Saturday September 5, 2009 ~~~~~ Fourth Annual Skeggs » Half Moon Bay » Skeggs Ride

[Skyline35]

The ride is ON! September 5, 2009 8am Skeggs Point. Dets the same as last year.

Stare at the spinning wheel and think about it...



///Charlie

[iheartbicycles]

Originally Posted by Skyline35

The ride is ON! September 5, 2009 8am Skeggs Point. Dets the same as last year.

Stare at the spinning wheel and think about it...



///Charlie

damn, no can do - me n the wife will be in napa. Have fun, Charlie!

[rho]

Oh dear.
Last year was a very fun ride, and I think it would be in my best interest to do this ride again this year!

[Davidyeti575]

I am putting it on my calendar. What's the route plan?

[poff]

YES! IN! Dan and Shiloh - you are in too, or Russian mafia is after you....

[dan51]

Originally Posted by poff

YES! IN! Dan and Shiloh - you are in too, or Russian mafia is after you....

We're actually planning to head to D'ville and HITG that weekend, but plans can change.
Hopefully it won't be 100 friggin degrees like it is now. High temps = Dan doesn't go.

[The Law]

Yeah, we were planning D'ville but charlie's ride is primo. Would we stop at that food place. The food was really really good, or rather, I was really really hungry.

This ride kicked my butt last year.

[ratpick]

Oh, I can't make it.. oooh.. pretty wheel.. must.. cancel..plans.. will.. be.. there....

[poff]

Originally Posted by The Law

Yeah, we were planning D'ville but charlie's ride is primo. Would we stop at that food place. The food was really really good, or rather, I was really really hungry.

This ride kicked my butt last year.

We'll must stop there, fish and chips!

[MarkMass]

I'll be there.

It'll be nice if it's cool like this past Sunday. If it's hot like Saturday, then it's going to be kinda painful. I'll get a haircut just in case..

Originally Posted by Skyline35

The ride is ON! September 5, 2009 8am Skeggs Point. Dets the same as last year.

[Davidyeti575]

What kind of training is required to do this ride?

[iheartbicycles]

Originally Posted by Davidyeti575

What kind of training is required to do this ride?

You should be able to fast for 40 days, walk on hot coals bare foot and go without sleep for 3 weeks before even attempting a ride of this caliber.

Short of that, a road century or two before hand should suffice.

[EBrider]

I am in! If for no other reason than just to see how that horse has aged over the past year. The little guy grew up so fast.

Off to walk on hot coals.

[Davidyeti575]

Originally Posted by iheartbicycles

You should be able to fast for 40 days, walk on hot coals bare foot and go without sleep for 3 weeks before even attempting a ride of this caliber.

Short of that, a road century or two before hand should suffice.

Wow.. training starts today. Fasting will have to wait till Sunday. Of to walk on hot coals.

[rho]

So, being car-less, is there anyone who is going up to this ride from the south bay or mountain view area who has an extra seat and extra bike rack space in exchange for cash/beer/food/etc?

[theseawind]

Charlie,

The spinning wheel is good fun! My head is spinning with it now.
I will be there with a box or two of doughnuts to set your ride for a good start. I won't make the entire 9k, but will ride the Skeggs bit of this ride with you and everyone else.

[Plim]

Originally Posted by theseawind

Charlie,

The spinning wheel is good fun! My head is spinning with it now.
I will be there with a box or two of doughnuts to set your ride for a good start. I won't make the entire 9k, but will ride the Skeggs bit of this ride with you and everyone else.

Nonsense! Go nice 'n' easy, hydrate 'n' eat. Keep your electrolytes up. You can do iiiit!

[Plim]

(I don't want you to start the downward spiral like I did. )

[astrahsburg]

rho,

I plan on going up for the Skeggs portion with Seawind. I'll be coming up from the 85, and could stop off in MV if you need a ride. I'll be long gone before the long ride is done though, so I might not be your best option.

[theseawind]

Originally Posted by Plim

(I don't want you to start the downward spiral like I did. )

The only difference is that I have never done any 24hr race which resulted in 20k like you did before the downward spiral spin.

