After yesterday’s heatfest (with many more to come, 45 miles, 487 feet of climbing (he he), and 98+F), I dragged my ass out of bed early this morning. Threw my leg over the WW a few minutes after 5am, there was just enough light to see the trails, and the pumps
I did see signs of one other early morning rider (I was supposed to meet him, but apparently we went to different trailheads)
an hour into my ride, the sun rose above the Sierras
The ride totals:
16.7 miles
1231 feet of climbing (it’s easier to get some climbing in on these trails when your objective is to go up every ridge)
1 other person seen (on the horizon)
1 bottle emptied (with another full one on the bike, first ride in Bakersfield that I haven’t needed all the liquids I’ve carried)
4 hours of bliss (and still counting)
Weekend plans.. I’m torn between riding local, or traveling down past LA to a 12 hour race in Temecula. There is also a third option, Dave (endurorider in Prescott, AZ) is hosting the Kaibob MonsterCross (120 mile unsupported ride) just north of the Grand Canyon, but this ride is 500 miles away…some good guys are coming out for this one, but 500 miles, maybe if I had a carpool…
45 miles and a whopping 487 feet of climbing!? Can I get some of that? I didn’t know Bakersfield was that close to the beach. And oh yeah, about the pictures… the brochures would have you believe Cali is a lovely place. Where are you?
- Joe (riding the ski hill tonight, and drinking beer afterward in the cool Solstice night air at Camp May)
You wouldn’t like it some of that, it was on a bike with very skinny tires. The Kern Valley is flat for miles and miles (at least 45), probably 50 miles wide and 300 miles long (NS),, Drink a beer for me, I hear that the new trails up top are excellent, with one extending up to the lookout point at the top (Aspen lift?)..
I’ll be out in search of Cali loveliness this weekend.. maybe I’ll have some more brochure-like pictures for you next week…There’s some ocean air coming through this weekend, highs in the upper 80s lower 90s and at least 10 degrees cooler in both places I’m hoping to ride
I don’t know you all. But, it sounds like a lot of fun could be had hanging with a fella that shares the same name with me. Ride some trails, climb some rocks and then drink what appears to be some pretty good beer, all while enjoying the company of good friends.
Keep having fun!
Scott Sportsman