I noticed it the other day as I drove by. I usually drive by it once or twice a week, but this time I looked, took notice, perceived. And I did not like what I saw. I did not like what they had done to it. It used to be a place of beauty and sanctuary. Now it's just...just...it's...well, I should probably back up a little and give some background.
At the end of a range of hills there was a place that the locals called Bedrock. This Bedrock was so called because of the underlying...bedrock. It was a place of solitude in the midst of suburbia, an escape to the peace and quiet of nature. Once you got up to the top area, no one down below could see what you were doing. It was a place suitable for many outdoor activities - paintball, hiking, meditating, riding, praying - and as this is a MTB forum, I will focus on MTB'ing at Bedrock.
It was at bedrock that I got my first taste of "real" moutain biking. I remember that as a teenager and young adult we (me, my younger bro, and our neighbor, Jack) would ride about 7 miles from home just to get to Bedrock, then we'd ride up in the hills for a while, then 7 more miles home. When I re-connected with a longtime friend, it was at Bedrock that we rode. At Bedrock I learned to do a boulder-fall, also called a drop. At Bedrock I learned the art of gracefully flying over the handlebars while braking too hard going downhill.
At Bedrock I witnessed the proper technique of using the feet as brakes on long downhills. My friend Eric, yes that Eric, had lost his brakes one day, so he put his feet down to control his speed. It worked - he survived - but his shoes' soles were worn flat - I can picture it still. On another date, on the same slope I think, this same Eric executed the most perfect splash through a mud puddle that I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. I remember it clearly: Eric was a little ahead of me, to my left, and he positioned himself and aimed his splash perfectly. I don't think it would have been possible to give me a more thorough soaking in that situation. It was a beautiful moment.
I was never sure if we were trespassing, or if the land was officially open to the public, but there were no ranger, no cops, and a lot of people went up there.
I remember the last time I rode at Bedrock. It was after the land had been sold to private owners and fences were put up. My friend, Paul, and I decided to have one last ride up at Bedrock. I don't remember how we got inside the fences, but we went on up and had our last visit.
And now it's gone: no more old-growth Oaks, no more turkeys, no more Miwok Indian caves, no more bike paths, no more boulders to fall over, no more poison oak. Now, it's just green, artificially maintained grass and sand - a golf course. A golf course. Prime MTB land was sold and turned into a golf course, but we will never forget what once was.
Farewell, Bedrock - gone, but not forgotten.
bIsh
**If I am ever rich enough to buy the land, I think I'll tear out the golf course and let the land return to its natural state. Then I'll build a MTB course for me and my friends.**
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Making the most of a disappointing day
The day started with crossed signals. Russ waited for the team in the parking lot across from South Hills for a little while before deciding to take off, but luckily, he caught up to the guys on the bike path alongside Camden. Scott had noted he thought Russ was not coming, so they started at a different spot and headed out. Scott, Dan, and Josh were in full effect, though Scott was riding either a rickshaw or a Raleigh, not sure which. I think he said it was his grandfather's bike at one point; it might even have come over on the Mayflower. (Click the above picture to see the mud-nure up close and personal)We had some newcomers today, Patrick, Dustin, and Kevin. Dustin ended up with a bloody shin - making a good case for good gear. (Click on the image to enlarge)
After trudging through the thick mud-nure mixture pre-Stiles and pre-ST Park, we discovered that the trails were closed. Not to be denied, we toyed with the idea of utilizing some private property to sneak through to the fire roads, but good judgment prevailed, and we decided to take a short road ride instead. Ever notice how funny road bikers dress? Could their clothes be any tighter or shinier?The ride was only about 9 miles with an average speed of only 7 mph. We never even hit an elevation of 400 feet. Max speed was in the vicinity of a mere 23 mph. Yaaaaaaaaaaawnville on the one hand, but on the other hand, it was good just to be out on the bike.
We did make the most of the single track across from South Hills Church along Camden, but it just wasn't what we'd set out to do. Nonetheless, it was pretty fun. Also, it was nice to have some extra energy to hit some of the small jumps with a little speed.The next big ride is at Wilder Ranch in Santa Cruz next Sunday. We're aiming for wheels-up by 7:30 AM and getting back by 12PM or so. Mark your calendars.