I was about to ask if you're coming for the ride too?

[rho]

Originally Posted by astrahsburg

rho,

I plan on going up for the Skeggs portion with Seawind. I'll be coming up from the 85, and could stop off in MV if you need a ride. I'll be long gone before the long ride is done though, so I might not be your best option.

Well, we'll see if there is anyone else who is willing to carpool and coming from this direction.

But if it comes down to it and a one way ride is the only option, then luckily skeggs is at the top of a big hill, and its not too much of a pain to ride down to a Caltrain station.

[Plim]

Originally Posted by theseawind

The only difference is that I have never done any 24hr race which resulted in 20k like you did before the downward spiral spin.

I was about to ask if you're coming for the ride too?

I only ride with a kid on the bike these days. I've done a few dirt rides with him, but I think Skeggs would be just a little ambitious.

[dan51]

Originally Posted by theseawind

Charlie,

The spinning wheel is good fun! My head is spinning with it now.
I will be there with a box or two of doughnuts to set your ride for a good start. I won't make the entire 9k, but will ride the Skeggs bit of this ride with you and everyone else.

It's not 9k feet of climbing. More along the lines of 5-6 if I recall correctly. Motion based makes every ride seem like it's bigger than it is. If I can do it you can.

[scheckler]

Never have done this ride so I will think about it... I'm just not into commitments right now

[dan51]

Originally Posted by scheckler

Never have done this ride so I will think about it... I'm just not into commitments right now

You know the only thing you'll do when it comes to this ride is read the reports of how much fun we had.....

[theseawind]

I only ride with a kid on the bike these days. I've done a few dirt rides with him, but I think Skeggs would be just a little ambitious.

Plim- I'm sure you're more than willing to take the small risk. Cliff will probably jump if he knows you would take him out to a Skeggs ride. Plus, don't you want to show off the accomplishment of killing Steam Donkey hills from last December?

(*photo by Charlie)

[theseawind]

Originally Posted by dan51

It's not 9k feet of climbing. More along the lines of 5-6 if I recall correctly. Motion based makes every ride seem like it's bigger than it is. If I can do it you can.

I already feel the peer pressure!

[poff]

Yo, Christine, you have to do it. It is FuN.

[astrahsburg]

Originally Posted by theseawind

I already feel the peer pressure!

If you do it, I'll see if I can get permission to do the whole ride.

[jrm]

to change my underwear more often. Thanks. EBrider is anyone else coming from the east bay?

[Davidyeti575]

Originally Posted by rho

So, being car-less, is there anyone who is going up to this ride from the south bay or mountain view area who has an extra seat and extra bike rack space in exchange for cash/beer/food/etc?

I have space for 1 bike if you want to carpool. Let me know.

[EBrider]

Originally Posted by jrm

to change my underwear more often. Thanks. EBrider is anyone else coming from the east bay?

I think poff is east bay There is still time to convince Plim and Dan'ger I'm sure.

[poff]

I am coming from Berkeley. Can take 1 more rider - I am in for the whole ride though.

[astrahsburg]

Originally Posted by theseawind

I already feel the peer pressure!

Ok, Christine.... I got permission to do the whole ride, so now you have to do it to, cause I don't want to ride by myself

[The Law]

Originally Posted by scheckler

Never have done this ride so I will think about it... I'm just not into commitments right now

You're such a tease.

[climb4fun]

I'm in. Never done this before either. I'm driving from Fremont (right off the Fremont Blvd North Exit) and can take 1 if anyone wants to carpool.

[tburger]

Originally Posted by Skyline35

Stare at the spinning wheel and think about it...



///Charlie

I...must...ride...with...Charlie.

[rensho]

Charlie, 8am-4pm sound about right? The weather looks to be very good for the ride.

[dan51]

Originally Posted by rensho

Charlie, 8am-4pm sound about right? The weather looks to be very good for the ride.

I would push it to 7pm. I think last year we were getting back pretty late.
Time stamps on my pics from last year had us starting around 8:30, and entering Skeggs around 6:30. I think we got to the cars about 7pm.

