Traverse Dry Run

[OMR]

Gene,

You did the same ride I did last weekend... and I agree that the hills after the Motorway really work you... especially that one long loose one. I ended up walking quite a bit of it... found it was faster to walk than try and ride the loose stuff. It was really a lot of fun coming down Maple Springs and Silverado. I'm running a Mutano in the front and a VelociRaptor in the rear... seems to work OK.

I did the Open Space Preserve Epic ride today with 17 others.. mostly single speeds... all good riders. Adam lead the way. It was almost 40 miles and three parks, Irvine Wilderness, LCWP, El Moro and Aliso Woods. We took a break in Laguna Beach at Starbucks half way through the ride then climbed Canyon Acres (Och!) The pace was pretty fast. good training for the up coming traverse. Weather was perfect.. cloudy and cool most of the ride! I gotta say the but was feeling it when I finally got back to the car! 40 miles is still a long way on the MTBike!

Looking forward though to next weekend... should be fairly cool and a good ride.

OMR

[m210]

i agree with the larsen. thats what i have on the rear, and ignitor only on the front. climbing was fine, just has a lack of bite even on the easiest of fireroad dh. thanks for the ride today. would like to have pushed on but rich and i enjoyed the motorway just the same!

[cH4os]

Yeah, all in all it really wasn't bad. We had mechanicals galore, that ate our time, we still woulda made the cut offs though... Troy rolled the whole thing, Good Job Bro!... I had to hike alittle, cuz it was faster.. Got very hot up there.. Nice to see you Gene, Mary, Rich, Renee, Frank, Eric, Ozzie, and Troy...

We went past four corners until our playtime ran out, and bailed down maple...

See you all Next Saturday!

[m210]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Gene,

We took a break in Laguna Beach at Starbucks half way through the ride then climbed Canyon Acres (Och!)

OMR

yep. canyon acres is our daily commute. its tuff the first few times but after a while it gets better... never easy though...

[ThinkFast]

It was good to see everyone out there today.

I was riding the IRC Mythos 2.1's today. I think the key to that one loose section is just keeping a good spin and not pushing too much. It's so loose that most tires are gonna spin out if you have to push too hard.

The Mythos aren't the best tire but I figure they are light and have good enough traction for all that fire road climbing. They sure don't look wide enough to be 2.1's though. They are sketchy on those loose descents though...but that might be something I need to work on .

Thanks for the fun time.

[Waldo]

Gene - good to meet you, and good for you & your crew for doing that ride. That was my first time up Blackstar, and while I was wishing we'd had the time to go further along MD past the Titleist In The Sky, I am definitely not ready for something like the Traverse (yet). LoisMustDie & I were talking on the way back about working up to something Traverse-like: Maybe Harding to Trabuco once or twice, then stretch it...but definitely not by next week!

Good luck next week!

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by m210

i agree with the larsen. thats what i have on the rear, and ignitor only on the front. climbing was fine, just has a lack of bite even on the easiest of fireroad dh. thanks for the ride today. would like to have pushed on but rich and i enjoyed the motorway just the same!

Nice ride today, as I said in the email, I think it was wise to stop and head down. It was getting HOT! We need to save it for next week.

Originally Posted by cH4os

Yeah, all in all it really wasn't bad. We had mechanicals galore, that ate our time, we still woulda made the cut offs though... Troy rolled the whole thing, Good Job Bro!... I had to hike alittle, cuz it was faster.. Got very hot up there.. Nice to see you Gene, Mary, Rich, Renee, Frank, Eric, Ozzie, and Troy...

We went past four corners until our playtime ran out, and bailed down maple...

See you all Next Saturday!

It was good to meet you guys. You're right, it was hot and I bet I got even hotter towards the peak.. Mary and I decided that it would be best to go down at Maple Springs so we can still somewhat enjoy the rest of the day.

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

It was good to see everyone out there today.

I was riding the IRC Mythos 2.1's today. I think the key to that one loose section is just keeping a good spin and not pushing too much. It's so loose that most tires are gonna spin out if you have to push too hard.

The Mythos aren't the best tire but I figure they are light and have good enough traction for all that fire road climbing. They sure don't look wide enough to be 2.1's though. They are sketchy on those loose descents though...but that might be something I need to work on .

Thanks for the fun time.

FUN! Well, you were the only one who rode through the loose stuff , I have a brand new IRC Mythos II, I may just change to that. I run that on my SS now.

Originally Posted by Waldo

Gene - good to meet you, and good for you & your crew for doing that ride. That was my first time up Blackstar, and while I was wishing we'd had the time to go further along MD past the Titleist In The Sky, I am definitely not ready for something like the Traverse (yet). LoisMustDie & I were talking on the way back about working up to something Traverse-like: Maybe Harding to Trabuco once or twice, then stretch it...but definitely not by next week!

Good luck next week!

It was good to meet finally meet you. You let me know when you're up for that ride. Maybe a few others would like to get on a Pain Divide Rookie Ride. Until then, let me know when you're riding Whiting again, after the Traverse of course.

Originally Posted by mtber3737

Gene,

You did the same ride I did last weekend... and I agree that the hills after the Motorway really work you... especially that one long loose one. I ended up walking quite a bit of it... found it was faster to walk than try and ride the loose stuff. It was really a lot of fun coming down Maple Springs and Silverado. I'm running a Mutano in the front and a VelociRaptor in the rear... seems to work OK.

