|   I went on a solo night ride up at Henry Coe last night. | Fast Eddy
Jun 4, 2003 3:17 PM | |
Either that big hill that Coit Road climbs is getting smaller, or I'm getting stronger. I rode all the way to the top without stopping or dropping into granny ring! I didn't bring my camera, but I rode a familiar loop, where there are lots of memories.
I started out at the golden hour. If you know what that is, you probably take good pictures. It was pretty driving out there. As soon as I got out of the car I realized I might have seen the last of the sun. It was about 7:15, and the climb is about 1700'. I didn't know what time sunset would arrive.
I took the hardtail instead of the SS because I've got a new drivetrain and wider risers, xtr shifters and read derailler stolen from my Superlight, and some new mutanoraptors. TimL and I are riding Auburn and Downieville tomorrow and Friday, and I'm scared "like leetle girl" of SSing up Downieville, so I'm breaking out the gearie. If it's easy, I'll ride the SS at the gathering. The hardtail was dressed just the same as it was one night last October when Uncle Brian and I rode Demo Forest.
Anyhow, I rode up past the place where we saw this guy on our 57 mile ride last August. I could hear him or one of his buddies grunting around just off the trail. Somewhat unnerving.
I did finally climb back into the disappearing daylight. I stopped exactly in the spot where PaulJ got this flat, at the end of that 57 miler,
to bid farewell to a fine day. A little further up, I passed the spot where we played with this big 'ol spider earlier that day in August.
At the top, I stopped near this platform for an apple, and to wait until it got really dark for the DH.
I dropped down to granny to climb the singletrack across Coit Rd from this place. It's the first time I've been in granny gear in many months. Damn, that gear's way down there! It was kinda fun!
It was still lighter than I wanted it to be for the downhill, so I rode around and up the first part of the Jackson doubletrack. There's a pig trap there, and I deprived the rangers from a capture by scaring the big black piggy out of the trap. He was eating the bait, but apparently hadn't ventured far enough in to spring the trap, so he got away. In the distance, I could see the fog rolling over the hill from Watsonville into Gilroy. It was from here that I saw the first stars.
I would have harvested some photos from a ride I and my brother-in-law did out there in April of '01, but Francis hasn't put the old passion posts back online. RRrrrg!
Domino Pond trail was very overgrown. The grass was 30" high in most places, and made it pretty hard to see the trail with my light bouncing off of it. This little gully was totally overgrown, as opposed to nicely groomed from this nightride BV and I did in February '02.
This is the same creek crossing.
And I thought of these photos a little further down Grapevine Spring Trail when I crossed this little creek.
I don't have any photos from lower down the hill than this. There is a pretty nice little rock garden, and a couple more miles of nice singletrack. I heard a couple thousand of these guys,
but I didn't see any.
On the climb up Anza, I lost my balance trying to granny up a little steep, and I stalled out. When I put my right foot down into the grass to stop my fall, there was no ground. I went over the edge into the darkness with my bike still clipped onto my left foot. It was pretty funny, and the fall wasn't far, but in retrospect, it could've been much further down if it had happened on a different part of the trail.
Just the junction with Jackson Trail, Anza has a smooth, fast downhill. I had plenty of battery left, so I cranked the light up to 35w and pedaled. I thought I could see fine until the tree that had fallen across the trail. There was a reroute, and I halfway made it in a giant skid of dust. It was pretty hairy.
The whole thing was about 2.5 hours, and well worth the investment. Now that it's going to be too hot to ride up there during the day, I think I'll spend some more nights up there during the summer.
If you read this far, you're invited to climb up D'ville with us on Friday morning. |
| Sounds like some fun ridin'... | UncleMTB
Jun 4, 2003 3:41 PM | | ...My friday just got cancelled, unit start-up finally.
Next week it's Sierra Foothills.
Hope to get some elevation Monday, Weds, and Thurs.
Tuesday at Hogan(I will be at my Brothers house in Valley Springs)
E-me if you want to do some of them.
Tim |
| Yes, it was very good. | Fast Eddy
Jun 4, 2003 11:06 PM | |
Got lights? You could make yourself a set like mine for under $100. GS. Boggs is open at night, right?
After scoring a night away for Auburn/D'ville, I'll have to stick closer to home than Hogan next week. I might be able to ride Monday around here, and more likely on Thursday if you want to make a pass by here. You haven't been to south Coe yet. Lotsa dirt out there. |
| Lions and Tigers and Bears@ Boggs... | UncleMTB
Jun 5, 2003 8:57 AM | | ...I have a Lite setup in mind, it's the actually riding at nite that I have to gear up for...but it's on the goal list.
I'll keep South Coe in mind for Thurs.
It seemed to me there was a lot more to it then China Hole...
Back to the Grind...
Tim |
| wimp | pfunk
Jun 4, 2003 3:51 PM | | look at all those gears! j/k
Looks like you had nice ride. I'm bummed I didn't get up there before it got hot. We should ride again soon. Then again, the Downieville gathering is coming up pretty soon. Can't wait.
That's one heck of a spider! |
| This one's even bigger! | Fast Eddy
Jun 4, 2003 4:28 PM | |
We saw this one around sunset the same day.
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| We need to repeat the Henry Coe Night ride before I leave. | Biking Viking
Jun 4, 2003 3:59 PM | | Unfortunately, when I finally get time to do that (after 6/16) I'm carless. Maybe we can do it on a weekday - and I can take the train down, then figure out a way to get back afterwards. I'll look into possible arrangements and e-mail you.
Geir |
| We could get Uncle Brian to come, and drive you back. nm | Fast Eddy
Jun 4, 2003 4:26 PM | | |
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