#mixedterrain

[youcantbuyland]

#Repost @overlandbasecamp ・・・ Bike date. Stay up all night with your honey on Dusk to Dawn. #d2dride #getoutandride #getoutside #dirttrails #pedaldamnit #ridelationship #mixedterrain #bike #baaw

[ericgarr]

#mixedterrain (at Stow, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGxjwO9F7-xcJr0Jns5ckuN3iM2L5Os63BWiAY0/?igshid=1ft1mp1gbq5ie

[bikejoel]

MBOSC’s First Ever “Old Growth Classic” Mixed Terrain Race, Part 5: The After! • 8/25/18

After arriving back at the campground in Little Basin I snagged a quick shower and made my way over to the expo for beer, post-beer cocktails, the awards.

Paul won an award for having the most number of flats. Well, he and another guy had two flats apiece, so the MC decided that since the prize was a tire pump that they should pump out some pushups in a contest to see who got the prize. As former military, I think Paul had the edge, and he was attempting to psych out the other guy by wearing a full pack and doing ‘decline’ pushups (with his feet up on a box.) Showoff! Luckily the MC put a stop to the madness after about 20 minutes and awarded them both prizes.

Simone, of The Next Ride mountain bike group I ride with, won her age group outright, so no push ups required :-)

Around about 7:00pm we were having dinner and there was an announcement that the last rider of the day was coming in, so please come over and make some noise. We did, and were tickled to discover that it was our campground mate Deepa(!) It was her first gravel event and she gutted it out to ride the whole thing. Congrats, Deepa! And, nice champagne chug at the finish as well:

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1799457927

[bikejoel]

MBOSC’s First Ever “Old Growth Classic” Mixed Terrain Race, Part 2: The Start! • 8/25/18

When you see Mark Davidson's smiling face first thing in the AM, you know it'll be a good day! Plus, he pointed me towards the Verve truck for coffee. Dan was already in line waiting for a cappuccino, but I opted for a drip so I could get to breakfast more quickly. After downing a pretty decent breakfast burrito, we made our way to the Meadow where people were assembling for the start. 

Since we weren’t racing in a competitive way, we staged pretty much at the end, or as some like to say, in ‘the party at the back.’ (Kinda like a mullet.) We did some pre-race limbering up moves. There were some announcements we couldn’t hear, and then we were off!

The first mile and a half is a paved climb up and out of the campground, then a brief descent before another 4-1/4 miles of climbing, this time on dirt. That first descent was where I realized that there must’ve been some air in the rear brake’s hydraulic line; it worked ok on flat ground, but, dang, not so good when facing downhill! Continued...

[bikejoel]

Gravelish: 100K Mixed Terrain • 3/9/18

Riding in the Grasshopper Adventure Series’ “Old Caz” mixed-terrain ride last year, and then this ride, or the idea of this ride, is what sparked my desire to get a gravelly bike. I did the first half of this ride a year ago on my road bike. Made it to Mori Ridge Trail atop Sweeney Ridge, and started to follow it down towards Pacifica when I reached my  limit on that bike: It got too steep and loose for me to want to continue, so I turned around and went back the way I’d come. I didn’t want to have to turn around...

Today’s Mixed Terrain Loop was mostly paved, but went up some dirt through Waterdog Lake Park, then took Sawyer Camp Trail along Crystal Springs to Sweeney Ridge, down Mori Ridge Trail dirt to Pacifica, south along Hwy 1, with a trip through Devil's Slide Trail, a bit more of Hwy 1 south, then the California Coastal Trail along the coast by Half Moon Bay. Headed back up Higgins Purisima Road, and then on dirt through Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP. North again on Skyline, and east down Hwy 92 to Cañada Road, up Sheep Camp and back down Water Dog.

Many Rough-skinned Newts were encountered in Purisima on the bottom third of the creek trail climb, and many croaking frogs were heard along Sheep Camp.

It was an awesome day out. Lots of clouds and fog along the coast made for some dramatic views, and kept me cool.

Today the 42c tires were probably over kill for 99% of the route, especially given how much pavement was included, and how non-technical the dirt and gravel was.

Some more pix: Here’s the mouth of the new-ish tunnels that let Hwy 1 bypass Devil’s Slide:

The views of the coast faded in and out with the fog while heading south on Hwy 1:

Bright and gloomy at the same time on the California Coastal Trail in Half Moon Bay:

Heading back up the hill:

Purisima Creek:

Rough-skinned Newt. There were LOTS of them!

And, of course, it wouldn’t be Purisima without the banana slugs:

62 miles (if the Garmin hadn’t quit for a bit on the coast), 6122 feet Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1444764311/overview

[bikejoel]

Mixed Ride: Trying to keep it flat and casual • 8/25/17

Trying to take it easy in advance of this coming weekend’s Mt Tam Dirt Fondo epic adventure on dirt. So, elected to do a flat solo southern expedition. Well, solo except for some time with Paula in the middle for Steven’s Creek Trail and some southern Bay Trail. And, lunch at Dave's favorite place!

58 miles, 1900 feet Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1152034083

[bikejoel]

Gravelish: Solo Bay Trail Breathing Test & Shorebird Census • 2/23/17

When given the choice, even my road bike picks the unpaved option. 👍 Getting out for the first time after being home sick in bed, wanted to ride something flat. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be interesting.

After a week flat on my back with a cold, had to air out my lungs. With: 2 big ass jackrabbits, one deceased, 1 great blue heron, 2 egrets, and one very pleased turkey vulture (see: second jackrabbit.)

14.4 miles, 135 feet Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1422576440

[bikejoel]

Gravelish: The Above Category Cycles' Officially Serious Bicycle Ride • 1/21/18

Or at least the first third, before I was distracted by the prospect of brats and beer at Gestalt Haus in Fairfax. You can bring your bike in and hang it on the wall while you imbibe.Who could resist that? It was all Kevin's fault for suggesting it, and Paul for agreeing so readily. And Mark and Chick, of course. Couldn't continue on all by myself, so brats and beer it was. :-)

>>>>>>>

Key learnings today: 1) Definitely want lower gearing for the steep, sustained climbs. Need a front chainring smaller than the 42t on there now. 2) Definitely need the bars to be further up & back for steep descents, so need a shorter, taller stem. 3) Ideally I can find a dropper seatpost to help with that last bit.

37 miles, 3760 feet Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1369094884

•••