RR:Tijeras Creek Tuesdays #3

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Eight riders showed up today for the third in weekly Tijeras Creek Tuesdays. Present were Art (Dirthead on STR), Robert (Nomad on STR), Karen (a Trail Angel and Kpeony on STR), Scott (Scottv on Geoladders), Scott (Wingman on Geoladders), Paula (a Trail Angel), Kristine (Singletrack Angel on STR and Geoladders and Trail Angels) and me (John - KeepsWhatHappens on STR and Geoladders)

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We started off with a Trail Angel tradition, a brief prayer before the ride. After that we headed up Tijeras Creek Trail for a 10-minute mellow warm-up.

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Before long we were climbing up a steep fireroad up to the Chiquita Ridge Trail junction. There we met Doug (dwhouse on Geoladders) who had planned to meet us there.

We headed down Chiquita Ridge fireroad which is a rolling ridgeline trail with some fun sections. We rode a couple of the singletracks that parallel the main road along the way.

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Before heading down one of them I told the group "stay right at the junction." Well, at the bottom Doug, the two Scotts and I waited and no others came down. Hmmmm...5 minutes passed and I called Kristine. After hearing her description of where they were I determined they had confused their left with their right and went the wrong way. That had inadvertently headed down the most technical section in the area. Apparently Robert and Art crashed OTB on one of the double-drops.

When Doug, the Scotts and I rode to where the others were waiting, the others were scouring the bushes for one of Art's lenses from his glasses. After a few minutes he decided we should just go on. What a trooper! BTW, Art did great for only his 5th ride!

We made our way back up the fireroad and then dropped Oso Singletrack down the ridge to Oso. It's a nice, tight ridgeline singletrack that ends with a very steep, daunting 150' drop. A few decided to walk it and Robert, willing to try anything tried, went OTB and then rode down the rest of it. Good job dude!

After that we bee-lined to the Waterworks Trail since we were running short on time. Almost all of us were able to negotiate the new trail re-route and the bridge on upper Waterworks.

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Then we stopped for some jump fun on the Waterworks Trail. See the slideshpw movie attached below.

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We resumed and all was going good and fast with me in front until I went down HARD! I was flying down the trail turning a right-hander, cornering and leaning hard, when my front tire slipped and out and WHAMO! I was down and my bars were not straight anymore. I landed hard on my right hip and shoulder/elbow. While I dusted myself off and got 1st aid from Paula for my missing elbow skin (an ER nurse BTW is handy to have on bike rides) Robert, Scott and Wingman straightened out my bike. Thanks all for that.

After a carnage picture, we kept rolling.

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After Waterworks, we turned north and continued up Arroyo Trabuco through the numerous creek crossings. We stayed straight and went through "The Jungle" and then after a short climb we turned right and went through the Tijeras Creek Golf Course parking lot back to the cars.

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Here's our route info:
Geoladders route profile

Slideshow of today's ride

Good riding everyone! This wasn't an easy ride today. Man I'm getting really stiff and sore right now...I feel like a truck ran over my right hip and shoulder...I think it's beer-thirty!

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KeepsWhatHappens

[Singletrack Angel]

That was quite a ride!

The new Waterworks reroute is awesome. I need a little practice on the switchback... but the bridge approach is perfect.

KeepsWhatHappens was a great guide on the Chiquita singletracks, and we Trail Angels were getting out of our comfort zone. Looking forward to more Chiquita ridge exploration on future TC Tuesday rides.

[nomad]

What a great ride . I broke in my new bike ,Took a wrong turn , crashed 3 times & met some really cool people . It just doesnt get much better . I plan on being there next week

[turtle]

What a great ride. Fun group of people to ride with. KeepsWhatHappens is an awsome tour guide as well as photographer. Learned of trails a short distance from my house that I never new existed. Look forward to more adventures.

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice pics and RR John. I may have to join in if you start to include Chiquita ridge. I just have to back to my 2-a-day ride schedule on Tues since I usually ride in the afternoon as well. I still have to work the night before and then later that night . When do you guys usually finish up? I'll find some time to sleep between rides.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Nice pics and RR John. I may have to join in if you start to include Chiquita ridge. I just have to back to my 2-a-day ride schedule on Tues since I usually ride in the afternoon as well. I still have to work the night before and then later that night . When do you guys usually finish up? I'll find some time to sleep between rides.

I think we finished at 11:20am today. We were taking our time and doing some re-dos plus I crashed hard and that cost us some time.

KeepsWhatHappens

[foofighter]

as always, great pics and RR...wish i can play hooky to ride with you all

[dirthead]

a speeding ticket, over the handle bars once, lost perscription sunglasses and good company....priceless. thanks to all the Tijeras crew today. that was a blast. c-ya next Tuesday by the way, John i hope a speedy recovery for your hip and elbow.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by dirthead

a speeding ticket, over the handle bars once, lost perscription sunglasses and good company....priceless. thanks to all the Tijeras crew today. that was a blast. c-ya next Tuesday by the way, John i hope a speedy recovery for your hip and elbow.

Ditto Art. It was great riding with you and the others.

Hopefully I'll be riding by next Tuesday. This morning I am pretty darn stiff and sore and in some pain.

KeepsWhatHappens

[WINGMAN]

Wow that was fast! Great pictures! Well documented! My wife loved to see my other life and how much fun it is to ride. She just might get on a bike after all. I can only hope! Thanks again for the ride!

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by WINGMAN

Wow that was fast! Great pictures! Well documented! My wife loved to see my other life and how much fun it is to ride. She just might get on a bike after all. I can only hope! Thanks again for the ride!

Unless your wife is Superwoman she probably won't be able to keep up with you Scott! But it's still fun to ride with your spouse.

KeepsWhatHappens