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KeepsWhatHappens · 05-22-2008, 03:37 PM

Well she didn't really ask for it, but she needed a training ride for the upcoming Toad so I volunteered to lead her and Brendagilbert on a moderate sufferfest today. I would not disclose the route ahead of time except the emphasis would be on climbing. Eric Foltz and Mark aka Outlaw joined us.

We set off today under cool-cloudy skies. The forecast was for 20% chance of thunderstorms but when are they ever right?

We started at RSM Parkway and Alicia Parkway and dropped into O'neill via Twisty Tire. It's here the ride got off to an interesting start. We spotted what appeared to be an injured rattlesnake in the rocky creek crossing.

toadtrain1.jpg

So Eric helped it off the trail.

toadtrain2.jpg
toadtrain3.jpg

toadtrain4.jpg
After a potty stop Kristine and Brenda started playing with this dead mouse. Not a good idea girls.

toadtrain5.jpg
Next we headed up the creek-edge trail for some shale/rock riding practice.

toadtrain6.jpg
Along Trabuco Oaks Road the girls wanted their pictures taken with these horses so I obliged.

Then we rode up to Hal's Place for rocky climbing practice. After a short break at the swimming pool we headed NW along the fireroad and did the little out-and-back singletrack I call Short But Sweet.

toadtrain7.jpg

toadtrain8.jpg
Along there I showed the group "Vickie's Hole."

toadtrain9.jpg
Singletrack Angel on Short But Sweet

As we headed down the hill toward Live Oak small raindrops started smattering on our faces. This felt awesome. Little did we know three hours later Live Oak Canyon would be flooded, people would be trapped in O'Neill and the canyon would be under mandatory evacuation!

We headed up and over O'Neill with the intention of doing Edison-Bonzai Ridge. As we crossed over the rain started to get steady and we made a beeline for the Whiting Ranger station to wait out the cell.

toadtrain10.jpg
toadtrain11.jpg
toadtrain12.jpg

After we debated being picked up by someone, we decided heck it was only light rain and forged on. We decided we better head back but we wanted to drop Bonzai Ridge first. (our original intention would have been to do Edison Bonzai and then climb back through O'Neill).

toadtrain13.jpg
Climbing up Glenn Ranch Road in the rain.

toadtrain14.jpg
Mark aka Outlaw on the start of Banzai Ridge.

toadtrain15.jpg
Kristine on BR

toadtrain16.jpg
Heading down Banzai Ridge. Whoo-hoo!

toadtrain17.jpg
Kristine tackles a tricky roller section.

toadtrain18.jpg
Singletrack Angel and Brendagilbert loving the trail.

toadtrain19.jpg
Kristine tries another tricky section...and crashed right after this shot was taken. Good job trying though!

toadtrain20.jpg
Ominous skies behind Kristine as we continue down Bonzai Ridge.

...to be continued....

bighit8 · 05-22-2008, 03:46 PM

Man sorry I missed the ride today.I ended up going to LA to look at 5 cars for frame damage.What a waste of my time.Oh well I get payed by the day and not the number of cars.I was gonna call to let you know but I forgot my phone.

KeepsWhatHappens · 05-22-2008, 03:48 PM

toadtrain21.jpg
Mark on the lower part of Banzai Ridge. By this time we were hearing lots of thunder and decided to seek shelter...quick.

toadtrain22.jpg
Eric cruising the bike trail toward shelter under rainy conditions. (Eric: Note this is a front shot

)

toadtrain23.jpg
What else is there to do when waiting for rain/lightning to pass? Take pictures of our bikes.

toadtrain24.jpg
Kristine loved the new Joplin R.

toadtrain25.jpg
After the thunder passed we headed home on the streets in light rain.

At one point in time we had talked about going to Cooks Corner and eating/waiting out the storm. Guess that would have been a bad idea. Look what happened....

cooks_large2.jpg

After we all got back to my place we dried off and headed out to El Torito for refueling and good times. Our ride ended up being 15.2 miles and 1550' feet of climbing. Not too shabby, but only about half of what I planned to do. Oh well..there's always next time!

ericfoltz · 05-22-2008, 03:54 PM

A few more pics:

Kristine

John

Brenda

Kristine coming to the top of Bonzai

Brenda

Mark on Bonzai

John

Good fun. Looks like we got out of there just in time.

Singletrack Angel · 05-22-2008, 03:55 PM

All in all, this was a great ride!! Edison-Bonzai was really fun, with little technical bits that I will enjoy working on the future.

