Trail Report West - 10/4/09 - Gridley Trail - Ojai, CA

- Riders: Hector, Ron, Scott, Tim

- Distance: 12 miles

- Weather: pleasantly cool and sunny

- Temp: low 70's (note that "70's" is "pleasantly cool" in CA)

- Hills: 6+ miles to around 3000 feet

- Notes:

From Tim....

So, the west coast crew hooked up for another epic ride on Sunday. Hector, once again, had this great idea to go ride Gridley trail in Ojai, CA. Gridley can be a little tricky. Its typically either smoking hot, or cold. The last time I rode it, we had to negotiate snow the final 1/2 mile. Well, thankfully, it was a tweener -> pleasantly cool (low 70's) and sunny. That's the good part. Did I mention that Gridley is an uphill slog. Six plus miles of an incline that turns into a suffer-fest @ mile 4 due to an increased grade and decreased traction. Its gotta be around 3000 feet of climbing. I think we all felt small when 3 hard core downhill guys passed us on the way up - on their downhill bikes, w/ all their body armor on their backs. Totally demoralizing! Yours truly consumed a fair number of gel bits and GU to keep the ole motor stoked and just let Hector and Ron pass me by. Well, most of us made it to the top...some folks in better shape (Ron, Hector) than others (me) and Scott (1/2 mile from top). Now for the good part. Gridley is technical, but not requiring of body armor or downhill bikes. The turns are also banked to a degree so one can really rail the descent. After 2 plus hrs of climbing, its sad that the descent is over in about 15 minutes...but it's one sweet time. Points to Scott for not giving up as this was easily the hardest ride he's done to date. Points to Hector for getting the weather right. Major points to Ron for having ice cold "Fat Tire Amber Ales" in the cooler for post-ride carb replen. You'll find our ride profile, GPS and whatever other technical wizardry resides on Ron's i-phone below. I'm dragging a bit today...

Google Earth File

Google Maps Link

GPX File

Tim... thanks for providing me another vicarious ride!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Trail Report - 10/1/09 (from the Left Coast) - Angel View, Portrero Rd - Thousand Oaks CA

OMMB couldn't resist riding vicariously through his West Coast friends.... enjoy this from Tim V....

- Riders: Hector, Ron, Scott, Tim

- Weather: Hot, dry, and windy

- Temp: California Hot

- Humidity: 2%

- Hills: Hike your bike steep

Tim's account....

So Hector had this great idea to go for a mountain bike ride yesterday. Did I tell you it was hot yesterday? In fact, it was a "Santa Ana" condition. For those non-California types, this refers to hot, dry and fairly windy conditions. In short, miserable riding weather. Did I tell you Hector also had this great idea to ride in Thousand Oaks. After all, its always hotter there than the coast. Did I tell you I haven't ridden in over a month? So we (Scott, Hector, Ron and I) met at Portrero Rd with the intent to make the climb to Angel View. Did I tell you this ride choice was...you guessed it...Hector's idea. Did I mention that my 17 year old asked me if I had a death wish? Her 20 min walk home from school apparently was enough "nature" time. Did I mention that Hector forgot his riding gear. Oh yes. Being the giving person that I am...I donated my extra t-shirt and riding shorts to Hector, while I rode in some fancy plaid shorts (see photo). So off we went on the ride. Did I mention it was dry? Think 2% humidity. Ok, maybe that's an exaggeration. My cancer treated throat began complaining almost immediately and I thought perhaps I might hork up a lung. Did I mention there are two beastly hills on this ride that cannot be ridden...so you must push your bike up them. After all, nothing is better than pushing your bike up a steep, loose hill on a hot, dry merciless day. After pushing hill #1, I must confess to feeling light headed and had to take 5 minutes of shade time while I contemplated hurling. Fortunately, I was able to sort myself out. It turns out my headband hadn't been properly washed and this served to contribute to my feelings of nausea. Apparently these conditions posed no problems for Hector and Ron. Scott was perhaps another story. So we ultimately made it to the top where attached photo was taken by Ron. Notice Hector's smug demeanor, my non-riding shorts and the fact that Scott looks like he's about to explode. Fortunately the ride back is mostly downhill, the temperature dropped a few degrees and the wind stopped. Even "Guzman Hill" was fun to blast down. We made it back to the cars around 1800 where I had some ice cold Tecate's waiting. Good times.

