Meeting my buddy Chris in Sedona on a last minute trip(he lives in Aspen,Colo) 1st time in Utah (Gooseberry Mesa) Being a tour guide for one of my best friends and his son on their 1st of many trips to Sedona
I'm gonna have to go with the one weekend in mammoth where we randomly ran into dino, dubl_xl, and junior. great times, fun vibe, good friends, and I felt absolutely dialed all weekend. aside from that, though, I still really can't say that I didn't enjoy every ride I did this year, be it DH, XC, or something epic and in between. it was a good year for riding.
It's tough for me to narrow it down to a single best ride... there were many in 2009! Since the limit is three photos, i'll mention three rides... Downieville Gathering Jackson Lake Loop with OTB gang Sedona
Aww, common Mike. You live at Chiquito. What about Grafton Mesa? Gooseberry? Or BCT Speaking of Chiquito, I guess you're not going tomarrow? :?: I guess it'll be just T1, T2, and me.
sorry more than 3 picss... here's a link: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/46120-palm-desert-dec-30-a.html
Good times '09 Hard to pick the best rides, they were all good. Utah springs to mind, as does Mammoth, as do The Gabes, as does exploring all the local trails around my new home, as do sooo many others. But the best rides were riding with friends. Some random, awesome times from '09. Thanks to all who made it a great year of riding.
Sorry, can't pick just one. 2009 was too good. Mammoth/Tahoe trip with the family: Vision Quest: St Patrick's Day ride:
Depends on the meaning of "best" Over 11 hours in the saddle for a leg of the Furnace Creek 508. Worst winds ever. This is not me, but will have to do. [youtube]VyAtgHOf9hU[/youtube]
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/41436-epic-not-spoken-lightly.html thread attached..
Top 3 2009 Teacup loop featuring Sally's BBQ - Sedona LLama trail to chicken point in the snow. Art's back door
Don't think I have any pics, but the best for me were: A CC training ride that several of us did up Maple to Santiago Peak and down Holy Jim. Up top we had very cold temps and minimal visibility, plus snow in numerous sections along the way. It felt good to join a bunch of friends to do something that stupid, and was one of those times that reminds you of how much fun and adventure can be found just beyond the fringe of suburbia. A solo ride where I started thinking I'd just do a loop of Peter's and maybe Oaks. But instead I turned right into Santiago Canyon, went up Blackstar to Beeks, back down to Santiago and turned left, dropped through Whiting, then rode back home. I had been feeling pretty uninspired when I started, but I was just having so much fun being on my bike that I kept going and going. My birthday ride with Xhusker, from my home to Santiago Peak and back, for a total of 59 miles and 6200 feet climbed. Here we are at the peak, trying to smile while being thrashed by the wind. And to cheat and add a fourth: Any rides with friends where someone had a first: First time up to the golf ball, first time clearing a section, etc. Pretty much anything that put a smile on someone's face and a sense of accomplishment in their heart. I'm lucky to have shared several of those this year.
Moab was an amazing trip and I can't wait to go back this year. Hopefully this year I'll be able to ride more than half a day at Mammoth.
