7th Annual Dogmeat No Dab Challenge (Los Gatos, CA) BEGINS!

[ask]

Stumbled on a loose rock a few yds from the top this morning. I felt solid the whole climb... stronger than last year. Cleared all the hard stuff. I almost turned around to give it another try, but I had to get to work... and I hate that trail. I know this doesn't count as a no dab, but it may have to do for me. Not sure I can get the motivation to ride Kennedy/Dogmeat again anytime soon.

[squashyo]

I thought I heard a loud scream this morning. Nice try buddy and glad to hear you are quitting. My dad always used to say, "Son, if it's too hard just quit. No harm in being a complete failure."

I kid!!!

[ask]

I thought I heard a loud scream this morning. Nice try buddy and glad to hear you are quitting. My dad always used to say, "Son, if it's too hard just quit. No harm in being a complete failure."

I kid!!!

Hahaha! I laughed when I stumbled. But I was pretty annoyed riding back down. I've done the same exact thing a few times before. Honestly I was pretty stoked that the steep stuff didn't make my heart rate go up as much as it did the last couple years. If nothing else, Dogmeat is a good benchmark to test your climbing fitness. You can't really half-ass that climb.

We'll see... maybe give it another shot later this week in the rain.

[pmarshall]

Dude! Same thing happened to me exactly! I was also too gassed to go down and try again.

[bikengineer]

Hi,

Very happy to have found this thread of like-minded climbing nuts, thanks for curating this great thread! The climb starting at the bottom of limekiln, through dogmeat, and then making the right turn to take in the tough pitches to the top of Kennedy, has been on my personal "no dab bike setup tester" list for about a decade. Changes in stem or saddle position or tire pressure or bike or whatever get evaluated there to success or failure, tweak then try again, etc. (I am happy to self describe as obsessive compulsive, family members and riding friends will chime in with agreement).

Other routes on the "no dab" evaluator list include Stiles plus Rocky Ridge uphill in Santa Theresa and Resolution and Manzanita uphill in skeggs (south leaf is over my head). While I've cleared all of these routes a lot, and cleared the Sierra Azul run on several bikes over the years, I'm still trying desperately to clear them all on the same bike! Talk about ridiculous pursuits...

Anyway, it seems that I might have, unknowingly, been a part of this dogmeat no dab community over the past decade with successful runs of the limekiln-dogmeat-kennedytop route, but have no proof and cannot remember the dates anyway. However, last Tuesday and Thursday I did the Limekiln-dogmeat-kennedytop climb to test out my canfield epo (great bike!). One dab on Tue, changed stem and saddle position, no dabs Thurs, here is the garmin link for Thurs.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1612064339

You are all inspiring me, thanks for launching this thread and this climbing craziness, might go out today, have fun everyone!

[squashyo]

HEY HEY...great work bikengineer! It is no easy task right now and you added the extra leg (literally!)...impressive! Welcome to the prestigious wall and hope we run into you out there soon.

Dogmeat 2016/17 Wall of Fame:
1) Squashyo
2) BRoyston
3) Menso
4) pmarshall
5) ancient rascal
6) yz343
7) LG Man
8) bikengineer

[bikengineer]

[QUOTE=squashyo;13095026]HEY HEY...great work bikengineer! It is no easy task right now and...

Thanks! You made my week.
bikengineer

[ask]

[QUOTE=bikengineer;13095568]

HEY HEY...great work bikengineer! It is no easy task right now and...

Thanks! You made my week.
bikengineer

Nice! I've been climbing that trail for years... glad I'm not the only nut around here. Well done bikengineer!

[ancient rascal]

[QUOTE=bikengineer;13095568]

HEY HEY...great work bikengineer! It is no easy task right now and...

Thanks! You made my week.
bikengineer

Congrats bikengineer! ... Only one last challenge season thing left for a guy like you to do ... 6th Annual 20/40 under from Kennedy Trailhead 8 days left!

