm hurting just thinking about it.

We put some water bars up there about 3 years ago made out of rocks to try to sustain the trail from eroding. It looks like they didn't take or somebody removed them? Anyways this would be a good trail to work on after the rains. CORBA have any plans to work in this area?

No plans to work on it. The CORBA Trail Crew is spread pretty thin! So much to do so little time!

It really is not that bad of shape! It is a fall line trail for the most part so it will take a beating when it rains. Steve and I will keep an eye on it from time to time!

[1080P]

Originally Posted by El Presidente

No plans to work on it. The CORBA Trail Crew is spread pretty thin! So much to do so little time!

It really is not that bad of shape! It is a fall line trail for the most part so it will take a beating when it rains. Steve and I will keep an eye on it from time to time!

I think there was a cosmic Karma condition today, or an aligning of the stars, sun and moon. I got the chance to ride with Kanga and El Presidente today on Viper. With rain giving a good soaking over the weekend and this being that epic decomposed granite material that gets good and sandy when dry, moisture is everything on this run. The last time I rode it, I was alone, I had a super fast and slippery Panaracer XC FirePro on the rear, it was dry, early in the season mid November, and even the front tire, a Big Betty, felt like gravity was sucking it into those slippery ruts. The sand acted like tiny ball bearings on most of it.

Viper is like your first girlfriend in High School. You never quite figure out her moods with any predictability.

Today was EPICK.... Otto EPICK. I got a good climb, I saw Viper on her best behavior. I got lucky... she let me go all the way, have my way with her, with no protection. I rode her hard and fast, didn't dab or dabble, and put her away wet. Even Oh Sh*t chute was conquered.

She is doable, under proper circumstances. Like after she's good and wet, but before she dries out. Kanga liked her so much today, he went back for seconds, with Posthole joining him. There were 6 of us, 1 Titus, 3 Bionicons, and a Specialized.

I haven't felt this stoked in years, reminds me of the days in the '80's with great powder skiing up at Alta or Snowbird, or an awesome day at Jackson Hole doing Corbettes Colouir. I need a good imported beer to celebrate!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by 1080P

I think there was a cosmic Karma condition today, or an aligning of the stars, sun and moon. I got the chance to ride with Kanga and El Presidente today on Viper. With rain giving a good soaking over the weekend and this being that epic decomposed granite material that gets good and sandy when dry, moisture is everything on this run. The last time I rode it, I was alone, I had a super fast and slippery Panaracer XC FirePro on the rear, it was dry, early in the season mid November, and even the front tire, a Big Betty, felt like gravity was sucking it into those slippery ruts. The sand acted like tiny ball bearings on most of it.

Viper is like your first girlfriend in High School. You never quite figure out her moods with any predictability.

Today was EPICK.... Otto EPICK. I got a good climb, I saw Viper on her best behavior. I got lucky... she let me go all the way, have my way with her, with no protection. I rode her hard and fast, didn't dab or dabble, and put her away wet. Even Oh Sh*t chute was conquered.

She is doable, under proper circumstances. Like after she's good and wet, but before she dries out. Kanga liked her so much today, he went back for seconds, with Posthole joining him. There were 6 of us, 1 Titus, 3 Bionicons, and a Specialized.

I haven't felt this stoked in years, reminds me of the days in the '80's with great powder skiing up at Alta or Snowbird, or an awesome day at Jackson Hole doing Corbettes Colouir. I need a good imported beer to celebrate!

It was so good, I'm heading back in the morning before work.... anyone wanna meet at around 8:30 or so for a lap or two?

[1080P]

I hope those new sunset photos came out on Viper of El Presidente. Should be good!

Here they are: RR: Viper (Feb 6)