STR | SocalTrailRiders.org

Zippo · 06-16-2008, 01:18 PM

My Father's Day started off early. I just couldn't sleep past 5am with the anticipation of getting out into the hills, and hopefully out of the fog that inundates Santa Barbara on most mornings. My mom lives in Montecito, and these hills are kind of my backyard, and I rarely bring my camera with me, but I figured today I would. My plan was to ride from the beach up through the front country and down into the back country to Gibraltar Reservoir, and back home - about 40 to 45 miles and 6000'. However, a few miles into the ride I realized I left my 2 water bottle cages, and my Heed and Perpetuum bottles in the fridge. I did have 2 beers in my pack though (along with 70oz of cold water). Haha, priorities. Rather than turn around I rode on...

...but first a stop at the beach

On the road up to the Romero Canyon trailhead. It was so misty it was hard to believe there was any fire danger at all.

Romero Canyon Road. The sun poked through the fog here for a bit. If you return this way, you can get tons of air launching through this switchback.

The start of the Romero Canyon trail. On a sunny day you can see the peak up above.

Getting up above the fog.

This narrows down to singletrack. You can see the trail cutting across under the peak.

The hub. Left takes you down a rocky singletrack back to the trail head. Right will take you to the top but it's mostly HAB. Straight is up & across the Romero Saddle.

One of many critters .

Romero is in incredible shape right now. Smooth and fast, up or down.

Turn this corner, and a short downhill...

...brings you to the tank.

If I started at sea level, shouldn't Elevation and Total Ascent be equal?

Poser.

No, that Heineken is not a peace offering - tastes too good at 7:30am.

Carbon vs aluminum. LNT - Leave No Trace.

Montecito Peak in the distance, elev 3400', via Camino Cielo (paved).

Target practice along Camino Cielo.

Epic views. That's Santa Barbara 3000' below. The Channel Islands are in the distance.

Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers have put alot of these bell boxes up here. This one is at the top of San Ysidro. I won't be the one to preach...

Cold Springs North to Gibraltar Reservoir and some of the sweetest singletrack around. This is the trailhead from Camino Cielo. I did not drop in as at this point I was down to 20oz of water and one more beer.

Cold Springs tower.

Golf ball in the tank. Talk about a big drive...

Camino Cielo overlooking the back country.

Father's Day Beer #2.

continued...

Zippo · 06-16-2008, 01:19 PM

...continuation:

Pondering the route - alot of these trails are sure to be busy with hikers. IF there's a bell in the box, I'd prefer to drop down Cold Springs. My intended route was through remote trails connecting to fire roads and I did not bring my bell. Lesson learned.

And there's a bell in the box at Cold Springs! Cold Spring South back into town it is.

Another excellent reason to carry zip ties.

After about 1.5 mile of buttery smooth singletrack, the rock garden begins.

And it goes on and on for about 2 miles. Pretty much all of it is rideable, but there are some pretty technical areas.

The trail crosses this fireroad...

...and carries on to the right.

Cold Springs creek crossing - one of many. There are lots of swimming holes, lots of hikers, dogs, kids, etc. Everyone is always thankful for the bell through here.

One of many switchbacks.

Lots of swimming holes here. The kids love this shallow one.

And the trail leads you out to East Mountain Road. The return to the beach promises to exceed the 40mph speed limit.

My brunch beer awaits!

All in all a fantastic morning on the bike. Not huge mileage or ascent (24 miles, 3500'). I wanted to get back and see the kiddos & wifey anyway. I spent the rest of the day with my boys digging sand castles at the beach. Soon enough the whippersnappers will be riding with me!

Blue Rat · 06-16-2008, 01:25 PM

Great report and pictures.

Burner · 06-16-2008, 01:57 PM

ahh, my old stompin grounds, nice... never thought of that front country stuff as SS-able.

Zippo · 06-16-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burner

ahh, my old stompin grounds, nice... never thought of that front country stuff as SS-able.

well, when upper Romero was as chunky as it used to be the SS was a real PITA. Now it's a dream!

ghixon · 06-16-2008, 02:43 PM

Now that looked like a hell of a lot of fun. I was at the Elings Park/SB Bike Fest race a few weeks ago and was talking to one of the SB Trails volunteers. He had mentioned this trail and some of the associated off-shoots that you can take up there.

Thanks for the photos. There might be another road trip in my future. Do you happen to have the GPS file from your Garmin that you can send?

Tedroy · 06-16-2008, 02:53 PM

Yer pullin my heart strings. I grew up around Carp... Thanks for sharing.

Zippo · 06-16-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghixon

Now that looked like a hell of a lot of fun. I was at the Elings Park/SB Bike Fest race a few weeks ago and was talking to one of the SB Trails volunteers. He had mentioned this trail and some of the associated off-shoots that you can take up there.

Thanks for the photos. There might be another road trip in my future. Do you happen to have the GPS file from your Garmin that you can send?

Yep, it's in my Garmin still. The Edge is new to me & I'm still working out the flow with it, but I will get it into my computer tonight.

Abui · 06-16-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burner

ahh, my old stompin grounds, nice... never thought of that front country stuff as SS-able.

Don't think - do!

Abui · 06-16-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippo

The hub. Left takes you down a rocky singletrack back to the trail head. Right will take you to the top but it's mostly HAB. Straight is up & across the Romero Saddle.

The HAB to the right is a superb trail coming down. The connection from Camino Cielo was taken away by a landslide so you HAB from the tank straight across the ridge.

xc burr · 06-16-2008, 04:55 PM

what a great fathers day bro!

maxwell · 06-16-2008, 05:45 PM

Freak'n awsome! Thanks for sharing!

I need to get up there and ride.

EMrider · 06-16-2008, 07:33 PM

Great report and pics, thanks. I rode Romero last year and had a great time. Going back up in July and looking forward to doing it again.
R

Zippo · 06-17-2008, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghixon

...Do you happen to have the GPS file from your Garmin that you can send?

Ok, try this link.

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=15212

I'm on a MAC, and it seems that the software from Garmin is clunky at best. I converted the tcx to a gpx via Ascent, but I bet there is a better method. If anyone has a good MAC workflow, please share (yes I've read the 10 page Garmin 205/305 thread). I'll look into it later.......late now.

Vampire out.

JoeTruth · 06-17-2008, 05:26 AM

Nice RR (especially on an SS) and great photos. SB front range is awesome. Thanks for reminding me to get back up there and ride soon.

CPATCRASH · 06-17-2008, 05:36 AM

I was just there a couple of weeks ago. I wish we would have made a loop out of it though. We shuttled up a 10 mile road climb that would zap the energy out of even the strongest climbers.

Can you upload your garmin info to geoladders for future rides?

One last thing. Did you do that ride with no water and two beers? On a SS? What planet are you from?

06-16-2008, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zippo Restepct.	RR Romero Cyn Cold Springs Loop My Father's Day started off early. I just couldn't sleep past 5am with the anticipation of getting out into the hills, and hopefully out of the fog that inundates Santa Barbara on most mornings. My mom lives in Montecito, and these hills are kind of my backyard, and I rarely bring my camera with me, but I figured today I would. My plan was to ride from the beach up through the front country and down into the back country to Gibraltar Reservoir, and back home - about 40 to 45 miles and 6000'. However, a few miles into the ride I realized I left my 2 water bottle cages, and my Heed and Perpetuum bottles in the fridge. I did have 2 beers in my pack though (along with 70oz of cold water). Haha, priorities. Rather than turn around I rode on... ...but first a stop at the beach On the road up to the Romero Canyon trailhead. It was so misty it was hard to believe there was any fire danger at all. Romero Canyon Road. The sun poked through the fog here for a bit. If you return this way, you can get tons of air launching through this switchback. The start of the Romero Canyon trail. On a sunny day you can see the peak up above. Getting up above the fog. This narrows down to singletrack. You can see the trail cutting across under the peak. The hub. Left takes you down a rocky singletrack back to the trail head. Right will take you to the top but it's mostly HAB. Straight is up & across the Romero Saddle. One of many critters . Romero is in incredible shape right now. Smooth and fast, up or down. Turn this corner, and a short downhill... ...brings you to the tank. If I started at sea level, shouldn't Elevation and Total Ascent be equal? Poser. No, that Heineken is not a peace offering - tastes too good at 7:30am. Carbon vs aluminum. LNT - Leave No Trace. Montecito Peak in the distance, elev 3400', via Camino Cielo (paved). Target practice along Camino Cielo. Epic views. That's Santa Barbara 3000' below. The Channel Islands are in the distance. Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers have put alot of these bell boxes up here. This one is at the top of San Ysidro. I won't be the one to preach... Cold Springs North to Gibraltar Reservoir and some of the sweetest singletrack around. This is the trailhead from Camino Cielo. I did not drop in as at this point I was down to 20oz of water and one more beer. Cold Springs tower. Golf ball in the tank. Talk about a big drive... Camino Cielo overlooking the back country. Father's Day Beer #2. continued... __________________ When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. Last edited by Zippo; 06-17-2008 at 09:16 AM. Reason: edit: 70oz water

