Big John's (Doesn't Know it Yet) Beginner MTNBike Ride - 1/13 or 1/20
01-02-08, 10:38 PM
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Big John's (Doesn't Know it Yet) Beginner MTNBike Ride - 1/13 or 1/20
Big John is so sweet, I know he won't pound me for starting this thread - right, John??
But Herb and I, total beginner Mtnbike riders-to-be, thought it would be really fun to ask (beg, coerce) Big John into giving us a tour of the Reseda fire roads. We propose 1/13 or 1/20. The date will be decided when Big John gives in and tells us which day he will take us. Of course, his brunch/lunch will be bought for him!
The rest of you who decide to come, will be on your own, but I'll figure out a good grub spot near there. Let me know if you're interested.
DATE: 1/20
MEET: 8:00am
ROLL: 8:15ish
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS: take Reseda south of Ventura all the way to the top. The very top is a pay parking area, so we park below the white line, about a couple hundred yards below the top. There is a water fountain and porta-potty at the top, but no water on the ride, so bring enough for 3.5 hours
ROUTE/MILEAGE/ELEVATION: 18 miles with lots of climbing! But on a fire road.
POST RIDE EATS: TBD, but yummy
RAIN CANCELS!
HITTING THE DIRT:
Big John
Herb
Scootcore
Robncircus
merider1
Aquaterror (if feeling up to it)
Kar368 (maybe)
VC Rider (maybe)
But Herb and I, total beginner Mtnbike riders-to-be, thought it would be really fun to ask (beg, coerce) Big John into giving us a tour of the Reseda fire roads. We propose 1/13 or 1/20. The date will be decided when Big John gives in and tells us which day he will take us. Of course, his brunch/lunch will be bought for him!
The rest of you who decide to come, will be on your own, but I'll figure out a good grub spot near there. Let me know if you're interested.DATE: 1/20
MEET: 8:00am
ROLL: 8:15ish
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS: take Reseda south of Ventura all the way to the top. The very top is a pay parking area, so we park below the white line, about a couple hundred yards below the top. There is a water fountain and porta-potty at the top, but no water on the ride, so bring enough for 3.5 hours
ROUTE/MILEAGE/ELEVATION: 18 miles with lots of climbing! But on a fire road.
POST RIDE EATS: TBD, but yummy
RAIN CANCELS!
HITTING THE DIRT:
Big John
Herb
Scootcore
Robncircus
merider1
Aquaterror (if feeling up to it)
Kar368 (maybe)
VC Rider (maybe)
Last edited by merider1; 01-16-08 at 11:00 AM.
01-02-08, 11:03 PM
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I'm Just Sayin'.....
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easiest thing for folks that arent to confident would be to ride the length of dirt mulholland from one end to the other and back....all fire roads.....
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01-02-08, 11:12 PM
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Thanks Big John!!!
I'm in...if John doesnt care about the date...I vote for the 20th!
I'm in...if John doesnt care about the date...I vote for the 20th!
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01-03-08, 08:21 AM
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O.K., either date is fine, you pick it. If there's a lot of rain, best to wait a while,(several days), before going west from Reseda, which is what I had in mind. We could start at the top of Reseda and go to the Parker-Mesa overlook, above Pacific Pallisades. It's all fire road, and about 18 miles with a bunch of climbing. If it's raining the days before, that route has too much clay, I'll pick another.
01-03-08, 08:59 AM
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O.K., either date is fine, you pick it. If there's a lot of rain, best to wait a while,(several days), before going west from Reseda, which is what I had in mind. We could start at the top of Reseda and go to the Parker-Mesa overlook, above Pacific Pallisades. It's all fire road, and about 18 miles with a bunch of climbing. If it's raining the days before, that route has too much clay, I'll pick another.
You're the best! And since there is a bunch of climbing (love to hear it), let's aim for Sunday, 1/20. On 1/12 is the charity ride with a bunch of climbing, so it might be best to not get ahead of ourselves (myslef, that is
).Your lunch is on me!!!!
Last edited by merider1; 01-04-08 at 12:23 PM.
01-03-08, 09:01 AM
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By the way, Bill, you in for the 20th?
01-03-08, 09:02 AM
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NO one is allowed to do that. But, yes, it is far. Sorry.
01-03-08, 09:51 AM
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Unless of course I can go also!
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01-03-08, 10:10 AM
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01-03-08, 10:59 AM
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You can go, and I WISH Tracy was closer and could join too! I'll keep you posted on the day I plan to go. I don't want to ever mtnbike alone anyway, as I believe that can be dangerous.
01-03-08, 11:26 AM
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youll soon see that when mtb'ing in the santa monicas you are never alone!
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01-03-08, 11:30 AM
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01-03-08, 11:46 AM
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No you should never be alone up there...
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01-03-08, 03:06 PM
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That area of the santa monicas is pretty tame. Most wildlife you will see is a bobcat or two. It's also pretty hard to get lost too. Only real danger riding alone is if you go down and bust a leg or something but going down on a mt bike would be pretty difficult on just the fire roads.
01-03-08, 03:09 PM
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01-03-08, 03:23 PM
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got the climbing bug
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its just dirt, don't be scared ME
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01-03-08, 03:26 PM
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That area of the santa monicas is pretty tame. Most wildlife you will see is a bobcat or two. It's also pretty hard to get lost too. Only real danger riding alone is if you go down and bust a leg or something but going down on a mt bike would be pretty difficult on just the fire roads.
Coming down Telegraph from 4 corners in Carbon cyn...just before the water crossing I dumped at 15mph...
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01-03-08, 04:11 PM
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01-03-08, 04:59 PM
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01-03-08, 05:04 PM
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01-03-08, 05:46 PM
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no...I don't know. I thought that was a hybrid. Oh, wait. Is cyclecross that thing where you ride and then run up a hill? I think Joy was telling John and me about that last Saturday. Sure. You can bring your cyclecross and run up and down a hill too. I'm not joining you on the running part, but I have no problem with you doing it.
01-03-08, 05:49 PM
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I'd rather fall on the dirt then on the road
Most beginner crashes on a MTB are done under 5mph in a turn, mostly from freaking out and hitting the brakes and the bike goes in a direction not wanted. Just ride with platform pedals so you don't have to worry about clipping in and out in a heatbeat. That way you can dab you foot if needed to prevent these types of falls. When going down hill, lean back a lil and use 80% rear brake and 10% front brake. What I do is two fingers on the rear brake lever and one finger on the front lever, this is so I dont' overpower/overgrab the front brakes.
I wish I can go ride with you on the dirt but my gas money is going on the charity ride the day before. Plus I have to do a tune up on my MTBs before i can play on them again.
Most beginner crashes on a MTB are done under 5mph in a turn, mostly from freaking out and hitting the brakes and the bike goes in a direction not wanted. Just ride with platform pedals so you don't have to worry about clipping in and out in a heatbeat. That way you can dab you foot if needed to prevent these types of falls. When going down hill, lean back a lil and use 80% rear brake and 10% front brake. What I do is two fingers on the rear brake lever and one finger on the front lever, this is so I dont' overpower/overgrab the front brakes.I wish I can go ride with you on the dirt but my gas money is going on the charity ride the day before. Plus I have to do a tune up on my MTBs before i can play on them again.
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Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.