I apologize for featuring photos of only one bike and one rider, but once again, we forgot to bust out the cameras on the trail. Special thanks to the nice lady who snapped this after my attempts to use the timer only yielded pics of my left leg and rear wheel, which I guess is better than my left pedal and rear end.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Bruised Quad + Bruised Triceps = Bruised Ego
The 1/21 Demo ride was really a fun ride. I was impressed with the mettle and skill of my fellow riders, Scott, Eric, Josh, and Dan, and got the distinct feeling that I could really get better if I could just figure out how to hang with these guys.
The clipless pedals, clearly, take some time. I'm glad I decided to learn them on Demo. I've read where it's important to figure out the clipless in a place where you'll have to clip in an out a lot. I can say that while it resulted in at least one large, bleeding quad contusion for me, it was worth it. I had practiced around my neighborhood, and it was frankly, really easy, but there's no substitute for having to do it on the trail.
Whether it's coming up to a sudden vertical wall, losing it on a technical section, or having to execute a hard stop after a jump so you can get out of the way for the next jumper, the stakes are higher, and clipping out needs to happen more quickly, more automatically.
I think things improved over the course of our 14 miles, but it was a painful day, with more than one flip over the handles bars, a few minor and one major spill, and of course, a world class cramp in my left quad which actually caused me to scream... all of which was exacerbated by an intense cough and congestion, which of course, leaves only one question:
"When's the next ride?"
The clipless pedals, clearly, take some time. I'm glad I decided to learn them on Demo. I've read where it's important to figure out the clipless in a place where you'll have to clip in an out a lot. I can say that while it resulted in at least one large, bleeding quad contusion for me, it was worth it. I had practiced around my neighborhood, and it was frankly, really easy, but there's no substitute for having to do it on the trail.
Whether it's coming up to a sudden vertical wall, losing it on a technical section, or having to execute a hard stop after a jump so you can get out of the way for the next jumper, the stakes are higher, and clipping out needs to happen more quickly, more automatically.
I think things improved over the course of our 14 miles, but it was a painful day, with more than one flip over the handles bars, a few minor and one major spill, and of course, a world class cramp in my left quad which actually caused me to scream... all of which was exacerbated by an intense cough and congestion, which of course, leaves only one question:
"When's the next ride?"
Saturday, January 20, 2007
The Quick and The Silver
The Stats
The Place - Quicksilver, long loop, New Almaden entrance
Total Mileage - Unknown
Total Time - about 1 hour, 15 minutes
Time to the top - about 35 minutes
Average Speed - Very good.
Going up the first climb to the picnic table feels good. I am strong, and I keep a good pace. So far, no horses, but a few pedestrians. On the second climb I pass an older gentleman on a fully rigid bike. I had heard of such contraptions, and until now thought them to be a myth, but I can attest that there is at least one in existence. I hope I am still riding when I am his age. At the second intersection I turn left, up the steeper route. Still no horses by the time I reach the top picnic table, and the fork is still holding air. So far, so good.
While I catch a few breaths at the top, the above-mentioned gentleman rides by. I am confident I will pass him on the descent toward the reservoir, and I am correct. The new riser bar feels excellent. It really allows me to put my weight back over the rear wheel. I am at one with the bike. Fork still holding air. Excellent
After the right turn onto the shady side of the mountain I pass a tall guy on a short climb. After a few ups and downs I look back and see no one. Excellent. A few more ups and downs, and I see him lurking in the distance. Must go faster. Suddenly, after a long descent, there he is, off my left, cutting inside a turn. No warning, no shout-out, nothing. Thanks for the warning, man! Well, I'm not going to let that go unanswered, so I dig down deep and set off in pursuit. A group of three horses, stopped for water. They move out of the way and are friendly. No problem. Fork still holding, well, actually no, it's not holding air. It has collapsed again. D'oh! Must keep going. Must pass the tall guy. I will admit that he is faster than me downhill (If I have a weakness, it's my downhill skills), however, I am stronger on the uphills. Unfortunately, it is easier to gain distance on the former than it is on the latter, and I do not actually pass him again, although I am within about 20 yards when I reach the picnic table again. On a longer hill I would have taken him - no question. He turns right and heads uphill; I go down to the parking lot.
