Palm Canyon Epic

I know I have a few trips out to PC this winter planned....but I don't take big groups out there anymore.

 

Yeah. Our group of 7 was perfect last Wednesday. I think 10 is max for this ride.

 

I max out at 5 these days

 

You mean there is more than one of you?

 

Maybe ?

 

I like the small squad tactics too. More flow, less conga line.

 

Roll call. I know it is 2 weeks away but I would like to get a head count of who is in so far. I think there are a couple of you that I haven't met yet.

So far I have:
Me (Ed)
Luis
Todd
Cisco
Mike
Bob

If you don't see your name please add it and for those of you that are on the list already you please add your username.

 

Small groups is normally my philosophy too. But a couple years ago I got invited on what I thought would be a social, bookclubbing pace PCE ride. The guy who organized usually invites a pretty slow, large group. But this one turned out to be a full on enduro crew who went balls out. We did regroup but with over 30 riders finished faster than I ever have with a small group. Everyone was on the ball, and no mechanicals. Large groups don't necessarily mean slow if its a good group.

 

I keep on looking for a good reason not to go, and the only thing I can come up with is "6am JPL". I hate waking up @ 4:30.
I'll keep on looking........


I found one (possibly)....... Do I need a long travel bike for this trail?

 

I've done it on a 6" Heckler, 4" Tallboy and the SS.

The last 3 rides have been in the SS and I had a blast. My next ride out there will be on the SS.

Can be easily done on any FS rig.

 

I really, really, really need to jump on board one of these days. I cant believe that I still havent done this one yet.

 

It's not too late! There is still room.

 

Looking forward to this. Maybe try Hopalong Cassidy this trip?

 

Tempting...

 

trying to decide on this. still not quite sure if i can take the whole day, but that being said, I wonder if im in shape for a ride this long; havent been riding as much as I would like. I mean, im sure I can do it, heck i did 3400' of climbing today (lower and upper Holy jim) but it was a slow place with some breaks and HAB. And not all climbs are created equal. Just wouldnt wanna slow y'all down...

 

if you can climb up to Santiago peak.. then you can do Palm Epic. Just don't do it when it gets too hot, ie April!

 

I wish I could but Wednesdays will always be a no-go for me. I do have every other Tuesday and Friday free, though. And, most weekends.

 

Couple pics from Crazy Bear's ride yesterday.

 

Looks awesome. Unfortunately, turns out I won't have all day free on wed so I'm out.

 

Sorry dudes, I'm gonna have to bail on this one . Just couldn't justify getting the day off. Have a killer ride and hopefully I can make the next one!

 

Do we still have enough for the shuttle?
Xavier needs at least 5? Is that correct?

 

The ride is on.

 

OC contingent (@pdqmach26 aka Bob and me) will see you at the usual spot (east end) at Rimrock Shopping Center (Von's) ready to load up at 9am. Look for two old guys who look like they wanna tear some shît up

 

You guys are killing me! I will be out in Indio all day setting up for the fair.
Remember me as you look to the east off of Hahn's

 

Rossage, I'll go ahead and post this today...

 

JPL at 6. See the OC guys at Vons at 9. Also from those that have done it before any route suggestions once we get to the bottom of the wash?

 

Weather should be KILLER! Get some!

 

Yes. If you want something a little different than the normal Epic finish from Mike Dunn Oasis, there a couple of options I've done which are just as good in their own ways.

The new trail, Art Johnson, has the least climbing and ends up at Denny's in Cathedral City. It's pretty flowy with some steep and exposed sections near the end. Loved it.

Art Smith is also fantastic but has two stiff climbs en route. worth the price for the bobsled section and desert views and flowy bits. My friend snapped a der hanger on it; there is some careful line-drawing. (You do have a spare der hanger in your kit, eh?) Hop-Along trail heads off NE of AS; never done it but TTB says it's lots of up/down, some next to neighborhoods.

From MD Oasis you have the option to add Hahn Buena Vista trail (so worth it) and chug back up Dunn Rd back to the Oasis for your run down AJ or AS. If you feel gassed you can chill at the Oasis while the stubborn fcks do HBV.

For either of those routes, you'll want to have the shuttle drop at: AJ: Denny's in Cathedral City, AS: The AS TH on hwy 74 aka Palms to Pines Hwy. (Edited to add: Getting to Rimrock Center Vons from the bottom of AJ is not a huge deal; but from the bottom of AS it's a road haul you want to avoid.)

AJ is a safe bet because the bail-out down Dunn Rd into Cath City puts you close to Denny's (or ~3 mi from Rimrock Vons) – a long way from where the AS trails ends. And we've seen numerous crazy mechanicals out there, eh, Dio and bustedpedalMike?

 

Gotta pay to play baby!

 

Weather would be a little better with the Mikie effect added, but we'll achieve. : )