Sage Ranch

08-07-05

 

It was a warm and humid Sunday that saw an adventurous group of RCYers head off towards Sage Ranch from the west end of Roscoe Blvd.  We started off with only 5 riders--AaronA, DavidR, Matthew, a rare appearance by Nelson, and Robco--but as we climbed the pavement we were joined by Rod and Ali.  Eventually we added an eighth rider when Mario caught up with us at Woolsey Canyon Road.

 

The ride on the rocky singletrack trails were challenging as always.  But slickrock and loose, sandy areas created some dangerous situations that led to some minor scrapes and falls.

 

Aaron and David display some of their war wounds.

Aaron went down hard on slick rock when his tires slipped on a sandy section.

David, still smilin', bunny-hopped a rut but landed in some loose soil.

 

 

But then again, they were more fortunate than this unlucky rabbit on Woolsey Canyon Road

 

At the top of Woolsey we headed for Sage Ranch where an obliging solo mountain biker took a group photo of us.

 

From the left: Nelson, Aaron, Rob, David, Mario, Rod, Matthew, and Ali

 

After a quick ride around the fun singletrack loop of Sage Ranch, we headed back down Woolsey to the maze of singletrack trails that we originally climbed.  We came upon the spot that we have been lately belaying our bikes and bodies down using a rope provided by Rod.  But, alas, the rope was gone.  But being the adventurer that he is, Rod urged us to accomplish the task without rope.  Thus we handed down bikes and climbed down the steep rock face sans rope.

 

Matthew lowers my bike (oh so carefully) to Rod

 

Mario (dressed appropriately) and Nelson climb down the steep rock face with cleated bike shoes

....not the best climbing gear.

   

 

We all made it down the rock face safely and continued on our way down the maze of rocky and rutted trails for a gloriously fun and challenging ride.  We got separated during this final phase of the ride, but all of us finished the ride by finding chain link barriers that we either went over or under in order to get back to our cars.  Matthew and David then went to a local eatery at ride's end but the rest of us had to head for home for the usual Sunday chores.  Such as Doc Rod's having to perform surgery on a 350 pound woman who had broken her femur....just another common chore for a warm August Sunday.

 

Rod making one of several

 phone calls regarding his patient

....oh, the life of a doctor

 

And, as long as this report was about a mountain bike RIDE, I may as well include a photo of one of us RIDING.....

 

Aaron on a section of singletrack near ride's end

 

Have a great week.

 

Robco Baggins