Making Ed Wait

I went for a little stroll through the country with Ed the Tall on Sat.  Our path of choice was the Bouquet Ramble, a ride that always serves me a dish of pain-cakes.  It climbs a significant distance, both in elevation and in mileage, so you would expect it to be kinda' hard, but there is something about this one that just hurts me.

So it was a familiar site to see Ed riding away from me as the trail turned up and up.  He is a decent fellow though, and always waits at the top for old billy goats like me, hence the blog entry title.  The temps have begin to drop in our little piece of paradise and overnights have been getting into the 30s.  It was a sunny day for the most part, maybe into the low 60s, but the wind was coming up and it looked like we were going to be riding right into the teeth of it.

We were both on our Cambers, so we had good trail bikes under us.  This route takes us through an OHV area and runs along some moto trails so rocks and whoops are de rigueur.  We were up onto the high ridge line after climbing for a couple of hours and the winds were fierce.  They have recorded 100mph winds up here and it was a cold blow too.  Brrrrr.

So, to buffer that a bit, we opted to stay on the shielded side and ride a moto trail that we normally ride from the other end.  This would mean some hike-a-bike and we knew that going in, but it seemed like a decent compromise.  It was a good choice, but it was taxing too.  When your handlebars are higher than your head, you know you are pushing up a steep trail.

A long, long single track drop and we were back to civilization but we were aware that the sun was dropping fast.  The wind and the pushing had slowed our progress bit, so we opted to bypass the snack stop at the country store and head for the cars, still an hour and some climbing away.

And there was that wind still.  It was stronger now and getting cold, likely into the low 50s, high 40s.  Once we lost the sun, it would drop fast.  Time to go.  I had been battling a leg cramp for a while, but now it gave in and I was able to push hard again.  I almost was keeping up with Ed, but I backed off a bit just so he could wait for me at the last saddle.  I know how much he likes that.  Hah!

Today the winds are even stronger than on Saturday.  It is cold and nasty if you are on top of any rise in the terrain and facing north.  I called Ed and suggested we go ride.  After all, he has not waited for anyone all day.

San Fran Ramble post mortem.

Sat was a stunning day in February.  It was the kind of weather that 3/4s of the US would like to have but does not.  And on that note, 11 brave souls struck out for the 2nd Ramble Ride, the San Fran Ramble, so named for the way it criss-crossed San Francisquito Cyn.  We staged out of Castaic.

JeffJ gearing-up.  It was a clyde friendly day.

My ride for the day...the Breezer Cloud 9 carbon 29er.

I was uncertain of the exact mileage, but I expected it to be over 30 and under 40.  I got that right...barely...sort of.  I also figured on 4-5 hours to complete.  Missed that pretty much completely, but it was a friendly pace.  I like to make Ramble Rides 'no-drop' events if possible.  The route began on the local backyard trails and roads and kept climbing for another 6 miles or so on fireroad.  That was a bit of an energy sucker as it dropped nearly as much as it gained and by the time we found our connector road to the next section, we had lost 3 riders to time constraints.

And then there were 8.

Typical So Cal ridgeline fireroad.

  A bit of pavement brought us to the next climb.  This bit of uphill was made easier by the paved surface and is a Dept of Water and Power access road.  It climbs above the site of the St Francis Dam disaster, one of the worst calamities on California history.  We were a good couple of hours into the day at this point and about a third of the way along.

Road work.

Gates in So Cal have a hard life.

At the top, we re-grouped at a small reservoir.  Everyone was still feeling pretty good, myself included, so the pace was moderate and conversation was happy.  One cool surprise was the appearance of KT the Man, and old friend and super MTB rider.  He was the pace leader for the day.

The Magnificent 7...KT the Man makes 8>>>

KT the Man is also a scoff law.  Caught in the act.

A few more miles of easy climbing into a wide valley brought us to the high point of the day and let us enjoy a motorcycle built singletrack that rolled and dipped across whoopdies and loose rock, taking us back parallel to the way we had entered.  That connected to one more section of singletrack, this one even better. It followed a ridge line and was quite fast and narrow, having taken the shape of a tiny bobsled run from years of moto use.  It really was the best part of the ride, fun wise.

JeffJ, grinning and riding.

Sometimes you really did not want to turn right.  On the edge of a biiig drop.