I didn't pass that tall guy, but he did motivate me to push harder than I would have had I been alone.
Except for fork failure, a good ride.
bIsh
The Place - Quicksilver, long loop, New Almaden entrance
Total Mileage - Unknown
Total Time - about 1 hour, 15 minutes
Time to the top - about 35 minutes
Average Speed - Very good.
Going up the first climb to the picnic table feels good. I am strong, and I keep a good pace. So far, no horses, but a few pedestrians. On the second climb I pass an older gentleman on a fully rigid bike. I had heard of such contraptions, and until now thought them to be a myth, but I can attest that there is at least one in existence. I hope I am still riding when I am his age. At the second intersection I turn left, up the steeper route. Still no horses by the time I reach the top picnic table, and the fork is still holding air. So far, so good.
While I catch a few breaths at the top, the above-mentioned gentleman rides by. I am confident I will pass him on the descent toward the reservoir, and I am correct. The new riser bar feels excellent. It really allows me to put my weight back over the rear wheel. I am at one with the bike. Fork still holding air. Excellent
After the right turn onto the shady side of the mountain I pass a tall guy on a short climb. After a few ups and downs I look back and see no one. Excellent. A few more ups and downs, and I see him lurking in the distance. Must go faster. Suddenly, after a long descent, there he is, off my left, cutting inside a turn. No warning, no shout-out, nothing. Thanks for the warning, man! Well, I'm not going to let that go unanswered, so I dig down deep and set off in pursuit. A group of three horses, stopped for water. They move out of the way and are friendly. No problem. Fork still holding, well, actually no, it's not holding air. It has collapsed again. D'oh! Must keep going. Must pass the tall guy. I will admit that he is faster than me downhill (If I have a weakness, it's my downhill skills), however, I am stronger on the uphills. Unfortunately, it is easier to gain distance on the former than it is on the latter, and I do not actually pass him again, although I am within about 20 yards when I reach the picnic table again. On a longer hill I would have taken him - no question. He turns right and heads uphill; I go down to the parking lot.
I didn't pass that tall guy, but he did motivate me to push harder than I would have had I been alone.
Except for fork failure, a good ride.
bIsh
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Demo, Once Again!
Left to Right: Josh, Dan, Eric, Scott, RussWell, we hit it again. And it was sweet. The weather was a little cool but the trail was in perfect condition. The park was also very busy but definitely not crowded. Lots and lots of nice bikes and friendly riders out there.
Stats:
5 men
1 truck
20 bungee cords and straps
about 14 miles
1 broken back
1 cramped quad
1 bruised quad
4 beers consumed in the parking lot after (thanks, Dan!)
etc...
Highlights:
Good ride. Great company. Scott, Dan, Josh, Russ, and Eric had a blast carving up the single track. Braille Trail was clean and well-maintained. Some sections had been cleaned up and some jumps and logs smoothed over. There is a new huge stunt across the Braille Trail towards the top. Actually, a huge tree fell across the trail after the last wind storm and someone built it up into a huge ramp. The backside of it seemed steep and tall (about 3-4 feet) so none of us tried it. I think it was all psychological. Next time it will seem smaller and we'll hit it. It is unclear if we should just roll it or manual down the other side. Dropping off is an option for the bigger bikes, but most of us don't have those types of machines.
By the way, I think I am getting the idea behind having the seat lowered on the downhills. First, I think lowing it just gets the damn thing out of the way for overall maneuverability. Second, it makes it easier to get behind the seat and down over the rear wheel. Dan was kind enough to help shave a couple inches off of my (and Scott's) seatpost. I am hoping to test it out next month at the next Demo trip. I'm going to hit that huge log and I think I will not be the only one!
Josh was the only 'virgin' in the group, but he carved up the trail on his Prophet like he'd been there ten times already.