Thanks Tim (I feel your pain)!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Hobble Report - 9/29/09

Hey I got my lovely staples out yesterday...all 23 of them and scars are healing nicely (so instead of Frankenstein, I now look like I was shark bait).  X-Rays showed that all new parts are in the right place, but will still be using crutches for a least 2 more weeks.

I've thrown out the walker for all but in and out of the shower, so safe to say I've advanced to next stage.

Now at STAGE FOUR (with crutches)...

Hobble Report - 9/26/09

Holy Cow! THAT'S what a full night sleep feels like!!! (felt so good I didn't want to stop...and a long nap on top of that would lead one to believe that hibernation wouldn't be so bad)

Hobble Report - 9/24/09

Had a another progressive day today. Able to move around more easily and do the PT exercises without too much trouble. Leg muscles seem to be firing as requested...all but the abductors, still weak there.

Thankfully, ATK almost got a full night sleep (she DESERVES it). Does getting two half-night sleeps in one night equal a full night?

Still using the walker, with occasional bouts of crutches.

Hobble Report - 9/22/09

Wow...the future's so bright I gotta wear shades!! All visiting medical assessments today were EXTREMELY positive. Getting out of a chair without aid of the walker or ATK, who has been busting her ass around here to support me (even throughout the sleepless nights) ...I am going to be forever grateful for her patience and unconditional support.

I'm at STAGE THREE...

Hobble Report - 9/21/09

pretty good day...starting to feel some mobility again. Went on a field trip to the grocery store with ATK...but OMMB stayed in the truck with a book.

Hobble Report - 9/20/09

Wow...starting to feel semi-human last night and today. Had some great company from family and friends which definitely kept me from staying horizontal most of the time (that's a good thing and I really appreciated the get well gifts...especially the company)

I'm at STAGE TWO...

Hobble Report - 9/19/09

Yea!! I'm home...but seriously suffering from the withdrawal effects of all the Percs (Oxycodone) which I am refusing to take unless absolutely necessary!

I have nothing but great things to say about the staff at South County Hospital (well except maybe for one particular nurse that first under-medicated me, then got me on a track to over use the damn stuff). All is good now...

Bed Report - 9/18/09

Holy crap those Percs cause serious delusions, out of body experiences, and whacked out dreams. No sleep resulting! Hobbling home today once PT and PA clear the way so that I can go home and clear my head.

PT=Physical Therapist
PA=Physician's Assistant

Bed Report - 9/17/09

Keep those pain killers coming...feels like somebody attacked me with a knife, saw, chisel, file, hammer and who knows what else!!! (then they pounded some metal joints into me and stapled me back together)

I'm at STAGE ONE...

Bed Report - 9/16/09

OUUUUCHHHH!!!!! IIIIII EEEEEE WATCH!!!!!!

Bed Report...9/15/09

- Place: South County Hospital, Orthopedic Center
- Report: when I arrived at 0600, I was awake. Then all of a sudden at 0800 I was asleep...then at 2:30 I was awake again. But THEN I was LOOPY for the rest of the day!! What happened? Did I go to Vegas?

Here's what actually happened...

http://www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com/

Trail Report...9/6/09 (last SMWR this season) - Big River, Hopkins Hill Rd

- Place: West Greenwich, RI
- Riders: ATK & OMMB
- Distance: 6.5 miles
- Weather: excellent
- Temp: 67
- Humidity: zero
- Trail Conditions: dry, mostly technical singletrack
- Technical Level: advanced
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: very low
- Wildlife: just a goofy dog by the lake (in the video)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: clean ride, but one more blood point for T (damn briars)
- Notes: probably OMMB's favorite loop, nice variable singletrack.



Tidbits: 09/09/09 is ATK & OMMB's 4th Anniversary!! SMWR = Sunday Morning Weekly Ride (UFN...hint, hint). Great ride to end this season on...hiatus begins with surgery and physical therapy starting next week (oh joy).

If you're having trouble sleeping, watch the video...



Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...9/2/09 - Big River

- Place: West Greenwich, RI
- Riders: T & OMMB
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Weather: perfect!
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: nothin
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: intermediate/advanced
- Hills: 20%
- Bug Report: very few skeets
- Wildlife: a very happy water dog...some sort of friendly spaniel
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: no falls, just 1 blood pt for T

Notes: we knew we'd be in the area today, so the bikes were loaded. Road the East side of BR, even though more technical single-track, needed to avoid the trashed West trails from the m/c race.

