Ride Report Maxwell's Labor Day Ride 9/7/09 - Blackstar/Skinsuit/Skyline

Gabe's pics only lasted 27 minutes and I missed them. Shoot.rotest:

 

#-o mods came around before I got a glimpse inside Gab's mind.... Sounds like a great 'yet eventful' ride!!!

 

whoa. I've seen threads merged but never multiplied. :-k

 

Sue is happy and will sleep well, thanks to our hero.

 

Maxwell, thanks for putting this ride together, it was definitely a good time.

Sue, hope you're feeling better and sorry for the bike slip. Poor Sue was just minding her own business trying to pick her way down carefully and I was walking behind her. I slipped, my pack got caught on my saddle and I'm sliding down part on my arse, part on my back and attached to the bike yelling "watch out, watch out, I can't stop!" What a spaz.

Skinsuit. Yeah. First and last time down that one, thank you very much 8-[.

First time up Skyline and it wasn't too bad, considering. It was warm but from what everyone was saying I was expecting a lot worse of a climb. A good way to spend the holiday, for sure!

 

I concur with Tani. I had fun with a great group of riders.

Sanjay, you are not human.

Thanks Maxwell for putting it together.

Really sorry about Sue's injury but glad it's not more serious.

Does anyone remember the name of the guest double IPA at Tustin Brewery? That stuff is magic.

 

Yeee Haaa!

Man what a pretty good ride that turned out to be!

Sue, sorry to here about your wrist. First broken bone for you though, so that's kinda cool. After a while, you get kinda used to it.

We started off pretty good, with 26 of us!
And I FINALY got to meet Art Tuttle. He started off yapping at us about times we start, and never helping out with any kinda work on the trails in the canyon. He was actually doing the good dead of rubbing grafiti off of the signs and rocks by the gate. Blamed that on us MTBer's too. I told him "thanks for his work", and he precided to tell me it's more than I'd ever do.
I've always wanted to have a "discussion" with him about how he treats folks, hikers and MTBer's alike, in "his" canyon. Well, after seeing how OLD he is, I know that I'd have felt real bad about using my "old school" way of handling his type.

So, I went on the ride with a great group insted!

Thanks to Chewy for the cooler full of cold water. Like I said when I got to it, you're a big beautiful man for that!!

Thanks to all of you guys for waiting on my slow a$$ on the climbs. Beth and Nan, I ment to give you two a big ol' hug at the Brewery, but figured I save it for when I'm not all bloody and sweaty!:lol:


And speaking of the girls that rode with us today, I think they all got out of their comfort zones on Skinsuit, and really stepped up their riding. You couldn't miss seeing the smile on Nan's face when she got down.
And Beth, what can I say? You walked a bit, but you rode sections today that will help you have more fun on other descents. I can see it now.....Beth rides up to an bit of a steep chute, peers down, thinks, "I've ridden harder stuff than this", let's go of the brakes, and rolls on down! :clap:

And next time I mention to anyone about doing a freak'n ride like this in HOT weather, you all have permission to slap me up side the head, and bring me to my senses.

OH! Lets not forget my crazy little friend Sanjay.

On the way there he gets the idea in his head to also hit Smashface, AFTER coming back up Skyline! #-o#-o#-o

My friend, I think you are nuttier than I am!! :clap::clap::clap:

Thanks again for a great day guys!

Sue you heal up quick, but heal up right. You're young enough that you still have a bunch of riding to do.

On with some pics.........

Thought it was cool how the moon was still out when we started climbing.


Crazy Sue dropping into Skinsuit. :clap:


Nan, getting her Skinsuit on! :clap:


This is Dan. It was his first ever Santa Ana's adventure. It won't be his last!


Happy 7th wedding aniversery my friend!


Beth. Yeah, she walked a bit. But She RODE a bit too! :bang:


These guys flew in to give Sue a ride to the Dr.'s, but she declined. Said she'd rather tough it out, and ride with the Chewmaster!



