RR: RR: Tour de Suburbia

[ericfoltz]

Sometimes you just have to go for it. I've had a ride in mind for a month or so. Unfortunately, it's been too hot.

Yesterday looked like it might stay overcast so I set out to give it a go.

The route: http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=15832

The start of the dirt. Serrano Creek Trail in Lake Forest.



Just a few more day until the grand reopening. Looking forward to a fun ride on Saturday.



45 minutes into the ride and I hit the top of Vista Trail in O'Neill Park. And this was the end of the clouds. All sunshine from here on out.



Looking back from Bell View Trail.



Bell View Trail up on West Ridge. First Water refill stop.



The drop down into Coto. You can see the Lookout hills off in the distance. Sometimes it gets a little discouraging to see how far you've got to go.



Nice ride through Riley Wilderness Park. It started getting really hot down in the valleys.



Looking down Oso Trail. Mile 23.



At the top of the Ladera Ridge Climb 25 miles into the ride. Not even halfway. Getting warmer.



One hour later at the top of Third Lookout. The Lookout climbs are harder than the "Bs" at Oaks. The worst of the climbing is done. That's the I-5 in the background.



The bridge and turnaround point. 34 miles. Only 20 left to go. Unfortunately 17 of those are uphill.



Mile 40. What the heck was I thinking.



The end of the dirt. 53 miles. 5200' of climbing. Not a bad day on the trail.



Another great day riding. I won't be doing this one again on any day over 75 degrees. Two of my water refill points were turned off so I ended up doing some unplanned water conservation.

Luckily the O'Neill fountains were on so I could get a final cool down before the last two hills home.

[dfioc]

Epic ride. I'd have bailed out halfway through. Kudos!

[tbowren]

That's pretty impressive. I may have to use this route as a reference for some smaller rides myself. For some reason I don't think of these trails when I plan my Saturday rides.

I especially like the self portraits. No good ride report should be without them.

[DDB@OCR]

Epicalness.

[Jordansrealm]

Good ride man looks like what I did that day I went 34. I rode those lookout hills and yes they suck! A couple of them are 25% grade and higher and they buuuuurned the legs good.

[Solo]

I'd like to ride this sometime. How many of the 50+ miles were on dirt?

[ericfoltz]

Originally Posted by Solo

I'd like to ride this sometime. How many of the 50+ miles were on dirt?

Probably about 47 on dirt.

The pavement was about .8 from my house to the Trailhead, some in O'Neill, the section up into Robinson Ranch, the stretch on Oso between Burma Rd. and Ladera Ridge, Antonio to Waterworks and the Crown Valley bridge.