Tidbits: Staff at the South County Hospital Orthopedic Center have got their act together, VERY impressive orientation today.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...9/1/09 (Welcome to Sept!) - Case Jr High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: OMMB
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Weather: excellent
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: very good
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: none
- Wildlife: saw a pair of big ones (Mark...I'm talking about deer)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: one whoops, bailed out when I realized my brakes had some oil on them (lubed the bike after the last wet ride)
- Notes: OMMB scooted out for a quick ride before dinner. Did the usual loop in reverse which made for a semi-unrecognizable ride (...like a goldfish in a fishbowl, where the little plastic castle is a surprise every time!)

Tidbits: In two weeks from today OMMB goes to the Hips-R-Us store in South County. At this point, looking forward to it (old hip parts are seizing up!)

http://www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com/2

Liked this... "Since then, Floyd has competed many challenging 100 mile mountain bike rides. The BIRMINGHAM HIP has helped him get back to his activity. "

Not sure about this... "Individual results may vary." :)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/30/09 - Big River Middle and West

- Place: W. Greenwich, RI
- Riders: Chris, Carrie, Kurt, T, OMMB
- Distance: 7 miles
- Weather: good, overcast
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: PDM (pretty damn muddy!)...but this was expected due to the rain from TS Danny
- Technical Level: intermediate..but it was tough going (see Notes)
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: low
- Wildlife: holy crap, they all ran to Connecticut...there was a motorcycle enduro race going on!

- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: a whoops and an Oh Sheet by Carrie (picked the first day out to do an endo, got that out of the way!), a whoops by Kurt (only once on the first day out??), and a Holy Sheet by Chris (that's waaaay worse than an Oh Sheet...he tried to jump over a very swollen river onto what was left of a log bridge. His attempt failed miserably when his front wheel sunk the bridge into deep water and he went over the handlebars for a body slam onto the logs...OUCH!!). Chris has easily taken over the Oh Sheet points category with this, shall we quote, "dick head" maneuver. :) I think I may even start a new category in his honor...blood points.

- Notes: what started out as an attempt to take a "normal" loop with our rookies, ended in disaster. Apparently...no signs, no warnings...there was an NETRA Motorcycle Enduro race scheduled today. It was downright frightening having the bikes race by us on single-track. If any of them lost it, we were tomato juice. Although the riders were EXTREMELY courteous, we would have avoided this with due warning. I've sent some emails to NETRA and NEMBA for information regarding the race event. Biggest pet peeve (and I came from a dirt biking background) is that they tore the shit out of the trails...mainly due to the great amount of rain we had yesterday. I really think they should have rescheduled this to the Fall (assuming they have the permits to run the race there).

- Tidbits: all in all... a ride is a ride and we had a good (interesting) one! (GPS track was cut short, battery died)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

More regarding the m/c race and some good news on mtn biking approval at BR...

From: gengler.peter@gmail.com
To: SRebello@aol.com
Sent: 8/31/2009 7:45:51 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Re: Big River... Motocycle Enduro race today (8/30/09)
I too was there early, was down by the south end of tea pot (with my dog). It was terrifying. Had to bush wack to get to safety.
Jim & I will talk to Jay at DEM and I will talk to the WRB people. I completely agree with you.
BUT, I think we still don't want to make too big waves until we are "legal" in BR. We are half way there and got approval in the house o a bill in July. It should be in the senate this fall.
Forecast was 3 - 6" friday, we got 1.5 ( I looked it up) and I watched guys FLYING down the trails and through huge mud wallows.
I do not know how much clean up they did afterwards.
If you can make the ri nemba meeting tuesday, that would be great (see rinemba.org <http://rinemba.org/> )
best wishes
peter

Trail Report...8/27/09 - Big River Middle

- Riders: T, OMMB
- Distance: 7 miles
- Weather: nice
- Temp: 75
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: great
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 15% - Bug Report: nope
- Wildlife: a gaggle of bikers (including chicks)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: all was good until OMMB whooped off a plank on mile 6.8
- Notes: when we got to the trail head, we realized it was Thur...organized rides gather here each Thur evening...whole LOT of cars parked everywhere...but really no one to be seen on the trails until we looped back...straight into a group of 30 MTBs (and a dog). The ride was good, we ventured out to different trails for some "investigating". We discovered a cemetery, a historical site (huh?), and an old time safe (how often do you see that in the middle of the woods...very suspicious).