Judging by this post, we were at HMB eating @ 4:30.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?...79&postcount=1

[EBrider]

Originally Posted by dan51

I would push it to 7pm. I think last year we were getting back pretty late.
Time stamps on my pics from last year had us starting around 8:30, and entering Skeggs around 6:30. I think we got to the cars about 7pm.

Judging by this post, we were at HMB eating @ 4:30.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?...79&postcount=1

Yeah, it was a pretty late finish. Between stopping at the beach and the pub, we were probably in HMB for at least an hour and a half.

[poff]

I've checked my last year stats - 44mi/8100ft, 6hr:30min riding time, started at 8:35 am. We should be back around 6-7pm. Tburger - you are in.

[rensho]

I think the year i did it, we were back at the cars at 5:30pm, so yeah, no 4pm finish. I remember being dead tired. No SS this time.

[scheckler]

Originally Posted by The Law

You're such a tease.

I'm something

[SVSocrates]

Dwight, if you decide not to do this ride, let me know.

[Skyline35]

Originally Posted by dan51

I would push it to 7pm. I think last year we were getting back pretty late.
Time stamps on my pics from last year had us starting around 8:30, and entering Skeggs around 6:30. I think we got to the cars about 7pm.

Judging by this post, we were at HMB eating @ 4:30.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showpost.php?...79&postcount=1

Did you have to mention that thread???

I have a picture of folks toasting their post-ride beer at 7:10pm - tinyurl.

Menso might have been back by 4pm.

Yeah, weather look like it will be nice and cool on Saturday. Sunset is 7:32pm (so we need to be out of ECdM by 8pm). Full moon rise @ 7:49 pm

(Saturday's pre-ride on mtbguru.)

///Charlie

[JL de Jong]

OK, I'm in. T.J. (rho) you can carpool with me. Want to bike over to my house?

However, last year we were well ahead of everyone that even after a leasurely lunch at the British Pub and a tour of the bluffs the peloton was still a ways back. Therefore I'm starting a bit later: leave my house by 9am, park at 9:45am and roll by 10am with the usual "J.L" pace and hopefully we'll see all the other riders along the way.

[Zen_Turtle]

Damn I'm gonna miss this. Another weekend in Tahoe... oh well!
You guys have FuN, looking forward to see pics.
ZT

[Skyline35]

Originally Posted by JL de Jong

OK, I'm in. T.J. (rho) you can carpool with me. Want to bike over to my house?

However, last year we were well ahead of everyone that even after a leasurely lunch at the British Pub and a tour of the bluffs the peloton was still a ways back. Therefore I'm starting a bit later: leave my house by 9am, park at 9:45am and roll by 10am with the usual "J.L" pace and hopefully we'll see all the other riders along the way.

Cool; the main group's pace is pretty casual and—I'm sure you don't mind other fast guys joining you—this gives an option for those who are quicker.

If there are any left-over donuts, we'll leave them on a picnic table for you. : )

///Charlie

[mudworm]

8am start will be brutal, esp. considering "Mtbr folks are almost always on time on group rides." But Skyline35's spinning donut worked. (Or, was it theseawind's?) I'll commit -- IN!

P.S. I have an important dinner engagement I can't be late for, so I'll turnaround at one point during the ride.

[tburger]

Yup, I am soo not a morning person! But I'm psyched for this ride! If d'nuts aren't enough incentive, I'll also bring a dozen homemade muffins courtesy of Alpineberry.

Originally Posted by mudworm

8am start will be brutal, esp. considering "Mtbr folks are almost always on time on group rides." But Skyline35's spinning donut worked. (Or, was it theseawind's?) I'll commit -- IN!

P.S. I have an important dinner engagement I can't be late for, so I'll turnaround at one point during the ride.

[mudworm]

D'nuts aren't enough incentive...

[theseawind]

Originally Posted by tburger

Yup, I am soo not a morning person! But I'm psyched for this ride! If d'nuts aren't enough incentive, I'll also bring a dozen homemade muffins courtesy of Alpineberry.

