Southern California - MTB Ride @ los penasquitos tunnels 8/9

Time for more jedi training in the tunnels of PQ canyons. Ride is pretty mellow paced til we get to the tunnels. One good hill to the get to the top of the canyon to the tunnels. Plan is to do multiple times through the tunnels, I think there are 3 or 4 different extrences. Each trip through last about 10 minutes or so, middle chain ring stuff. Pretty technical but slow speed, not like rock garden techincal but slolom course between small tree techincal. VERY VERY fun stuff.

Total miles will be in the 15-17 mile range pending how many trips we go through the tunnels:thumb:

Meet at about 7 or 8am before it gets hot and humid.

Time for more jedi training in the tunnels of PQ canyons. Ride is pretty mellow paced til we get to the tunnels. One good hill to the get to the top of the canyon to the tunnels. Plan is to do multiple times through the tunnels, I think there are 3 or 4 different extrences. Each trip through last about 10 minutes or so, middle chain ring stuff. Pretty technical but slow speed, not like rock garden techincal but slolom course between small tree techincal. VERY VERY fun stuff.

Total miles will be in the 15-17 mile range pending how many trips we go through the tunnels:thumb:

Meet at about 7 or 8am before it gets hot and humid.

Jason this sounds interesting... please post photos. Might be something to explore when the weather gets cooler (and i have all day!)

Where exactly is this?

In San Diego near Mira Mesa
Right off Black Mt Road, between the 56 and Mira Mesa Blvd, there are some softball fields there, the parking for the trail is behind the farmost field from the road.
http://www.mountainbikebill.com/LosPenDelMar.htm


here's a video someone took of there. My friends call it jedi training because your entire body has to move it's way around, below, between the tree branches. Some of the sections are off camber while doing this as well. Very fun stuff, unlike anything I've riden in Socal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfeK8bpVoTw

OK that video was annoying!!! :lol:

Reminds me alittle bit of doing Ladera Ranch up to O'Neill Park. Same source of terrain.

yah that guy doesnt have a good camera, needs stablizing mode or something. There used to be more covering but some of the horse riders are jealous and cutting the trees up. Endangered trees none the less to try to stick their horse down there. If I ever see a horse down there I'm gonna go AWOL on the owner conisdering most MTB riders have to duck every 10 seconds to clear trees, I don't even want to think of what gonna happen going through there and coming up on a horse. There won't be anyplace for the biker or the horse owner to detour around each other. Someone is gonna get bucked or kicked.

Got to say horses scare me. I tend to watch for them and give them all the room they want. Was riding down from Robber's Roost (Santiago Oaks) and came upon a horse and rider. I stopped thinking I would allow the horse to get down and away before I finished. I made plenty of noise and the rider knew I was there. All of a sudden the horse freaked (I wasn't even close!!!) and threw the rider, over the trail down the hillside and now it's me and crazy horse who had now turned and was facing me. I was afraid he would bolt back up the hill. While trying to decide if I needed to bail over the trail, the horse turned and bolted back down and on down the trail... poor rider. She was bruised and sans horse. I decided to go in the opposite direction. I pray the horse and rider were reunited. :(

yah there's always one crazy horse in the group and if Solo that's even worse because he/she has no lead to follow them out.

the tunnels are great fun, lots of low branches and tight squeezes to get caught up in

B

Is it 7AM or 8AM?
Single Speed Cyclocross or MTB Hardtail?

whatever works best, another friend might come so I'll know the time tomorrow. But most likely 8

Great video. I ride Penasquitos all the time and I have never seen these trails. Please fill me in. Now that the Del Mar Mesa is closed I need some new routes. Are the tunnels on the east end of the canyon?

This is the route I usually take: http://www.whereweride.com/mountain-bike/california/san-diego/los-penasquitos/Default.aspx

I never parked on that side, always on Black Mt Side at the softball fields. I can't explain really where the trails are but I know how to get there. Its kinda up there by the power line trail.

Dang,
I have to work tomorrow...
Maybe next time.

You guys have fun. I lack the skills, otherwise I'd join.

dave come give it a try, it's fun!! the only tech parts are in the tunnel and mostly balance.

ok at 7am we're meeting rolling like 7:15 meeting at the softball field off Black Mt Road not the sorrento side

Early time. I'm a maybe.

look for my cooper miata

fun ride, went down on the 2nd trip through the tunnels. I lost focus for a second, looking at a cut stump in the middle of the turn, looked back at my front wheel as it was drifting to the right and caught the base of a tree that was leaning off the trail. Was instantly over the bars and on the floor. My head landed about 6" from that stump, I had my hands around the stump in case I landed over it. My shin took the big hit on the tree, it's busted up pretty good and now swolen a bit under my knee. Looks like I might have a bruse there tomorrow. All fun, just hurts when I push hard on the pedals.

Thanks for riding! I actually rode to LPQ from my house for the first time ever. MTB is slow on the road.