Lizards is closed, but possibly in a good way...

[wizard]

I knew Lizards in LCW was slated for legitimacy and now it is happening We saw this at the top of the trail:


Over at the top of the old Marie Callender trail we spotted this:

It looks like we are about to get another legit trail in good old Laguna Coast Wilderness. The drop in into Lizards never impressed me as a sustainable section of trail. Judging by the amount of rock piled at the top of the construction site, it looks like they are planning to add switchbacks. I don't know about the company (Bellfree) doing the work. It looks like they specialize in trail building (Very cool job to have). Hopefully they will make the drop in more sustainable and not mess with the rest of this (soon to be) awesome trail. Combined with Willow, Fence Line, Camarillo, and Stagecoach, this will create one of the funnest loops in SOC. Thank you OCParks.

 

[Andy]

Nice...

 

[bvader]

Yup... Hopefully they will do a good job... it will be cool to be legal....and can't hurt much the top of Lizard was destroyed / terrible at this point anyways...

 

[Pilas]

Great news! It will make for a nice addition to the existing trail network.

 

[dstepper]

Bellfree http://www.bellfreecontractors.com/Bellfree_Contractors/Home.html is the company that did all the work at the oaks, weir canyon and Whitting. Hans used to be the president of CORBA http://www.corbamtb.com/ so he knows how to build good trails. At first they will be wide but they will turn to singletrack soon. I have rode with Hans for years he is a great advocate for our sport and a strong rider. Rides with the OTBers http://www.otbmbc.com/

 

[sir crashalot]

Im pretty sure Belfree is who did the redesign of the trails at Oaks a few years ago. Led by Hans (El Presidente here on STR.) So maybe he'll put in some berms!
Im happy about this. I like lizards. Hey Wiz lets ride sometime.

Edit: Dean beat me to it! (re: hans)

 

[bvader]

Cool trails at Oaks are nice and have help up well!

 

[surftime]

nice, though i hope they dont widen it too much, but berms would be sweet - love that trail!

 

[Schecky]

Dear Hans,
Please change this trail as little as possible.
Thanks!

 

[xhuskr]

after so many years of hearing that action will happen, it's great to see it actually happening. Good timing as these uber dry conditions wreak havoc on trails..maintained or not. When's trail work day?

 

[surftime]

Dear Hans,
Please change this trail as little as possible.
Thanks!

ha ha, i started riding MTBs when oaks was done and all i remember here was soooo much complaining about the new changes. I agree the trail does not need much changing. One thing about Laguna is its more natural than say oaks, so ya I like that

But another big thing is loosing Marie's. To me that is the essence of mountain biking, well as close as we get it in coastal OC. Lots of variety and challenge on that trail, such a bummer to loose it

 

[kcm]

lizard and MC had different entrance from the Ridge/Bommer but thought it was mostly the same trail.... Santiago oaks before change was riding down coyote "trails", climbing down 10 feet cliff to where cactus and bumble bee now meet... the 3 Bs were really killer, no switchbacks.. and was deer even there? Chutes still same but no way to come back up ... u had to cross the stream bed, sometimes thigh high... and come back up mt goat or 3 Bs... Who would complain?? Oaks has been really tacky the last week... great conditions...

 

[mtnbikej]

lizard and MC had different entrance from the Ridge/Bommer but thought it was mostly the same trail.... Santiago oaks before change was riding down coyote "trails", climbing down 10 feet cliff to where cactus and bumble bee now meet... the 3 Bs were really killer, no switchbacks.. and was deer even there? Chutes still same but no way to come back up ... u had to cross the stream bed, sometimes thigh high... and come back up mt goat or 3 Bs... Who would complain?? Oaks has been really tacky the last week... great conditions...

Man, I miss the old days at the Oaks.

 

[BikeThePlanet]

ha ha, i started riding MTBs when oaks was done and all i remember here was soooo much complaining about the new changes. I agree the trail does not need much changing. One thing about Laguna is its more natural than say oaks, so ya I like that

But another big thing is loosing Marie's. To me that is the essence of mountain biking, well as close as we get it in coastal OC. Lots of variety and challenge on that trail, such a bummer to loose it

You can't lose something that wasn't legal to begin with. MC wasn't previously open and now not. It was always poaching. Well at least since Laguna became a legitimate park and just not the playground of the Radz.

 

[Roostthrower]

ha ha, i started riding MTBs when oaks was done and all i remember here was soooo much complaining about the new changes. I agree the trail does not need much changing. One thing about Laguna is its more natural than say oaks, so ya I like that

But another big thing is loosing Marie's. To me that is the essence of mountain biking, well as close as we get it in coastal OC. Lots of variety and challenge on that trail, such a bummer to loose it

x2

 

[Andy]

Somebody was busy hauling rocks at 7am this morning...

 

[Cougar]

This is awesome. I really like that trail, but I don't like to poach, so I've ridden it only twice. I look forward to putting this in my usual weekend rotation once it is finished!

 

[surftime]

ha ha - thats the problem now everyone will be on it

This is awesome. I really like that trail, but I don't like to poach, so I've ridden it only twice. I look forward to putting this in my usual weekend rotation once it is finished!

 

[no worries]

"Combined with Willow, Fence Line, Camarillo, and Stagecoach, this will create one of the funnest loops in SOC."

This is one of my favorite 1hr loops. It's one of the few rides that feels like more descending than ascending!

 

[4xdave]

Nice! Now I just need to get back on my bike @#$! Having your first baby takes a toll on your health. Hahah.