Dan was trying out some new components on his bike: stem, bash guard, and a new angle on the bars. All were an improvement to the downhill ride. He also converted to the full-face helmet--the green flame Specialized Deviant, just like mine. He has fine taste I should say. Immediately he felt the cold weather benefits of that type of helmet. I recommend the full face to anyone for warmth and increased confidence and safety. The Deviant is very light, for what it is. There is a carbon version but it is $200 more! Not really worth it, in my opinion.
Russ continues breaking in the Yeti 575. A sweet ride but is on its way to the shop for some drive train adjustments. Russ is getting used to the 'clipless' pedals on his new bike. This definitely takes some getting used to. I think getting comfortable with the clipless style pedals is a sort of rite-of-passage for serious bikers. Demo is a tough place to do that! Props to Russ. (Side note: the term 'clipless' seems like a misnomer to me, since 'clip' is exactly the noise it makes every time you 'clip in'! I can't imagine anything less clipless.)
Ok, Scott, I hope you don't mind but here it goes! First I would just like to say that Scott is one of the most skilled riders I have had the pleasure of riding with. But today was his day to eat dirt. I won't mention his more embarrassing crash, where he wheelied and went right over flat on his back with all of the accompanying red-faced gasping for air. I would hate to mention that. (BTW--I did the same exact thing 2 months ago! So I can make fun.) But I will mention how lucky I was to be behind him on the best crash I have ever seen! Scott leaped over a log jump (that probably should have been rolled over) and ended up on the ground about 10 feet later. He walked away with nary a scratch or bruise. A lesser man would have limped away in tears. I just could not believe how he attacked that jump with such enthusiasm and cojones. The sound of his huge FOX 36 absorbing the impact of the log was powerful. You'll land it next time, Scott. Now you've got about a month to visualize a smoother, and non-dodobird-like, landing. Props to you for having the stones to try it first!
Time to wax reflective...
Some topics that come to my mind after this ride are taking chances and friends. As I have said before, friends just magnify the joy of any given ride. They seem to feel just as lucky you do to be there. They keep you company. They push you sometimes to do better or go faster. They have skills, knowledge, tools, or food that you can learn and use when you need it. But good friends will never push you to go too far just so they can see you take a huge risk that could hurt you. This is important to me in this age of Cops, reality TV, Jackass, and a general lack of empathy.
As for taking chances, I noticed something on the Trailhead website. Lars always seems to say "take chances." I'm not sure how responsible that is, but I will say that the chances I take today seemed like impossibilities last summer. I can take drops with ease that were once terrifying. There are still plenty of things I will not do out of fear of broken limbs and pain, but my comfort zone has really expanded. This is directly related to the time I have spent on a given trail, thus learning its every turn and stone, and to my overall skill. Also, my window of possible lines grows when I take small chances here and there, thus increasing my confidence. I find that I can often follow a line with ease that I was afraid of before. Was it mental when I thought I could not do it, or was it a realistic perception of my own abilities? Who knows?
One thing is sure--When one is truly doubtful, it is always better to stay safe to ride another day. I would never fault one of my friends for being cautious.
I think the triad of risk/confidence/skill is key to improving skill and increasing the thrill. The three should be thought of as a circle, not as a line. They feed off of each other. It sounds about right to me. Who knows? One thing I DO know is that I am hitting that big log next time!
What Do You Have on Your MP3?
Some guys think riding with the headphones in is a bad idea. For those crazy roadies I think that notion is true. Although, if I was about to get squashed would I want to know it was coming? "Ignorance is bliss." Isn't that what they say? I'll let the roadies think about that one. But when one is on the trail I think it is different. The MP3 player can be a great accompaniment to any solo ride. It can soothe on those long rigorous climbs; it can inspire and pump you up on those fast downhills.
A couple of practical things I've learned about using the MP3 player on the trail:
A couple of practical things I've learned about using the MP3 player on the trail:
- Bring extra batteries every time, unless your is the rechargeable type. In that case, get a full charge beforehand. Having the gadget die out on you in the middle of a great ride and while you are into the music is the worst.
- If you use a regular helmet, i.e. not a full-face, then make sure you have the headphones that clamp around the top of your ear and around the back. Ear buds that just sit in your ear hole tend to get knocked out easily. These can fall down into your wheels and possibly damage the whole unit.
