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The Ride Thread

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Just got back from a nice loop today and for some reason felt compelled to share. It was about 30 miles, 12 miles of which is a dirt fireroad that does 2800 feet of climbing with enough descending to keep you honest on a road bike.



It was a cool 100 degrees out there which didn't make the ride feel easier, but it was nice to ride some dirt on the roadie bike, 23mm Pro 3s be damned. Passed a few people on full-suspension mountain bikes on the way up that would have probably been best off on a 'cross bike if anything. Kind of funny how most people think you need fat tires to ride anywhere off-road.



Near the top, before about .5 miles of heinously steep unmaintained pavement to finish the majority of the climb off.





Eventually you hit real pavement, and keep climbing a bit. Note the super euro white lines on the side of the road.



The road proceeds to drop about 1,500 feet in 3 miles and is one of the best descents out there. It would be mindblowing if there was a double yellow to kinda keep cars out of the way, but that's not gonna happen any time soon.

Anyways, please excuse my horrible pictures, and be sure to post up some cool rides to keep the stokage levels high!
 
Last edited:

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Just got back from a nice loop today and for some reason felt compelled to share. It was about 30 miles, 12 miles of which is a dirt fireroad that does 2800 feet of climbing with enough descending to keep you honest on a road bike.



It was a cool 100 degrees out there which didn't make the ride feel easier, but it was nice to ride some dirt on the roadie bike, 23mm Pro 3s be damned. Passed a few people on full-suspension mountain bikes on the way up that would have probably been best off on a 'cross bike if anything. Kind of funny how most people think you need fat tires to ride anywhere off-road.



Near the top, before about .5 miles of heinously steep unmaintained pavement to finish the majority of the climb off.





Eventually you hit real pavement, and keep climbing a bit. Note the super euro white lines on the side of the road.



The road proceeds to drop about 1,500 feet in 3 miles and is one of the best descents out there. It would be mindblowing if there was a double yellow to kinda keep cars out of the way, but that's not gonna happen any time soon.

Anyways, please excuse my horrible pictures, and be sure to post up some cool rides to keep the stokage levels high!
Where was this, Santa Barbara? What route did you take?
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
Ojai actually, did a loop climbing the dirt section of Sulphur Mountain Rd. and then dropped down the pavement section.
 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
Raced on Saturday after having a 102 degree fever on Friday night (and the fever came back Sat. night). I was too dehydrated to be racing in the heat, but had fun none the less. Here is a pick of my teammate Molly and I (I'm #8 in back).

 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
Raced again this last weekend and things went better. Placed second and we had a pretty good field. It was around 100 degrees again.
 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
No pics but I did a full moon night ride last night to the top of the mountains here in SB. No lights needed for the climb it was so bright. Descending at night is cool since you can see headlights coming way in advance.
 

spam16v

Monkey
Oct 27, 2004
284
0
Buffalo, NY
I integrated a ride into my work day. I had to pick up a customers Mercedes GL550 from the body shop, about a 40 mile ride, I took the long way, got in a few thousand feet of climbing, got the car and delivered it. Pulled the bike out of the back, and rode it home from there and got another 20 of urban sprawl riding in bike messenger style rubbing mirrors on my way home.
 

SuspectDevice

Turbo Monkey
Aug 23, 2002
4,155
355
Roanoke, VA
No pictures but I just rode outside of a parking lot. for the first time in a month and a half after breaking my hand.

SO STOKED. Tomorrow I get to build up one of the new proto frames to decide if it gets the thumbs up. I'm missing racing DS at Nationals, but at this point I'm just glad that I can ride! I think it's all the frozen yogurt.
It will still be a fair few weeks until I can ride MTB or BMX, but getting out on the road bikes. The main thing I wanted to do is to see if I can make the bb cups creak- I'll have to find those watts uphill instead of town lines but right now any riding is fine by me!
 

golgiaparatus

Out of my element
Aug 30, 2002
7,340
41
Deep in the Jungles of Oklahoma
I raced this weekend too... on fat tires though. Hardest course of the year. No place to get a drink, hence the tiny pack. This is on the last climb near the finish. Odd camera angle... it's actually very steep. You can tell by my posture how much I'm struggling to keep the rear tire planted.
 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
This thread should be made a sticky. From the Hood River Double Cross race. I won on Sunday. A guy from the local CX clinics took some great photos. I'm in front in the photo.

 

Bicyclist

Turbo Monkey
Apr 4, 2004
10,152
2
SB
This thread should be made a sticky. From the Hood River Double Cross race. I won on Sunday. A guy from the local CX clinics took some great photos. I'm in front in the photo.
That sand looks crazy. I haven't done any CX races yet but they look super fun, I might have to build up a bike and learn how to ride it by next season. Nice work man!
 

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
That sand looks crazy. I haven't done any CX races yet but they look super fun, I might have to build up a bike and learn how to ride it by next season. Nice work man!
IMO it is a hell of a lot of fun. It blends fitness with DH like technical skills. During practice times we session sections of the track, trying different lines, and figuring out what is going to be fastest.
 

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
About an hour in the rain during lunch here in CT. So great, fall colors, decently warm weather, quiet roads, couldn't have asked for anything more.duwz.jpg