[bikengineer]

[QUOTE=ancient rascal;13095662]

Congrats bikengineer! ... Only one last challenge season thing left for a guy like you to do ... 6th Annual 20/40 under from Kennedy Trailhead 8 days left!

Wow, that kennedy timetrial looks really, really hard, thanks for sharing. Conditions this week seem to make it harder, even if I might have had a shot, which is very questionable.

Here in my 50th year, even though I never go on road rides otherwise, I'm working really hard to finally break 20 on the legendary old la honda roadie climb. I'm still about 30 seconds too slow, and boy does it hurt each time. Not a roadie but its very close by and seems a worthy goal.

Wondering, for you climbing exoerts who might have done both, how this very worthy kennedy 20/40 challenge might translate, for a given rider, to a timing on the famous old la honda climb?

Thanks for any insight! (and sorry this is tangential to the primary topic)

Bikengineer

[bikengineer]

...for the record, and in commiseration, I personally find that last bit just a few seconds before the top to be particularly troublesome, have dabbed there as well, guard is down a bit and it is so loose and we are all so tired by then...the height of frustration when it happens there....

[form49b]

If you're close to 20 minutes on OLH and you can clean Dogmeat I'm pretty sure you can break 40 on Kennedy.

[turfnsurf]

I think I'll give it my 2'nd and final shot in an hour or so...after I trim my fingernails to shave off a gram or two


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[squashyo]

Good luck...we're all counting on you

[turfnsurf]

Hell yeah!
Sitting at the top


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[ancient rascal]

Hell yeah!
Sitting at the top


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Congrats ... number 9 ... #9 ... #9 ...

[aliikane]

So how do you confirm that it was actually cleaned with no dabbing? It is the Seinfeld Honor system?

[ancient rascal]

So how do you confirm that it was actually cleaned with no dabbing? It is the Seinfeld Honor system?

Yes sir ... Honor system for both the Dogmeat no dab and the 20/40 under challenge threads, no lie Strava and others may show a non stop ride up also I think.

[squashyo]

Oh hell yes! Stoked you went back and slayed the beast. On the new bike? Any complications or was it easy sailing? Huge congrats and now that part of the bucket is full (By the way, hope to see you Monday for actual fun trails). Welcome to the board!

Dogmeat 2016/17 Wall of Fame:
1) Squashyo
2) BRoyston
3) Menso
4) pmarshall
5) ancient rascal
6) yz343
7) LG Man
8) bikengineer
9) surfnturf

[squashyo]

By the by...2 more days left if anyone is inspired. And yes, honor system...I don't see people bending the truth just to get a pat on the back and a beer. Well, maybe a beer but still.

[turfnsurf]

I spun out and dabbed on the first steep where the orange cones are on the right side of the fire road. I figured I wasn't that far into it, 1/4 mile or so, why not give 'er another go. Back down to the bottom, let about 8 psi out of my rear tire (which is a fairly worn out Ardent.) Gave it a second shot and did the exact same thing in the same damn spot. I was starting to curse Joshyo for posting this stupid effin challenge on the forum while thinking to myself " I could be riding UC right now!" Well, no one's ever accused me of being brilliant... three times is a charm, right? By now I'd realized there are techniques to this thing. Line selection, cadence, position on bike (I kept tending to be to far forward, but weight on the rear tire is essential.) Back down for my final attempt. I told myself if I don't clear it this time I'm never coming back.
Somehow I made it up the beast. I had to spin circles at several of the flat spots to slow my breathing down and rest my legs. Lost traction a few times and had to keep hammering till I gained traction again. Here's the Strava, this was my first failed attempt:



This is second fail and third success



Note to self the next time I attempt this self-abuse "DON'T TURN RIGHT AT THE TOP, LEST YOU DISCOVER THERE IS A BUTT LOAD MORE CLIMBING TO GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM!"

