Sunday, July 26, 2009

Back to Lummen

Back in Lummen for a few days, went out for a ride on the loop with Maarten. Maarten was riding a fancy new XC bike...I was on the Spot.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tiger Mountain video

Some video footage from our early morning jaunt.

Tiger Mountain at 6:30am

Just about 5 hours of sleep after the Rancid concert, GG said the only way he was going to ride was if we got to the trailhead at 6:30. All right.


If you've been to Seattle, you know Tiger mtn, it's probably the most well-known trail in the area and 2 tons of fun. This was a last-minute ride so all clothes and bikes for me, todd, and mike were borrowed and old. Here are my old racing shoes...I used to wear those?? Damn....


But Todd got stuck with the purple polka-dotted mongoose shorts. I win.


Tiger mtn has a 3.something mile fire road climb, hard in the beginning and gradually easier.


But the way down is super fun. Flowy at first, it gets rough and choppy with lots of little baby drops towards the bottom. There' s a fun rolling connector trail back to the parking lot. Waking up was hell, but getting out and riding and being done at 8:30 was pretty awesome.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

St. Edwards video

Here's me and the double G rocking trails in Kirkland....

Manastash Ridge

Driving back from Yakima to Seattle over Chinook pass gave me an opportunity to ride Manastash Ridge. I had done a xc race there about...18 years ago... But there are a couple big rides you can do, this is the dry side of the Cascade Mountains, so when it's not buried by snow, it's luxurious flowy singletrack, and lots of it.

It is, in fact, a big ridge, 1.5 hours climbing minimum to the top. A big logging road with big trees and big views.


I had last ridden here about 5 years ago, and couldn't quite remember the way to the top of the ridge. So, rather than getting lost, after an hour of climbing I turned down a singletrack I knew would lead me to the camp site.


And it was, of course, absolutely fantastic. You could ride this trail every day and never get tired of it.


Never did quite make it to the top of the ridge...an extra 30-40 minutes of climbing would have given me a sweet open and rocky descent...


But the Ibis and I were content enough.


Big views like this throughout.


Every once and a while was something to keep you on your toes. Here, a steep and rocky trail carved out of the cliff...don't look down!


After about an hour on the trail, it came out to the bottom. This was where the XC race used to finish. Back then there was no bridge, only a creek crossing. In May it was up to your waist. Epic.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Catching up on movies - Grand Ridge

Have a bunch of video footage that needs editing. For starters here is grand ridge in issaquah...

Yakima, Washington

Visiting Grandma Alvarez over the 4th of July weekend, a few years back she moved into a new house up on the hill just on the west side of town. For those who don't know, Yakima is smack in the middle of Washington state, just about and hour east of the mountain pass. Well grandma's new house is just about a kilometer or so from a trail center that is supposed to be the best riding in town. After a big grandma lunch, I put the bike together.....slowed down by said heavy lunch, 38 degree weather, and a mariners double header, I didn't finish the bike until about 7:30, giving me just over an hour of daylight left to ride.


And good riding it was. Tight tight singletrack winding through the sub-desert brush. Sections of lava rock to keep me on my toes. The trail would change every few meters to carpet-like trail, to loose and rocky, to volcanic rock garden. My recently assembled Ibis guided me flawlessly. That 160mm Lyrik fork is a bit much for flat or rolling singletrack, though. It really excels in big climbs with big descents, so you can optimize the two-step air 115mm climbing and 160mm settings...


4th of July and a full moon. As I rounded my loop and started back in the direction of the car, the moon was up and starting to provide more light than the sun.


A last view, a nice sunset from the mountains before heading down to the car. Perfect evening.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Rancid Live!

Ok, not entirely mtb related, but mtb is punk and punk is mtb, and Rancid is the best of the best! Felt a little bit like I was riding whistler for a bit in the pit. Damn good show.

Some terrible pics from my worthless camera phone (should have lugged in the 5D!):





Saturday, July 11, 2009

Before work ride - Santee Lakes

I somehow convinced my colleague Taylor to leave at 6am and do a ride before going to the office - brilliant! It was a chance really to get in a ride in a busy week (as if I was training for an ironman or something), and also to ride some new trails. A double-plus good ride. Santee, affectionately known as Santucky, is right outside San Diego proper and has a pretty huge trail network. We parked at the trail head, got our chamois on, and prepared to ride.


If you meet this man on the street, please give him coffee........


Bone dry trails, that's what we have here basically all year long. This was a flat out-and-back on almost all singletrack. Those hills in the background there would have to wait for another date.


Even with sleepy eyes, this trail rode as good as it looked. Fun, tight desert singletrack.


After about 30 minutes out, we rolled back to the car and off to work. A good start to the day.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Got a new helmet



Not that I needed one...drove east from Seattle across the mountains, only to realize I had forgotten my helmet at home. Unfortunately it was July 4 and all bike shops were closed. The only thing open was a Walmart, where I picked up this beauty for 16 bucks. You can get a lot for 16 bucks these days. This thing is a lot better than helmets I was using just 6 or 7 years ago. The elastic strap in the back keeps it snug and actually works better than some of those ratchet adjusters. So all in all, a good value.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Did I mention I love my bike?

Really. I mean it rides like butter, but I can haul it around wherever I go. Brilliant.

Back on-line

Got lots of rides to update, starting with another day on Ivan's trail, already 2 weeks ago now. Damn.
This time Jenise and Ike joined and rode around on the lower trail with us. Ike is slowly but surely turning into a two-wheeled terror.


It was mid-morning but already warm. Riding up the trail we ran into Michael. He's not doing so well.


We see this a lot on Ivan's trail: joyride.


For a change I was the one riding and not taking the pictures. The plants had lost all their green and were a vibrant golden brown.


And that's me giving the thumbs up after ripping a nice long descent. Got some video to post soon as well..

.

Monday, July 6, 2009

On the road, no internet...


Been traveling and without any internet...blogging from my phone now in Seattle. The good news - have been riding: santee lakes, yakima, manastash, and more in the coming days. Now let's see if I can join the 21st century and get on line.