Donuts can never be enough incentive!

Given how famous Alpinberry's homemade muffins are, I'm psyched for tomorrow!

Btw, I can only make the Skeggs version of this ride. Those who can't commit to a full day ride but would like 3-4 hours of Skeggs are welcome to join me. Sorry Poff, we will have to make it up another time. (I need to talk to you about Tibet at some point. I'm scheduling it for next August).

[Davidyeti575]

Originally Posted by mudworm

D'nuts aren't enough incentive...

I will have 6 pack of Heineken and 6 pack of Corona. Maybe some sodas as well. You want to have some before or after the ride?
Look for a Black Rav4 with a Yeti 575.

[mudworm]

Cool! I hear beer makes great sports drink. I'm sure if I down 6 pack of Heineken, I'll be capable of bombing down Steam Donkey at the federal speed limit, 65mph.

See y'all tomorrow!

[JL de Jong]

Sure, anyone faster than me is welcome to join me for the 10am start and chase the main group.
I'm tempting Menso to join again (he's still thinking about it), maybe Krishna is up for it again as well?
- J.L.

[MarkMass]

This is a great ride, Peter. It's harder than the Big Basin ride, but you're going to like it.

MMMMMmmmmmm!! The finishers will be fighting over these.

Originally Posted by tburger

Yup, I am soo not a morning person! But I'm psyched for this ride! If d'nuts aren't enough incentive, I'll also bring a dozen homemade muffins courtesy of Alpineberry.

I'm tempted, but I'm pretty sure you'd destroy me. I'm going to try to keep a steady pace and keep stops to a minimum. I don't want to get caught in the dark out there.

Originally Posted by JL de Jong

Sure, anyone faster than me is welcome to join me for the 10am start and chase the main group.
I'm tempting Menso to join again (he's still thinking about it), maybe Krishna is up for it again as well?

[sirkrameroy]

All right, I'm in. I was waffling due to the length of the ride, and the fact that I want to ride again on Sunday, but what the heck.

I'll join JL for the late shift, although if Menso joins us, I'm bringing a bungee...

Originally Posted by JL de Jong

Sure, anyone faster than me is welcome to join me for the 10am start and chase the main group.
I'm tempting Menso to join again (he's still thinking about it), maybe Krishna is up for it again as well?
- J.L.

[poff]

It took us longer last year since we had some injuries to deal with. Hopefully, we will avoid them this year!

[TahoeBC]

[MichiganMat]

Wassup *****es!!!!

Im comin' out for this thing tomorrow, bringing my new bad-a 29'er wiff me too.

Its gonna be siiiiiiiiiiiiick

[The Law]

Originally Posted by Skyline35

`

If there are any left-over donuts, we'll leave them on a picnic table for you. : )

///Charlie

There won't be any leftover donuts.
Home-made muffins. That's awesome.

Now, what should I wear...

[yerba]

I'm in. Big basin on my bianchi SS was hard enough so bringing my Misfit with gears. --jim

[medieval]

I'm in for 2-3 hrs. in Skeggs. I have a wedding to go to in the afternoon, so no long ride.

[theseawind]

Originally Posted by medieval

I'm in for 2-3 hrs. in Skeggs. I have a wedding to go to in the afternoon, so no long ride.

Given the early start, the short ride should finish before noon. I'm inspired to pick up either some Saturday pancakes or shrimp burritos post ride.

[JL de Jong]

Alex: I'm glad you're joining me. See you at Skeggs Point at 9:45am. I haven't heard from Menso yet, but we should be able to set a pretty decent pace without him. Hopefully we'll join the main group in the British Pub for lunch and ride back with them. Nothing like some company to commiserate the suffering of that final climb.

[The Law]

Originally Posted by JL de Jong

Alex: I'm glad you're joining me. See you at Skeggs Point at 9:45am. I haven't heard from Menso yet, but we should be able to set a pretty decent pace without him. Hopefully we'll join the main group in the British Pub for lunch and ride back with them. Nothing like some company to commiserate the suffering of that final climb.

You won't catch us w/o Menso!