- Ear buds work great with a full-face helmet!
- Headphones with their own independent in-line volume control are great for when you need to talk with a stranger. My set has a little slider that is situated in the crotch of the line where it splits to the two earpieces. This is great for those with a full-face because you don't have to undo any equipment.
- Fasten the headphone line somewhere on your chest. One of mine has a clip that I just hook on to the chest strap of my pack. The other one does not, so I tie it in a little knot around my chest strap. Works just as well. If the earphones do happen to fall out then they will not drop all the way to your wheels. Also, they are less likely to drop because there is less weight on the line.
I hope that stuff is useful to somebody out there.
So here is really why I am writing: to see what people like to listen to when they ride. What is the best riding music in your opinion? Do you have a favorite artist, style, album, playlist? Something for going up, something for going down?
Here are a few of my fav's:
- Pink Floyd--Wish You Were Here, esp. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", also Animals
- Bob Dylan--Just about anything! I make playlists with my fav's. Some great albums are: Blonde on Blonde, Freewheelin', The Times They Are a Changin', Bringing it all Back Home, Modern Times (the newest one).
- Master and Commander--movie soundtrack
- Black Sabbath--We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll
- Metallica's ...And Justice for All
- Slayer's Reign in Blood
What do you listen to? Post a comment!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Despite... and the Yeti Debut
A herd of deer we saw along the way- the necessary 7:30 AM start time
- the 25 degrees thermometer reading
- the fact that Eric did 27 mi the day before
- the fact that toes and fingers were numb
Eric was his usual skillful self, carving the trail like a Thanksgiving turkey. Russ was elegant and graceful as he flipped over his handlebars because he employed poor braking technique as he went around a 160 degree turn.The Yeti did well on the downhill - clearly what that bike is meant to do, though the uphill was a bit of a struggle for one man and his new machine. New geometry means new mechanics and slightly different muscle usage. The result was a slow and tiresome climb - even though it was a relatively small one.
We ended up doing 12 miles in about 2 hours. We stopped for a bit to take some pictures of us going off this drop, which looks much more daunting from behind the handle bars than it does from the bottom.
Afterward Russ cruised over to Trailhead Cyclery to get his Time Z peddles put on and get his bike officially fitted. One shock pump and pair of shoes later, and he's ready to roll.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
On Mountainbiking--Why Do You Ride?
Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have quite a commitment to the sport of off-road cycling. In fact it could probably be classified as a severe an unbalanced obsession. When I am not riding I think about riding. When I am driving I think about riding. When I eat--riding. On the can--you guessed it--riding! My mind is filled with a constant flow of images of frames, various components, tires, trails, past rides, past crashes, friends I ride with, and future rides I plan on doing. And yes, I have to admit that commitment might have crossed the line into full-blown obsession quite some time ago. Who know when?
The question I ask myself then is simply, "Why?" What is it about the sport that attracts me so much more than almost any other activity I have ever done? To pin down that one element, to describe that one attribute of the sport that so encompasses my existence is a hard thing for me to do. Funny--doing a thing is easier than thinking about a thing. To accomplish this task I think I need the help of an ancient Greek philosopher.
Aristotle said in his Ethics that "Every art and every investigation, and similarly every action and persuit, is considered to aim at some good." This is merely the first sentence of his work and I think that is all I need to get my mind working. My new question then is, "What is that 'good' that I am aiming at when I cycle?" There are many possible replies: general health, physical appearance, social connection, personal challenge, technical aspects of equipment, connection with nature, etc. Who can narrow it down to only one thing?
As for me, I greatly appreciate the health aspect of cycling. The concrete realities of increased muscle strength, increased cardiovascular strength, and improved balance and reaction time are all easily perceptible to a regular rider. Sometimes you can feel an improvement from one ride to the next. This is satisfying and makes one feel that he is doing something good for him. But if the health benefits were all I cared about then I would not hit jumps, drops, burms, or other obstacles with such a wide grin on my face, since there is obviously a risk to my health when those are involved. There must be more.
