RR: Lower Sam, Sunset Ridge, El P RR

[MTBMaven]

I went out for a MTB ride this past Sunday for the first time in maybe 6 weeks, i.e. way too long. One of my best buddies (Krisztian), his cousin, and a co-worker of Krisztian's met at JPL and rode the road to Lower Sam Merrill. Lower Sam was crowded but in great shape. Krisztian and cousin Petti are fairly new to mountain biking and they kicked ass climbing Lower Sam. They cleaned all of the switchback on the lower part and Krisztian was the first to the top.

I recently took the tube out of my rear tire and put Stans in the tire again. The tire wasn't holding air very well but I figured a few hours on the trail would take care of that. I had to refill twice before getting to the top of LSM so I put a tube in.

After Lower Sam we headed over to Sunset Ridge.
Sunset is covered in PO. I mean from top to bottom it is everywhere. Draped over the trail, coming at you from the right, coming from the left. It is friggin everywhere. If you head out there cover up and take some Claritin before and after the ride.

Pretty soon after heading down Sunset I got a pinch flat on my rear tube. Turns out I only had one tube and one patch. Well the patch wouldn't hold so I borrowed one from the group (the only other tube in the group).

No more than .5 miles later I flatted again. Out comes the old school glue patch kit. Two patches later we start airing up the tire. Pissssss. Out comes the tube and a third patch is applied. This time she holds air. We pumped the tire to like 40-45psi. After that no more flats.

We finished up Sunset Ridge and headed over to El Prieto. Per usual, El P packs a lot of fun into a 2 mile trail.


Sorry no photo...yet.

[Foesnasty]

I have seen more pinch's on sunset then any other trail... once on a DH run a group of 8 guys had a total of 10 flats, I was pissed....It's one thing to run low psi, it's another to pick bad lines.... It sure is a fun ride regardless

[Bergsteiger]

Second time in the Angeles for me, lots of fun. Great place to break you neck- or -get 3 flats in less then 1 mile. Lesson learned, pack lots of tubes, and you shall prevail. Tomorrow I try my new Garmin Forerunner 305.
Let the games begin.
Thanks for the TOUR, Brian-MTBMAVEN-AKA Doc.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

There's one sharp rock on Sunset that has got me twice running the 2.35 Nevegals. It's right after a tight left switchback. No pinch flats on it with the 2.5's.

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by Franky

There's one sharp rock on Sunset that has got me twice running the 2.35 Nevegals. It's right after a tight left switchback. No pinch flats on it with the 2.5's.

You should try wearing bib's too, that'll help!

[Pain Freak]

Eewwww, that is a pic I didn't need to visualize.

I almost never pinch on either Sunset or El P anymore. I used to on a regular basis, but after going with Stans juice it doesn't happen. I did bump up the tire pressure to 30-35 psi.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by Bergsteiger

Second time in the Angeles for me, lots of fun. Great place to break you neck- or -get 3 flats in less then 1 mile. Lesson learned, pack lots of tubes, and you shall prevail. Tomorrow I try my new Garmin Forerunner 305.
Let the games begin.
Thanks for the TOUR, Brian-MTBMAVEN-AKA Doc.

To the unacquainted, Bergsteiger is the aforementioned Krisztian AKA Doc AKA the Rooster.

We go way back to our days working at Sport Chalet in HB; him running the Ski Shop and me working in the Mountain Shop. We had several geography classes at CSULB and are both CSULB Geog. grads. We have traveled to Europe, Whistler x2, and Mammoth more times than I can count. We were in each others weddings to boot. Now Krisztian has finally seen the light and is into mountain biking in a big way. Welcome aboard dude!