As for the training part of the ride, Brenda and I got off easy today - just a fun ride with lots of hanging around and good food at the end! Next week will be the REAL training ride...

brendagilbert · 05-22-2008, 04:02 PM

Nice ride report and photos John! One of the best parts of this ride was listening to the thunder under the bridge , and on the road riding part. We heard the emergency broadcast signal on the car radio on our way home... extensive flooding, etc.. Good thing we didn't go to Cooks Corners like we were thinking about, because they wouldnt have given us any food!

bighit8 · 05-22-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singletrack Angel

All in all, this was a great ride!! Edison-Bonzai was really fun, with little technical bits that I will enjoy working on the future.

As for the training part of the ride, Brenda and I got off easy today - just a fun ride with lots of hanging around and good food at the end! Next week will be the REAL training ride...

I will be there next week if I dont have to work.I did not have to work today,(benefits of self employment) but I cant turn down work either.

KeepsWhatHappens · 05-22-2008, 04:17 PM

Missed you on the ride today Danny. Hope you can make the next one buddy.

genusmtbkr5 · 05-22-2008, 06:24 PM

Nice RR and pics. Sorry I missed it.

CPATCRASH · 05-22-2008, 06:33 PM

Looks like fun!

TrojanInsomniac · 05-22-2008, 06:46 PM

John - Would you be willing to accept a fellow Mach 5 rider for next week's training ride? I've been on the fence for the toad for awhile, but I just decided to go for it. Looks like it'll be a lot of fun and for a great cause.

KeepsWhatHappens · 05-22-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrojanInsomniac

John - Would you be willing to accept a fellow Mach 5 rider for next week's training ride? I've been on the fence for the toad for awhile, but I just decided to go for it. Looks like it'll be a lot of fun and for a great cause.

PM sent

Team Smitty · 05-22-2008, 07:53 PM

Along there I showed the group "Vickie's Hole."

maybe there's a better name than "Vickie's Hole"?
and is Vickie OK with everyone seeing it?

jk

KeepsWhatHappens · 05-22-2008, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Smitty

Along there I showed the group "Vickie's Hole."

maybe there's a better name than "Vickie's Hole"?
and is Vickie OK with everyone seeing it?

jk

I guess we'll have to wait and see...

bighit8 · 05-22-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrojanInsomniac

John - Would you be willing to accept a fellow Mach 5 rider for next week's training ride? I've been on the fence for the toad for awhile, but I just decided to go for it. Looks like it'll be a lot of fun and for a great cause.

Lets join them Mark!

Team Smitty · 05-22-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

I guess we'll have to wait and see...

You know...I cant see a "hole" but just a lot of bush.

ok I'll stop

05-22-2008, 03:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
KeepsWhatHappens Warriors Society Member	Singletrack Angel's Toad Training Ride Well she didn't really ask for it, but she needed a training ride for the upcoming Toad so I volunteered to lead her and Brendagilbert on a moderate sufferfest today. I would not disclose the route ahead of time except the emphasis would be on climbing. Eric Foltz and Mark aka Outlaw joined us. We set off today under cool-cloudy skies. The forecast was for 20% chance of thunderstorms but when are they ever right? We started at RSM Parkway and Alicia Parkway and dropped into O'neill via Twisty Tire. It's here the ride got off to an interesting start. We spotted what appeared to be an injured rattlesnake in the rocky creek crossing. toadtrain1.jpg So Eric helped it off the trail. toadtrain2.jpg toadtrain3.jpg toadtrain4.jpg After a potty stop Kristine and Brenda started playing with this dead mouse. Not a good idea girls. toadtrain5.jpg Next we headed up the creek-edge trail for some shale/rock riding practice. toadtrain6.jpg Along Trabuco Oaks Road the girls wanted their pictures taken with these horses so I obliged. Then we rode up to Hal's Place for rocky climbing practice. After a short break at the swimming pool we headed NW along the fireroad and did the little out-and-back singletrack I call Short But Sweet. toadtrain7.jpg toadtrain8.jpg Along there I showed the group "Vickie's Hole." toadtrain9.jpg Singletrack Angel on Short But Sweet As we headed down the hill toward Live Oak small raindrops started smattering on our faces. This felt awesome. Little did we know three hours later Live Oak Canyon would be flooded, people would be trapped in O'Neill and the canyon would be under mandatory evacuation! We headed up and over O'Neill with the intention of doing Edison-Bonzai Ridge. As we crossed over the rain started to get steady and we made a beeline for the Whiting Ranger station to wait out the cell. toadtrain10.jpg toadtrain11.jpg toadtrain12.jpg After we debated being picked up by someone, we decided heck it was only light rain and forged on. We decided we better head back but we wanted to drop Bonzai Ridge first. (our original intention would have been to do Edison Bonzai and then climb back through O'Neill). toadtrain13.jpg Climbing up Glenn Ranch Road in the rain. toadtrain14.jpg Mark aka Outlaw on the start of Banzai Ridge. toadtrain15.jpg Kristine on BR toadtrain16.jpg Heading down Banzai Ridge. Whoo-hoo! toadtrain17.jpg Kristine tackles a tricky roller section. toadtrain18.jpg Singletrack Angel and Brendagilbert loving the trail. toadtrain19.jpg Kristine tries another tricky section...and crashed right after this shot was taken. Good job trying though! toadtrain20.jpg Ominous skies behind Kristine as we continue down Bonzai Ridge. ...to be continued....

