Rod's Magical Mystery Tour:

Mini-Moab, The X-Games, & Diamond Mines

September 6, 2004

 

 

On this Labor Day Holiday, eight riders were treated by Doc Rod to a mountain bike ride filled with adventure and excitement!!!  All sorts of new areas were explored and enjoyed.  We met in the northwest Valley at the far west end of Roscoe Blvd. on a warm Monday morning to start our ride up towards Sage Ranch.   The single track was filled with short technical challenges over smooth rock sections in the desert terrain.  We had already had a good cardio workout by the time we reached the Sage Ranch area, when Rod showed us a detour off the main loop where we discovered a huge slickrock area that reminded us of Moab.   Actually, the main large rock we rode reminded me of the huge "Submarine Rock" in Sedona.

 

Posing on "Submarine Rock"

(from left: Our Leader Rod, GregA, Jamshyd, AaronA, AaronY, DavidS, & Mitch with Robco behind the lens)

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Jamshyd on Submarine Rock

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Aaron on Submarine Rock

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Mitch enjoying the view

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Riding off Submarine Rock

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There were other slickrock areas to ride.  Some individual shots.....

 

Greg powers up a slick rock section!

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Aaron maneuvers down some slick rock

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David finds his way down the rock

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Rob edges down the slick rock

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Rod riding slick rock (note the rope on his back....see part II for more)

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Finishing our slick rock riding in the Sage Ranch area we headed back down paved Woolsey Canyon Road.  After bidding adieu to Mitch who had to leave early, Rod took us to adventure #2:  The X-Games.

 

Upon leaving the pavement of Woolsey, Rod took us to the "extreme" area.  Greg had to leave us at this point while the rest of us followed Rod.  Wooden ramps and a dirt course with jumps had been set up by some "extreme" kids and we took on a few (the key word is few) of the challenges.  The first challenge was one that we older and wiser guys decided not to ride but rather to rappel ....thus the reason for the rope that Rod carried.

 

Lowering the bikes off a nearly vertical drop (kids ride this!?!)

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Lowering a bike -- View from above

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David and then Rod rappelling down the rock face

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Gathering up our bikes Rod took us on to other sections of wooden bridges, slick rock, and technical trail.

 

Rod riding a wooden bridge over a deep chasm

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On we rode, down dirt fire roads and rocky single track.  A few people don't like this ride because they say that there is too much trash littered about certain areas.  Although there is some litter that detracts from the desert surroundings, we chose to be positive and see only the beautiful desert terrain.   In fact, Jamshyd saw only diamonds glittering in the hot morning sun rather than broken glass.  I think he is planning an expedition to return with his pick axe to mine the precious stone....I am sure he would appreciate some volunteer help.

 

The ride was only a little over 10 miles but they were exciting, challenging miles and I think all look forward to a return to our new found Mini-Moab of the Valley!!

 

A stylized view of Jamshyd about to drop off the edge of a steep gorge

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Have a good return to the work week.

 

Robco Baggins

 

Ten and a half HOT Manly Mountain miles and 1500 feet of elevation gain.  Tripple digit temperatures and great company.  Stay tuned for an especially exiting ride report which will include the new sport of BIKE RAPPELLING!  This is no longer the "trash" ride :)

 

To see the Topo Map click below and then Topo maps 2nd half of 2004 and then Sage Ranch06Sep04

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/rodb12

 

Don't forget to check the RCY web site for new pictures and ride reports

http://home.pacbell.net/rodb/

Rod