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09-30-2007, 09:40 PM
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#1 (permalink) |
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Sir Smack-Alot
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Strawberry to JPL (9/30/07)
WOW! Another EPIC ride in The San Gabriel's. It was our most difficult ride to date.
Total distance: 25.3 miles... Total Climb: 3,000+ feet... 4,909 feet of downhill! Thanks Steppie! The crew- Dino Brown, Steppie, Pain Freak, Burner, DasBrink, STJunkie, EpicRideRat, Bryce and Charles (from Lake Arrowhead). We also crossed paths with 2 members of OTB and 5 members of EpicRiders.  The route: Strawberry Peak to Red Box to Switzer to JPL!!! Whew.... not that easy! Strawberry Peak: Began with a 30 minute fireroad climb. For some reason many believe the first 5-10 minutes to be the most difficult. Steady incline  thin air body not warmed-up yet Can't explain it. Once atop the Peak, you are treated to miles of very narrow and loose singletrack!!! Exposure (i.e. cliffs ranging from 30 to 500 feet) follow/lead you through most of the trail. Half way through the ride, we were treated to another 15 minute narrow singletrack- a$s kicker climb! After that- it was all downhill until Red Box. Overall Skill Level: Upper Intermediate... Pucker factor: High... The Climb: Not fun but worth it!Red Box: I would say 75% is either flat or downhill. More narrow singletrack... more exposure.... rocks.... boulders.... switchbacks... rock gardens.... one more thing, POISON OAK! Wasn't that bad. Pretty sure we all brushed up against it though! Really fun little trail! Not much climbing! While the trail consists of mostly hardpack and loose rocks... you spend plenty of time navigating around (or over) mini boulders! Fun Factor: High... Climbing: Not much... Skill level: Intermediate Switzer to JPL Holy Sh!T! The first section we got off the bike... back on the bike ... off the bike.... on the bike. Lots of stream crossing and giant boulders! We were under the canopy of trees for 99% of this section! Really fun! The second section was all about the climb. 20 minutes of very narrow.... very steep drops. Not too much fun. Third section, we descended down loose, steep, loose, steep, narrow, loose, very narrow terrain- did I mention the penalty for falling was SEVERE?  The fourth fifth and sixth sections had more of the same- narrow trails, severe drops and an occasional steep climb or two. Overall Skill Level: ADVANCED!!!! Pucker Factor: High... The theme of the day---- FLATS! I had (2) flats and a sliced rear tire. The suspect tubes were made by Specialized and Bontrager. After installing IRON HORSE TUBES-- no more flats! DasBrink had two flats... StJunkie... Burner...etc. Unbelievable! The climb ahead of us...  Part of the crew  STJunkie warming up... Bryce feeling the climb   Steppie watering the plants   Partial Regroup  The Fallen Tree (Steep Fall)  Steppie and Mr. Freak... Don't fall to your left!  Mr. Freak and STJunkie  More Singletrack  EpicRiderat- One Cool Dude! Good Rider Too!  A Strawberry style view at every corner  More pics are on the way!
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L.A. KINGS ... dw-link.com/reasons SheDevil- I was on George's crotch for hours Integradriv3r- How many kids do you have that you DON'T know about Pugz- For an Asian man he is pretty big |
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| post thanked by: |
allison (10-01-2007),
bjammin (09-30-2007),
Burner (09-30-2007),
CalEpic (10-01-2007),
CC (10-02-2007),
DasBrink (10-01-2007),
dirtmistress (10-01-2007),
dstepper (09-30-2007),
epicriderat (10-01-2007),
Fired Yo Momma (10-01-2007),
foofighter (09-30-2007),
genusmtbkr5 (10-01-2007),
Geronimo (10-02-2007),
ghixon (10-01-2007),
grandpa (10-01-2007),
guero (10-01-2007),
Hoosierdaddy (09-30-2007),
jfromlv (09-30-2007),
jfsh (10-01-2007),
J_Sims (09-30-2007),
ka0t1c07 (10-03-2007),
KBL (10-01-2007),
mcgyver0302 (10-05-2007),
mechmann (10-01-2007),
mottmcfly (09-30-2007),
ODB (10-01-2007),
OMR (10-02-2007),
PacMan (09-30-2007),
Pain Freak (10-01-2007),
project_d (10-01-2007),
scorns (10-01-2007),
Shannon (09-30-2007),
Sharky (09-30-2007),
sheclimbs (10-01-2007),
ShinKen (10-02-2007),
slayer (10-03-2007),
Sprockethead (10-01-2007),
SpunnOne (10-02-2007),
stjunkie (09-30-2007),
Tedroy (10-01-2007),
Waldo (10-01-2007),
Winston (10-01-2007),
~ Pakiha ~ (10-03-2007)
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09-30-2007, 09:44 PM
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#2 (permalink) |
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trail sanitizer
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That's strange, I would swear that those IH tubes are made in the same factory as the Specialized and Bontrager's in China!