[bailout]

I'm in. Let's see how much of this ride I can bite off without choking.

[JL de Jong]

Originally Posted by The Law

You won't catch us w/o Menso!

OK, Alex we got to go fast and promise we won't skip Steam Donkey.

[EBrider]

Out of IPA Stopping on the way.

[MarkMass]

The lot was parking was jammed early and the group was huge. I think it was 20-30 people. With a group that size you're going to have all sorts of levels. This would have been my 2nd biggest ride of the year so I planned on taking it easy and finishing without any drama. Almost immediately I noticed that my fork lost it's rebound damping so now I had a pogo up front instead of a suspension fork! Grrrr... Anyhow we started riding and I wound up near the front. I started getting eaten by mosquitos at the bottom of Manzanita while we were waiting to regroup so I decided to take off. I waited at other intersections, but the string got longer and I was waiting more so I decided to continue on at my own pace and hope that I'd run into the pack at some point.

I arrived at Redondo Beach at around 12:30pm. I rested and enjoyed the view for ~30 minutes and then started heading back. As I was passing the pub, I saw MichiganMat riding the other way. He had just finished eating there and was leaving, but we decided to head back in to talk and for me to get some food (fish and chips) and a Guiness. Mat didn't know the route and tried following me way back in Skeggs, but got lost, took some mysterious route to Half Moon Bay, and wound up at the pub all by himself. It was pure luck that we ran into each other! We were finishing up when JL, Sirkrameroy, Angus, and some other guy walked in. We stuck around to talk with them and some more riders showed up including Roy and Poff. Mat and I eventually headed out and we passed Charlie and the peloton as we were crossing the highway before the turn off onto Higgins.

The ride up Borden Hatch and Resolution was tough, but uneventful. I was worried that the fish and chips and Guiness would wind up on on some trail after all of that climbing, but my body needed the nutrients so all was good. We arrived back at the parking lot ~4:30pm and only had to wait ~30 minutes before JL, Sirkrameroy, and Angus appeared. Rensho and a few others arrived ~30 minutes later.

Unfortunately, Tburger wasn't around so there weren't any cupcake prizes for the lead group.

Sorry for being anti-social and taking off. I checked my GPS and I was making good time. I think the cool weather helped me immensely!

Stats from Skeggs Parking lot to Redondo Beach to the British Pub:
- 34.8 miles
- 4900 feet of climbing
- 9mph moving average

Unfortunately, MichiganMat turned off my GPS at the pub so I don't have anything on the 2nd half.

Thanks, Charlie, for organizing this ride. I hope everyone that tried it had fun. It's a VERY tough ride, but doable!

[climb4fun]

Great ride everyone. I hope everyone from Charlie's pack made it back safely. Charlie, thank's for organizing such a great ride and sweeping. Fast people, thanks for leading the ride and showing the rest of us how slow we are Christine, thanks for the doughnuts

Here's my stats from the ride. Had to skip Resolution and ECDM and opt for the road back to Skeggs. Roy, Patrick, and Dmitri (spelling?) are just too fast!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...32c2a&t=h&z=13

Total Time: 7:27:39 (add another hour or so for lunch and some stopping, had to turn gps off to save battery)
Moving Time: 5:13:27
Distance: 41.58 miles
Elivation 7992
Avg Moving Speed: 8.6 mph

Oh and the bacon burger was yummy. Good suggestion Dmitri. What did everyone else eat?

[lamdman1976]

Great ride even though i only stayed at skeggs. I praise the guys who went all the way to hb and back

[iSlowpoke]

Any pics?

[ratpick]

Jordan, you'd have been fine if you hadn't burned yourself out staying on Roy's wheel - the rest of us have been around long enough to know that's just folly and can only lead to pain down the track - you were climbing fantastically!

I got a full GPS track of the "B" ride (with Plymmer and Poff) . When Poff gives advice on what to eat at mid-ride lunch, I suggest paying attention - I've never had so much energy in my legs on a post-lunch big climb! I know Roy was just being nice and staying with me, but it was very rewarding to climb all the way to Tunitas Creek Rd with him!

