Predator Sunday Ride Journal 3/11/12

On Sunday March 11th our Teammate Kieron Menzies took us on a wild adventure in the Santa Monica Mountains. The ride wasn't very long but it was hard and very fun. Forty miles of over 3000' of elevation on paved and dirt roads. Kieron came prepared, he brought his steel road bike with 28c touring tires. I thought it was kind of silly since the dirt section was only going to be a couple miles long. He said it was going to be about 1000' of elevation in a mile, not being very good at math and only understanding grades of slopes I went along with it.

 

We rode up PCH to Topanga Canyon, up Fernwood Pacific rd. to Saddle Peak Road and down Stunt Road. It was all fun and games until we arrived to this little fire road called Calabasas Peak Mount Way which takes you to Calabasas State park and short cuts to Old Topanga Canyon. Looking up to Calabasas Peak Mount Way from Stunt Road was like we were staring at a wall. The gate in front of it and the hikers walking up it with their walking sticks were a good enough sign that we shouldn't be in there. We were expecting nicely groomed dirt fire roads that would be no problem riding through with our road bikes. We were all having second thoughts about going up it, but by the time we got there we were already at the bottom of Stunt and my stomach was starting to growl. We had to take the short cut. Kieron came out with the route, so he was the first one to give it a shot. He made it half way up before the first turn. Being the competitive bastard that I am, I went next and I wanted to be the first one to mak it to the top. Aram and Garrett followed right after. Kieron and I rode about 90% of this portion. Aram in the other hand walked about 90% of it and kept complaining about how his Carbon Fiber shoes and cleats were getting damaged by all the rocks. This short section was a challenge and we were definitely on the wrong kind of bikes. It was really fun, and by fun I mean it really sucked. We were all constantly worried and fearing for our lives. Now it's one of those stories of how we did this one ride in the dirt that kicked our butts. And when someone asks me if I would do it again I tell them "Nah, I'm alright". Everyone is welcome to our little bike adventures. If you would like to join us make sure you join our News Letter for updates and announcements.