Whiting-STT-Luge-Whiting Now 3-19-16

Non-Dot is sponsoring a time trial in Whiting park this morning, but the route climbs Dreaded and descends the fun stuff on the back. We are going to sneak around through Borrego, Cattle Pond, Mustard, exit out the back and hit STT to some point above the Luge, come back, hit the Luge and go back through Whiting to hit the fun stuff after 11am when the race is done. Lunch at Wahoos after.

Cougar, Danimal, N8 and me + 3000 hikers with HUGE visors and walking sticks. And probably the rest of Orange County, minus those at Aliso and Oaks.

9am roll time.

 

Yeah, this happened...

Arrived 8:55. Cougar and Danimal were already there. N8 arrived at 9:15. Oh well, let's roll. Chilly and cloudy to start. Borrego was what it always is - a mixture of bikes and hikers. Actually not too bad, considering many of the trails were closed due to the race, forcing others onto Mustard and Borrego. Through Whiting, onto Santiago Canyon rd., up Modjeska, up STT.

Bikes need rest too. Intense Tracer, Turner Burner, Rocky Mt. Altitude, Yeti SB6


We went past the Luge to a place I selfishly refer to as CTA - Chris' Turn Around. It's a spot that overlooks the Trabuco Wash and RC airport. Just so happens that this spot makes the ride 3000' of climbing.

Dan was elated to make it this far today!


On the way down from CTA, whippersnapper decides to ride my wheel. Bad choice for him, 'cause I inadvertently found a really large mud puddle and had no option but to plow through it. Ooops. Sorry Cougar. Karma for all the old man comments, I suspect.

Nice ride down Luge. So much better than last time I was there, because this time, there was no traffic. Three guys came up as we were dropping in. Empty trail ahead of me! Return trip through Whiting was great, although we did have to navigate past slower riders and a few other trail users. How dare they be out there enjoying an awesome day.

Great day. 20 miles. 3000' Great company.



Lunch at Wahoos. No pictures of that.

Bikes are fun!

 

Y'know, @herzalot, if'n you don't want to me to ride with you again just say so. Sheeesh!!

Posting up a 9:00 a.m. ride at 7:30 the same morning??? You know us northwestern OC flatlanders can't get there in less than hour, and I didn't even see this until about 8:30.

Glad you had a good ride. Eventually I will ride this at the same time you do. You know that.

 

@Runs with Scissors Yeah, I'm not much of a planner. Sorry about that.

I think we're hitting LCWP tomorrow morning.

 

Yeah, I was there volunteering. My post was Whiting and Sleepy Hollow. After the race ended, I thought: What the hell...when in Rome.

I pedaled up Whiting (felt like Dreaded) to Cactus, down Sleepy Hollow and that last, fast st (I forget its name). Damn!! There sure were a lot of hikers to the point I got agitated and I never get agitated when I'm on my bike. I'm going to guess I'm spoiled w the empty trails here. Today solidified: I'm never coming back.....

 

Whippersnapper, something my Grandfather used to say! But yes, you are likely correct in your assertion hehe

 

Nice ride, that's one of my go to loops. You can get your climbing in and have some fun descents. Looks like a good time was had by all. Whenever I hit Whiting, I'm usually back at the car by your 9:00 am roll time. Whiting, as well as most of the OC parks are way too crowded mid-morning on the weekends.

 

Nice ride.

Next time push on a little farther....gotta get over the hump on that.

 

Nice ride with good people today. I must say that chris' new intense suits him. Definitely faster on the climbs.
Was a push for me today too, as haven't ridden much lately.

For whiting, I've put a timber bell on the bike. It's off until I hit the trails down. Pleasant sound, and the hikers are like the parting of the red sea! A plus if that the hikers often say thanks for the bell. So a win win, they're happy, and my flow doesn't get too slow.

 

That was pushing farther! Usually we just head down the Luge and tally 2300'

And, it's all I had time for today.

 

Nice work fellas.

 

LCWP - Willow Lot 8am this morning (Sunday). See you in an hour!

 

Done. Rode with Todd (BruinBiker) only. Willow, Fenceline, Red Hawk, Rattlesnake, I Think I Can, Fenceline, Lizard, Camarillo, Stagecoach. Bike was flawless. Todd was on a time constraint so he had to bail after Lizard.

Much fun!!

 

@herzalot I probably rode by you at some point this morning. It was AWESOME to see so many mtnbikes in LCWP today. More than I have ever seen before. Powerful user group! WAY more cyclists than hikers this morning. We reversed fence line, and (based on the pic above) I think I saw you at the fire road between the two fence line sections. SO much fun to reverse that trail!!

 

I don't recall seeing you today, and I always check out the riders to see if I know them. Perhaps I was distracted or we just missed each other. I like doing Fenceline in either direction. I can't say the same for Lizard, however. Too fun to come down - although I should try turning around and riding down the techy section some time - the one requiring a bike portage while riding down Lizard.

Weird, I didn't see a single other bike on Rattlesnake, Camarillo, or Stagecoach today, and very few elsewhere. I did get passed by a dude on an electric bike going up I Think I Can however. He looked perfectly capable of pedaling a bike. Maybe he has a medical condition which forces him to use a motor.

 

Well! Thanks for stopping and saying "hi" at the top of Mustard. NOT!
We were up there working the Non-Dot race and saw quite a few bikers and hikers come up Mustard.
Despite the signage at the trailhead, hikers were still quite upset about the event. Oh well ...