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jeffj · 03-26-2008, 04:14 PM

Spent the morning with Rich (dub_xl) and his son "Van" riding here in Castaic. We rode here about a week and a half ago just to give them a 'taster' for the area and they wanted to return for a more robust experience. We settled on a sort of two-headed lollipop type route.

We met about 9am at the Sports Complex. From there we pedaled into Tapia Canyon. The ride starts off with a gentle climb on a pretty decent fire road.

Rich and Van

The climb has several short-steeps and here Van walks at the top of one of them......

but he proved to be quite tenacious for a 5th grader...

and finishes the first round of climbing in strong fashion.

This is the scene we were greeted with at the top of the climb. The FD were cutting some breaks in anticipation of what could be a very busy 'season' for them.

The drop-in to Burn Victim was a casualty of the big yellow blade. I anticipate this eventaully being a nice kicker to start the trail, but for now, it's just a bunch of soft dirt.

Once past the carnage, the trail is in sweet shape.

Van shows some discretion on one of those STIL sections of Burn Victim.

Back on track...

and following Dad on the sweet BV singletrack.

to be continued...

jeffj · 03-26-2008, 04:34 PM

Couldn't have said it better.

Pictures > Words

Van heads into one of Burn Victim's many g-outs...

and pedals out the other side.

After about a mile Burn Victim comes back into the lower section of the Tapia Singletrack. Just a short ways into the creek bed section of the trail (mucho-fun), my front wheel washed out and I went for a short nipple-surfing trip OTB. The first real fall I've taken in about 15 months. Knocked the wind out of me and I think I bruised a rib where my camera/case pushed into my chest.

Well, that didn't make me immune from screwing up again shortly thereafter and I found myself going 'off-trail' through the creek bed a little too hot and finally stopped when I rammed the far side of the creek bed. I managed to not fly OTB, but it was a very sudden stop. The bike checked out OK and we were on our way out of the first lap.

Climbing through the meadow once again...

Rich and Van are but two small dots as the make their way through the meadow section.

Here comes Van...

into the steeper section of the climb (again).

to be continued...

jeffj · 03-26-2008, 04:49 PM

Rich climbing the fire road with trucks climbing the beginning of the "grapevine" on I-5 visible in the background about six miles away.

Father and son...

Rich waits for Van at the top of the many short-steeps on this climb.

Once again Van finishes strong in anticipation of more descending...

Soon into out second descent, we came across another casualty of the 'blade'. This 100ft section will have to be re-worked, but I'm sure it will be just a memory eventually...

Van goes after a g-out...

Father and son showing the creek bed who is the boss.

Another satisfied customer.

Well, my ribs are a touch sore and I apparently sprained my wrist as it required an ice pack and some Advil after I got home, and with the exception of a couple of moments, I enjoyed every minute.

Thanks guys, for an excellent ride.

1080P · 03-26-2008, 05:58 PM

This would make a great "Beginners" ride for Newbies... the climbs are gentle on new legs, yet the rewards on the single track with some of the turns, creek bottom drop in and outs, small jumps and G outs make it super fun for those new to single tracking and climbing to earn your vertical.

Length is moderate, the area is fun, it's spring and there's even some sand squirrels to mess with you when you are clipped in to give you the "oh shizzle" moments. All you have to do then is giggle and look back at your tracks.

A great early morning ride when it's cool.

Pain Freak · 03-26-2008, 06:17 PM

This was the very first place I ever rode a mt bike. I use to live up the hill from there right off the grapevine (Templin Hwy) and I did my very first ride there. About 300 feet, then I stopped for a cigarette and gave the dude his bike back.....but I told myself, When I quit smoking I'm gonna get me one of those mt bike thingys.

maxwell · 03-26-2008, 06:58 PM

Great RR Jeff! The pics are beautifull!

Tell Van to keep it up, and he'll be smoki'n you guys up the climbs in no time.

I'd like to bring the kid's up that way for a ride. We need to figure it out before it get's to hot.

dubl_xl · 04-01-2008, 02:39 PM

I would like to start off by saying JeffJ rocks! He is a very patient man and great guide. As he mentioned, this is the second time my son Van and I have ridden this sweeeet loop!

Our first experience was with Jeff and his son Ted. They say you can tell a lot about the character of a man by the character of his children and Jeff is a man of character (and quite the character himself

).

Our first ride Jeff's son Ted had run into a couple of guys who didn't seem too familiar with the route or the directions he had given them so before we started the "2 mile smile" he asked his dad if it was ok to double back and guide them. Of course his dad said sure, we'll wait for you before the creek bed. We were there waiting maybe around 10 minutes when along comes Ted with the 2 guys close behind. I thought that was really cool, he could have very easily just left them to find their own way out.

Back to the 2 headed lollipop...after we completed our first loop I told Van," ok, ready for the second lap?" His response was,"I guess so." So I let him grind an UNCRUSTABLE (yummy) and rehydrate and off it was for the second lap. He did just about the same climbing as he did the first lap, only walking a couple of steep sections. I was really proud of him sucking it up and going for the second lap.

This time we descended "burn victim" which intimidated Van because of the steep downhill but he said next time he will ride it all (he walked down the first half which is steeper than the second). The rest of "burn victim" was a blast for him (and me).

Van had a couple of small crashes but in time he will improve his cornering (fingers off of the front brake

) and develop riding skills far superior to his "old man".

Thanks again Jeff for the experience...many more to come.