05-22-2008, 03:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
bighit8 STR Veteran	Man sorry I missed the ride today.I ended up going to LA to look at 5 cars for frame damage.What a waste of my time.Oh well I get payed by the day and not the number of cars.I was gonna call to let you know but I forgot my phone. __________________ Roger: You guys should join us next Sunday. It would be nice to have another screamer CHEWYETI: Heat, Beat, Repeat!

05-22-2008, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
KeepsWhatHappens Warriors Society Member	...continued... toadtrain21.jpg Mark on the lower part of Banzai Ridge. By this time we were hearing lots of thunder and decided to seek shelter...quick. toadtrain22.jpg Eric cruising the bike trail toward shelter under rainy conditions. (Eric: Note this is a front shot ) toadtrain23.jpg What else is there to do when waiting for rain/lightning to pass? Take pictures of our bikes. toadtrain24.jpg Kristine loved the new Joplin R. toadtrain25.jpg After the thunder passed we headed home on the streets in light rain. At one point in time we had talked about going to Cooks Corner and eating/waiting out the storm. Guess that would have been a bad idea. Look what happened.... cooks_large2.jpg After we all got back to my place we dried off and headed out to El Torito for refueling and good times. Our ride ended up being 15.2 miles and 1550' feet of climbing. Not too shabby, but only about half of what I planned to do. Oh well..there's always next time!

05-22-2008, 03:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
ericfoltz Sua Sponte	A few more pics: Kristine John Brenda Kristine coming to the top of Bonzai Brenda Mark on Bonzai John Good fun. Looks like we got out of there just in time. __________________ Portfolio: http://www.ericfoltz.com Race & Event pics: http://www.ericfoltz.photoreflect.com

05-22-2008, 03:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Singletrack Angel Wenches Rule	All in all, this was a great ride!! Edison-Bonzai was really fun, with little technical bits that I will enjoy working on the future. As for the training part of the ride, Brenda and I got off easy today - just a fun ride with lots of hanging around and good food at the end! Next week will be the REAL training ride... __________________ www.talkaboutcuringautism.org "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein

05-22-2008, 04:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
brendagilbert Beyond the gray sky	Rainride Nice ride report and photos John! One of the best parts of this ride was listening to the thunder under the bridge , and on the road riding part. We heard the emergency broadcast signal on the car radio on our way home... extensive flooding, etc.. Good thing we didn't go to Cooks Corners like we were thinking about, because they wouldnt have given us any food!

05-22-2008, 04:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
KeepsWhatHappens Warriors Society Member	Missed you on the ride today Danny. Hope you can make the next one buddy.

05-22-2008, 06:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
genusmtbkr5 Single Track Mind	Nice RR and pics. Sorry I missed it. __________________ Gene"GuidesNewWarriors" *http://www.warriorssociety.org/* *http://www.sharemtb.com/*

05-22-2008, 06:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
CPATCRASH Geddyup!	Looks like fun! __________________ Cowboy. http://www.thepathbikeshop.com/ Daily thought: some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs!

05-22-2008, 06:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
TrojanInsomniac Soul Provider	John - Would you be willing to accept a fellow Mach 5 rider for next week's training ride? I've been on the fence for the toad for awhile, but I just decided to go for it. Looks like it'll be a lot of fun and for a great cause.

05-22-2008, 07:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
Team Smitty Senior Member	Vickie's Hole? Along there I showed the group "Vickie's Hole." maybe there's a better name than "Vickie's Hole"? and is Vickie OK with everyone seeing it? jk

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