Ride Report Steppies Flannel Ride

More photos...

For most of the ride, I was too focused on the trail to stop and take photos (and during the re-groups, I rested8-[). During the last half of the ride, I did get a few shots:
1) After the HAB, before the 'rolling' section to the next ridge.
2) LaddJasper & CalEpic
3) Looking back at Strawberry Pk.
4) View of Colby Cyn... our "Happy Ending"

 

sorry for missing the ride Dean! I've had this nasty cough all this week and friday night just didnt get better!! i was going to call some one to let u all know but took some drugs and over slept!!:lol: looks like great times!! :bang: sorry again for missing it!!:?:

 

I figured that you did not have any Vato plaids or headband to wear.

Dean

 

Thug Life!!! :steppie:

 

Who You Callin' A Thug?

 

All the Way Flannel

Thanks Guero for inspiring the Steppie ride. All but Jose made it to the meeting area and surprise Dean with some of his old and new riding bubbs. The day started out with what seems like was going to be a very cool/cold ride, but after the first climb we were able to shed a layer and keep rolling. The weather was perfect all day and the trail was in great shape. Typical of the narrow San Gabs there we a few spots on the trail that were washed out, but most were passable. Luckily there were only a few slip outs and no one going down.

I was ecstatic that almost everyone made it and all showing their colors...cuz that's how we roll!

Here are a few pix, hopefully not to many duplicates

The STR Fannel gang *Cal Epic one of the original leaders flaring out


The Man of the Hour and


Dell, Scott, Lynn and Ann


Andy and the secrete STR sign


Gougeeeeeee "The Godfather


Tim *JasonMason, Grandpa in the background, Spokes


The Mayor * Dino, Nam, Dell


Pinic at the Top


:steppie: more to come....

 

Talk about exposure. Looks like you guys had an awesome time. :steppie:

 

Regrouping on the trail and for lunch...





View attachment 17480




Steppie & Son of Steppie


What's this....Dino on a Turner?


Dynamic Duo ~ Dellster & Craigor


Bret = Guero


Raggady Ann and Andy (ok Not Raggady but its too hard to pass it up.


Scott & Craig


The Three Amigas

 

thanks for the pix CC!

::cough:: videos CC, videos!!! ::cough::

 

Cough... pics from the restaurant... cough... 8-[

 

ok Guero just for you:



ok, hold that thought...ok sorry can't get it loaded correctly.

 

Looks like a fun one.... I don't own any flannel so I couldn't go (j/K). We had a short ride up to Lukens (RR coming) along with a long drive up to Mammoth in the afternoon.

 

ok first off, great ride and one of my favorite groups of people to ride with... We finally were able to honor Steppie with his own ride on one of the many trails that he really loves and in Steppie flannel fashion attire.

The birth of the Flannel Ride came about last year when Bret and I were thinking of a way to honor Steppie the Lady Slayer :bang:.. there really was no other way besides rounding up the troops and hittin the San Gabes for some awesome singletrack and views. I have to give mucho props to Bret for going through Dean's black book and contacting them. Matt, good heads up move on setting the time and meeting location as well as taking the time to take a ton of pics..

as others have said, we had a total head count of 17 people. Normally with a group this large and the type of ride we were doing we were expecting at least a few mechanicals... however we lucked out and the only problem was Tim's spoke that was broken before the ride. We kept a very good pace and spirits were high throughout the entire ride. George was having PAK flashbacks while i just laughed and continued to keep pushing up the hill... Craig the animal cleaned a lot of the HAB section on his 5 spot :bang:

Colby Canyon Trail, first time ever doing this and will definitely not be the last... it was freakin awesome! a few of the switchbacks were pretty sketchy but i cleaned them all except for 2 or 3. After doing the reverse route, i don't think i would really want to climb up josephine fireroad since climbing up redbox and switzer was not bad at all.

Thank you to everyone that attended and a big thank you to the father i never had, Dean

Tim working on his back wheel while the bike repair train oversees



CC under the trees



Noel is always willing to give a helping hand to the ladies



Bret made the ride despite having a cold relapse



shesmileswhensherides



newframespokes



beautiful sky, clouds and some peaks



CC checks out Georges tan line



Dean JRA



lynn on some more buff singletrack



bret trying to find Patrick


flannel train



my dell rockin n rollin



one of the high risk exposure areas

 

I've heard Andy's shocker does have that effect :lol:

 

Thank you to everyone for a terrific day. Great idea Bret and Namster.
It was wonderful to honor our beloved Steppie! :steppie:
Great to see some old friends especially– my comrade the mighty CC! And the always dynamic Dino Brown. We were doubly honored with STR royalty yesterday as Sir George himself joined us on this adventure! Nice to see some of you OC boys up on this side of town. This loop has become one of my favorites so it was fun to share the trail with many of you San Gab/Strawberry/Colby virgins.

Word has it:

“Steppie’s rides always have a happy ending”
“That’s the way we roll!”

Sir George


STVato

 

Was this a STR OG ride... What up how come I was not invited? It must be because I am Mexican from Costa Mesa. OK I see how it is :?:

 

Methinks special invite-only ride. :?:

 

you figured it out, :steppie: hates mexicans.

 

That's not it. Hey, I practically live at the trail head and wasn't invited nor welcomed to the ride.

The truth is, there's a very stringent "Steppie Club" qualifying process you must endure. I personally haven't reached the qualifying plateau just yet. I've been taking my vitamins and eating and dressing the Steppie way but there's a lot more to it then just that. I'm starting to realize I would've had a better chance making it in med school vs. getting in to The Steppie Club. I think I'm almost there though. I was allowed to make a brief appearance at their post-ride feast but I only had 5 minutes then I had to go. I knew I had to leave when they were all staring at me and then looking towards the door, implying, GTFOH! The final nail in the coffin was when Steppie (the ring leader) walked me out and gave me a hug, in support. I think he was realizing I was feeling a bit discouraged and it was his was of telling me to "hang-in there, grass-hopper."

Point being, hang-in there and keep taking your Steppie vitamins and eating your Steppie burritos and you too will get there someday. This is a very prestige and elite club. You can't just donate $50.00 and show up and think you're in-like Flynn.

GLTY!

 

lynn, i love your avatar! :bang: