I thought I would get this started since I'm off today. It's a good thing too, since I'm suffering today from muscle fatigue in every muscle above the waist. I guess the legs are in good riding shape though, 'cause they don't hurt!
The day started with the 'crew members, old and new, meeting up at Micky D's right off of the 15 Frwy. at the 138. We had originally planned to stage right across the highway by the railroad overpasses, but the decision was made to head up to the Wilson Ranch road staging area on the Phelan side. This turned out to be an excellent choice, as Bundy brought the whole clan, and this afforded a great place for them to ride around while the big boys were out playing enduro racer. It was also much closer to the sand-hill, which is where we decided to start the days festivities.
Ah yes, the sand-hill. I love climbing it, but I usually have to put a skirt on when I'm coming down! (Woulda put on the tu-tu, but Elk wouldn't give it up!) Yep, back wheel locked, 2 fingers on the front brake, as slow as I can go, which is about 30 MPH on that sucker! Of course if your name is Kiwi or MXBundy you double that speed! Maybe if my bike had better suspension those whoops at the bottom wouldn't be quite as scary! :eek: Tree, let your 2 buds that made the long trek up from Cali del Sur know that I was very entertained by their efforts to descend the hill! Since I knew it was just a matter of time before I would take a soil sample myself, it was kind of them to break the ice! (Ha ha.)
Several of the crew decided to tackle the much more difficult hill on the opposite side of the canyon the famous sand-hill resides in. Tony (thumbs), you looked incredible on your new KTM, as did Scar, (that 300 suits you!), Bundy, (CR450F), Kiwi, (525 EXC), and any of you other guys that attempted that sucker. :worship:
There was one drag-race up the sandhill which resulted in a holeshotting Elk on his RM250 being passed near the top by the most experienced rider in the group, 89r'. Way to go Terry, you rock! The way you passed me on the trail several times so effortlessly was very humbling! :worship:
After some fun on the sandhill the group headed back to the truck for a top-off of fuel, then it was on to the enduro leg of our ride. Phelan has some great trails in the canyons that twist, turn, climb and descend through srub-oak, manzanita and pucker bushes so thick that one can easily get lost if he's separated from the group, so we tried to use the 'make sure the guy behind you see's the turn', rule whenever the trails branched off. This is great except when you're trying to stay up with the fast guys, and the 2 seconds you stop at an intersection to make sure the next guy in line takes the right trail is just enough time to lose contact! (This sounds like a good excuse to me, ha-ha!). I can't blame them though; once you get a rythym going in that stuff you don't want to stop! I think everyone made it through this time with their jerseys intact too! Even Scar! :laugh:
From the enduro trail it was a quick ride along the ridges, (what a view of the West Cajon Valley, eh guys!), back around the sand-hill, and then another tight twisty trail over to the Hilltopper restaurant for lunch. (Thanks Tony!)
After some great sandwhiches we headed back out toward the ridges and some new trails, some of which were 'Kiwi rated.' (A kiwi rated trail would probably be double diamond if it were signed!) Of course, some of this stuff that the Kiwibird considers a normal ride in the park is soil sample time for many of us mere mortals, and this is when I chose to do so.
Then there was the almost unclimbable single-track where Scar got stuck in front of me and proceeded to pelt me with rocks and sand! Thank-you for the dirt-shower Mr. Scar! :moon:
As we once again hit the main ridges my body announced to me that I was done. I had started fading toward the back at this point, and was able to convince Trees' 2 buddies that this was a good time to head back, so the 3 of us broke off from the group and headed back.
The main group came back about 20 minutes later. We bench-raced a little bit as we loaded up, and filtered out gradually one or two at a time.
All in all it was a great ride; we actually got Elk away from his truck for more than an hour, and I got to meet some great new people, and ride with some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.
BTW- I can remember being the only orange bike rider the first coulpe of DRN rides, (well, except desert racer when he had the 300), and on this ride the KTM contingent was very well represented! Kiwi, Tree; you guys have me lusting after one of those 525s'. The dark side is calling me!