I did the Open Space Preserve Epic ride today with 17 others.. mostly single speeds... all good riders. Adam lead the way. It was almost 40 miles and three parks, Irvine Wilderness, LCWP, El Moro and Aliso Woods. We took a break in Laguna Beach at Starbucks half way through the ride then climbed Canyon Acres (Och!) The pace was pretty fast. good training for the up coming traverse. Weather was perfect.. cloudy and cool most of the ride! I gotta say the but was feeling it when I finally got back to the car! 40 miles is still a long way on the MTBike!

Looking forward though to next weekend... should be fairly cool and a good ride.

OMR

Ya, Mary can climb and I'm sure she's got alot more to bring next week. 17 riders, sounds like you guys had alot of fun. 40 miles. We did 38+. I'm ready, just debating on which tire to use, but I guess, I'll go with what's always worked for me. IRC Mythos xc II rear. Mutano Raptor for the front. I'll see you next week if I don't see you before. Gene

[Pho'dUp]

Good seeing you again Gene. You guys were moving at a pretty good clip up Blackstar and looked pretty strong Sat. I was taking my time on my singlespeed don't think I ever got closer than a few turns behind you guys.

As far as tires, I'd just run what you're used to. Those tires are pretty light and you're comfortable with the the tires so you know how they're gonna behave when it gets loose on the main divide.

Was Matt the guy on the Trek?

Carl

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Rode the part of the Traverse course today. We started at Black Star at the Xmas tree lot about 7:45. Saw Carl, Andrew(winger), Matt(hermit on geoladders) and "Waldo". There was 3 in my group(me, Mary & Tim V. and was joined by 1 more Matt about mid way up). We made 1 brief stop just before Beeks. Got to beeks and rode through. Started the climbs past the golf ball and made it to the Motorway in about 2 1/2 hours. We meet up with my friend Rich at the MW. He and Tim went down the MW and Mary and I continued on. This section IS LONG and only really 1 part is where I had trouble with traction. It's just steep and lots of loose rocks. We walked about 15 yards up just through the worst rocky sections(gee which one you ask?) and started riding again. We were able to ride the rest of that climb. We got to 4 corners in just under 4 hours. We ran into some other STR guys Steven, Troy and 2 others(can't remember their names) there. They went on towards the peak, we went down Maple Springs along with Troy, then out on Silverado Canyon Rd back to Black Star were our trucks were.

As far as tires, everytime I tried to power up the steep sections, I spun out. I had a Nano Raptor for my rear and a Mutano Raptor in front. Fast but loose on the down hills. Mary had small block 8's and she spun out on climbs and she also said she was loose on the DH. Tim had Ignitor/Larsen and had the same problems. so there you have it, 3 different tires, same result. Good luck to all next week. I'm going to get some grub and a cold one(several)

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

Good seeing you again Gene. You guys were moving at a pretty good clip up Blackstar and looked pretty strong Sat. I was taking my time on my singlespeed don't think I ever got closer than a few turns behind you guys.

Was Matt the guy on the Trek?

Carl

Ya, it was good to see you again. I'm still trying to put the faces, names and STR names together. I believe Matt was riding a Trek. Matt is young, about 22 yrs and he stayed with us to the golf ball then he was GONE! I didn't know him, Mary did. I guess they know each other from racing. She was the one setting the pace. Tim(m210) & I were just going along for the ride.

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

As far as tires, I'd just run what you're used to. Those tires are pretty light and you're comfortable with the the tires so you know how they're gonna behave when it gets loose on the main divide.

Carl

I switched to IRC MythosXC II today. I ran those tires before I ran the Nanos, so I'm used to those as well.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Mary had small block 8's and she spun out on climbs and she also said she was loose on the DH.

Gene & Mary - check the note I'm adding to the tire review thread about SB8's. I'd be curious to know how Mary's experience compares.

[xhuskr]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Mary had small block 8's and she spun out on climbs and she also said she was loose on the DH.

Bummer......I just picked up a rear small block 8 for the ride. I had already planned on walking some of the steep/loose stuff from MW to 4 corners (did MP-MW over weekend to check conditions), but I may be walking more now. We'll see......the heat may be more of an issue than just tread. See ya Saturday.......I'll be the one in the waaaayyyy back.

[Keith B]

I got up late & rode in blistering heat to Motorway and headed down - sank way too much water to go any further. Need some distance training to get back on my game.

[Pho'dUp]

Hey Keith,

I think I saw you pulling in as I was leaving. Dam man, that's some serious training riding in the midday heat!

Originally Posted by Keith B

I got up late & rode in blistering heat to Motorway and headed down - sank way too much water to go any further. Need some distance training to get back on my game.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by xhuskr

Bummer......I just picked up a rear small block 8 for the ride. I had already planned on walking some of the steep/loose stuff from MW to 4 corners (did MP-MW over weekend to check conditions), but I may be walking more now. We'll see......the heat may be more of an issue than just tread. See ya Saturday.......I'll be the one in the waaaayyyy back.

Kevin, There isn't a tire out there that's perfect for the conditions on the Pain Divide right now, so you'll be fine. Like you said, the heat may be the bigger issue. Stay hydrated, but not too much. I'm going to bring an extra bottle just for cooling off.

[xhuskr]

Full Camelback, bottle on the bike AND an energy drink along with my food......hope that's enough! Good luck everyone!!

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Kevin, There isn't a tire out there that's perfect for the conditions on the Pain Divide right now, so you'll be fine. Like you said, the heat may be the bigger issue. Stay hydrated, but not too much. I'm going to bring an extra bottle just for cooling off.

Expect temps in the mid 70's for a high......most should be on the second half of the course by the time the temps reach here.


mtnbikej