We did the usual "24 hour" loop. You can check out the full description here. It was pretty overcast, but the trail was in great shape. It had rained a few days before , so the trail was nice and packed.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Hurkey Creek
This past weekend we went to Hurkey Creek. It was everyone's first time camping there. Certainly not a bad place to camp. I had never realized how big of a campground it was, plus there's a whole other campground just a mile down the road at Hemet Lake. Be warned that the Hemet Lake Campground isn't nearly as nice, unless you just have to be near the water.
We did the usual "24 hour" loop. You can check out the full description here. It was pretty overcast, but the trail was in great shape. It had rained a few days before , so the trail was nice and packed.
We did the usual "24 hour" loop. You can check out the full description here. It was pretty overcast, but the trail was in great shape. It had rained a few days before , so the trail was nice and packed.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Palm Springs
I've since been told these are the Goat Trails, although the geoladders route lists it as the Art Smith trail. For pictures you can go here - Goat Trails Pictures.
I finally rode the Art Smith trail in Palm Springs. I never realized how close it was to town. If you're familiar with Palm Springs at all it's not more than a mile or so from the airport. The trail starts right next to a Vons parking lot. This isn't a ride you'd really want to drive far to get to and you certainly wouldn't want to do it in the summer time - there's not a single tree on the whole ride.
I rode it yesterday on my way down to my parents house in La Quinta. It's essentially a very steep fireroad up, with lots of singletrack options coming down. I followed the geoladders route.
I imagine there's many, many other ways you could do this ride. The whole time going up, and coming down, you see all kinds of different singletrack trails that go in all directions. None of them seem to go on for too far, but when pieced together you get a really fun ride down.
The highlight of the ride was the last singletrack option just before the finish. This was the longest one I went on (about 1/2 a mile). It also was the most technical by far. It very much reminded me of Box Springs. I really wish I'd had my camera to get a few shots of some of the rocks and drops. I rode it all, and it was the kind of technical riding where I needed to take a couple of breaks to rest my forearms from all the ground they were absorbing.
If I didn't have a reason to go to this area, this is a ride I probably wouldn't do more than once a year. But now that I've discovered it, I'll keep coming back on a regular basis as long as my parents are still living in nearby.
I finally rode the Art Smith trail in Palm Springs. I never realized how close it was to town. If you're familiar with Palm Springs at all it's not more than a mile or so from the airport. The trail starts right next to a Vons parking lot. This isn't a ride you'd really want to drive far to get to and you certainly wouldn't want to do it in the summer time - there's not a single tree on the whole ride.
I rode it yesterday on my way down to my parents house in La Quinta. It's essentially a very steep fireroad up, with lots of singletrack options coming down. I followed the geoladders route.
I imagine there's many, many other ways you could do this ride. The whole time going up, and coming down, you see all kinds of different singletrack trails that go in all directions. None of them seem to go on for too far, but when pieced together you get a really fun ride down.
The highlight of the ride was the last singletrack option just before the finish. This was the longest one I went on (about 1/2 a mile). It also was the most technical by far. It very much reminded me of Box Springs. I really wish I'd had my camera to get a few shots of some of the rocks and drops. I rode it all, and it was the kind of technical riding where I needed to take a couple of breaks to rest my forearms from all the ground they were absorbing.
If I didn't have a reason to go to this area, this is a ride I probably wouldn't do more than once a year. But now that I've discovered it, I'll keep coming back on a regular basis as long as my parents are still living in nearby.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Crafton Time Trial
I did the Crafton Hills Time Trial today - (trail description) - and went 18:52.
It seemed pretty routine. I worked getting up, but I didn't kill myself. I think if I really pushed it I could get under 18:00 again. This is a great time of year to ride. I went around 6:00pm and it was probably about 70 degrees out.
It seemed pretty routine. I worked getting up, but I didn't kill myself. I think if I really pushed it I could get under 18:00 again. This is a great time of year to ride. I went around 6:00pm and it was probably about 70 degrees out.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
South Fork - SART
Brian and I rode a section of the SART today. We went from Glass Road, up to South Fork, and then back to Glass Road on the SART - a total of about 12 miles. It was a beautiful afternoon. It was mostly sunny with just a few clouds and probably in the low to mid 50s for most of the ride. Also, as I predicted, we didn't see another rider on the trail.
Obviously this was 9/23/07 (not 08)
For a complete description of rides on the SART check my previous entry -
Santa Ana River Trail
Obviously this was 9/23/07 (not 08)
For a complete description of rides on the SART check my previous entry -
Santa Ana River Trail
Sunday, September 16, 2007
We Have it Good!!!!!
I searched around the internet and found this picture of a race that Mike did in Wisconsin last weekend.
Notice there isn't even an actual trail, the grass is just cut real short where you're supposed to ride.
This is mountain biking?
Let's all take a moment and appreciate the riding we have here in Southern California.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Crafton Hills
The Crafton Hills fireroad starts by the tennis courts at Crafton Hills College. It goes up a few miles and you get some options of some nice singletrack trails which end up either in or near Yucaipa Regional Park. There are many options you have as far as loops go. I'll post more about those some other time.