I was noticing that I was beginning to feel a bit tired here.  My back was getting a bit beat up from the hardtail and a very stiff seatpost.  I was out of any kind of performance drink, so I was running on just water and Elete.  Some of the group was running strong though.  I had always wondered how Kevin did it...he always looks good, always is fast, and seems, well, more than a mere mortal.  Then, as we were watching, something amazing happened.  Jeff was taking some pics as Kevin took a classic Greek pose. 

Looking very manly, but....

Then...it happened.  The clouds swirled in.  The sky darkened a bit and the true nature of the man was revealed.  Behold, Hermes the winged messenger of the gods.  Ahhhh...that explains a lot.  Kevin has a new name.

The truth is revealed.

At this point, KT the Man took us a bit off the intended path.  I asked him if he was sure that this trail converged to the main road.  "I am positively sure", said he.  He has such a trusting face.  How could I say no?

You know how sometimes you just know you are going the wrong way?  Yep.  But why does it always seem that you go the wrong way downhill!  This was a fun hill to go down.  Not so fun to go back up.

What goes down in error, sometimes goes right back up in misery.

Back in town, and back on the right path, we stopped off to re-supply at a stop-and-snack.  We were about 36 miles into it by now and had been going for over 4 hours.  JeffJ was having back issues and called for the SAG wagon.  I was not much better, having been beaten into submission by the Marquis De Sade seatpost and CF hardtail.  We pretty much took over the front of the store.  Sorry about that.

Still bravely smilin'.  The worst was yet to come.

From here, we hit a couple of miles of pavement and then turned off onto a dirt road that I knew existed, but had never been on.  It connected to the local trail network we began the day on.  I don't know what the bulldozer driver had in mind when he graded this road, but it was not providing a gentle grade for tired mountain bikers.  Man, it had me off the bike and pushing.  It was then I knew I was failing slowly but surely.  I was out of gas, flat...broken...frammeled.  My back muscles were completely peeved at me and even pushing was difficult.  I was even fighting leg cramps, something that hardly ever happens anymore.  I was very glad to have a 22/36 on this bike.  A 20/38 would have been nice. 

Finally I made it to the singletracks that we began on, but I was in so much pain, I could barely navigate the creekbed.  Every bump shot arrows through my back and I was whining like a little girl.

Finally we were back with right at 40 miles and 5 3/4 hours under our belts.  I made a couple of errors.  I have not been on any longer rides lately, mostly just after work night stuff....nothing over 3 hours.  I was thinking I could get by with basically just water and electrolytes and I really do run better on some kind of performance drink like Carborocket.  I also underestimated that last bit of ridiculously steep trail by the water tank...the Trail of Tears...The Bataan Death March...Armageddon.

Well, OK, I am sure with fresh legs it ain't no biggie, but I was waaaaay past fresh.  I was firmly on the day-old rack like a bit of stale bagels.  KT the Man rode up it like it was flat.  He rocks.  Even Hermes pushed.  I guess having wings on your helmet is not all that it is cracked up to be, huh big guy?

It was a great day on the bikes, the company was stellar...not one whiner among them...and the trails were just for us to enjoy.  We never saw another soul once we left the local loop.

What is next?  Not sure, but I am enjoying the Ramble Ride idea.  I guess it is time to get out the maps and plan Ramble #3.

Ramble Ride #2

A while back I came up with an idea.  It floated to the surface of my brain like the triangle in the Magic 8 Ball (look it up) and there it was.  Ramble Ride.  The idea of a Ramble Ride, to recap, was to string together a series of smaller rides into a bigger loop that includes some bike path or road work to connect the dots, then schedule in a twinkie stop at a watering hole.  Pace is friendly.  Ramble Rides are 'No-Drop' rides.

Sounds innocent enough, but the Sierra Pelona Ramble #1 is deceptively hard.  36 miles and enough climbing to work ya.  I was looking for another route for #2 and I had 75% of it figured, but I could not connect it up.  Then, recently a buddy led a ride onto some private property he had access to.  At the end of the ride, which ended up on National Forest land, I ended up discovering a road that I thought had been lost to a housing development.  I had ridden it years ago, but now, finding it to be still there opened up a route to complete the loop.  Oh Baby!  The Ramble Ride #2 is on!

