Today's Ride

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Yeah, tarps aren't the best solution. When this area slid out 7-9 years ago it was like an almost vertical chute where the bridge area is. When you look over the side, the supports go down at least 40-50 feet and the hill continues to drop about 2-300 feet more at that angle. Today-Wednesday-Had to get out today before the next 4-6 days of off and on rainstorms. A short but extra steep way up 800' to the West of town. About 56 F. and overcast today...

 

[The History Man]

Only getting out at weekends at present. Went off piste this morning. Up into the low mist and ancient woodland........

Accompanied by the gaze of a mythical creature, trapped in the decaying hulk of a long fallen oak.



A hulk of a different kind. Can you tell what it is? The Chassis rail is almost bent double at the top.



This is the remains of a defensive ditch that surrounded an allegedly Bronze Age hill fort The bike is on the raised entrance. 90% of the ditch remains. I love this spot and walk the dogs up here every Sunday morning. Pic is taken at the '3 o'clock' entrance point looking south.





The woodland has been extensively managed, not always to the benefit of the wildlife population. The small pine plantations appear lifeless and are eerily quiet in comparison to the mixed planting around them.

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Today-Monday- It's been raining pretty much every day for the last 5 days, so hunkering down inside for a few more days. Gary Fisher dropped by today, dressed to the nines as he always is these days...

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Today-Tuesday-It finally stopped raining long enough to get out on a climb up to Tamarancho this afternoon. The flood siren went off downtown this morning at 7 AM because the creek downtown was flooding over it's banks, but it went down pretty quickly to below flood stage. On the ride up the hill, it seems there was a gushing stream about every 50 yards or so-but it's great to be out on the bike again...

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Today-Friday-After 2 more days of heavy rain, the sun came out and it warmed up to about 64 F. ( 14 C. ), leaving no excuses to not ride. Up about 800' to the West today...

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Today-Saturday- A California winter day, 70 F. and beautiful out! We rode up White's Hill to the west of town, then back along an old patchwork of trails and fire road. Along the way we came to a spot where a really big tree had become uprooted and fell on the fire road- I put up a pic. January 13. They cut away most of the tree that was on the fire road, but it's still alive, even though you can look up and see the roots sticking out...

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Had to try out the single speed set up today, so I togged up, and braved the elements.

IMG_0852 by Michael Murray, on Flickr

Up the first drag, the 32x16 seemed ok, then along a wide very mucky section, before my favourite local rooty singletrack,

IMG_0854 by Michael Murray, on Flickr

Amazed me that the chain didn't come off! Then down this fast tarmac/gravel track,

IMG_0855 by Michael Murray, on Flickr

I'd forgot about the dirt track it leads into ! :shock: Got very splattered there :roll:

Before a short climb out of the mud,

IMG_0858 by Michael Murray, on Flickr

And home, for a bit of a clean up!

IMG_0860 by Michael Murray, on Flickr

Mike

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Yeah, a bit of a cleanup for sure. You ride a pretty big gear on that single speed-is it relatively flat where you live, Mike? Around here I use a 22-34 bottom gear to get up the steepest bits, which we have in abundance! Today-Sunday-We rode into a nearby valley called Sleepy Hollow. Half way in we took a right and rode up a super steep hill to the lower ridge top. then we continued climbing along the ridge until we got tired and descended back down-really beautiful again today, in the high 60's F. and sunny...

 

[FairfaxPat]

Re:

Today-Monday-another sunny day, 64 F. I rode up Iron Springs Road to Tamarancho today, and just like on Eldridge Grade last month, in one spot up high, the road is cracking, undermined, and slipping away. Was really nice to be out spinning the cranks, though. We are supposed to get another round of 3-4 days of rain starting Thursday, so every day 'til then is a ride day...

 

[k-rod]

Re: Re:

We are supposed to get another round of 3-4 days of rain starting Thursday, so every day 'til then is a ride day...

Poor Oroville - 4 days of rain doesn't bode well for their situation ...