Strava Flyby: Strava Labs

[turfnsurf]

Oh hell yes! Stoked you went back and slayed the beast. On the new bike? Any complications or was it easy sailing? Huge congrats and now that part of the bucket is full (By the way, hope to see you Monday for actual fun trails). Welcome to the board!

Dogmeat 2016/17 Wall of Fame:
1) Squashyo
2) BRoyston
3) Menso
4) pmarshall
5) ancient rascal
6) yz343
7) LG Man
8) bikengineer
9) surfnturf (change that to turfnsurf!)

Not the new-new bike, the semi new bike - this was on a 5010.
I'm pretty sure I can get out of work on Monday for a pleasure ride!

[ancient rascal]

^ ^ ^ Hotdamn turfnsurf that's showing some sticktoitness man! That had to hurt after two blow outs on the cone head hill. I've done it with one miss there start overs but not two misses then success. ... Now with only two days left ... We wait to hear from one more Norcal regular? If you have to ask who this member is ... you haven't been following this thread closely enough!

[form49b]

I gave it a shot tonight. Dabbed by the cones and again at the steepest part below the tree. I wasn't able to use my lowest gear as it was slipping. Time was good - 22:11, but no prize.

[ancient rascal]

I gave it a shot tonight. Dabbed by the cones and again at the steepest part below the tree. I wasn't able to use my lowest gear as it was slipping. Time was good - 22:11, but no prize.

It's all about the attempt. LG Man calls that steep hill "The deal breaker" below the tree and long uphill straight away before the last left turn section. I have just quit there due bad line choice or usually to pain ... too many times to count over the years.

[squashyo]

Yup...nice effort there Form.

Last day all.

[aliikane]

I haven't ridden Dogmeat yet but I think I may need to go back to 3X drivetrain from the looks of it. Haha. On Strava it shows one part is 43% incline. Don't know how accurate it is but I know it has to be a beat down. My 1X with 40T on the rear is not the most favorable for super steeps. I am going to try it one of these days just for the challenge.

[ancient rascal]

I haven't ridden Dogmeat yet but I think I may need to go back to 3X drivetrain from the looks of it. Haha. On Strava it shows one part is 43% incline. Don't know how accurate it is but I know it has to be a beat down. My 1X with 40T on the rear is not the most favorable for super steeps. I am going to try it one of these days just for the challenge.

You may very well get away with a 1x11 using the 36 and 42t through most of it. Better yet the 1x11 ... 11-46t cassette should do the trick. I have made it with many set ups but always have to stand and mash a few spots.

[form49b]

It's not 43% but there are a couple places around 30% where the trail isn't very uniform (rocks, ruts, sand). I and many others can reliably clean the Kennedy walls below Dogmeat (which have similar pitch), but I rarely make those sections of DM without spinning out or getting sideways.

There's also a pretty long 20% + section after the hardest parts which has a lot of loose rock. The first time I made a serious attempt at Dogmeat I cleaned everything below that part but lost it in that scrubby terrain. You're gassed at that point too.

[squashyo]

Well...that's a wrap! Same results as last year but new faces this time around which is cool. No prizes this year since we didn't hit 11 but that works well for me because I'm broke (which is exactly what I said last year. Maybe I need a second job).

Thanks for all who participated and conquered this beast or even tried. Your perseverance is legendary (in my book) and you can look back on this someday and say, "Well, I did that." We'll be back in Oct. for round 8...hope to see you then.

