RR: Backbone(Malibu)_Kanan to Corral

[guero]

Since no one has posted one yet, I'll do the honors. Left my pad at 9, headed to Gouges, and we were on the road at 9:15ish to caravan up to Malibu. Traffic wasnt too bad and we arrived in the lot around 10:20ish I believe. We pulled in and saw Chappy (Bananaseat), Doug (Trekker), Matt (Burner), Nikitata, and then FoSheez pulled up. I had never been riding in the SM's and didnt know what to expect, other than there were alot of Up/Downs, a bit different than the long up's of the OC rides I'm accustomed to. The wind was howling on the way there and I was worried about freezing, but I managed just fine with a long sleeve jersey. I hadn't been on the Huckler in a month so I knew I would be at the back of the pack, which was fine with me. The ride starts with an immediate climb to a hike-a-bike (I'm sure some can clean the section). After that it gradually rolled up and down and then down further and then up...well, you get the picture. I had looked at the ride on EgoLadders and saw pictures so I could kinda familiarize myself with what I'd be in for. This ride was 99.9% s/t and there was quite a bit of coverage for a good majority of the ride, there was even a magical poison oak "wonderland" forest as Gouge dubbed it. There were a few sections where we stopped and attempted some tricky rock sections. Doug was an animal and I really hope I can kick as much ass as he does when I'm a little older. There wasn't anything that he didn't attempt, and most of the time he cleaned the section. I dont believe we came across any other MTBers but we did see a clan of hikers on our ride. We reached our destination, Little Moab and relaxed for a bit and we all attempted to climb it, with only a few making it to the top. If you havent seen it, it is a tricky rock slab with ruts on each side of the runway up, and a small gap you have to mash over to then make your way up between the two deep ruts on each side of you. After about at 10 minute rest, Fo had to take off, and we left shortly after. No major crashes or mechanicals, although Burner did pull off a nice slo-mo endo in front of me on our way back out, looks like he jammed his finger pretty good, after Doug told him to suck it up and be a man we were on our way. Not being on the bike for a month took its toll, I hiked a few areas because I was just out of gas, but nonetheless it was a great ride and it was nice to get on some new dirt.

I know Gouge has some pix and maybe a video or two to post, as well as Burner. Thanks Matt for planning this and it was great meeting Fo, Nikitata, and Doug. Sorry about changing our mind about grubbing up there Matt, traffic woulda been brutal for us if we didnt keep moving.

[FoShizzle]

was great meeting you in person....it was VERY nice to get a great ride in with such cool cats....

looking forward to next time!

[Burner]

I'd just like to add how funny it was when someone asked where Nikita was, and was super bummed out when she wasn't a smoking hot eastern bloc babe

I don't think anybody took pics of the ditch that caused my endo, it's on a corner, i took it wide right into it, tried to slow up. But went otb. Jacked up my finger pretty good... nicely swollen and black & blue on the inside of the joint. Nothing that would keep me off the bike, so no prob
Great group today

on to the pics... I'll upload a couple videos later.

group shot


Nikita (just call him Nick )


(part of) Trekker, FoSchnitzel, and Bananaboy in the switchbacks


Bananamana


Guero


Bananaman in the rocks


Trekker on the rock step up

[Pain Freak]

It's been a long time since I rode that trail. I sure would of liked to have joined you guys, but the mans got me.

[FoShizzle]

so sorry to hear about the finger. that bites

[tkblazer]

looks like a fun trail... thanks for the pics and RR

[Abui]

It was a really good day, cold at the start but after the first climb the layers came off. It was a strong group of riders, we went through Corral's singletrack at a fast pace until the hikers showed up. (I didn't mind the break). My best shot of the day is George after he made the gap and started up the rock. Really, it is STIL.
Mat gave us (me) a fright. When I came around the corner he was lying down in the dirt. My first thought was that he couldn't get up! What a relief to find one his finger had a problem.

[Nikitata]

Yeah, it was kinda funny to realize that I have received so many replies on my first post not because I'm such a nice guy, but because everybody thought I was a female. It really was a lot of fun to ride with you guys. We should do it again. Burner, I'm buying a hydration pack right now.

See ya soon

[bananaseat]

very cool ride today, as guero mentioned very fun rolling single track.

glad to hear you're ok burner. also, thanks for coordinating the ride. i'll definitely go back for some more.

[Burner]

I had some more, but they were all failed attempts and/or too far from the cam to look good.

trekker making it up little moab

Fo giving his mating call on the SS

A trickier section than it looks like.
Fo's 1st attempt

Fo's 2nd attempt, success!