Lake Hodges, Sunday 8/12 @ 3 PM

[Evil Chocula]

Yep, the two worst crashes I've seen have been at Hodges! Including my buddy's 5 piece shattered clavicle. That was such a blast, he's basically given up MTBing for a much safer sport (paragliding). We rode Noble the weekend before with no problems, and I don't think he was taking the place seriously as a result, which I think alot of people do, hence the injurys.

Count me in the 40 miler though! If possible, lets do it on a Sunday morning, so my other buddy Pags can join us.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

Count me in the 40 miler though! If possible, lets do it on a Sunday morning, so my other buddy Pags can join us.

I'm down for a tour of Hodges with Woody. Bring Jen with you if it's a Sunday.

Oh yeah, wait til it cools off, eh?

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by allison

Oh yeah, wait til it cools off, eh?

nah, we rode there last Sunday 'round three, and it wasn't that bad. and I am your stereotypical east-coast-heat-hater.

[sladnas]

Originally Posted by PacMan

The deaths that I know of were caused primarily to the rider not wearing a helmet.

Yup. A death is a death, though...not arguing darwinism, just pointing out that Hodges can bite

Originally Posted by PacMan

Countless others have been seriously hurt on the 3' high jump/kicker on the upper singletrack.

My buddy broke his clavicle on that kicker a week before summer started. In fact, he pushed me to get my new bike and then he goes and fries his whole summer! Doh...

[PacMan]

I don't think I'll be SS'ing the 40 miler

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by PacMan

I don't think I'll be SS'ing the 40 miler

Bu-ha-hahhah!

[allison]

Originally Posted by PacMan

Countless others have been seriously hurt on the 3' high jump/kicker on the upper singletrack. My dad is one, Evil Chocula's buddy another, I've read 4-5 different stories on MTBR about people getting messed up on that jump.

You mean this one?

[sladnas]

Haha, that looks like the SOB.

[PacMan]

This one:

[allison]

Doug - that is indeed a different jump. Hmm. If that's the one in the middle of the upper ST? I don't know how anyone gets enough speed to jump it! Going out toward the marina I usually can only roll it. But, I haven't been out there in awhile, so mebbe I'm on crack?

[sladnas]

Originally Posted by allison

Doug - that is indeed a different jump. Hmm. If that's the one in the middle of the upper ST? I don't know how anyone gets enough speed to jump it! Going out toward the marina I usually can only roll it. But, I haven't been out there in awhile, so mebbe I'm on crack?

Weird. I thought the pic you posted was the one...just crouched down off to the right. Where is that one you posted?

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by allison

Doug - that is indeed a different jump. Hmm. If that's the one in the middle of the upper ST? I don't know how anyone gets enough speed to jump it! Going out toward the marina I usually can only roll it. But, I haven't been out there in awhile, so mebbe I'm on crack?

All the crashes I know of were people hitting it from the other direction, like heading towards I-15. You can get up some good speed going that way.

[Letyrides]

Originally Posted by mechmann

wow dude... lost lives on Hodges. you gotta try hard to do that! (or be really unlucky)

i have had my worst fall to date at hodges...
1 massive contusion of right quadracep (will always be a hole there now where the muscle riped apart)
2 severely bruised ribs
3 severely bruised forearm and elbow
4 sprained wrist/hand
5 medium severity separated shoulder

bike damage was a ruined front wheel

It's like the Fully Loop San Diego version! Not good.

[allison]

Originally Posted by sladnas

Weird. I thought the pic you posted was the one...just crouched down off to the right. Where is that one you posted?

Erm... I think it's west of the creek? Lower singletrack, mebbe?

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by Letyrides

It's like the Fully Loop San Diego version! Not good.

Nah. Like Fully, it's only as dangerous as you make it.

[sladnas]

Originally Posted by mechmann

it is just west of the creek where my crash occurred... might be bad juju around there...

Yeah really. Hopefully nobody goes down.

Here's my best takeaway from Hodges...this thing cycled through every color of the rainbow

[Evil Chocula]

I used my body to completly taco some else's rear wheel at Hodges one time. Yes, that involved an air-borne Chocula.

[mtbcat]

my injury did not occur at hodges. thanks for the thoughts .will be riding soon enough

[bjammin]

Originally Posted by PacMan

The deaths that I know of were caused primarily to the rider not wearing a helmet.

Justin--your crash was at the creek, at the bottom of the really steep hill not far from the marina, right?? I have heard of 2 people that died there, both not wearing a helmet.

Countless others have been seriously hurt on the 3' high jump/kicker on the upper singletrack. My dad is one, Evil Chocula's buddy another, I've read 4-5 different stories on MTBR about people getting messed up on that jump.

There used to be a jump/kicker at the bottom, where the upper singletrack drops back down to the fireroad and I heard that people were always getting hurt there and when one rider died, the rangers bulldozed it.

Granted, I heard all these from other people and who knows where they got the info, but I know one of the guys who told me really well. He is a long time San Diego resident, a long time MTBer and has no reason to lie to me.

The only death at Hodges I've had was my 1st gen. Voodoo frame on the rock drop into the creek at the roller coasters... air to frame crackage.