Dogmeat 2016/17 Wall of Fame:
1) Squashyo
2) BRoyston
3) Menso
4) pmarshall
5) ancient rascal
6) yz343
7) LG Man
8) bikengineer
9) turfnsurf

So far:
2011: 12
2012: 14
2013: 22
2014: 15
2015: 12
2016: 9
2017: 9

ancient rascal (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, '15, '16, '17)
Andy J. (’13, ’14, '15)
ASK (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, '15, '16)
Axe (’13)
bassn (’12)
BigSpin ('15)
bikengineer ('17)
BRoyston (’13, ’14, '17)
cragnshag ('16)
Diesel (’11)
DigDirtDude (’13)
Dopaminer_09 (’11)
El Hombre (’13)
epic_sunday ('16)
FatTireMan (’12)
Ike22 (’13)
Jason F. (’14)
jasony13 (’13)
Juan Navarro ('15)
Jens Olson (’14)
JL de Jong (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)
KeithMakesWine (’12)
Leopold Porkstacker (’13, '15)
LG Man (’12, ’13, ’14, '15, '16, '17)
lilysdad (’12, ’13, ’14)
locoyokel (’11)
mboldt (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, '15)
Menso ('17)
mtbhead (’12)
mudworm (’14)
orthorex (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)
Plymmer (’11)
pmarshall (’11, ’12, ’13, '15, '16, '17)
rogan (’13)
silentben (’14)
sirkrameroy (’13, '15, '16)
skidmarque (’11, ’12, ’13)
Squashyo (’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, '15, '16, '17)
Tosa (’13)
turfnsurf ('17)
vedson ('16)
vincinator99 (’13, ’14, '15)
yz343 ('17)

[aliikane]

Numbers are decreasing. I wonder if it is due to the shift from 2X,3X to 1X drivetrains.

[Bike Bandito]

I always had wanted to check out the legendary dogmeat. Although the season has ended, I still went out with BKXC on Saturday and gave it a shot. It was wet, it was cold, but I made it up no dabs. Brian had one unfortunate dab before the final pitch. The soil was pretty saturated. I think it made it a little easier in spots, and harder in others.

[BKXC]

I always had wanted to check out the legendary dogmeat. Although the season has ended, I still went out with BKXC on Saturday and gave it a shot. It was wet, it was cold, but I made it up no dabs. Brian had one unfortunate dab before the final pitch. The soil was pretty saturated. I think it made it a little easier in spots, and harder in others.

Haha, I avoided permanent damage to my fingers and toes, but the GoPro is still drying out.

[BKXC]

I finally got in and edited the video of our Dogmeat adventure. It got way too wet for my camera and I'm not going to release this video on my channel, but I think you guys might still get a kick out of it here.

[squashyo]

Good stuff man! You picked a world class shitty day to tackle DM.

[aliikane]

I was just up there yesterday. I didn't have any intentions of riding Dogmeat but on the way I decided to just take a look. Rode up Limekin then Dogmeat chewed me up. I only made it about 2/3 up.

It probably wasn't the best idea to ride it after riding 12 miles from my house to it and ride my 27lb enduro bike. However, even had I brought my 24.5lb bike I am still doubtful I can clean the entire thing. I think I would need an e-bike to clean it. Haha. That last climb is just demoralizing. The guys who are making it up are beasts.

[ancient rascal]

I was just up there yesterday. I didn't have any intentions of riding Dogmeat but on the way I decided to just take a look. Rode up Limekin then Dogmeat chewed me up. I only made it about 2/3 up.

It probably wasn't the best idea to ride 12 miles from my house and ride my 27lb enduro bike. However, had I brought my 24.5lb bike I am still doubtful I can clean the entire thing. I think I would need an e-bike to clean it. Haha. That last climb is just demoralizing. The guys who are making it up are beasts.

Not necessarily beastly ... just persistent! Usually you will need to try it many times before success. I'm guessing I had 20 ish tries before I finally made it the first time. Used an old geared Klein Rascal. Same bike I made it on this year.

[OS-KR]

I finally got in and edited the video of our Dogmeat adventure. It got way too wet for my camera and I'm not going to release this video on my channel, but I think you guys might still get a kick out of it here.

Ha, great video !!! BKXC bravo how you kept going at 180 rpm while zaq was telling old story bears like if he was hanging in a bar with a beer ! Well done with the plus of a rainy day !!!!