RR: Gorgeous weather & Monday off = Blackstar & Main Divide all to myself

[KonaDupee]

Someone up there wanted me to ride today. I was hesitant, after logging many miles at Aliso on Saturday & CHSP on Sunday; just wasn't sure if my legs were up to it.

But then my wife came home this morning after her 12 hour night shift at the hospital; she'd need some peace and quiet to get her beauty rest. Then the puppy ran himself ragged at the dog park, knocking him down for the count for most of the day. I finished all my lesson planning for the week early; I literally had NOTHING to do today.

Someone wanted me to ride today. Why not hit Blackstar & Main Divide solo for the first time? While I'm at it, why not take the SS 29er just to make things interesting?

I hit the trail and immediately felt a definite lack of energy. I could barely even enjoy how gorgeous the canyon looked because I couldn't see past the sweat that was blurring my vision. Standing up and mashing on the SS just didn't seem to be giving me the normal rush. "No worries," my brain toyed with me. "You've logged a respectable amount of miles this weekend already. Hell, you've been lucky enough to get out all three days. Consider yourself blessed."

I got about halfway up Blackstar when I had just about made the choice to turn around. No shame in not making the complete Tour-de-Main-Divide on my first solo SS attempt, right? I had already stopped more times to...ahem..take pictures (certainly not to rest!) than I ever had on any ride.

But someone up there REALLY wanted me to ride today. Out of nowhere, Cake's Going the Distance started to play in my headphones. That song always gets me pumped up to play basketball with a buddy who is 1000% better than me. I looked up at the Radar dome on the ridge and I swear I could hear the damn golf ball taunting me. "No sweat, Danny boy. You've had a rough weekend. Turn around. No shame in not going as far when there's no one else there to push you."

I didn't stop until I'd reached the Radar dome. In all fairness, I did have to hike it up that last steep, gravelly hill right before it. I even had a Rocky-esque moment where I yelled at that stupid gravelly hill, promising it that next time--single speed or not--I was not walking a damn inch.

I felt so good that I did an extra 4-5 miles along Main Divide, again having to walk two sections.

All in all, I'm glad I listened when someone told me to ride today. The big washed out section (see pic) is still passable--barely. Plus, someone was nice enough to make a rock arrow to lead you away from that single track section near the top (again, see pic...wish I could figure out how to put captions on pics!!). I even included a picture of the Golf Ball at the point that it started taunting me.






Today was also the first descent of any real distance that I've done on the new carbon fiber fork. While I can't say that the ride down Blackstar was buttery smooth (that chattery, washboard section along the valley almost killed me), it was much less painful than I had expected. I say any time the level of actual pain is less than the expected level, you have to put that in the positive category.

Two things that I realized on the ride:

1) OC trails have never looked more beautiful. Between Aliso, Chino Hills & today, I am blown away by all the green.

2) There's something eerily beautiful about sitting at Beek's with NO NOISE at all.

[JOx2]

You pwned Blackstar and MD!!!!!!!

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice job Danny. Beyond that golfball is where the real pain starts. You probably saw 1 of the climbs beyond. There are 6 more of those after that one.

[KonaDupee]

Gene, a few weeks ago we did a few more miles beyond the radar. We were a stone's throw away from Eagle. Today was a lot of fun, but I didn't want to too far all by my lonesome.

[Uncle Rico]

Nice. I think I passed by you , you were finishing and I was just starting around 3. I was on a green Vassago 29er SS.

[Waldo]

Well, I was gonna bust your chops for claiming "many miles" at Aliso on Saturday (that was the pansiest ride we've done there in a while!), but you more than made up for it today. Nice job!

And KonaD is leaving out the best part - that he taunted me by sending me a text saying "I'm sitting on top of Blackstar right now. Where are you?" I was 1 hour into a 3 hour long meeting

[KonaDupee]

Originally Posted by Uncle Rico

Nice. I think I passed by you , you were finishing and I was just starting around 3. I was on a green Vassago 29er SS.

Uncle, if that was you, then you were one of only two riders I saw on the entire trip. It was nice having the mountain nearly all to myself. Hope you had a good ride!

Waldo, I just couldn't believe I was getting any reception up there. Thinking of people to bug who I knew were working, you came to mind first. Dontcha feel special?