RR: Bommer Canyon Night Ride

[Edog]

So I couldn't make the ride last Saturday, but noticed an organized night ride for Tuesday. Beats the Luge I thinks & sign up.
Well it was a push to make it there from work by 6, but I made it. The ride had been posted on Geo Ladders so a group of 4 had shown up from that. Andy led the trip with Steve & Kevin bringing up the rear.
I haven't ridden here before so I was pretty stoked to get back & ride on the area that I stare at everyday going to work.
We started with a nice climb up to the 73, I think we where all more than warmed up after that. We hit fence line & missing link, with a heavy mist rolling in. We dropped down BBD & caught the fire road back up. By the time we got to the top is was time to light up.
We hooked up some fast fireroads, & crossed back under the 73 into the Irvine Ranch area.
Once it got dark the trails became littered with Toads, many where avoided, some not!
We took a ridge trail above the new Nix Center, out to a point above Quail Hill. Great views of Orange County & the 405 sounded like a waterfall below us.
From here we took some sweet new single track that dropped down a cool rock section. I'm sure with some daylight & scouting, I'd ride this. In the dark the shadows just made the drops look bottomless. Adam cleared most of it on his single speed.
From here we crusied back up to the top past Toad Pond, which was adpetly named.
Dropped down the section of fireroad back into the valley, which was very sweet. Back to the cars by 9 which made for a good 3 hour ride.
The only mechanical was mine, when my crank arm fall off! That would explain my frustration with my front derailer the night before, luckly a quick fix.
Adam has done an amazing job here, I can't thank him enough, calling him Andy all night wasn't cool either. (Sorry JamR!)
Thanks also to Ben, Steve, Kevin, Monica, Roy, Dave, & Ralph for a great ride.
I think these night rides are monthly, I'll definatly be on the next one, & I'm going to try to fit in a day ride too.
Thanks again Adam

[OMR]

Our group of 8 was out of LCWP... lead by Kimberley Staff (docent) ...up Willow and into the park. We passed you on Missing Link... I was the first guy & said hi to Adam. Then we passed you again on the other side of the 73. Sounds like you had as much fun as we did. Sorry about that crank arm

Great place to ride at night!

See you on the trails...

OMR

[kbteachme]

I never been to Boomer Canyon or Shady Canyon east of the 73 freeway in Irvine. I hear it's legal and ridable now? Where is the best place to start (near 405 and Shady Canyon or is it better to start down by the 73 and El Toro road? Can you ride down from MILF Park via the route down from the top of Chola, Aliso Woods (fence line)?

[JamR]

Originally Posted by kbteachme

I never been to Boomer Canyon or Shady Canyon east of the 73 freeway in Irvine. I hear it's legal and ridable now? Where is the best place to start (near 405 and Shady Canyon or is it better to start down by the 73 and El Toro road? Can you ride down from MILF Park via the route down from the top of Chola, Aliso Woods (fence line)?

Still accessed by Docent led tours via the online registration at www.irvineranchlandreserve.org/activities

And the last night ride was this month so we won't be starting them up again until the time change.

Hope this helps

[OMR]

Originally Posted by JamR

Still accessed by Docent led tours via the online registration at www.irvineranchlandreserve.org/activities

And the last night ride was this month so we won't be starting them up again until the time change.

Hope this helps

Adam,

Thought they had opened the new ranger station already and that the trails were now open???

OMR

[Edog]

The Nix Center is open, but the trails are limited access & don't include anything above the ridge. (I believe). Where you out on a Sliver SS on Sat, I think I saw you at the bottom of Rattlesnake!

[JamR]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Adam,

Thought they had opened the new ranger station already and that the trails were now open???

OMR

Nix center is open and you can now go under the toll road from Willow staging to the Nix via Serrano Ridge and Camarillo; but the balance of the trails in the City of Irvine Space are still Docent Led, so currently there is not a complete loop available in the northern LCWP section yet.

[OMR]

Adam,

Have they published maps yet on the trail system... what's open and what's not?

OMR

PS: Looking forward to another 3 park ride soon...

[JamR]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Adam,

Have they published maps yet on the trail system... what's open and what's not?

OMR

PS: Looking forward to another 3 park ride soon...

We're working on the maps as we speak and are getting things together for the signage in the area.

I'll keep everyone posted on the progress as soon as the information becomes available.

ps...It was a 4 park ride, and I think the next date is already set for sometime in September. We may push the distance up a little for the next one.

The last one was 39.72 miles with 6800 feet of climbing, and the steepest climb was 31%. Not a bad day's work.

Next time we'll probably probably beef the ride up to 45 + miles and add a run down Emerald Falls (BVD) and up old Em. Once into Aliso-Woods we'll probably do the same route with riders going up either Rock-it, Cholla, or Lynx (which should be an easy climb now that the breaking bumps are gone)

As soon as I have information on the map releases, I shoot up a post.

Thanks

[Shu]

I was bummed sat..was supposed to ride a Docent led ride but it was canceled on fri afternoon...guess they couldn't find a sweeper

[JamR]

Originally Posted by Shu

I was bummed sat..was supposed to ride a Docent led ride but it was canceled on fri afternoon...guess they couldn't find a sweeper

I was out in the field all day and found out about the lack of a sweep after the event was cancelled. I would have swept for the ride, but I did not have any cell service where I was working so they could not reach me.

The Bolero Springs ride is a short but nice change of pace ride, and the trail is in nice shape right now. We just finished mowing the centerlines last week.

There's still 4 spaces open for the Freemont Loop this Saturday. That's a great ride.......definitely tougher than Bolero, but worth the effort.

Also, the next ride in Bommer and Shady Canyon is still wide open as far as registration. It's on July 7th.

[Shu]

It just sounded like a cool ride and we didn't have a ride planned for that day...this weekened we're going to Big Bear...going to sign up for a Docent led ride at the end of July or early Aug...