Chantry Flats and Beyond! 12-31-06

[Tom Cosgrove]

1x1clyde,
Ok call my phone and leave the # 909-921-7924.
Guess we are meeting at chantry?

Originally Posted by 1x1clyde

Hey Tom,

We are going down thru studervant. We will be at the trailhead around 7:45 - 8:00, kind of depends on how quick we meet and pile into cars.
If you want I can give you my cell# to give a more accurate time frame Sunday am.

[andino]

I may be in...depending if i wake up early enough to drive out...about an hr drive

[gurp13]

Dude, drive out there. This ride is worth two hours of your life on the road. Get to it. Zion and Chantry are beautiful! You won't regret it.

[andino]

i'm probably going so i'm gonna drig a friend with me as well ...another excuse to use the new navi system lol

Edit: o btw my friend and I are kinda new riders...we've been mostly riding in the santa monica mountains

[gurp13]

hmmm, new... How new? The ride total will be around 14+ miles and some of the climbing is strenuous. Plus, there's quite a bit of technical stuff and even some exposure. This is not really a "new rider" kind of ride. I'd say you'd have to be at least of intermediate skill level. It's a killer ride, but you don't want to bite off more than you can chew. You know? The penalty for mistakes on some of this trail is pretty severe. Some parts could lead to serious injury or even death if you weren't careful.

I don't mean to be hyperbolic, here. But, I would hate to see someone get out there over their heads. I've been riding about a year now with almost 900 dirt miles this year. These trails pushed me pretty hard. I wouldn't have been able to ride them a year ago when I was new. I used to think I had some experience riding dirt because I'd been to Chino Hills a few times. Now, I'm not very familiar with the riding in the Santa Monicas, so maybe someone else can chime in with better knowledge than me, but the Angeles rides are challenging.

So, just what do you mean by new? Btw, I'm not trying to be a d**k. Far from it. A lot of people reached out to me when I was new and helped me to build up to the point where I could ride this stuff. Even these days I find it challenging and difficult, but I can do it. So, take it for what it is. I just think people should know what they're getting into. This is an awesome ride, but it's not for new riders.

[dstepper]

Listen to what Glen is saying, Zion scares me more than Strawberry Loop. That is one narrow loose in places trail. The failing penalty may be higher at Strawberry but the trail is granite and solid. Zion has alot of leaves on it from years of not being riddin'.

Don't get scared away just don't try to ride everything. Walk the sections that you are unsure of.

[Pain Freak]

Listen to these guys. Even that old one. There is no shame in walking a section that you are unsure of. This does have some good climbs to it, but if you just do the lower half (which I don't recommend as you will lose a lot of the fun downhill) it can be easily accomplished. I wouldn't call this a good learning trail because some of the stuff, if you miss and fail and go over the side the penalty can be quite severe. Bring your buds (if they're not to new) and just advize them to walk the highly technical parts.

[1x1clyde]

Originally Posted by andino

i'm probably going so i'm gonna drig a friend with me as well ...another excuse to use the new navi system lol

Edit: o btw my friend and I are kinda new riders...we've been mostly riding in the santa monica mountains

Hey guys,
Exactly what the "old man" said .
There are going to be sections that we will be walking, I ride with a buddy that has ridiculous bike handling skills and he feels there are sections we should not ride. He had some second thoughts on sections, cleared them mind you, but still recommends taking your time.
There is no reason to go out there and get hurt, unless Red Bull is sponsoring us Sunday!!
Our plan is to have fun, stay together and keep the "carnage" to a minimum.
Tom, we are parking at the end of the road, ie Chantry Flats parking lot. If the gate is closed, which will only happen if it rains, we will park at the gate, climb the pavement and then hit the trail at Chantry Flats.
I know there are 3 others coming with that are 1 year olds to the dirt scene so you won't be alone, I hope you can make it!

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

I'm in for this ride see you guys tomorrow

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Pain Freak and dstepper were the 1st ever mtn bikers so I would take any advice they had on all the trails. There's an old photo of them floating around here somewhere.

[Ladd Jasper]

Just checked out the pics. on GeoLadders--this looks like a great ride.

Still shooting for 8:00a at the trailhead? Long as I can drag my butt out of bed in time, I'll be there.

[guero]

i really wanna do this but after the backbone ride i noticed my rear tire was really low, so i pumped more air in it to find it really low again a day later. im out of stans juice and have a spare tube, but would like to throw some stans juice in there. does anyone have any they can bring tomorrow and i can add it before the ride?!?! i'll kick down a couple bucks for a couple scoopy doops!

[Ladd Jasper]

Originally Posted by guero

i really wanna do this but after the backbone ride i noticed my rear tire was really low, so i pumped more air in it to find it really low again a day later. im out of stans juice and have a spare tube, but would like to throw some stans juice in there. does anyone have any they can bring tomorrow and i can add it before the ride?!?! i'll kick down a couple bucks for a couple scoopy doops!

If it'll get you out there, I can float a bro a scoop or two.

Adding it to the "take" pile now.

[guero]

thanks dale!!!

so, from long beach, looks like taking the 605>210w is the best way? what exit am i looking to get off at, etc....?

is leg armor necessary?

[ShinKen]

I'm OUT! no legs left for tomorrow! next time.

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by guero

thanks dale!!!

so, from long beach, looks like taking the 605>210w is the best way? what exit am i looking to get off at, etc....?

is leg armor necessary?

Yep, take 605 to the 210 and then get off at Santa Anita Ave.
You drive through some nice residential and then start climbing for a few miles. It's well marked. Don't forget your extortion pass or $5 for the ranger. It's not that long of a drive from the LB area.

Leg armor....its up to you. I never have had it.
This is probably the biggest rock/tech section of the first half.


It's scary more due to the drop on the left than anything else.

[1x1clyde]

Sorry to hear you are out Jose, next time bro!
See everyone else in the am!!

[dstepper]

[quote=Pain Freak;44233]Even that old one. quote]
Hey I resemble that remark! Aren't you like the same age as me? Sir Pain...EDIT..Sir Freak!

I wish I was going on this ride with you guys...the only trail I like better in the Gabs is Mt. Waterman. Enjoy the trail and be safe. For those of you who go up and over Zion the downhill is worth it. If you have time, take a little side trip out to the falls in Big Santa Anita Canyon. If you guys have had any recent rains they should be pumping. You will hear them when you come down the canyon and get near Big Santa Anita Canyon.

After enjoying the ride remember that only because of some peoples hard work is this Loop ridable again.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

I'm OUT! no legs left for tomorrow! next time.

I think Jose needs the STR motavational speech.

Hey I resemble that remark! Aren't you like the same age as me?

Naw, you're way older.

[guero]

dale, change in plans for me big guy. i really appreciate you loading up the stans juice for me. im gonna stick a lil closer to home tomorrow. looking forward to seeing the RR and pix!