 Nice pics, wish I could have been there.
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“Tani, dude, them Incycle guys have matching pants, we’re screwed!”-Winston |
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09-30-2007, 09:47 PM
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#3 (permalink) |
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Sir Smack-Alot
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Iron Horse tubes are made in the U.S.A...... The material: Kevlar!
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L.A. KINGS ... dw-link.com/reasons SheDevil- I was on George's crotch for hours Integradriv3r- How many kids do you have that you DON'T know about Pugz- For an Asian man he is pretty big |
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jfromlv (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 09:52 PM
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#4 (permalink) |
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Over the Hill
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Dino, THX for the pics and RR. It was a good ride with a good crew.
Typical San Gab goodness, there truely are some great trails out there. It was kinda of weird...it seemed like all the riders we met on the trail we knew. We did not see one other MTBer from Red Box to nearly the end of JPL...a number of hikers. 
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If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path |
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| post thanked by: |
DasBrink (10-01-2007),
Dino Brown (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 09:59 PM
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#5 (permalink) | |
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trail sanitizer
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Quote:
__________________
“Tani, dude, them Incycle guys have matching pants, we’re screwed!”-Winston |
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| post thanked by: |
Dino Brown (09-30-2007),
Foesnasty (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:02 PM
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#6 (permalink) |
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watch out for that pole!
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great ride today!
only carnage was to the tires, the way it should be.
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The Path... it's worth the drive from LA. |
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| post thanked by: |
DasBrink (10-01-2007),
Dino Brown (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:03 PM
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#7 (permalink) |
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Over the Hill
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Nice av Matt!
__________________
If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path |
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Dino Brown (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:07 PM
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#8 (permalink) |
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Pro beginner
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Wish I could have joined. Sorry to have missed such a great ride.
Mott |
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Dino Brown (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:09 PM
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#9 (permalink) |
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Sir Smack-Alot
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...more pics
Take the picture Jackass!  Steppie.... Nice cliff to the left!  Mr. Freak descending  Burner's Bike- So Many Trails...  DasBrink- The Climbs... The Falls... Let Him Tell You  Another Regroup (Hmm.. Dino's 1st Flat)  STJunkie- The Human Trials Riding Machine  Post Huck- I blew it!  StJunkie and "The Rock"  EpicRideRat- Making This Section Look Easy  Charles (Lake Arrowhead) 38 pound bike.... no fear... very skilled rider.... cool dude..... MY NEW FRIEND!!!!  More cliffs, more rocks and more streams  Another Flat  Burner's Flat  Stream #1  Stream #2  And My Favorite Picture of the Day..... Yeah Dino, I hear ya'... DW-LINK... Iron Horse... The Greatest Linkage in the world.... No, really.... It makes sense now... Thanks!  My most sincere apologies for not showing the true beauty of these trails in my photos. The trails were very narrow! The penalty for falling- not worth it! More San Gabriel Trips in the weeks to come.