Do I ride to imporve my overall physical appearance? Well, I was beautiful before, and how does one improve perfection? Therefore, no.
What about social connection? I do get a lot of joy out of riding with friends. It creates a bond that is not work-related. A shared adventure and a shared challenge can give men a sense of increased connection. Besides that, those long climbs require someone to talk to besides one's imaginary friend from childhood. MP3 players are cool, but who can sing along when his heart is beating at 160 bpm? I can't. The friend at your side cures your loneliness and makes that grueling climb seem shorter. You also get to know the other guy and visa-verse, even though you are not speaking vis-a-vis most of the time. But on the other hand, I personally enjoy riding alone sometimes. It feels like more of a discipline and requires more focus, but is still enjoyable. So is it the highest good? Maybe not.
I could go on and discuss the other possible answers to the question, but for breviy's sake I won't. Instead I will cut to the chase and say what I think this highest good, this summum bonum, is, for me anyway. I am pretty sure it is not a rational thing but an emotional thing. It is the thrill, the adrenaline, the excitement. It is the expectation prior to the ride--the picture in my mind of what I think is about to happen. It is the anticipation of reaching the top--the focus on the prize, the reward that the top itself is. It is the pure thrill of a gravity fueled descent that I have earned through hard work and my own power. It is the danger that I barely escaped, the corner where I almost lost it but didn't, the difficult line I powered through flawlessly.
All of this could be summed up into one word: FUN. A humble word for sure--childlike and innocent. It is so simple that it seems far removed from the violent and deceptive world of men and their competitive struggles. Fun is pure. It is feeling and comes from within. It is a total satisfaction with one's self and the present situation. It is unadulterate, perfect. Fun's melancholy is higher than the peak of Everest. Fun requires no recognition, no fame, no history, no justification, no one else. Lance was right. It is NOT about the bike. I think it is all about fun.
Why do you ride?
The question I ask myself then is simply, "Why?" What is it about the sport that attracts me so much more than almost any other activity I have ever done? To pin down that one element, to describe that one attribute of the sport that so encompasses my existence is a hard thing for me to do. Funny--doing a thing is easier than thinking about a thing. To accomplish this task I think I need the help of an ancient Greek philosopher.
Aristotle said in his Ethics that "Every art and every investigation, and similarly every action and persuit, is considered to aim at some good." This is merely the first sentence of his work and I think that is all I need to get my mind working. My new question then is, "What is that 'good' that I am aiming at when I cycle?" There are many possible replies: general health, physical appearance, social connection, personal challenge, technical aspects of equipment, connection with nature, etc. Who can narrow it down to only one thing?
As for me, I greatly appreciate the health aspect of cycling. The concrete realities of increased muscle strength, increased cardiovascular strength, and improved balance and reaction time are all easily perceptible to a regular rider. Sometimes you can feel an improvement from one ride to the next. This is satisfying and makes one feel that he is doing something good for him. But if the health benefits were all I cared about then I would not hit jumps, drops, burms, or other obstacles with such a wide grin on my face, since there is obviously a risk to my health when those are involved. There must be more.
Do I ride to imporve my overall physical appearance? Well, I was beautiful before, and how does one improve perfection? Therefore, no.
What about social connection? I do get a lot of joy out of riding with friends. It creates a bond that is not work-related. A shared adventure and a shared challenge can give men a sense of increased connection. Besides that, those long climbs require someone to talk to besides one's imaginary friend from childhood. MP3 players are cool, but who can sing along when his heart is beating at 160 bpm? I can't. The friend at your side cures your loneliness and makes that grueling climb seem shorter. You also get to know the other guy and visa-verse, even though you are not speaking vis-a-vis most of the time. But on the other hand, I personally enjoy riding alone sometimes. It feels like more of a discipline and requires more focus, but is still enjoyable. So is it the highest good? Maybe not.
I could go on and discuss the other possible answers to the question, but for breviy's sake I won't. Instead I will cut to the chase and say what I think this highest good, this summum bonum, is, for me anyway. I am pretty sure it is not a rational thing but an emotional thing. It is the thrill, the adrenaline, the excitement. It is the expectation prior to the ride--the picture in my mind of what I think is about to happen. It is the anticipation of reaching the top--the focus on the prize, the reward that the top itself is. It is the pure thrill of a gravity fueled descent that I have earned through hard work and my own power. It is the danger that I barely escaped, the corner where I almost lost it but didn't, the difficult line I powered through flawlessly.
