RCY RIDE REPORT
Hidden Meadow Trail
A Sunday Swim
6-25-06
 
 
I thought that I was going to be mountain biking on Sunday.  Instead it was more of a swim.  With high temperatures and even higher humidity we spent much of the ride swimming in hot water--our sweat.  Perspiration dripping from our brows, salt burning our eyes.  Wet, glistening arms and legs.  When we climbed Albertson Fireroad, rather than pedaling up a hill, it was more like a swim up a hot river.  But let me return to the cooler beginning.
 
A small but determined group of riders showed up at the Lindero-Kanan Roads start point.  Matthew, Mitch, Reuben and Robco began the pedal up to the Hidden Meadow Trailhead, meeting Andy along the way.  Thus 5 of us enjoyed the great singletrack trail, the heat and humidity only giving us a hint of what was to come.
 
Andy at one of the last switchback turns near the Lang Ranch end of the Hidden Meadow Trail
 
Reuben focused at the same turn
 
Matthew smiles after successfully negotiating the turn
 
Mitch is all smiles after riding this trail for the first time
 
Some Purple Sage with Lang Ranch in the background
 
Upon reaching the pavement at Lang Ranch, we pedaled on over to the dirt of Albertson Fireroad.  It was during this long 3-4 mile climb that the previously mentioned heat and humidity really did its number on us.  My fingers are beginning to sweat all over the keyboard just thinking about it.  At the top of the climb we regrouped to dry off the outsides of our bodies, hydrate the insides, eat apples, and discuss where we would ride next.  We finally compromised on going down Palo Comado, with a short detour down Bones Trail, and finally over to Doubletree for a pavement ride back to the start point.  Surprisingly, not long after our hot swim up Albertson, the weather took a turn for the better as the temperatures cooled and the humidity lowered to make the remainder of the ride less taxing.
 
Having just endured an endo, a dusty and slightly-bloodied Andy rides down a section of the rutted Bones Singletrack
 
While Andy and Mitch had to head for their respective homes, Reuben, Matthew and I ate chicken and chatted at the local El Pollo Loco before we, too, returned to our air-conditioned domiciles.
 
Have a great and hopefully cooler week.
 
Robco Baggins
 

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