I love the concept.  It takes some creativity, lets you get some bigger rides by stringing together the combos, and feels more social with the snack stop, etc.  I think this one will be around 35 miles too, but will not have a ton of elevation gain.  It re-connects me to some old stomping grounds, lets the new folks see more bits of the countryside, and gives me something to look forward to.

Even before I have this one ridden I am thinking about Ramble Ride #3.  Fun stuff.

Betwixt Holidays Ramble

Since I had the week off, I rolled the chicken bones and looked at the weather forecast for the week between Christmas and New Years.  Tuesday looked like the magic day and it was...temps in the 60s and up with bluebird skies and wispy clouds.

We have had so much rain that things are pretty soggy right now, but that was not an issue where we rode.  The route was not a new one, so I did not take too many pics.  We were pretty focused on moving it as this is a 5.5 hour ride at a decent pace.  (More pics here from the last time on this ride where we did take more pics).

This was a new route for some.  We had Ed the Tall, Navy Mike, Weekend Warrior, and FFW on this ride and they were placing themselves in my hands for the day.  The fools.  But they are all fit dudes and good riders so I expected a good pace.  FFW is over 50 and is a climbing genie, seemingly levitating up the slopes.  He led the big climbs while Ed was just a bit back from that having been off the bike with knee issues lately.  Mike, WW and I made up the rear section of the pack.

Navy Mike all smiles at the start.  Ignorance is bliss after all.

Ed The Tall on the JET9, XL version.

I have a test bike in the house right now, a very white and very XL new JET9 from Niner.  This is the type of epic ride that the JET9 was made for, so I wanted to get another rider on it to contrast my thoughts on the bike so far.  I have found it to be a super ride for long day rides over varied terrain.  It climbs well without Propedal, although it is there if you want it, tracks the ground quite nicely thanks to the CVA rear suspension, and feels solid overall (where the first generation JET9 was a bit flexy).

I asked Ed if he would buy a JET9...he said, "Yep".  Man of few words, that Ed.

The recent rains have really soaked the ground and there were little waterfalls and cricks running everywhere.  Yes, I said 'crick'.  Look it up, city boy.  This area is unique in the rock formations here.  There are signs of Native American presence here if you know where to look.

Hard to see, but there is a waterfall here.

At the top of the second climb, Navy Mike is no longer smiling.  This is a pretty good grunt of at least an hour, maybe 90 minutes and it comes after a 45 minute climb that we warmed up with.  As well, beyond this point along the ridge, there are many false summits to make you go "uuughhh".

Navy Mike and Weekend Warrior at the top of the second pitch.  Less smiling here.

It was not only FFWs birthday, but also WWs (well, within a week or so) so both of them enjoyed a metric 50 miler+ to celebrate their milestones.  Good going!  Old guys rule.

We hit up the country store to lick our wounds.  I had run out of water at the middle of the last singletrack downhill, so this was good timing.  That was 100oz of Elete tinted water in the Camelback and one bottle of 50/50 Cytomax. For the first time in a long time, I got one leg cramp in the same place as before...inside/right/thigh at adductors.  I think there is something out of balance that I need to work through here.

Navy Mike, WW, Ed the Tall, FFW, left to right.  All hail the conquering heroes.

On the way back, FFW was spinning down the road in his 1000 mile Double Century road weenie jersey off the front and WW was tucked in behind.  We were all just beyond earshot when they rode right past a crucial turn off the highway and disappeared around the corner.  See you boys.  Moral of this story?  If you don't know the route, don't be in the lead.

They figured it out soon enough, had backtracked a couple of miles, and came rolling into home base with tails tucked between their legs like two lost lambs.  Funny, but someone had to do it.  Glad it was the birthday boys.  They needed the extra miles to work off all that B-Day cake, I guess.

Halloween ride: Makin' room for candy

Burn calories+eat candy=no guilt.  See how nicely that works?  To set that in motion, I tossed out a ride invite for a biggish loop in the local mountains and had only a couple of takers, that being JeffJ and Kendra.

All pics courtesy of JeffJ, AKA The Man in Black, and Kendra.

I was riding the Giant XTC-1 29er hardtail for the day, a test bike I have kind'a rediscovered lately.  Hardtails are very nice in some ways, especially when there is a lot of climbing and the ride is fairly smooth.  I also grabbed an older hydration pack for the day, the Deuter Race EXP.  Nice pack.

