Ride Report New construction at The Oaks

Discussion in 'Ride Reports' started by Radical Rich, Feb 25, 2011.

  1. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    One builder http://www.bellfreecontractors.com/trailbuilders/Home.html I truly hope the County is following this thread and seeing the mostly positive reviews. As long as I have been riding in Orange County I have never seen the county spend as much money adding so much singletrack. Maybe I don't agree with everything being done but it is a total step in the right direction. What other trail has the county approved that has berms, jumps and log rides.

    Hope Hans wins contracts to repair other trails in the OC Park system.


    Dean
     
  2. UEDan

    UEDan Member

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    Funny how there are signs at the park entrances clearly stating "No Bike Jumping" Guessing they mean some OTHER kind of jumping? :?::p

    And I just rode Chutes for the first time today. Back tracked a lot just so I would prove to myself that I could clean some of the features, I can't imagine how some of you guys would even think of riding up Chutes without the alternative routes =) I had a good day today, until I left the park =(
     
  3. Preludedriven

    Preludedriven Member

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    Video of Some of the New Development

    Check it:
    [video=youtube;rhD4emtdp1g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhD4emtdp1g&hd=1[/video]
     
  4. XcShane

    XcShane Member

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    I'll second that!
     
  5. Radical Rich

    Radical Rich New Member

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    Most of the funding is from private sources (including an equestrian group), and yes Hans is scheduled to do add'l work at El Moro- but as far as he told me it's only to repair the rain damage to Bommer ridge. We, as a group should call the El Moro Ranger station and encourage them to let Hans build some trails there...but then that pesky $$$ thing comes up again.
    HANS ROCKS!!!
     
  6. Winger

    Winger Member

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    Maybe we could pool our money to get him to repair Rattlesnake in El Moro. There's room for at least 20 switchbacks.
     
  7. guero

    guero iFroth

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    Or install an elevator on elevator. :D


    nice video of the new oaks. that is a bummer those guys were in your way on that little drop at the 4:49 mark of the video. :(
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 7, 2011
  8. StumpJumper420

    StumpJumper420 New Member

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    Absolutely lovin the new Oaks...... Ride it at least twice weakly..


    We usually go: Barham Ridge > Chutes > up Chutes B > down Cactus > up Yucca > third B to car.


    Yesterday we switched it up and had a blast... : Deer (awesome) > down Coachwhip > up Bumblebee > down Hawk (crazy!) > up Mountain Goat > down Mountain Goat (techy detour) left by damn.


    Place is a blast and is getting better and better. Hans is the Man.
     
  9. g-dub

    g-dub Member

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    Coachwhip is a little switchback happy. I would prefer to see just a little steeper incline and fewer turns. But that's just me griping, having that trail as a climb-out from the canyon makes a "nothing twice" ride possible/appealing. Over the weekend I did most of the ride, though I did split it into different days due to time & energy constraints:

    Saturday: up chutes, down cactus, up coachwhip, down & out.
    Sunday: up chutes, down cactus, up Bumblebee, down El Camino, up 1st B, down Hawk, up Goat & down & out.

    All-up "nothing twice:" Up chutes, down cactus, up bumblebee, down El Camino, up Taco/B, down Hawk, up Goat, down Bumblebee, up Coachwhip, down Deer, back up & down & out. I get tired typing it. Gonna need to pack a granola bar or something for that one.
     
  10. XcShane

    XcShane Member

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    Agreed. I'm always looking for the "nothing twice" perfect route.
     
  11. no worries

    no worries Member

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    I parked in the Irvine Park lot on Saturday and made a point of telling the parking manager that I normally park outside, but felt compelled by all the new trail work to park inside to contribute my entry fee. I realize the project is being mostly funded from outside sources, but I'm very appreciative of the lack of apparent red tape.

    I had a fantastic, if warm and dry, ride up Chutes, down Cactus, up Coach whip (nice climb option imo), down through Weir, then bombing back down the ridge and Chutes Ridgeline.

    I saw 20 equestrians easy, 10 hikers with dogs, and less mountain bikers. But this was noon Saturday.

    If the place had some actual shade (and water) it'd be perfect. Oaks is the ski-resort of OC rides right now.
     
  12. Radical Rich

    Radical Rich New Member

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    Yea, where do we donate $$$ to get a chair lift installed???
    In the meantime enjoy the photos of Hans' Bridge construction joining Yucca and Coachwhip Oaks Bridge 006.jpg Oaks Bridge 001.jpg Oaks Bridge 005.jpg
     
  13. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot Member

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    where's "el camino"? Is it the one that splits off to the left before the 3d B, and goes downhill to the main canyon to connect back to the bottom of the first B?

     
  14. MRRhoades

    MRRhoades New Member

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    All this work is really great, I'm new to mountain biking and I'm happy to see how involved the community is! Thanks Hans!
     
  15. g-dub

    g-dub Member

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  16. Winger

    Winger Member

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    They bulldozed Yucca, which was a bit of a surprise. I was expecting the singletrack from 2 weeks ago. I'd still argue it only needed a shovel in a few places, but now it is 4ft wide and perfectly flat so everybody should be pretty happy with it.

    Coachwhip was not a bad climb on a Singlespeed.

    Bumblebee starting at the top of the 2nd Bitch is closed for maintenance.
     
  17. carbonman

    carbonman Captian of BIG RED

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    what's that?????
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    Rode Oaks this morning. There were a few people out in the Albertsons lot but there are so many new trails that I really didn't see many people on the trails. Is there going to be a new map? There are so many new trails that I couldn't decide which to take as I came up on them.
    The ride today was up Chutes, down Goat, up Sage to the B to Bumblebee, down Bumblebee, up Couchwip, down Barnam, down Chutes ridgeline.
    Very fun.....I must go back and do more exploring. Maybe bring Maria and the tandem, that would probably need to be a weekday morning.
    With all the new trails how busy are the weekends?
     
  18. sasquatch9billion

    sasquatch9billion Active Member

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    My experience at oaks today was the opposite of yours carbon man, I think I said "Hi," to every cyclist, hiker and equestrian in OC today. Still, great ride, tons of fun even with the heat.
     
  19. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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  20. carbonman

    carbonman Captian of BIG RED

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