03-26-2008, 04:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
jeffj Sloths Mock Me	Takin' Our Licks on the Two Headed Lollipop Spent the morning with Rich (dub_xl) and his son "Van" riding here in Castaic. We rode here about a week and a half ago just to give them a 'taster' for the area and they wanted to return for a more robust experience. We settled on a sort of two-headed lollipop type route. We met about 9am at the Sports Complex. From there we pedaled into Tapia Canyon. The ride starts off with a gentle climb on a pretty decent fire road. Rich and Van The climb has several short-steeps and here Van walks at the top of one of them...... but he proved to be quite tenacious for a 5th grader... and finishes the first round of climbing in strong fashion. This is the scene we were greeted with at the top of the climb. The FD were cutting some breaks in anticipation of what could be a very busy 'season' for them. The drop-in to Burn Victim was a casualty of the big yellow blade. I anticipate this eventaully being a nice kicker to start the trail, but for now, it's just a bunch of soft dirt. Once past the carnage, the trail is in sweet shape. Van shows some discretion on one of those STIL sections of Burn Victim. Back on track... and following Dad on the sweet BV singletrack. to be continued...

03-26-2008, 04:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
jeffj Sloths Mock Me	Lollipop... continued... Couldn't have said it better. Pictures > Words Van heads into one of Burn Victim's many g-outs... and pedals out the other side. After about a mile Burn Victim comes back into the lower section of the Tapia Singletrack. Just a short ways into the creek bed section of the trail (mucho-fun), my front wheel washed out and I went for a short nipple-surfing trip OTB. The first real fall I've taken in about 15 months. Knocked the wind out of me and I think I bruised a rib where my camera/case pushed into my chest. Well, that didn't make me immune from screwing up again shortly thereafter and I found myself going 'off-trail' through the creek bed a little too hot and finally stopped when I rammed the far side of the creek bed. I managed to not fly OTB, but it was a very sudden stop. The bike checked out OK and we were on our way out of the first lap. Climbing through the meadow once again... Rich and Van are but two small dots as the make their way through the meadow section. Here comes Van... into the steeper section of the climb (again). to be continued...

03-26-2008, 04:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
jeffj Sloths Mock Me	Lollipop continued... Rich climbing the fire road with trucks climbing the beginning of the "grapevine" on I-5 visible in the background about six miles away. Father and son... Rich waits for Van at the top of the many short-steeps on this climb. Once again Van finishes strong in anticipation of more descending... Soon into out second descent, we came across another casualty of the 'blade'. This 100ft section will have to be re-worked, but I'm sure it will be just a memory eventually... Van goes after a g-out... Father and son showing the creek bed who is the boss. Another satisfied customer. Well, my ribs are a touch sore and I apparently sprained my wrist as it required an ice pack and some Advil after I got home, and with the exception of a couple of moments, I enjoyed every minute. Thanks guys, for an excellent ride.

03-26-2008, 05:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
1080P Molasses Boy	This would make a great "Beginners" ride for Newbies... the climbs are gentle on new legs, yet the rewards on the single track with some of the turns, creek bottom drop in and outs, small jumps and G outs make it super fun for those new to single tracking and climbing to earn your vertical. Length is moderate, the area is fun, it's spring and there's even some sand squirrels to mess with you when you are clipped in to give you the "oh shizzle" moments. All you have to do then is giggle and look back at your tracks. A great early morning ride when it's cool. __________________ You misunderstood.... I need the screwdriver not for myself but to loosen a few screws of those around me so I can fit in! Kanga "Never open a can of worms, unless you are going fishing"

03-26-2008, 06:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pain Freak Directionally Challenged	This was the very first place I ever rode a mt bike. I use to live up the hill from there right off the grapevine (Templin Hwy) and I did my very first ride there. About 300 feet, then I stopped for a cigarette and gave the dude his bike back.....but I told myself, When I quit smoking I'm gonna get me one of those mt bike thingys. __________________ "The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew—and live through it." — Doug Bradbury "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." — Emo Philips

03-26-2008, 06:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
maxwell Dirty Stinky PATH Love	Great RR Jeff! The pics are beautifull! Tell Van to keep it up, and he'll be smoki'n you guys up the climbs in no time. I'd like to bring the kid's up that way for a ride. We need to figure it out before it get's to hot. __________________ "what if I say I'm not like the other's, what if I say, I'm not just another one, who play's the pretender, what if I say I will never surender" Foo Fighters - Pretender

04-01-2008, 02:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
dubl_xl I'd rather go down	Thanks Jeff! I would like to start off by saying JeffJ rocks! He is a very patient man and great guide. As he mentioned, this is the second time my son Van and I have ridden this sweeeet loop! Our first experience was with Jeff and his son Ted. They say you can tell a lot about the character of a man by the character of his children and Jeff is a man of character (and quite the character himself ). Our first ride Jeff's son Ted had run into a couple of guys who didn't seem too familiar with the route or the directions he had given them so before we started the "2 mile smile" he asked his dad if it was ok to double back and guide them. Of course his dad said sure, we'll wait for you before the creek bed. We were there waiting maybe around 10 minutes when along comes Ted with the 2 guys close behind. I thought that was really cool, he could have very easily just left them to find their own way out. Back to the 2 headed lollipop...after we completed our first loop I told Van," ok, ready for the second lap?" His response was,"I guess so." So I let him grind an UNCRUSTABLE (yummy) and rehydrate and off it was for the second lap. He did just about the same climbing as he did the first lap, only walking a couple of steep sections. I was really proud of him sucking it up and going for the second lap. This time we descended "burn victim" which intimidated Van because of the steep downhill but he said next time he will ride it all (he walked down the first half which is steeper than the second). The rest of "burn victim" was a blast for him (and me). Van had a couple of small crashes but in time he will improve his cornering (fingers off of the front brake ) and develop riding skills far superior to his "old man". Thanks again Jeff for the experience...many more to come.

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