Maple Springs to Motorway

Ride Name: Maple Springs to Motorway
When: Wednesday, June 28
Time: 6:30
Where: Maple Springs Trailhead
Ride Description or Details:
I think we've covered this enough... But bring a light!
~~~~~ Optional Details ~~~~~
Meet Location: I usually park at the little turnout 1/2 mile before the Maple Springs parking lot.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Ride Pace: Social Cruise, Easy with Moments of Effort
Type of Ride:
Rider Limit: X
Anticipated Mileage: 17
Elevation Gain: 3600
Ride Duration: 3 hours
Previous Ride Reports:
Possible Bail-Outs: Turn around at any point up to Four Corners at mile 7.5ish. By this point, though, you've done 2/3 of the climbing.
Facilities: Portable John at the gate, bushes thereafter...
Food/water suggestions: You know what you need...
Option to Upload:

 

I'll be the anchor!

 

I take that as a challenge.

 

Conditions shaping up for this ride... Not as hot tomorrow. Optimistic about joining; will know soon...

 

I'm doomed.

 

I dunno.....I am coming back from 3 weeks off the bike.

 

I call BS on all three of you!

 

Optimism will only get ya so far...

I'm needed elsewhere tomorrow PM, so gotta bow out. Hope to ride soon, guys. Thanks for "driving" this, Faust. Happy gravity fight, Grego. Welcome back to the dirt, J...

 

Hmmm 80 miles from my door to the trailhead. I know this is a totally subjective question but is it worth the the drive @Faust29 ?

 

Allow me, my friend. : )

It's a nice mini-tour of the south end, traversing through and around many drainage and facets of the range on choice FR with views beachward and inland. Motorway is really fun (and fast), with overgrowth not bad. (The occasional surprise rut should be watched for down low.) No nasty, wall-like fire road climbs. The weather will be nice, much cooler today that the last three days. One of the nicer circuits I can think of in the SAs, good variety and quality all around. Maybe that sounds appealing...all subjective, o'course

 

Wow....you make it sound so....poetic.

 

I would say hold off til one of us puts together a bigger Tour de Santa Ana's.

I think it's a great local loop, but if you are gonna drive that far...make it for a longer ride.

 

@mike nails it... It's one of the most popular local loops. 3 miles of pavement, 4.5 miles of fire road climbing to Four Corners, 6 miles across Main Divide, which is powdery and semi-chunky right now in spots. And then a 3 mile single track descent on loose rock, which takes you right back to the cars... 17 miles and 3600 feet.

My only caution would be that it's a loop better done in the daytime for the first time. Motorway isn't as techy as some of the stuff you ride, but it has a way of biting people in the butt. The views are also a lot better in the daytime.

 

Psssssst - Jason, over here a second (whispering) - I rode with you last Saturday, 'member? You rode about 4500' and 25 miles? Ohhh, OK, I won't tell...

 

Last night was the first time in the last 3.5 weeks I rode on back to back days.