RR: The PATH HITS THE ROAD...

[aukmal]

Saturday morning road rides with the Path Bike Shop are in full effect! I know there aren't usually road ride recaps here, but since all of us on the ride are primarily mountain bikers, I thought is was more appropriate to put the recap here. Karl, Brett, Barry Walsh, Gerritt (sp) S, and myself rolled out on a Santiago Canyon loop catching the great break in the weather. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was clear, sunny, and brisk. Following the desparately needed rains, like the Sound of Music said, "...the hills are alive..." What a glorious day for a ride.

Here we are loafing around before rolling out. Karl on his Seven Alaris, Brett on his Trek carbon fiber madone something or other, Barry on his crosscheck, and of course Gerritt would kill it on his REI Novara cross bike


We would stroll up Tustin Ranch Road to Frontier where Brett would flat, but that was the only mechanical on the whole trip

Here’s the lone action shot at the top of the climb on Santiago Canyon just past the toll roads



Gerritt was the leveler on the trip and hammered along showing the high end road bikes that it has more to do with the engine than the bike itself. Once we rode over the grade, it was literally all down hill from there. The bike path that parallels El Toro road is a super fast down hill slalom from Cooks corner to Trabuco. Trabuco road has a slight downhill grade all the way back into Tustin where it turns into Irvine Blvd / Fourth Street.

Here’s everyone chilling back at the shop.



Personally, I think it was worth missing a day of XC racing at Fontucky for a good workout on the road with a solid group of friends. All in all, I think the loop was about 35 miles at somewhere between 17 and 18 mph.

[Dino Brown]

Bump....