Charlie, thanks for organizing the ride! I'm not entirely sure how we split from your group on Skyline - I heard some story and I want to see GPS evidence :-) Plymmer & Poff, awesome completing the ride with you!

Note, my GPS track has been modified to increase my speeds for bragging purposes - I, along with everyone else, stayed well under the speed limit the whole time.

[ratpick]

Originally Posted by iSlowpoke

Any pics?

There will be.. I'm getting mine ready but Charlie will, as always, have the best!

[poff]

well, somehow Roy (plymmer), Patrick (Raptick), climb4fun, Renso and I got separated from the main group. After FaNtUsTicK lunch (baconburger baby!) we just flew up the climb back to Swett Rd. Renso, who skipped the food, was hurting and we split again. Roy, Patrick and me went to Reso. It was also fun. I felt super after the ride. Charlie - thenk you so much for organizing it! Too bad we miss you guys at the end.

[iSlowpoke]

Originally Posted by ratpick

There will be.. I'm getting mine ready but Charlie will, as always, have the best!

w00t! Thanks! I have to live through pics and YouTube vids for now...

[ratpick]

I was actually enjoying the ride too much to remember to get out the camera but here's some of what I snapped at regroups spots.

Regroup with the donut queen and ride leader


Lies being told about the big ECdM climb up Blue Blossom


Even bigger lies being told by the fast climbers (climb4fun, sorry, you're out of shot here)


Attending to Plymmer's wounds - he fell on one of the gnarliest South Leaf features - the trailhead


mudworm flies out of the North Leaf trailhead inch-by-inch


.. followed by our ride leader himself


The infamous instant-grow horse


Sprinting up Skyline to the north Purisima Creek gate


Poff, Plymmer & Climb4fun beginning the climb out of Half Moon Bay

[Davidyeti575]

Mudworm, I have leftover Corona and Heineken. We got back to the parking lot ~6:30pm.

[climb4fun]

More pics here
http://picasaweb.google.com/jourdany...ToHalfMoonBay#

[mudworm]

Originally Posted by Davidyeti575

Mudworm, I have leftover Corona and Heineken. We got back to the parking lot ~6:30pm.

If I had known, I would totally have waited at the parking lot for it.

I got back to the car at 2:30pm. Had to split after coming down Whitmore Gulch Trail. I said goodbye to climb4fun, plymmer, and poff, and climbed out of Purisima via Borden Harch Mill. In the car, I had half mug of coffee to go with half a doughnut I had saved. Mmmm... the best half doughnut I have ever had!

Thanks Christine for the d'nuts, Charlie for organizing, and all the riders for good company. I will totally do this route again.

[Skyline35]

Thanks all for coming out and letting me take pictures of you!

///Charlie



At Skeggs Point...















astrahsburg



On Manzanita...

tburger





climb4fun





MichiganMat





rho





Davidyeti575





yerba





The Law





rensho





bailout





medieval





theseawind and astrahsburg





EBrider busts up Roy:





Meeting the neighbors at CMØ7:





mudworm leading on Star Hill Road





A couple more from Star Hill Road, EBrider and rensho:








We stopped at the entrance to the Kings Mountain Art Fair:





Whittemore Gulch Trail...

Dan51





rensho





yerba and Davidyeti575





Flat out to the beach, Dan and Shiloh:





On Highway 1 approaching Cameron's Pub:





Relaxing at the beach:





Pedal damn it





Lunch at Cameron's








The last photo in my camera...heading back Higgins Canyon:

[worthy_4242]

looks like you all had a great time. The weather looked great for a long ride.

[JL de Jong]

Alex and I left the main parking lot at 9:50am and immediately set a blistering pace with only two brief stops to eat a cliff bar before South Leaf and a banana at the start of Purisima Creek trail. We caught up with the main group on Skyline Blvd, but after a few minutes break, we just had to keep moving on to get to the British Pub for some much needed food. Only two riders (Angus and Brian) stayed with us to my surprise (I had expected a few more), but we found Mat and Mark just finishing their lunch on the patio.
The "Killer Burger" and Coke hit the spot, but felt a bit uncomfortable at the start of the climb back up. After making sure Brian knew the way back, Angus (an expert fast climber), Alex (still going strong) and I (granny gearing it) pedaled our way back to Skeggs Parking. I sure was using up some unknown reserves. Mat and Mark shared a beer with us and I had brought some "zoute drop" to replenish the sodium levels.

