RR: Brand firebreak at Sunset

[kanga]

I hope most of you were able to get out and do a night ride somewhere last night. It was one of the most beautiful nights in which I've ridden a bike... incredible sunset, and perfect temps.

Leaving my house at around 5, I rode to the trailhead at Sunshine Drive in the Verdugo Hills. I noticed my rear brake lever a bit oily, and the brake a bit spongy... I had replaced my front brake a few months ago and just had the rear bled, but the Maguras were done after 3 1/2 years.

The Verdugos are not on anyone's radar unless your a local, as most of the Verdugos is fireroads, but there are a few places with some great single track, and a number of fire breaks that are steep and challenging.

I headed up to the top of Sunshine and called one of my friends on his phone. He'd posted that he'd be riding early and doing an extra lap. We agreed to meet at the Brand bench, a bench seat auspiciously placed at the top of Brand Motorway, a fire road. El Presidente was there too. By the time I was at the top, I could pull the rear brake lever to the bar and keep riding uphill. It was done.

Fron the bench we had clear views to Catalina, Santa Barbara Island, and San Nicholas Island (100 miles away!) beyond that. It's a rare occasion that one can see that far.

We watched the sunset over the valley and downtown L.A., and headed over to the firebreak. It's a 40%+ grade rutted slope that turns into a tight, steep single track at the bottom.

Interesting experience riding down it with just a front brake, to say the least. Thankfully there was pretty decent traction over most of it or I wouldn't have even attempted it. I was able to do it with just one dab, by staying slow and letting off the brake to roll through and out of the ruts, and with some careful line picking. A lot different from the usual approach.

We got to the 7 trees plateau, and to save time and join the rest of the group, we took the single track out to the fire road, instead of down to the Brand Library. That single track had some new gaps from the recent rains.... 5' deep and 4' wide gullies carved by the water, and water was still flowing.

Will and I cruised up the fire road and met the group at the top... it was all cheer with a group of about ten. A few headed back down the fire break, a few back down the fireroad, and I headed back down Beaudry and home.

Cruising on the road after a great ride really allows one to appreciate how great it is to be able to do what we do... ride up, watch a sunset over the millions below who just don't know what they're missing.

Brand Fire Road, Griffith Park, and the Ocean Beyond:



Downtown L.A. and Catalina:




Downtown L.A., Glendale and part of the Brand Firebreak in profile in the foreground:



The top of the firebreak:

[JoeTruth]

Man, that brings back some great memories for me.
Up until 2003, I had an office on Grandview and Glenoaks. I used to ride over to Stough Canyon (or up Brand Park FR, if shorter on time), down La Tuna single track, back up to the top, to bench, great side-action with a couple of nasty off ramps along the way and to the fire break eventually or as the locals refer to it, the ski shoot. I absolutely love that 1 mile drop. By the time I used to near Brand Park and just past 7 trees, my brakes would be howling like a wolf and I'd have a shit eating grin on my face for the next 24 hrs.
I have no idea how you managed to ride it down with only your front brake and then climbed back up Brand Park FR (which is a bitch within itself) but whatever. You're a nut!

Thanks for another cool RR accompanied by cool photos. You gave me some good nostalgia.

[JoeTruth]

Here's what it looked like from my office window...



During the Verdugo fires in the heart of Brank Park FR in Sep. of 02...

[kanga]

I haven't heard to it called the ski shoot in a while... I rode it on my full rigid GT avalanche in the 80's, crashing all the way down. There are other firebreaks we used to ride back then, like Veterans Firebreak (behind Veterans park in Sylmar) that were much steeper, but they were sandy and loose so it was more sand surfing down a 40% grade..... Brand has always been hard and rutty.

If you ever drive east on the 134 from North Hollywood, you're looking straight at it.

[JoeTruth]

Originally Posted by kanga

I haven't heard to it called the ski shoot in a while... I rode it on my full rigid GT avalanche in the 80's, crashing all the way down. There are other firebreaks we used to ride back then, like Veterans Firebreak (behind Veterans park in Sylmar) that were much steeper, but they were sandy and loose so it was more sand surfing down a 40% grade..... Brand has always been hard and rutty.

If you ever drive east on the 134 from North Hollywood, you're looking straight at it.

Well, that's what the locals call it. Doug (Glendale Cyclery) along with other locals I've ridden with have refered to it as that for as long as I can remember.

You can also see the fire break very clearly from the 5 fwy. coming through Burbank and NoHo. At one point after the fires (post grading), someone had built some cool jumps down the first section before 7 trees. Although at such steep grades, it's very sketchy hitting a jump. Are they still there?

[kanga]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Well, that's what the locals call it. Doug (Glendale Cyclery) along with other locals I've ridden with have refered to it as that for as long as I can remember.

You can also see the fire break very clearly from the 5 fwy. coming through Burbank and NoHo. At one point after the fires (post grading), someone had built some cool jumps down the first section before 7 trees. Although at such steep grades, it's very sketchy hitting a jump. Are they still there?

There's a few rolling water bars that you can get air off at speed.... not really jumps. But I've also seen someone riding with just a helmet-mounted light (think flat with no depth perception) hit them and go OTB at speed.... broken teeth, broken helmet.

As I said, I hadn't heard it called that in a while, but have heard the ski shoot. Glendale has a different "official" name for the trail that's on the new trail maps.... "the brand lateral"

[Burner]

It was perfect out last night at that time, I hit up a local westridge loop at sunset and it was niiiiice.

[MTBMaven]

Last two night have been perfect for riding. I did road rides the last two nights. Last night was my normal loop through the Pasadena/Glendale hills to the west of the Bowl, but this time I did it in reverse to mix it up. Tonight I rode up to Chantry and back. Really great views.

Kanga, you guys riding tomorrow night? I was going to take the night off but what the heck. I will check to the OTB calendar and see if I can make it.

I have Friday off without plans as of right now. Not sure I want to do something too big but I could be talked into it for the right plan. LMK.

[kanga]

Mission Peak tomorrow night....(thursday). Should be a good one there as well. Camera will be in tow, and I should have a new rear brake fitted tomorrow. If not, It will be even more fun down the single track!

[MTBMaven]

Sounds good. I'm about 70% committed. I'm going to load the bike in the truck and leave from work. I'm feeling lazy I may just shoot up Brown. I've got your cell in an email, I'll try calling. Kind of depends on how stressful my day at the office ends up.