Rimrock/Palisades Loop, West Spokane
03-31-09 | 01:03 AM
#1
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Rimrock/Palisades Loop, West Spokane
Just thought you guys might like a trip report from a ride I went on today.
For pictures head to https://www.flickr.com/photos/tannerg...7616066575583/
With a Monday off from a cancelled backpacking trip I needed to find a way to get out doors. Robin, Jameson and I took a trip to REI with the old Navara in order to upgrade my factory pedals to a clip in type platform. After tossing and turning I decided on the Shimano M324 SPD Pedals to accompany my Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek shoes.
Back at home with the family taking a nap the phone rang, it was REI and my bike was ready. After quickly throwing together a pack I was on my way.
It didn’t take long to get the run through on how the pedals worked, and I even picked up Allen wrench from an associate just in case my pedals needed a little adjustment. With bike now in the back of my truck I make quick work to the trailhead for the Rimrock/Palisades Loop described in “Mountain Biking Spokane and Coeur d’Alene” by Martin Potucek.
After giving the pedals a test run in the parking lot opposite the driving range at Indian Canyon Golf Course I picked up Indian Canyon Drive heading downhill out of the parking lot and in no time picked up Bonnie Road heading left over gravel. Bonnie Road is in good shape with just a few potholes filled with mud just incase you wanted to get dirty. A short way up the road I went right, onto unsigned Rimrock Drive. Now on Rimrock I passed what I assumed was a seasonal waterfall on my right as I contoured high along a bluff over looking Spokane’s west side. The going was good with more of the same muddy potholes. I eventually reached an intersection, and after looking for traffic crossed Greenwood Road regaining Rimrock Drive. Back along the bluff the views began to open up, northeast was Mount Spokane and all its unimposing glory. A look east offered fantastic views of Beacon Hill, downtown Spokane, Brown’s Mountain, the Dishman Hills, and in the far distance the Liberty Lake mountains including Mica Peak.
After a quick break for water I decided to try my knee warms considering it was late March and a bit chilly. Back on the dirt path I continued north and eventually went west as the road became Houston Road, still unpaved. Along the way I passed many wetlands, some worthy of a photo but I was having to good a time undulating at a moderate pace over the dirt track. Before long the pavement ended at Grove Road where I doubled back heading south toward the trailhead.
The pavement wasn’t as much fun as the dirt but at least with the new pedals I was able to make a lot more power covering the pavement in a short amount of time. After a little over a mile I went left onto Greenwood Road which eventually took me back to the intersection where I went right, back onto Rimrock Drive, and eventually the trailhead.
All in all the ride was spectacular, the clip in pedals were a success, wish I would have made the decision a long time ago. As for the knee warmers, not too impressed, but I will give them one more chance before I take them back. This was a great first ride for 2009, and looking forward to many more.
For pictures head to https://www.flickr.com/photos/tannerg...7616066575583/
With a Monday off from a cancelled backpacking trip I needed to find a way to get out doors. Robin, Jameson and I took a trip to REI with the old Navara in order to upgrade my factory pedals to a clip in type platform. After tossing and turning I decided on the Shimano M324 SPD Pedals to accompany my Pearl Izumi X-Alp Seek shoes.
Back at home with the family taking a nap the phone rang, it was REI and my bike was ready. After quickly throwing together a pack I was on my way.
It didn’t take long to get the run through on how the pedals worked, and I even picked up Allen wrench from an associate just in case my pedals needed a little adjustment. With bike now in the back of my truck I make quick work to the trailhead for the Rimrock/Palisades Loop described in “Mountain Biking Spokane and Coeur d’Alene” by Martin Potucek.
After giving the pedals a test run in the parking lot opposite the driving range at Indian Canyon Golf Course I picked up Indian Canyon Drive heading downhill out of the parking lot and in no time picked up Bonnie Road heading left over gravel. Bonnie Road is in good shape with just a few potholes filled with mud just incase you wanted to get dirty. A short way up the road I went right, onto unsigned Rimrock Drive. Now on Rimrock I passed what I assumed was a seasonal waterfall on my right as I contoured high along a bluff over looking Spokane’s west side. The going was good with more of the same muddy potholes. I eventually reached an intersection, and after looking for traffic crossed Greenwood Road regaining Rimrock Drive. Back along the bluff the views began to open up, northeast was Mount Spokane and all its unimposing glory. A look east offered fantastic views of Beacon Hill, downtown Spokane, Brown’s Mountain, the Dishman Hills, and in the far distance the Liberty Lake mountains including Mica Peak.
After a quick break for water I decided to try my knee warms considering it was late March and a bit chilly. Back on the dirt path I continued north and eventually went west as the road became Houston Road, still unpaved. Along the way I passed many wetlands, some worthy of a photo but I was having to good a time undulating at a moderate pace over the dirt track. Before long the pavement ended at Grove Road where I doubled back heading south toward the trailhead.
The pavement wasn’t as much fun as the dirt but at least with the new pedals I was able to make a lot more power covering the pavement in a short amount of time. After a little over a mile I went left onto Greenwood Road which eventually took me back to the intersection where I went right, back onto Rimrock Drive, and eventually the trailhead.
All in all the ride was spectacular, the clip in pedals were a success, wish I would have made the decision a long time ago. As for the knee warmers, not too impressed, but I will give them one more chance before I take them back. This was a great first ride for 2009, and looking forward to many more.
03-31-09 | 02:30 PM
#2
Creamy pack filling
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 710
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From: Nine Mile Falls, WA
Bikes: Trek 8000, Co-Motion tandem, Co-motion Espresso, Yeti Cross, 9Zero7 Fat Bike
Did you have a chance to check out any of the single track to see if it's dried out enough to ride? They have done a nice job in that area making it more friendly to trail users. This time of year it stays pretty wet back in the woods.
03-31-09 | 05:41 PM
#3
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I didnt venture back into the woods due to my lack of time available and the amount of standing water back there, very wet. There were several large pools, some big enough to spill over and cover Rimrock Drive. I would give it another month to dry out before going for it.
