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Pain Freak · 02-12-2008, 05:58 PM

Fun ride on the front range of the San Gabes. This is one of the easier rides and a lot of fun.
Meet at JPL at 8 am, then ride the couple miles over to Lake St to the Sam Merrill trailhead and get our climb on.We will continue up to Inspiration Point then head over and down Sunset Trail to the bottom. Then a very short climb to the El Prieto trailhead and have a blast finishing back at JPL!!! This is going to be an easy paced ride with as many regroups as we need. So if you're looking to get your feet wet in the San Gabes come on out.

dstepper · 02-12-2008, 06:05 PM

Mike would love to join ya but will be at the Keyesville Classic.

Dean

Pain Freak · 02-12-2008, 06:06 PM

Damn, I was hoping you'd be available.Oh well, Keyesville is a great ride.

BrewMaster · 02-12-2008, 06:39 PM

I really want to get to know the San Gabes, so I hope I will be available for this one. Thanks for posting it Mike.

mottmcfly · 02-12-2008, 06:41 PM

I did El Prieto Sunday and tonight. It's in really good shape.

Dino Brown · 02-12-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottmcfly

I did El Prieto Sunday and tonight. It's in really good shape.

Water crossings? Any erosion? Trail washouts?
Will do my best to make it Mr. Freak!

mottmcfly · 02-12-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino Brown

Water crossings? Any erosion? Trail washouts?
Will do my best to make it Mr. Freak!

A few water crossings. Nothing more than 6 feet in distance. Some major erosion at one part but it looks more like mother nature taking care of business. Means one slight hike a bike and the walk around does no further damage. There might have been more but I was going way too fast to notice..or was that a dream?? Either way..rock on.

TooManyTacos · 03-08-2008, 07:58 PM

I'm really slow. Is that okay? I've ridden El P four or five times, but walked probably 50% of it.

mazer75 · 03-09-2008, 05:38 PM

I am going to try and make this for sure. I have done Sunset and El Prieto dozens of times now, but have never climbed up the Lower Merrill to get to Sunset first. I've done that paved access road climb up the other side, which isn't that fun.

dstepper · 03-09-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooManyTacos

I'm really slow. Is that okay? I've ridden El P four or five times, but walked probably 50% of it.

Talk to Mike the ride leader, if you are walking 50% of El P you will be walking 80% of Middle Merrill...Middle Merrill is not to be fooled with. Plus it takes a very strong rider to climb Lower Merrill.

Couple of pics from the merrills.

Dean

bighit8 · 03-09-2008, 05:47 PM

Sorry Saturdays I sleep late. Work makes sure of that.

TooManyTacos · 03-09-2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstepper

Talk to Mike the ride leader, if you are walking 50% of El P you will be walking 80% of Middle Merrill...Middle Merrill is not to be fooled with. Plus it takes a very strong rider to climb Lower Merrill.

Couple of pics from the merrills.

Dean

Thanks Dean. I don't want to get into something that's more than I can handle.

bighit8 · 03-09-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooManyTacos

Thanks Dean. I don't want to get into something that's more than I can handle.

It is a hard ride and climb, fun however.

Pain Freak · 03-11-2008, 07:08 PM

Yeah, I'd pass if you're still working on El P, but keep at it and you'll be with us in no time. There are still quite a few coming that aren't signed up here also. I think the pace will be on the slower side as I have a no drop policy. We did a lot of trail work on this trail last weekend and it's in fair shape right now. We still have some lose areas that can only be fixed by rain, but the sight lines have been cleared and it's a lot of fun. We will have a lot of first timers this time, and I will advise them maybe to walk some of the gnar sections the first time around or to at least take a good look at them before they try them. Mid Merrill is not a place to make a mistake.

Looks like rain in supposed to happen in the PM, so we should have a good day with lower temps.

bighit8 · 03-11-2008, 07:18 PM

Truer words have not been spoken!

tkblazer · 03-11-2008, 07:31 PM

do any of you guys going on the ride know the route? i wouldn't follow Mike if he was the only way into heaven

kanga · 03-11-2008, 08:01 PM

Just got back from El P tonight, and it is in good shape. The downed tree has been removed from the section where the low and high roads come together, meaning you can now climb out of the low road without problem. The high road, on the other hand, is still doable, but getting narrower at the eroded section, and the slide at the end of it is now really off camber... don't touch your brakes, just roll it with momentum.

The poison oak is growing in pretty well, and there are several places where it is growing out across the trail. I'm off to do a technu shower right now.... pics and full RR later.

airgabe · 03-11-2008, 08:53 PM

I will keep Mike in sight to make sure there is no more extra credit......

ShinKen · 03-11-2008, 09:57 PM

i may see u guys out there!!!

