New Ride - 12.15.06

Instead of a new Turner 5 Spot, decided to get a cyclo-cross bike. It's a 2006 Bianchi Cross Concept with a carbon fork, Scandium main triangle and carbon rear triangle. Components are Ultegra, Truvativ and Easton, the wheelset is Cane Creek. The 48/39 chainrings are perfect for the local hills and fireroads.

Backbone Trail, Malibu - 11.25.06

Rode out and back on Backbone from Corral Canyon to Zuma Ridge fireroad today. Single-track was in great condition as usual.




A fire blew through the area just north of the dirt parking area awhile ago as evidenced by the blackened trees.

Westridge Singletrack - 11.10.06

Helmet-cam footage shot by Mike McCarthy on Westridge singletrack in the Santa Monica mountains.

Castaic Lake MTB Race - 10.22.06

The State Finals, the last XC event of the season took place yesterday at Castaic Lake. The course was a 7 mile loop with four climbs, two of which were strenuous. Rear derailleur cable broke on the downhill single-track towards the end of the first lap resulting in use of the small cog only. A DNF ensued shortly thereafter. Miles podium'd for the second time in two races placing 5th out of 12 or so. Bastard.



Click here or on the Geoladders screen grab for an overview of the Castaic course.

Local Santa Monica MTB Trails - 10.20.06

Click here or on the Google Maps screen grab for a closer look at the Santa Monicas showing the general location for the Sullivan, Westridge, Farmers and Backbone (Will Rogers) rides. Zoom in on the verdant area west of the 405 to see detail on the fire roads and some of the single-track.

Sullivan Ridge Singletrack - 10.14.06

This helmet-cam movie chronicles a pretty standard mtb ride on the Sullivan Ridge and Squirrel Cage single-tracks in the local Santa Monica, CA mountains.

Fall Classic MTB Race - 10.08.06

Raced the Fall Classic XC event in Big Bear on Sunday. Course was 18 miles with the same downhill single-track to finish as the Shoot-Out in September. Despite numerous cervezas on Saturday, felt pretty strong and placed 3rd out of 14 riders.

Miles Helfrich raced in the 40-44 class and crushed everyone (except the requisite sandbagger) placing 2nd. His finishing time was 4+ minutes faster than mine. Ouch...

Cool sequence from the Fall Line single-track shot by Mike McCarthy.






Click here or on the Geoladders screen grab to see the Fall Classic course.

Big Bear Shoot Out MTB Race - 09.17.06

Click here for the Big Bear XC course map. Beginner class did a short single-track that cut down the overall mileage. Conflicting reports on the length of the course though. Some said 14 miles, others said 16 or 17 miles.

5th place out of 11.

Getting Better - 05.18.06

Stitches are out and the hand is healing. Still several weeks to go however...

Hand Injury - 05.03.06

On May 3, I fractured my little finger and dislocated my middle finger in a stupid mtb crash. The white thing is tendon. Out 6-8 weeks on doctor's orders.

Bonelli Park MTB Race - 04.23.06

Beginner 35-39 class. 6th place out of 21.

Santa Monica Mountains Night Ride - 03.15.06

A self-portrait taken on Dirt Mulholland at the Sullivan Ridge gate.

Park City, UT - 02.21.06

Hiked this hill for about 12 good powder turns. The grey blotches on the snow are from avalanche control.

Mammoth Powder Run - 01.16.06

This short helmet-cam movie (eventually) chronicles an epic powder run and header on Lincoln Mountain in Mammoth, CA.