Today I did the time trial Mike and I would do sometimes. He's since moved to Wisconsin (hope he's at least enjoying his road bike) so I'm on my own with this time trial for now. My fastest times have always come with him starting a couple minutes behind me and trying to catch me.
The ride starts where the gate is, right where the dirt road starts, just past the golf course. It ends about 2.4 miles up the fireroad right where it flattens out for a short stretch.
I went 19:41 today. I don't feel too bad anytime I can get under 21 minutes so today went pretty well. My best time is 17:41. Mike's best is 16:25, which he did trying to chase me down when I rode my 17:41. 16:25 is awfully good when I think about how hard I had to work just to get under 18 minutes.
A Map of the Crafton Trails
Updates
PR = 14:08
7/3/07 - 19:52
7/10/07 - 17:41
9/10/07 - 19:41
9/25/07 - 18:52
11/8/07 - 21:30
1/20/08 - 19:58
6/29/08 - 23:55
7/21/08 - 23:51
8/5/08 - 18:50
9/20/08 - 16:57 (SS) <----First ride on the SingleSpeed
10/4/08 - 18:04 (SS)
10/29/08 - 17:55 (SJ)
12/28/08 - 19:55 (SJ)
2/16/09 - 18:25 (in the rain)
3/16/09 - 14:53 (SJ) <---Destroyed my old record GPS on Motionbased
5/5/09 - 14:08 (SJ)
7/2/09 - 17:41 <----- On the Tandem
7/15/09 - 14:32 (Sp)
12/29/09 - 15:05 (Sp)
1/26/10 - 18:33 (Sp)
5/30/10 - 17:58 (Sp)
7/6/10 - 17:59 (Sp)
9/1/10 - 16:02 (SS)
12/11/10 - 15:44 (CX)
Key
SJ = Stumpjumper
SS = Singlespeed (KHS)
nothing = Fisher Big Sur hardtail
Sp = Intense Spider
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Whiting Ranch
I don't get down to Orange County to ride all that often. There is good riding there, but the truth is the crowds really bug me. I did go down this weekend and rode at Whiting Ranch. Whiting is the only spot in OC that I've been to more than just a couple times (probably 10-15 times). There are certainly better spots, but Whiting seems to be the most convenient (just off the 241) and you do get a little of everything in the main loop. At least it wasn't crowded on this day...probably because of the 100 degree weather.
The ride starts right off the Ralph's parking lot. You'll start with a very easy climb of about 1.5 miles. I believe this is the only section of the ride that is one-way. You'll also see quite a few hikers on this part. Most of this is under tree cover and is very pleasant scenery. It's easy to forgot you're not more than just a couple of minutes from a grocery store parking lot.
This trail takes you to Mustard Road where you'll make a right. You can make a left instead for a very short and fun little loop (about 1/3 mile in total length). Mustard Road is the one big climb on this ride. It's really not that big, but it'll make you work. It's maybe 1.5 miles and it gradually gets steeper as you get closer to the top. Once at the top you'll be at the highest point of the ride. As a reference point, you'll be just below the top of the Dreaded Hillclimb (http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=550).
There are lots of routes you can take down (or up..to the top of Dreaded). You could also continue on, get on the highway for a short stretch, and then get on the Santiago Truck Trail. The most popular way down (also, the most fun) is down Cactus. This is a tight, swerving, mildly technical singletrack with, you guessed it, cactus along the side. The first half of the video below shows this section. You then have a short, but steep climb and you get another downhill. This one a little steeper and more technical. The second half of the video shows this.
You'll then finish on some downhill trails through the trees. These aren't very technical but can be pretty fun. This comes out at the road. Make a right if you need to get back to the Ralph's parking lot.
This video is not from this weekend. It was actually one of the first times I used my helmet cam, so the footage is not great. Unfortunately the quality is not very good either.
Check geoladders for a more detailed description.
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1438
The ride starts right off the Ralph's parking lot. You'll start with a very easy climb of about 1.5 miles. I believe this is the only section of the ride that is one-way. You'll also see quite a few hikers on this part. Most of this is under tree cover and is very pleasant scenery. It's easy to forgot you're not more than just a couple of minutes from a grocery store parking lot.
This trail takes you to Mustard Road where you'll make a right. You can make a left instead for a very short and fun little loop (about 1/3 mile in total length). Mustard Road is the one big climb on this ride. It's really not that big, but it'll make you work. It's maybe 1.5 miles and it gradually gets steeper as you get closer to the top. Once at the top you'll be at the highest point of the ride. As a reference point, you'll be just below the top of the Dreaded Hillclimb (http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=550).
There are lots of routes you can take down (or up..to the top of Dreaded). You could also continue on, get on the highway for a short stretch, and then get on the Santiago Truck Trail. The most popular way down (also, the most fun) is down Cactus. This is a tight, swerving, mildly technical singletrack with, you guessed it, cactus along the side. The first half of the video below shows this section. You then have a short, but steep climb and you get another downhill. This one a little steeper and more technical. The second half of the video shows this.
You'll then finish on some downhill trails through the trees. These aren't very technical but can be pretty fun. This comes out at the road. Make a right if you need to get back to the Ralph's parking lot.
This video is not from this weekend. It was actually one of the first times I used my helmet cam, so the footage is not great. Unfortunately the quality is not very good either.
Check geoladders for a more detailed description.
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1438
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