Great ride! Thanks!

[kpd]

Ohhh-- I didn't see this thread until today. Bummer.

Looks like a fantastic ride.

[theseawind]

Thanks Charlie for the photos and a fun ride yesterday! I'm amazed with the images from your camera- very nice indeed!

It was hard to explain the excitement leading toward the ride in the morning. While driving to Skeggs Point and having played my favorite tunes inside the car, I was consciously aware how Northern California has softened me in such a short period after months of wandering abroad. Nothing has changed, even the pleasure of driving to the trail head early in the morning remained unvaried. Appreciation bore its true meaning at that moment.

At 8pm, we quickly occupied the parking lot and the socialization started with no time. I was happy to see Mei, Jourdon, Shiloh and Dan as well as to met MarkMass a few others for the first time. Soon after Roy arrived, we headed out for fun time. Astrashburg, medieval and I went with the big group for the run down to Manzanita, Crosscut, Crossover and regrouped once again at the beginning of Blue Blossom before we split off from the big group to do our own ride. From there, we went up Springboard, up Sierra Moreno, down Resolution and out to Skeggs Point by ECdM. This is one of my favorite loops at Skeggs and I almost forgot how fun Resolution is.

It was nice meeting all the familiar faces and thanks everyone for your great company. Congratulation to the finishers! You guys are all very inspiring.

A few photos from my camera. Link to the photo album is here.

Morning socialization. At 8am of a Saturday, everyone seemed wide awake!


Dan showing off his cool arm warmers


Rocking Manzanita









Charlie almost sleepless the night before due to excitement. He reminds me of those childhood days of endless anticipation toward summer vacation.


Riders coming out from Blue Blossom


Rensho


Yerba


Jourdan


Dan


Shiloh


Mei, always with a smile


rho


Roy


Bailout


I need help with name here:


Regroup and more socializing


Astrashburg on Sierra Moreno


Medieval on ECdM


Attempting the root on Resolution


Within the pristine surrounding of Skeggs






Speechless

[iSlowpoke]

Great pix! Thanks for sharing!

[bailout]

...but had a great time (maybe I should get my head checked ). I might be crazy enough to do it again next year. Thanks for the great company guys and thanks to David for making sure that I wasn't far behind on the last climb of the day.

Some photos below. No creative shots, too busy suffering.

New Niner RIP9 - comes with an extra derailleur "hanger"


EBrider dropping down to Pursima Creek


Fall is upon us. Good, because I hate slathering on sunscreen.


Yerba and DavidYeti575 on Whittemore Gulch trail


Looks all clear down to HMB



Rest stop on the bluffs



Cupcakes!


Post-ride self portrait, ~10PM

[poff]

We are ready for the Coe Fall Ride!

[ratpick]

Originally Posted by theseawind

I need help with name here:

Ratpick/Patrick, at your service! Great pictures!

[tburger]

Wow, what an epic ride! I arrived a bit late and missed the donuts, so the muffins I brought had to wait till post ride. There was a huge turnout for both the Skeggs only loop and the whole HMB ride. This was the most miles I've ever ridden and the most footies climbed on the mtb in a single day. My Garmin reported 44.39 miles and 8,456 footies. I did take a slight detour from the main group and climbed all the way up Spring Board instead of taking Blue Blossom.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12728559

Charlie could not have picked a better day for this ride. It was cool and foggy in the morning, perfect for keeping the dust down at Skeggs when you have 30+ riders going through. It also made for very comfortable climbing weather, if there is such a thing. The ride started out kinda slow, just because of the number of riders hitting the single track. This was fine for me, because I knew there were lots of miles still to come, so I had to pace myself. I must have already started seeing the spinning spiral wheels in my head, because, without thinking, I just climbed all of Spring Board instead of Blue Blossom with the rest of the crew!