I had done this ride once before with Ed the Tall and it had been a hot day and the second climb on the route toasted me pretty well, driving me into leg cramps before the 36.5 mile ride was over with.  I wanted to revisit the route on a cooler day and with some better nutritional prep.  We had done this ride in 5 hours with only a couple of stops...one at the top of the singletrack downhill, and one at a country store to refuel.  Today would be a slower pace as it would be the longest in miles and hours that either of my companions had ever done.  I wonder if they know what is in store?  Not likely.

We left under overcast and mid forties temps, but that gave way to mostly sunny skies at the first climb, a 50 minute stretch to get the legs warmed up.

At the saddle, we could see the top of the Sierra Pelona Ridge in the distance.  That was our next climb, and it is long and not too easy.  The views were exceptional after the rains two days ago and the dirt was about as good as it gets.  From the top we could see to Wrightwood, the Tehachapis, Frazier Mtn, and the Topa Topas.  Nice.

Looking toward the next climb.

That far ridge was where we would top out.

Looking back from whence we came.  I always wanted to use 'whence' in a sentence.

Bouquet Reservoir and the distant Los Padres.

Looking towards the Tehachapis.

We took a moment to savor the day in a wind free alcove in some tall grass.  Bliss.  Nap time, if only we had the luxury of an extra hour or two.

I am pretty sure I am saying something very wise and important.

Kendra looking fresh as a daisy.  Liar!

From there, it was a long downhill on tasty singletrack to a little market, then a 5 or 6 mile return to our truck.

The arrow is me...I think.

  The rest stop...chocolate milk, a banana, salted cashews...no hot pocket although it sure smelled good...Kendra!

After this, some paved coasting which is real nice, but there is one mean little section of paved climbing that is a real mental killer, then fireroad to singletrack back to the beginning.  7.5 hrs of time had passed and we were tired little bike riders.  A great day with friends, and a personal best for them as well, even though I know they were suffering.  They never whined, never complained, just pressed on smiling.  That'll do.  That'll do nicely.

I felt really good all day and not one cramp.  Elete Hydration additive rocks for me.  This was nice as a bookend to last weekend's 50 miler and hopefully it will get me back towards pre-surgery fitness.  If I can do at least one ride a month like this over the Fall/Winter, I will stay strong for Spring.

Ramble Ride: Sierra Pelona

After a few reschedules, it was finally a go.  Ed the Tall and I were on tap for the first Ramble Ride and the weather was looking to be spectacular.  The day was warm (almost too warm sometimes), the grass was green , and the breeze was mild.  The Santa Ana winds that often blow into So Cal in the spring were not present.  That was a good thing as we would have been doing a long climb right into the teeth of it if they were.

The whole idea of a Ramble is to tie together sections of the countryside that, on their own, may not be worth a ride or they may end up in an awkward place for a nice loop, etc.  If possible, the ride connects through sections of highway or streets, hopefully hits a convenience store so you can travel lighter, and ends up back at the start with no shuttle.  This ride was the first one.

It was odd, but I was not particularly prepared for the day.  Odd because I am usually over prepared.  It has been a trying week for my work schedule with quite a few very early morning hours and time spent sleeping at the office in between things, so that was not in my favor.  I was also dehydrated, something that seems to hit me when the weather turns from winter to spring and the dry winds hit the coast.  It has been in the 80s as far as temps and after riding with layers of clothing and such for months, it felt like riding under a heat lamp.

The night before I had putted out on the SS Rockhopper to see how it felt and I was riding up a nearby canyon doubletrack when I realized I had no legs at all.  Man, that was not good for the next day.  But, whatya' gonna' do?

That night I was feeling pretty bad with a serious headache and fatigue from being at work at 02:00 that morning.  It was a full evening of social things with the family and by 09:30 I was toast and was not able to get my kit bag together for the next day's ride.  Off to bed for me.

The next morning I was a wandering generality, not a meaningful specific and I was running late.  I meant to peel and bring an orange for snacking on...no time...I considered grabbing the 100oz hydration pack instead of the 70oz one I had packed, but...no time.  Out the door with what was in the food drawer...some trail mix and a Payday or two.  Yum...Paydays.  I'm late.