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L.A. KINGS ... dw-link.com/reasons SheDevil- I was on George's crotch for hours Integradriv3r- How many kids do you have that you DON'T know about Pugz- For an Asian man he is pretty big |
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| post thanked by: |
Burner (09-30-2007),
CalEpic (10-01-2007),
CC (10-02-2007),
DasBrink (10-01-2007),
dirtmistress (10-01-2007),
dstepper (09-30-2007),
Fired Yo Momma (10-01-2007),
genusmtbkr5 (10-01-2007),
ghixon (10-01-2007),
grandpa (10-01-2007),
guero (10-01-2007),
Hoosierdaddy (09-30-2007),
J_Sims (09-30-2007),
mcgyver0302 (10-05-2007),
mottmcfly (09-30-2007),
ODB (10-01-2007),
OMR (10-02-2007),
Schecky (10-01-2007),
Sharky (09-30-2007),
sheclimbs (10-01-2007),
slayer (10-03-2007),
Sprockethead (10-01-2007),
stjunkie (10-01-2007),
Waldo (10-01-2007),
Winston (10-01-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:12 PM
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#10 (permalink) |
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Pro beginner
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Nice job with the pics Dino!
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Dino Brown (09-30-2007)
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09-30-2007, 10:27 PM
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#11 (permalink) | |
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Sir Smack-Alot
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Quote:
Call Dave Turner (or have Steppie do it for you ).... tell him you are tired of waiting for the RFX!You would have loved it- Turner's everywhere today! Funniest moment: Epicriderat's RED Turner literally repelled dust, dirt and mud! He coated it with some NASA/Dave Turner anti-static wax! The frame had no dust on it all day! Pain Freak's Turner  I guess the coating wore off! Thanks to everyone who showed up. Looking forward to the next one.... is my Homeboy!
__________________
L.A. KINGS ... dw-link.com/reasons SheDevil- I was on George's crotch for hours Integradriv3r- How many kids do you have that you DON'T know about Pugz- For an Asian man he is pretty big |
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09-30-2007, 10:38 PM
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#12 (permalink) | |
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Over the Hill
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Quote:
Dumped the GPS info into the computer…here is the ride profile. Nice 4,909 ft of downhill.
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If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path Last edited by dstepper; 09-30-2007 at 10:43 PM. |
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10-01-2007, 12:07 AM
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#13 (permalink) |
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Lebowski Urban Achiever
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Nice RR. Look like an interesting and challenging ride, though I could do without the death-drops. Are there any trails in the San Gabes that allow for a 12-20 mile ride without skirting the Cliffs of Doom?
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Just because the bike can do it doesn't mean the rider can! "My ass is sore after a long ride." - MtnKitty " If you feel like you're going fast, you are!" -CalEpic |
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10-01-2007, 01:37 AM
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#14 (permalink) | |
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Powered by chocolate
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Quote:
Chilao Flat is calling your name! The Chilao area is about 9 miles past Red Box on the Angeles Crest Highway. Chilao has its own brand of tricky terrain, but unlike most of the rest of the San Gabriels, you aren't riding next to the Cliffs of Doom. Boulder fields aplenty, rock-choked singletrack with nasty water bars, and smooth, twisty sections thrown in just often enough to let you enjoy classic alpine scenery. There are several ways to put together a 12-20-mile ride in the area. Highly recommended. I've done the Strawberry/Red Box/JPL trails...bummed that I couldn't join you guys this time.
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Beware, lest STR suck you in too far... Last edited by KBL; 10-01-2007 at 01:39 AM. Reason: Added more info, fixed spelling error |
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Dino Brown (10-01-2007)
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10-01-2007, 01:46 AM
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#15 (permalink) |
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Sir Smack-Alot
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Waldo- A trip to Chilao has already been "planned." Give it another week or so.... still trying to finalize the date. Our "local guides" are sometimes busy! Cough... Cough...
KBL- Sorry we missed you this time! Hopefully, I won't be writing the same thing NEXT TIME I post a San Gabriel's Ride. We can "talk" about it on Tuesday...
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L.A. KINGS ... dw-link.com/reasons SheDevil- I was on George's crotch for hours Integradriv3r- How many kids do you have that you DON'T know about Pugz- For an Asian man he is pretty big |
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10-01-2007, 02:00 AM
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