When we parted ways with the Skeggs only riders, I was surprised to see all the riders who were gathered around the "magic horse". What an awesome turn out for the whole loop! Once we entered Purisima, the fog burned off and we were treated to bright blue skies. Descending Borden Hatch Mill to Grabtown Gulch was a blast, which meant climbing out back to Skyline was brutal. JL and sirkrameroy caught up to us at the gate at PC03. At that point, it made a lot of sense to split up into smaller groups. The insanely fit who could keep up with Alex and JL, the really talented fast riders who don't need to rest much, and the rest of us who wanted, or had no choice, to take it easy, a.k.a. "Charlie's Victims". Being one of Charlie's victims has it's payoffs, though. One of the best moments of the ride was when Charlie kept us safe from the Skyline traffic by herding us through the little known path that parallels the road. Not sure if there's really a name for it, but I think we should call it the Ferris Bueller Trail.

The road to HMB was smooth with very few cars. We did spot two mtbr hooligans (MarkMass and MichiganMat) on their way back towards Skeggs. Surprisingly, the majority of the group voted to hit the beach before the burgers. The beach certainly did not disappoint. We relaxed and loosened up a bit while gazing out at the sea. After refueling on burgers, fries, and drinks, the climb back was, well, it was still brutal. However, on the way back, Charlie did convince me that it was still not as bad as being thrown overboard a slave ship and being left to die a slow death out at sea.

Once back out of Purisima, the climb out of Skeggs didn’t seem so bad at all. We finished the ride without any major bike or bodily mishaps, and got back to the fog free parking lot by 6:30. We enjoyed some well earned refreshments back at the car, shared some more laughs, and with that, concluded one of the best group rides of the year.

Shadow Riders descend on Skeggs


Jordan. Love that fog!


Plymmer and The Law getting some pitbull love


Skyline35, mudworm, rensho, mike, angus, climb4fun, rho, EBRider, yerba,
poff, plymmer, ratpick, dan51, The Law, Davidyeti575, bailout…Darn it! Who did I miss???


yerba


rho


rensho knows what to do when there’s a camera!


EBRider looks pissed at the trail…


bailout does not!


The Law and bailout. Shiloh smiles despite her feelings about riding on the road.


Dan51 (still day dreaming about skinnies and logs), Skyline35, Davidyeti575


Enjoy the beach, cuz it’s all uphill from here!


EBRider


Davidyeti575


Discussing the merits of bacon on cheeseburgers?

[theseawind]

Originally Posted by ratpick

Ratpick/Patrick, at your service! Great pictures!

Thanks Patrick! I remember your handle, but we had not met before Saturday ride, I think.

tburger- I bummed out for missing the cupcakes. Hopefully, there will be another chance.

[EBrider]

Charlie, many thanks for another awesome ride. Next year is on my calendar already so I don't need to PM you in early August to remember when this ride is.

Great to meet a bunch of new to me people from the south bay. Hope to see everyone on a ride again soon.

[dan51]

That was a great ride, thanks Charlie. It seemed less painful this year than last.
tburger, it was good that you came late, those muffins hit the spot after the ride. And there was a perfect amount too.

My butt has recovered and is ready for saddle time again.

Thanks for all the pics too! It felt weird not having my camera on a big group ride like this.

[stripeyone]

Thanks Charlie for organizing the ride on Saturday.It was great to do a super long ride. Good to meet some new bicycle loving people.Great to ride with JL, Alex and Brian for the second part of the ride once they had caught us all in the main group.

[Davidyeti575]

Originally Posted by TahoeBC

Therapy session: staring at the hypnotized wheels for 5 minutes. Mentally convince yourself, No Pain, No Pain, No Pain.

Didn't work, but the ride was great. Thanks Charlie... it's ride of a lifetime for me.

[Davidyeti575]

Originally Posted by poff

We are ready for the Coe Fall Ride!

+1...

IS THERE GOING TO BE ONE?