Thanks to everyone that attended. We had 19 riders, and I know I'll never remember all your names so I'll just let y'all jump in here and sound off! Later!
The day started with the 'crew members, old and new, meeting up at Micky D's right off of the 15 Frwy. at the 138. We had originally planned to stage right across the highway by the railroad overpasses, but the decision was made to head up to the Wilson Ranch road staging area on the Phelan side. This turned out to be an excellent choice, as Bundy brought the whole clan, and this afforded a great place for them to ride around while the big boys were out playing enduro racer. It was also much closer to the sand-hill, which is where we decided to start the days festivities.
Ah yes, the sand-hill. I love climbing it, but I usually have to put a skirt on when I'm coming down! (Woulda put on the tu-tu, but Elk wouldn't give it up!) Yep, back wheel locked, 2 fingers on the front brake, as slow as I can go, which is about 30 MPH on that sucker! Of course if your name is Kiwi or MXBundy you double that speed! Maybe if my bike had better suspension those whoops at the bottom wouldn't be quite as scary! :eek: Tree, let your 2 buds that made the long trek up from Cali del Sur know that I was very entertained by their efforts to descend the hill! Since I knew it was just a matter of time before I would take a soil sample myself, it was kind of them to break the ice! (Ha ha.)
Several of the crew decided to tackle the much more difficult hill on the opposite side of the canyon the famous sand-hill resides in. Tony (thumbs), you looked incredible on your new KTM, as did Scar, (that 300 suits you!), Bundy, (CR450F), Kiwi, (525 EXC), and any of you other guys that attempted that sucker. :worship:
There was one drag-race up the sandhill which resulted in a holeshotting Elk on his RM250 being passed near the top by the most experienced rider in the group, 89r'. Way to go Terry, you rock! The way you passed me on the trail several times so effortlessly was very humbling! :worship:
After some fun on the sandhill the group headed back to the truck for a top-off of fuel, then it was on to the enduro leg of our ride. Phelan has some great trails in the canyons that twist, turn, climb and descend through srub-oak, manzanita and pucker bushes so thick that one can easily get lost if he's separated from the group, so we tried to use the 'make sure the guy behind you see's the turn', rule whenever the trails branched off. This is great except when you're trying to stay up with the fast guys, and the 2 seconds you stop at an intersection to make sure the next guy in line takes the right trail is just enough time to lose contact! (This sounds like a good excuse to me, ha-ha!). I can't blame them though; once you get a rythym going in that stuff you don't want to stop! I think everyone made it through this time with their jerseys intact too! Even Scar! :laugh:
From the enduro trail it was a quick ride along the ridges, (what a view of the West Cajon Valley, eh guys!), back around the sand-hill, and then another tight twisty trail over to the Hilltopper restaurant for lunch. (Thanks Tony!)
After some great sandwhiches we headed back out toward the ridges and some new trails, some of which were 'Kiwi rated.' (A kiwi rated trail would probably be double diamond if it were signed!) Of course, some of this stuff that the Kiwibird considers a normal ride in the park is soil sample time for many of us mere mortals, and this is when I chose to do so.
Then there was the almost unclimbable single-track where Scar got stuck in front of me and proceeded to pelt me with rocks and sand! Thank-you for the dirt-shower Mr. Scar! :moon:
As we once again hit the main ridges my body announced to me that I was done. I had started fading toward the back at this point, and was able to convince Trees' 2 buddies that this was a good time to head back, so the 3 of us broke off from the group and headed back.
The main group came back about 20 minutes later. We bench-raced a little bit as we loaded up, and filtered out gradually one or two at a time.
All in all it was a great ride; we actually got Elk away from his truck for more than an hour, and I got to meet some great new people, and ride with some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.
BTW- I can remember being the only orange bike rider the first coulpe of DRN rides, (well, except desert racer when he had the 300), and on this ride the KTM contingent was very well represented! Kiwi, Tree; you guys have me lusting after one of those 525s'. The dark side is calling me!
Thanks to everyone that attended. We had 19 riders, and I know I'll never remember all your names so I'll just let y'all jump in here and sound off! Later!
