RR: Strawberry Peak to JPL...

[mazer75]

Oh man, looks like you guys had a GREAT time! If it wasn't for the Revlon 5K thing yesterday, I would have been there with y'all. Next time I'll be there for sure!!!

Thanks for the RR and great pictures guys!

[Burner]

BIG thanks to Denmother and Roger for the mustard packets and Sportlegs when my hamstrings totally seized up! I will be carrying mustard from now on.

Good running into everyone... we knew you were out there, but had no idea if we'd see you.

Oh and Liz... thanks for putting up with my sarcastic azz.

Didn't take that many pics, and posted the better ones already in other threads... but here's Dan on a stream crossing... and Aosty not endoing (with the top of the waterfall visible).

[dirtmistress]

Oh maaaan!! Did I forget how beautiful the Gab trail is!
I forgot it's just about my favorite trail in L.A.
How did I forget?? I don't get to do it enough but thank you STR for existing and Dino for jogging my memory. I won't let time pass like it did before I do it again! That was way to long.
We had a great crew on the ride. Old and young,male and female, fast and slow. It was a very fun group.
We never waited terribly long for anyone and it was all good when we did.
I had one flat from a fucca yucca spine in my sidewall. Poor Epicriderat found it and needed tweezers to get part of it out from his finger nail.
I'd looked for it twice so way to go for finding the culprit Todd!
It's been a long time since I did Strawberry peak. The grind up Josephine does not bother me. It's brainless and beautiful. Especially when the Sweet Broom is in bloom.
I for sure had some issues with the exposure for awhile. Just feeling kind of off and not 100% on top of my game. It got better as the ride went on and later was a non issue.
I cannot believe how cleaned up strawberry trail is. It used to be so rocky. Now it just flows and flows with few technical features. OK, much less than there used to be for those of you unfamiliar with how the trail used to be.
Pain Freak track standing forever!!(roadie!!)

Epicriderat heading out of the clouds


Jaygoes rockin' to Madonna heading to our goal!

Hurry up you guys!

The trail. See it?


Two riders there

Roger scaring the crap out of me because he wasn't feeling very good.


I was alone at this point. Well, if no one is around to snap my pic, then I'll stick it on self timer and do it myself! Looks ok I thought. Big ass though!




Burner kisses rock! Loser!

Thanks to Todd for being the perfect gentleman and snapping away as I attempted the 'waterfall' on my new bike.

It took a couple tries but i finally rolled the first half but couldn't get the second half. I've gotten it before so I'll try again another day. That thing always changes!!

Check out the bone handle knives these two were sporting!

Pain Freak wants to rumble but left his knife in his other camelback.

[epicriderat]

Thanks Dino for another great ride. Nice RR and another thanks to all who posted pix.

[dirtmistress]

One of my favorite guys. Epicriderat!

We're in the deep woods now kids! It's L.A. don't forget!!














Hairy bloody man schmear legs!

I love this!!

My favorite spring time shrub and Joel still rockin' to 'Like A Virgin"


It was an incredible time. I had so much fun. This is what I hear from STR people over and over...I wouldn't have done this if not for you! This is what it's all about! I missed this trail and now I can ride it ANYTIME because I know I now have people to ride it with.
It was great hooking up with Burner and meeting Aosty.
Thank you Dino and Todd for helping get my bike dialed in. It'll come in time. Today I made a hill I haven't made since I got the darn thing so I need to be more patient. I almost threw it off a cliff yesterday!
nonono, I don't have anger issues.
Secret message to that woman...I missed you. You should have come!!
See you guys on the next one!!

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by Burner

BIG thanks to Denmother and Roger for the mustard packets and Sportlegs when my hamstrings totally seized up! I will be carrying mustard from now on.

Good running into everyone... we knew you were out there, but had no idea if we'd see you.

Oh and Liz... thanks for putting up with my sarcastic azz.

Didn't take that many pics, and posted the better ones already in other threads... but here's Dan on a stream crossing... and Aosty not endoing (with the top of the waterfall visible).

Aww, I knew you were joshing and it made me laugh throughout the day. Even some today.
loser.

[epicriderat]

I like it, nice pix. Your favorite?
Please Stop! I'm blushing.

[nintense]

I wish I could make it, unfortunately I'm too busy with the new shop; I didn't ride at all this weekend .
Looks like you had a great time... good job.

[art23rockpile]

Thanks again Dino for the invite to participate in this ride! Unfortunately, the very nature of this kind of ride made it unwise to roll with a large group, so our crew was 15 riders throughout by necessity (Painfreak and MuddyEdgar left at Switzer, Burner and Aosty joined us at Switzer). There are a number of people i've ridden the San Gabs with in the past (dstepper, shesmiles, guero, tkblazer, calepic, cc, hanzo, grandpa, lbmtb, joetruth, kanga, and elpresidente to name but a few) whom I enjoy riding with.

Steph was our unofficial ride photographer (her RR shows she has a talent for this), and a few other riders were snapping photos as well... so, I only pulled out my camera on a few occasions.

The last time I rode Strawberry Peak was the 'reverse' route. Doing it in the direction we did, it seemed like an entirely different trail. Much has been said about the exposure on our ride. It's no exaggeration! There were some places where the drop is hundreds of feet with the actual trail being from 8-12" wide, and the thing is that it's not for the occasional short section, but -sometimes- for miles. And I found out something, now that i've done the route in both directions: I prefer the exposure being on my left rather than on my right. WTF

Anyway, it was a fun yet very challenging ride with some great STR folk. One of my favorite parts -Red Box to Switzer- was a blast for me but with a price: two crashes and a flat . This was my first time riding the segment from Switzer to JPL (Gabrielino trail, I think), and -aside from endless stream crossings- was my favorite part of the ride.

I would be remiss were I to neglect mentioning/thanking a few people: Dino (words are unnecessary), Liz (one-of-a-kind), Scott, Troy (the wonder kid), Dan & Steph (our talented SD contingent), Roger & Nancy, Mike (MR. Painfreak), Matt, Al (another great rider), and Todd. For me, this was another epic ride with a great group of STR friends... fun times!

Photos:
1) Strawberry Peak
2&3) Troy
4) Waterfall where Aosty was sessioning (80' drop +/-)
5) Aosty (first attempt)

[sdyeti]

Pic #2 is Dan...he and Troy inadvertantly wore almost the same exact jersey.

Great to finally ride with you art

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Pic #2 is Dan...he and Troy inadvertantly wore almost the same exact jersey.

Great to finally ride with you art

DOH!
You're correct... my bad!

[Dino Brown]

Strike a pose....


Mr. Freak... Doesn't get any cooler!


Troy doing a rock roll


Waiting for AOSTY'S "Air Show" to begin


The "Greatest" Bike In All The Land


Joel deciding between the 15 foot and the 75 foot drop


STJunkie preparing for the log ride


What will STJunkie eat today? Every ride it is something different!
Sandwich... Pizza.... Left Overs... EGG FREAKIN' ROLLS.... Today he chose an egg McMuffin!


A "BORED" SDyeti Rolling some steps


One of the many beautiful water crossings


..How do I look?


The following images....
All I asked Dan (aka Man Change Name) to do was pose for a simple picture next to the stream. In my own words...

"1,2,3.... Dude ...Smile.... Hey, Make Love to the camera"


still in my own words, "..dude, I said make love to the camera NOT the bike"


still in my own words, "...Bro, what you are doing to that bike is ILLEGAL in 15 states"


THIS JUST IN: I just got off the phone with Dan. Good news. He and his bike are expecting TWINS! They are due to arrive JANUARY!!! Good luck to both of them!