06-16-2008, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zippo Restepct.	...continuation: Pondering the route - alot of these trails are sure to be busy with hikers. IF there's a bell in the box, I'd prefer to drop down Cold Springs. My intended route was through remote trails connecting to fire roads and I did not bring my bell. Lesson learned. And there's a bell in the box at Cold Springs! Cold Spring South back into town it is. Another excellent reason to carry zip ties. After about 1.5 mile of buttery smooth singletrack, the rock garden begins. And it goes on and on for about 2 miles. Pretty much all of it is rideable, but there are some pretty technical areas. The trail crosses this fireroad... ...and carries on to the right. Cold Springs creek crossing - one of many. There are lots of swimming holes, lots of hikers, dogs, kids, etc. Everyone is always thankful for the bell through here. One of many switchbacks. Lots of swimming holes here. The kids love this shallow one. And the trail leads you out to East Mountain Road. The return to the beach promises to exceed the 40mph speed limit. My brunch beer awaits! All in all a fantastic morning on the bike. Not huge mileage or ascent (24 miles, 3500'). I wanted to get back and see the kiddos & wifey anyway. I spent the rest of the day with my boys digging sand castles at the beach. Soon enough the whippersnappers will be riding with me! __________________ When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

06-16-2008, 01:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Blue Rat F.O.G.R.	Great report and pictures. __________________ "He's soft and he's fat and he's wearing my clothes and he's getting too old and he was born on my birthday and I'm afraid if I stop riding, he'll catch up with me." I. E. Bikes

06-16-2008, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tedroy Mt Wilson Motoboy	I love Padaro lane! Yer pullin my heart strings. I grew up around Carp... Thanks for sharing.

06-16-2008, 05:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
maxwell Dirty Stinky PATH Love	Freak'n awsome! Thanks for sharing! I need to get up there and ride. __________________ "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

06-16-2008, 01:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Burner WTFO	ahh, my old stompin grounds, nice... never thought of that front country stuff as SS-able.

06-16-2008, 02:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
ghixon	Now that looked like a hell of a lot of fun. I was at the Elings Park/SB Bike Fest race a few weeks ago and was talking to one of the SB Trails volunteers. He had mentioned this trail and some of the associated off-shoots that you can take up there. Thanks for the photos. There might be another road trip in my future. Do you happen to have the GPS file from your Garmin that you can send? __________________ The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.

06-16-2008, 04:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
xc burr Member	what a great fathers day bro!

06-16-2008, 07:33 PM	#13 (permalink)
EMrider Senior Member	Great report and pics, thanks. I rode Romero last year and had a great time. Going back up in July and looking forward to doing it again. R

06-17-2008, 05:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
JoeTruth	Nice RR (especially on an SS) and great photos. SB front range is awesome. Thanks for reminding me to get back up there and ride soon. __________________ "The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00am."

06-17-2008, 05:36 AM	#16 (permalink)
CPATCRASH Geddyup!	I was just there a couple of weeks ago. I wish we would have made a loop out of it though. We shuttled up a 10 mile road climb that would zap the energy out of even the strongest climbers. Can you upload your garmin info to geoladders for future rides? One last thing. Did you do that ride with no water and two beers? On a SS? What planet are you from? __________________ Cowboy.

STR | SocalTrailRiders.org

Your Southern CaliforniaMountain Biking Community

Your Southern California
Mountain Biking Community