since i was getting a free trip to SF via work, i decided to extend my stay once the conference was over and hit up some riding spots. i crashed w/ my buddy Mike (aka Tundar), and we again made the drive out east to tahoe like we did 4 years ago when we rode w/ Acadian, BrianHCM and Kidwoo. Luc's back would take him out of service for this instance, but OGripper and his buddy John were excellent riding partners (and excellent riders).
though i stashed my P&S in my camelbak, the trails @ northstar are really too much fun to do much stopping and shooting, so there's scant evidence of the fun we had that day...you'll have to see our wrinkled faces to notice the skin-stretching grins we had that day. post-ride beers (or G&Ts in matt and john's case) were even more fun...great day of riding, hanging out, and just plain fun.
my buddy mike on lower gypsy:
matt (aka OGRipper) on the slabs:
kidwoo coming out of a whip on the doubles leading into boondocks (sorry i was late on the trigger here):
me hitting the rock drop on boondocks:
matt, getting bigger air and more style points:
kidwoo, in the only mode he knows (fast)
me down the alternate line on lower boondocks:
a tired Tundar and me, after a great day of riding (big thanks to kidwoo for securing the last two DH rentals while we fumbled w/ the electronic release forms):
the drive back to the bay area went faster in the Z4 convertible:
goodbye, tahoe:
three hours later, we were back in the city
the next day, mike arranged for me to use a friend's wife's bike for an xc ride up in Santa Cruz. we needed some carbs to start the day
we were on our way
trailmap @ the start:
let's go, beeyotch
off we went:
hippies live in SC, and they have access to krylon
the root (aka mastodon tusk) which stopped me cold, and gave a rather large upper arm bruise:
me in the distance (this was a pretty steep and loose descent)
wish i had a wider lens:
riding through a large redwood forest is pretty damn awesome
the borrowed steed (flat pedals didn't help much on the climbs)
we headed home after a celebratory dogfish imperial IPA, cleaned up, and drove into the city where we hit Zeitgeist for a couple of beers. this sticker (which i should really slap on my neighbor's car) was on a nearby parked car:
crappy pic of old german dude conversing w/ SF hipster doofus; this place rocked...smoker going full tilt, open air outside where people can shoot the sh!t, smoke weed, and drink good beer:
obligatory SF rainbow
from there we hit a Thai place for some good food, then walked the 1.5 blocks to my favorite bar in the world, where we again met up w/ Matt and John, and John's lady friend. beers were drunk, music played, laughs were had, and shots were poured.
big thanks to my bud Mike for carting my ass around, and to Matt for buying my beers and booze. also to kidwoo for riding around w/ a couple of slowpokes and patiently waiting at trail intersections, and generally being a funny bastard. i had a fabulous time. i hope to repay it out east at some point.
though i stashed my P&S in my camelbak, the trails @ northstar are really too much fun to do much stopping and shooting, so there's scant evidence of the fun we had that day...you'll have to see our wrinkled faces to notice the skin-stretching grins we had that day. post-ride beers (or G&Ts in matt and john's case) were even more fun...great day of riding, hanging out, and just plain fun.
my buddy mike on lower gypsy:
matt (aka OGRipper) on the slabs:
kidwoo coming out of a whip on the doubles leading into boondocks (sorry i was late on the trigger here):
me hitting the rock drop on boondocks:
matt, getting bigger air and more style points:
kidwoo, in the only mode he knows (fast)
me down the alternate line on lower boondocks:
a tired Tundar and me, after a great day of riding (big thanks to kidwoo for securing the last two DH rentals while we fumbled w/ the electronic release forms):
the drive back to the bay area went faster in the Z4 convertible:
goodbye, tahoe:
three hours later, we were back in the city
the next day, mike arranged for me to use a friend's wife's bike for an xc ride up in Santa Cruz. we needed some carbs to start the day
we were on our way
trailmap @ the start:
let's go, beeyotch
off we went:
hippies live in SC, and they have access to krylon
the root (aka mastodon tusk) which stopped me cold, and gave a rather large upper arm bruise:
me in the distance (this was a pretty steep and loose descent)
wish i had a wider lens:
riding through a large redwood forest is pretty damn awesome
the borrowed steed (flat pedals didn't help much on the climbs)
we headed home after a celebratory dogfish imperial IPA, cleaned up, and drove into the city where we hit Zeitgeist for a couple of beers. this sticker (which i should really slap on my neighbor's car) was on a nearby parked car:
crappy pic of old german dude conversing w/ SF hipster doofus; this place rocked...smoker going full tilt, open air outside where people can shoot the sh!t, smoke weed, and drink good beer:
obligatory SF rainbow
from there we hit a Thai place for some good food, then walked the 1.5 blocks to my favorite bar in the world, where we again met up w/ Matt and John, and John's lady friend. beers were drunk, music played, laughs were had, and shots were poured.
big thanks to my bud Mike for carting my ass around, and to Matt for buying my beers and booze. also to kidwoo for riding around w/ a couple of slowpokes and patiently waiting at trail intersections, and generally being a funny bastard. i had a fabulous time. i hope to repay it out east at some point.
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