Ed the Tall had decided to ride to the meeting place to get some more miles.  He is training for an endurance event in a couple of weeks,  As I pulled up, I saw this through the windshield:

This is what happens when your Stan's Sealant dries out.

Ed found out he had an airless tire.  That left him with no spare tubes and I realized I had only one with me.  Typically I would carry two on a remote ride like this.  Another casualty of my lack of planning.  We considered driving out to get tubes, but decided to cast fate to the wind and go on as we were.

Pedaling up the first section of trail, a nice warm-up leading to a 30 minute climb, the flowers were beginning to wake up as poppies were rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.  My legs felt pretty dead still, but Ed was letting me wake up too.

"Hey Granny, sometime today, huh?"

Topping out, we could see over the valley to the final summit.  We would drop all the way down into the basin before we began a long climb up to Sierra Pelona Ridge.

This basin area and the mountain surrounding it has lots of moto traffic, but on a Thursday, it was quiet and peaceful.  The creek was running and the birds were doing what happy birds do.  The climb was never terribly hard, but it was prolonged and in the full sun.  I was very aware that I was not carrying enough water.  70oz of H2O and one bottle of Accelerade would have been enough in cooler weather as we had a resupply point built into the ride.  But in 80+ degree weather, it was a bit lacking.  And, I had left my box of Endurolytes in the truck.  Great!  At this point it became a bit of body rationing...not pushing too hard, not drinking too much.  Ed had some extra Endurolyte caps and he was feeling pretty chipper, so he shared.  Thanks.  I needed that.

We hit the top and looked down at the next leg of the ride, a multi mile singletrack descent back to civilization.

The Epic Marathon was the steed of choice.

I was on the Epic Marathon, a bike which has proved to be an excellent choice for long adventure rides. The only caveat is not having a deep, deep, low gear.  But, it was enough for the day and then some.  Truly a sweet mannered bike.

The trail was in great shape, the top being littered with hens egg size broken rock and ledges, and the new tires I have been running...the Specialized 2.2 Purgatory Controls...were up to the task.  They have been impressing me as an all-a-round tire and as things have dried out, they still are doing very well, especially in the rubbly stuff.  The bottom section of trail was smooth and swoopy.

Ed could barely contain himself and was inspired to do the 'Sound Of Music' thing, dancing across the fields of green, singing, etc.  But, we were moving too fast for that kind of stuff to happen.  Maybe next time.

Two things had happened at the top of the second climb...I had slurped my last sip of water out of my Camelbak, and I had gotten my first leg cramp.  It was all downhill to the country store...well, pretty much downhill...so I was not too worried.  Still, I always live in fear of leg cramps, my nemesis, and here they were with a couple hours of riding to go.  Along the way, we ran across this little fella' on the trailside.  Ain't he a nifty little dinosaur, though?

We hit the general store and tanked up on liquids.  Ed was doing well.  Eschewing any refreshment, he only took a damp napkin and brushed his lips with it.  That was all he needed (pretty sure that was what happened...I may have been delirious).  I drank a Gatorade and about a quart of water and hoped for the best.

Ed the Tall, fresh as a Daisy.  My hero.

We rolled past some countryside planted with vineyards and had a casual spin down the highway leading up to the next climb to close out the loop.  

I was sitting there pedaling along, feeling pretty good and another leg cramp hit that nearly took me off the bike.  I have ridden with cramping quads and calves for hours before, but I have to admit that the pain level of this was on another level altogether.  I am talking childbirth here.  From my inner, right knee to crotch, it was on fire.  So I pedaled with my left leg and hung the right leg straight in the breeze.  That worked.

The final hill climb was non eventful except for walking the grade asked of me.  Pride has no place on a Ramble Ride.  Walking got it done and stretched things out a bit till I could pedal circles again.  

The last view before we dropped into the final stretch home, that being a fireroad to singletrack section.

Hitting the end of the ride, Ed passed on getting a shuttle back home from me and pedaled on another 10 miles or so.  The Ramble loop was around 37 miles and Ed added about 20 miles to that of pavement back and forth to the start/finish.  Must be nice.  I think he is ready for his race.

The first Ramble Ride was a success despite the lack of ooomph on my part, and frankly, I have had worse (and paid money for it!).  The next Ramble is in the works.