All of this could be summed up into one word: FUN. A humble word for sure--childlike and innocent. It is so simple that it seems far removed from the violent and deceptive world of men and their competitive struggles. Fun is pure. It is feeling and comes from within. It is a total satisfaction with one's self and the present situation. It is unadulterate, perfect. Fun's melancholy is higher than the peak of Everest. Fun requires no recognition, no fame, no history, no justification, no one else. Lance was right. It is NOT about the bike. I think it is all about fun.
Why do you ride?
El Sobrante Loop--27 Miles of Pain!
This "loop" is a ride I (Eric) imagined a few months ago. Since the time it first appeared in my mind I have attempted it four times and accomplished it three. The one acception was the result of failed courage in the face of a looming storm. Since I left my ark in my other pants, Sully and I decided it was best to avoid this cataract and its hurricane force winds (only a slight exaggeration) and therefore save our skins. With the winds picking up, the horizontal angle of the rain, and the top of El Sobrante enshrouded in a murky mist, it was good we turned around when we did. Kennedy Road is fun even when soaked!
So what is this ride--this loop of pain and struggle? Here is the path starting from my house:
Phase 1: From Blossom Hill and Camden ride down Camden to Hicks, Hicks to SHannon, Shannon to Kennedy. It is about 4 miles to the Kennedy Road trailhead.
Phase 2: Take the Kennedy Road fireroad all the way to the top--about 4 miles. This can get rather lonely if you go by yourself. MP3 players are a comforting friend on this interminable climb. Go past the Priest Rock trail and keep going up Kennedy all the way to the next intersection. This is about 1.5 miles of tedium--fast and short downhill runs leading to even steeper and longer uphills. At the fork in the road take a left onto the Woods Trail. About another 1/2 mile and you will reach the crest of the mountain. This is El Sobrante peak. The elevation is about 3,000 feet. The views are great too but obstructed by the vegetation. This is directly under those power line towers you can see any time you look towards the mountains in south San Jose.
Phase 3: Reward! This is a long winding downhill road. Take this all the way to the Hicks trailhead. Most of it is very fast but some sections are steep with a lot of sketchy loose gravel and some larger stones. Beware of equestrians! We dealt with a flat during this phase. Sully's 7-year-old tube finally went out on him with a bang--a six-inch tear right down the center.
Phase 4: Go straight across Hicks and into Quicksilver Park. You will hook back up with the Woods Trail immediately. Climb up to the old mining ruins at the top of Woods Trail. From here you can take any number of routes. Sully and I went straight down to the Mockingbird entrance.
Phase 5: By this time we had gone 20 miles and were dead tired. We took what I thought to be the shortest and safest route back to my house near Meridian and Blossom Hill. One thing is certain: road riding sucks!
Final stats:
27 miles
4,000' total altitude gain (a guess)
3.5 hours riding time
10 frozen toes
1 sore back
1 sore hamstring
2 satisfied souls
Altogether, it was a great ride. The temp was frigid--below 40 a lot of the time. There was frost everywhere and we rode over a 20 foot long sheet of ice in one place on Kennedy.
Many people have accomplished more difficult rides. But the noteworthy thing here is that we imagined it and then made it happen for ourselves. To picture a route in your mind and then to ride it in the flesh is a satisfying thing. Cycling is just as much mental as it is physical--and not just mental, but also poetic.
So what is this ride--this loop of pain and struggle? Here is the path starting from my house:
Phase 1: From Blossom Hill and Camden ride down Camden to Hicks, Hicks to SHannon, Shannon to Kennedy. It is about 4 miles to the Kennedy Road trailhead.
