RR: Very Brief RR: An Eventful Morning at La Costa

[OldDogDan]

1. Crashed hard OTB on the rock pile alongside the fire road to the kiosk. My spotters thought I had it made and were as surprised as I was. Did not catch me. Did not get injured (much). Yay!

2. Rode right over a rattlesnake stretched across the top of the "hard way" rock wall on Vista Del Mar. Thought for a brief moment I might fall over right on top of him or he'd get my leg as I was going pretty slow right then. Doubled my heart rate. Cleaned the feature. The snake was uninjured. Yay!

3. Made it up a short steep section I've never made before. Lamaze breathing...Yay!

Those who know how badly I s**k uphill will best appreciate #3, as did I. I passed on the victory lap so as to quit while I was ahead.

[bajamtnbkr]

I'm sure we run into you, we where there at 9:00 am, nice fog to start the climb.

[OldDogDan]

Originally Posted by bajamtnbkr

I'm sure we run into you, we where there at 9:00 am, nice fog to start the climb.

Yeah, interesting combination of fog & dust (if you're behind someone, like I always am...at least uphill). A light rain would do wonders.

We started at 7:45AM, only a coupla cars there then, but about ten cars when we got back. We were four mid-to-old guys plus a young newb we met at the trailhead and invited to join us. (So that's a Klein, Turner, SC SL, Spec Epic...and a Diamondback hardtail w/ reflectors!).

We pretty much only saw a guy on a really dirty Ellsworth going up, a guy & gal coming down (she's a regular), and then talked quite a while afterward with Italo, "the insane Italian" who we had seen pedaling up solo on a 45lb Spec BigHit (!). Very nice guy, says he rides Nascar almost every weekday at lunchtime.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by OldDogDan

1. Crashed hard OTB on the rock pile alongside the fire road to the kiosk. My spotters thought I had it made and were as surprised as I was. Did not catch me. Did not get injured (much). Yay!

2. Rode right over a rattlesnake stretched across the top of the "hard way" rock wall on Vista Del Mar. Thought for a brief moment I might fall over right on top of him or he'd get my leg as I was going pretty slow right then. Doubled my heart rate. Cleaned the feature. The snake was uninjured. Yay!

3. Made it up a short steep section I've never made before. Lamaze breathing...Yay!

Those who know how badly I s**k uphill will best appreciate #3, as did I. I passed on the victory lap so as to quit while I was ahead.

Yay!

[Big Rick]

Gotta get out there and do that as an after work ride one of these days. Just moved to a new, closer-to-home, office on Palomar Airport Road.

[JOx2]

Dan, you should let me know about these kind of rides, i haven't tasted SD dirt since Sladnas Daley Ranch Ride. Nice RR OldDogDan, but wheres the pics.

[DISCO]

the poor snake,you didn't want a belt or tasty snack?

[OldDogDan]

Originally Posted by JOx2

Dan, you should let me know about these kind of rides, i haven't tasted SD dirt since Sladnas Daley Ranch Ride.

PM coming your way JoJo.


Nice RR OldDogDan, but wheres the pics.

Yeah, I've been thinking of getting a smaller point-and-shoot digital camera that I wouldn't mind carrying. My current one's too big.

There has been plenty of forum discussion of a "San Diego chapter" ride as a follow-up to the Sladnas Ride, but it hasn't come together yet. Maybe us southerners are more laid back and less well organized...?

Something when the weather cools off would be good, since longer drives usually mean later starts.

[tacos&beer]

Originally Posted by OldDogDan

Rode right over a rattlesnake stretched across the top of the "hard way" rock wall on Vista Del Mar. Thought for a brief moment I might fall over right on top of him or he'd get my leg as I was going pretty slow right then. Doubled my heart rate. Cleaned the feature. The snake was uninjured. Yay!

I swear I have seen over a dozen rattlesnakes out there this year. Half of them I barely missed ( within a few inches) while cruising downhill - the other half stopped me in my tracks while going up. One in particular on the steep loose section towards the top of VDM decided to have a stand off with me. Makes for interesting riding for sure.