Nan and Beth, almost to Beeks. Thanks again ladies!


The girls enjoy a bit of singletrack to end the ride!

Beth


Nathalie. Look at that SMILE!


Nan. Her smiles went for miles!


Thanks again guys!

 

Classic. :clap: He's not that old just "weathered"

 

Bummer! I knew I should've gone.... or maybe not. :lol:

 

This ride looks like one I shouldn't have missed!


Yeah, screw injuries. Screw them. Ah well, the trail will be there when my arm is back......and it will be cooler! Shucks.

maxwell might have increased the "weathering" if let off the leash. lol

 

Skinsuit was just plain Silly! I could have done it on my snowboard. :lol:

Great group. How about that cool breeze at beeks after the Skyline climb :bang:

Emmit's (sp?) Double Dry Hopped IPA

 

Where's the shade!

Great turnout Darin and thanks for having us San Gabs refugees along. I think we had about 26 riders and I didn't get to meet everyone, but was great meeting Beth, Margo, Nan, the two Lindas, Dan, David, Steve, Aaron, and the beast on wheels, Hugh...talk about skillz. Awesome group of riders. Healing vibes to Sue...hope surgery is not necessary.

Definitely a brutal ride in the heat for me. It quickly turned from fun on Blackstar to survival for me once we started climbing on Skyline. I think we need an STR group to go up to Skyline and plant some trees along the fire road...I'm used to riding in the shade...

Special thanks to Aaron for the water and to Steve and his wife Linda for driving Raul and I to the ride.

Blah, blah, blah...on to pics

Part of the group on Blackstar


A few pics on Skinsuit. I think this is Eddie making it look easy.


Willie leading the way...



View of the San Gabs


Raul owning Skinsuit


Too tired to take pictures on Skyline...Here's Darin after the loooong Skyline climb...I think his bike is well over 40lbs :clap:


A few grop shots at the resting point... I think this is at Beeks Place or just below it...



On our way down Blackstar


Beth followed by Nan


Steve down the single track. You can see Hugh in the lower section of the trail in the background.


Hugh.


At Tustin Brewery


Great times everyone. Hope to be able to join you guys again soon.

 

Had a 30 min. late start, so I climbed the canyon and Main Divide solo. Sure was beautiful. Met Darin and Steve at the top of Skinsuit (the group was already descending) and had the pleasure of riding down behind Darin. He coached me through each section and prepared me for what was coming next. Great coach!

Thanks Chewey for the ice and water at the bottom before that god-awful climb up Skyline. Took my time on that one and ducked into some shade when I could.

Enjoyed the cooler, singletrack descent on the other side. Was fun because everyone took the singletrack down.

I enoyed chatting and getting to know some STR people that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting before. Good times at the Tustin Brewery.

Beth

 

The beer was a double dry hopped IPA that was brewed there. It was very tasty. :beer:

 

Thanks for the ride and letting me use the On-One Darin. As usual, your ride kicked my ass. Got home and weighed myself, I lost 7 pounds. After about a gallon of water, a six pack of guinness and a barbeque, I'm back to normal.

 

Yeah, we were still sitting at the Brewery when you texted Gary. I weighed in when I got home, and after drinking around 140 ounces of fluids during the ride, then going though a salad, salmon sandwich, frings, pitcher of iced tea, and a iced pumpkin foo foo coffee at Peet's, I was still down 4 pounds from the morning.

 

Man am I sore! I feel like someone hit me in the calf with a base ball bat.

I guess I should buy a scale. I haven't weighed myself in a long time.

 

I've got a hanging, digital scale that I use to weigh parts with. That should work if you want to borrow it. Skinny winnie! :lol:

 

lol. Thanks Darin but I should probably get one I can stand on. Great ride!!! :beer:

 

Looks like a great ride!!! SS is a sweet trail. Can't wait for a bit of rain to firm it up a bit.