Phase 2: Take the Kennedy Road fireroad all the way to the top--about 4 miles. This can get rather lonely if you go by yourself. MP3 players are a comforting friend on this interminable climb. Go past the Priest Rock trail and keep going up Kennedy all the way to the next intersection. This is about 1.5 miles of tedium--fast and short downhill runs leading to even steeper and longer uphills. At the fork in the road take a left onto the Woods Trail. About another 1/2 mile and you will reach the crest of the mountain. This is El Sobrante peak. The elevation is about 3,000 feet. The views are great too but obstructed by the vegetation. This is directly under those power line towers you can see any time you look towards the mountains in south San Jose.
Phase 3: Reward! This is a long winding downhill road. Take this all the way to the Hicks trailhead. Most of it is very fast but some sections are steep with a lot of sketchy loose gravel and some larger stones. Beware of equestrians! We dealt with a flat during this phase. Sully's 7-year-old tube finally went out on him with a bang--a six-inch tear right down the center.
Phase 4: Go straight across Hicks and into Quicksilver Park. You will hook back up with the Woods Trail immediately. Climb up to the old mining ruins at the top of Woods Trail. From here you can take any number of routes. Sully and I went straight down to the Mockingbird entrance.
Phase 5: By this time we had gone 20 miles and were dead tired. We took what I thought to be the shortest and safest route back to my house near Meridian and Blossom Hill. One thing is certain: road riding sucks!
Final stats:
27 miles
4,000' total altitude gain (a guess)
3.5 hours riding time
10 frozen toes
1 sore back
1 sore hamstring
2 satisfied souls
Altogether, it was a great ride. The temp was frigid--below 40 a lot of the time. There was frost everywhere and we rode over a 20 foot long sheet of ice in one place on Kennedy.
Many people have accomplished more difficult rides. But the noteworthy thing here is that we imagined it and then made it happen for ourselves. To picture a route in your mind and then to ride it in the flesh is a satisfying thing. Cycling is just as much mental as it is physical--and not just mental, but also poetic.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Saturday Ride Stats
Stats from our (our = Eric, Ryan, Mark, Steve, and Russ) ride up Quicksilver, across Hicks Road, up Mount Umunhum Road, and to the top of Bald Mountain.- Total Distance: 13.91 miles
- Total Time: 2:51:08
- Avg Speed: 4.6 Mph (this includes rests)
- Average Pace: 12:58 /mi (this includes rests)
- Total calories: 2120 Cal
- Total Ascent: 3212 Ft
- Total Descent: 3211 Ft
1.7.07 Braille Trail Cleaned Up!
On Sunday, Eric, Scott, and Dan went out to Demo. It was a last minute change of plans since we originally were going out to Stevens Canyon. I did not have cold feet, but I was afraid I would get too cold from the river crossings. After copious amounts of bitching and complaining we ended up with the new destination. That was simply my evil genius plan strategically working its magic! Ha ha ha ha! (evil genius laughter!) Scott was kind enough to drive us out there in his truck.
We ended up doing the Braille Trail--the finest downhill run around! I was pleased to see that all of nature's felled trees had been swept to the side by the invisible trail fairies.
The ones that taxed their frail wings too much were left and new trails carved around them. Result: a fine, fine ride with no obstacles.
The view of Monterey Bay was crystal clear--we could see the ripples on the water, it seemed. We also spent a lot of time doing various stunts. It was fun to try and hit drops, logs, and jumps cleaner, bigger, and faster every time. Here I must add that Scott kept my adrenaline up with the sound of his huge bike close behind me. I love that! Added extra danger!
I am hoping to get out there again later this month with as many riders as possible. Posts to our Google Group to follow!
We ended up doing the Braille Trail--the finest downhill run around! I was pleased to see that all of nature's felled trees had been swept to the side by the invisible trail fairies.
The ones that taxed their frail wings too much were left and new trails carved around them. Result: a fine, fine ride with no obstacles.The view of Monterey Bay was crystal clear--we could see the ripples on the water, it seemed. We also spent a lot of time doing various stunts. It was fun to try and hit drops, logs, and jumps cleaner, bigger, and faster every time. Here I must add that Scott kept my adrenaline up with the sound of his huge bike close behind me. I love that! Added extra danger!
I am hoping to get out there again later this month with as many riders as possible. Posts to our Google Group to follow!
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