blog - A Collaborative Space

Have Bike. Will Travel.

Over the last few months my job has taken me around the U.S. to places like Nebraska, Arkansas and Florida. Let me begin by saying thank God my return flight always brings me home to San Diego. After frigid weather in the Midwest, humid weather in Florida - where the highest point in the state is 345’ (sorry Brian no downhill) and dreary weather in Ohio, San Diego is a wonderful place to call home. I had icicles on my rental car in Little Rock, and the next morning I was at Mission Trails riding in shorts and a T shirts. I am so glad to live in SoCal, surrounded by miles of great trails and abundant sunshine.

My last business trip of 2005 took me to Las Vegas. At the last minute I decided to cancel my flight and throw the Bullit on the back of the Exploder. It had been 6 months since my last trip to Bootleg, so I was stoked to head back to the desert for some techy riding. Bootleg is a free mountain bike park built and maintained by a mountain biker, so the trails are works of art with flowy bermed corners, fast G-outs, technical rock gardens (this is an understatement), smooth hardpack, drops with perfect trannies, and smooth singletrack that makes you smile. To use an ‘80s adjective, Bootleg is so rad!

Riding solo at Bootleg is a little sketchy though since the trails are very technical with sharp volcanic rock and many exposed sections with little room for error. I warmed up on some of the more technically difficult XC trails, but with the full-face helmet in the car I knew I had to throw down. I suited up my armor and rode to the top of the downhill trails. For all the purists I earned the DH. How someone gets to the top of a trail really doesn’t matter to me, but it does for some peeps so I hope they think I’m legit. I started down Snakeback, weaving down a few rocky switchbacks and across an off-camber volcanic slab/rock garden. The consequences for poor line choice or not keeping your front tire straight on a drop aren’t good, and as the sun was setting I was hoping to make it down without incident.

I had been riding easier XC trails that were nearby out of necessity since I didn’t have time to drive out to my favorite trails like Noble, Iron Mtn. or Mt. Woodson, so this was my first DH trail in many months. As I got to the end of the trail and hit the last drop I started to feel the flow again. It felt good to get a little air under the tires. After getting back to San Diego I spent the last couple of weekends revitalizing my neglected jumps at my local hang. Mountain biking provides so many diverse styles of riding. As soon as I get burned out on riding XC I rediscover the joy of flowing through a double or dropping off a boulder.

The RockMtb calendar for 2006 is just as diverse. We have beginner rides through semi-coastal Rose Canyon and Peñasquitos Canyon. Our intermediate to advanced calendar is stacked with a tour of SoCal classics including 3 shuttles. We start with San Diego’s only IMBA designated epic ride, Noble Canyon. Then we join the motos for some serious climbing and fun downhill at Lake Morena. For a taste of Orange County’s best we’ll hit up San Juan, and we’ll conclude our advanced rides by trekking up to L.A. for the uber-classic Mt. Wilson! If that weren’t enough, I’m proud to announce that we are headed to Vegas in March for a little Bootleg Canyon action and off to Utah in May for slickrock riding at Gooseberry Mesa. In April we’re honoring Christ’s sacrifice by hosting the second annual Silent Ride. We’ve got the goods for riders of all abilities, and everyone is welcome to join us. Watch the calendar for dates.

Ryan

Grow / Serve