Mr. Beanz

Just another ride with some forum members. Got pretty warm compared to the cool weather have had the last few weeks. Pretty scary day as the motorcyle groups were flying down the mtn taking both lanes. At one point, I thought they were going to take out a couple of riders that were with us! There was a few guys with cameras on the side ofthe road so I'm thinking they were showing off for the pics while their buddies clicked away. Chopper flies overhead, motorcycle cops ride by, then the mess is cleared up!

Nice day and everything went well. Gypz almost had a little mishap on the descent (in the video but he managed to show off his MTB skills and saved it! 5,000 ft of clmbing with Hillbasher, Gypz and JustMe, 43 miles.



Pictures from Hillbasher's camera
I'm on the left, JustME on the right




Gypz


First couple of miles

BigUgly

How fast were you guys descending? I like that you passed a motocycle and almost the truck at the end. The guy in the front at the end almost had a head on with that car that swerved over onto the shoulder. Glad no one was hurt but that is a bit nuts to be that close to the yellow line on blind curves like that. I like the snow covered mountains in the background which again make the climb worth it. Thanks for sharing the pics and the video. We are snowed in again here in the Northeast and seeing folks cycling in shorts in the warm weather is only adding to the cabin fever.

ShawnP

Insane decent man, made my backside pucker watching that. Looked like a great time though.

Shawn

Mr. Beanz

I agree with your thoughts on descending safety but every rider has theirown style. mine is to stay on my side a all times. If you watch the angle from the cam, you will notice I stay on my side of the road. I've encoutered to many expected vehicles descending that road so best thing is always be where you are supposed to be, IMO. IF I mention it to the others, they throw tomatoes at me!

As far as traffic, bikes can handle the switchbacks better than the cars. Most will pull over and let you by. In the turns we are doing 30'ish, my max speed was 43 mph. I'm sure that was on the only short straight section of about 1/2 mile. The dude on the motorcycle only let us by cause he had his little girl on the back. Either he was sightseeing or just being cautious with his baby or we wouldn't have caught him. The truck did pull over for us, I always give them a friendly thanky you wave!

Mr. Beanz

Oh dude! Talk about backside pucker, the melting snow made for a pretty wet ride for nearly 4 miles near Baldy Village. The rooster tail to crack factor was not all that much fun!

funrover 

Man that downhill looks sweet!

Herbie53

oddly, I disagree. The downhill looks ok, but I think climbing looks like the thing!!! I'm sick though.

Mr. Beanz

It's funny, I agree with Herbie. I only do the DH cause I have to or I aint getting home. I like the climbing. It's almost as if the ride and fun is over when I get to the top.

Mr. Beanz

Bummer! I did an 8 minute video, 5:50 of climbing and 2:13 of descneding to Stairway to Heaven but outube would not allow the music and would have disabled the sound hwne I uploaded the vid.

I started doing a 20 second load test on youtube before taking 40 minutes to load a video that would be disabled on youtube.

It would have been cool, video matched the tempo of the song.

knzn

I got a slow leak in my front tire on a ride this past November. I didn't know it was going down until I leaned to turn into my driveway (of all places), and down I went. The thought of going down a Mt. like that and loosing air in the front kind of scares me!

But like I said, this is a kansans perspective!

Great Video by the way!

Mr. Beanz

Thanks!......I do check my tires before a donwhill. In this case we take a break at the top, I will check for thorns, glass etc adn make sure tires aren't lsow leaking. Can't afford not to check on a downhill like this. IMO anyways, others may not take their safety as serioulsy as I do my own!

Even on the flat rails, every so often, I will apply pressure to the handlebars trying to feel if the front tire has gone soft. I also look across at my wife's tires to make sure they don't look low. Just as in your case, every so often, one does get taken by surprise but I do my best!

baron von trail 

Shorts!!! Tans!! T-Shirts!

Man, Beanz, you guys in Cali are sooo lucky. I am very jealous.

Can you blame me?

Mr. Beanz

I can't say that I do!