I'm going to try starting earlier and climb to the top from Jpl

stjunkie · 03-11-2008, 10:25 PM

So you didn't get enough last weekend?
Try and keep both crank arms on the bike this time ( it's easier to pedal that way).

02-12-2008, 05:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pain Freak Directionally Challenged	Sam Merrill/Sunset/El Prieto Fun ride on the front range of the San Gabes. This is one of the easier rides and a lot of fun. Meet at JPL at 8 am, then ride the couple miles over to Lake St to the Sam Merrill trailhead and get our climb on.We will continue up to Inspiration Point then head over and down Sunset Trail to the bottom. Then a very short climb to the El Prieto trailhead and have a blast finishing back at JPL!!! This is going to be an easy paced ride with as many regroups as we need. So if you're looking to get your feet wet in the San Gabes come on out.

02-12-2008, 06:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
dstepper Over the Hill	Mike would love to join ya but will be at the Keyesville Classic. Dean __________________ If I'm not lost or getting bushwacked, the trail was too easy. Prescott Valley Houses The Path

02-12-2008, 06:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pain Freak Directionally Challenged	Damn, I was hoping you'd be available.Oh well, Keyesville is a great ride. __________________ "The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew—and live through it." — Doug Bradbury "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." — Emo Philips

02-12-2008, 06:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
mottmcfly Pro beginner	I did El Prieto Sunday and tonight. It's in really good shape. __________________ Burner "I don't have a husband, but I am looking for a new b*tch "

03-09-2008, 05:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
bighit8 STR Veteran	Sorry Saturdays I sleep late. Work makes sure of that. __________________ DINO BROWN:I am a BIG fan of the G-Spot! You can quote me on that! JASONMASON: Dude you didn't get lost...Thats where the trail ends!!!!

02-12-2008, 06:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
BrewMaster	I really want to get to know the San Gabes, so I hope I will be available for this one. Thanks for posting it Mike. __________________ Solo rides are good for the soul.

03-08-2008, 07:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
TooManyTacos Or Not Enough	I'm really slow. Is that okay? I've ridden El P four or five times, but walked probably 50% of it.

03-09-2008, 05:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
mazer75 Rocket Man	I am going to try and make this for sure. I have done Sunset and El Prieto dozens of times now, but have never climbed up the Lower Merrill to get to Sunset first. I've done that paved access road climb up the other side, which isn't that fun.

03-11-2008, 07:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
Pain Freak Directionally Challenged	Yeah, I'd pass if you're still working on El P, but keep at it and you'll be with us in no time. There are still quite a few coming that aren't signed up here also. I think the pace will be on the slower side as I have a no drop policy. We did a lot of trail work on this trail last weekend and it's in fair shape right now. We still have some lose areas that can only be fixed by rain, but the sight lines have been cleared and it's a lot of fun. We will have a lot of first timers this time, and I will advise them maybe to walk some of the gnar sections the first time around or to at least take a good look at them before they try them. Mid Merrill is not a place to make a mistake. Looks like rain in supposed to happen in the PM, so we should have a good day with lower temps. __________________ "The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew—and live through it." — Doug Bradbury "When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." — Emo Philips

03-11-2008, 07:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
bighit8 STR Veteran	Truer words have not been spoken! __________________ DINO BROWN:I am a BIG fan of the G-Spot! You can quote me on that! JASONMASON: Dude you didn't get lost...Thats where the trail ends!!!!

03-11-2008, 07:31 PM	#16 (permalink)
tkblazer Noog'alish	do any of you guys going on the ride know the route? i wouldn't follow Mike if he was the only way into heaven __________________ Denmother: I had the sausage sampler, it was yummy! Guero: i'm easy

03-11-2008, 08:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
kanga STR Veteran	Just got back from El P tonight, and it is in good shape. The downed tree has been removed from the section where the low and high roads come together, meaning you can now climb out of the low road without problem. The high road, on the other hand, is still doable, but getting narrower at the eroded section, and the slide at the end of it is now really off camber... don't touch your brakes, just roll it with momentum. The poison oak is growing in pretty well, and there are several places where it is growing out across the trail. I'm off to do a technu shower right now.... pics and full RR later. __________________ To expand your comfort zone, you have to leave it!

03-11-2008, 08:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
airgabe Senior Member	How about it backwards I will keep Mike in sight to make sure there is no more extra credit...... __________________ Dino told me I was his Mr.Miagi TURNER HOMER

03-11-2008, 09:57 PM	#19 (permalink)
ShinKen STR BUB!!	i may see u guys out there!!! I'm going to try starting earlier and climb to the top from Jpl __________________ Perhaps you think you're being treated unfairly?

03-11-2008, 10:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
stjunkie Senior Member	So you didn't get enough last weekend? Try and keep both crank arms on the bike this time ( it's easier to pedal that way).

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