Tidbits: yep, MTN bike chicks. Six including T. And T was ripping up the trails today (OMMB was worn out).

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/26/09 - Case Jr High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: OMMB
- Distance: 4.5 miles
- Weather: nice
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: good
- Technical Level: beginner
- Hills: 10%
- Bug Report: low
- Wildlife: too dark to see anything but shadows
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: nope
- Notes: OMMB took a late ride and realized that ATK was right about bringing lights...can't believe the daylight is dwindling already! Ventured to some outer loops (yeah, great idea in the dark...NOT!)

Tidbits: would be a cool place for a night ride (with lights that is, wasn't so cool without them)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/25/09 (Welcome to OMMB Post #50) - Case Jr High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: T & OMMB
- Distance: 4 miles
- Weather: clear
- Temp: 80-ish
- Humidity: low
- Trail Conditions: very good
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: when you stop peddling...they bug you
- Wildlife: just this guy named John, lives near there, says a homeless guy lives in the tent near the pond and has a bike (OMMB wonders if the guy in the tent is named "John")
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Whoops by T, clipped in uphill but oh-oh, toppled onto a very hard rock ledge...more bruises for the collection (could be another blog in the making)!
- Notes: Nice little after work loop!

Tidbits: yep...Blog Post #50

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/20/09 - Cheeseboro Park

- Place: Agura Hills, CA
- Riders: Hector, OMMB
- Distance: 11 miles
- Weather: clear, dry, HOT!
- Temp: 195 degrees
- Humidity: ZERO (more like -98%)
- Trail Conditions: dry dusty hard-pack, some slide-out areas over slick rock
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 50% (climb up, glide back..not a bad upward grade)
- Bug Report: yeah right, they'd be fried to a crisp...it was REALLY HOT!
- Wildlife: Well they looked like a cross between groundhogs and squirrels (with heads), ground squirrels? Surprised they were running about...it was REALLY DAMN HOT!
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Nope. Because if you hit the ground, you sizzle up like a fried egg...it was REALLY FRICKIN HOT!
- Notes: First time here for OMMB, nice alternative to the all out climbs in the area...but it was REALLY FRICKIN DAMN HOT! :)

Tidbits: One of the best things about riding out here...open bar at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Bay!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

And let's not forget the "cheesy" movie (a bit shaky, haven't mastered the helmet cam yet)...

Trail Report...8/16/09 - Big River West & Middle

- Riders: Alex, Chris, Patrick, Spencer, T, OMMB - Distance: 6 miles
- Weather: Sunny

- Temp: 80-85 and rising!

- Humidity: 71%
- Trail Conditions: good...some mud holes
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: skeets if you stop too long
- Wild life: magic hat (thanks Spenc!!)
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Alex had an oh sheet (or two), Spencer oh sheeted into the river, OMMB oh sheeted into the river with an over and out (over the bars and out of the bike).
- Notes: Our friend from down under needs to lead a ride at Arcadia (hint, hint). Alex has surpassed Greg in the Mud points category!

Tidbits: Chris...thanks for joining us! (I still haven't figured out how you rode straight through that tree and only left your shirt behind). Alex...way to go, you didn't give up ("train kept a rollin, all night long..."). ATK...thanks for grabbing the awesome video!

Another GREAT SMGR (Sunday Morning Group Ride)! Be sure to catch the movie...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Trail Report...8/14/09 - Case Jr High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: Anna, Mark, OMMB
- Distance: 3.8 mi (same loop as 8/11)
- Weather: Partly Cloudy
- Temp: 77
- Humidity: 66%
- Trail Conditions: moderate mud
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Bug Report: moderate
- Wild life: G&T's, Beebop Burritos
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: good clean ride, just a few "wooo's"
- Notes: Intended to ride here on Thurs but re-planned due to the rain. T got stuck babysitting the howling lab and M&A were gracious enough to wait for the late arriving OMMB (thx!). Haven't grown tired of this place yet, we rode a nice loop for the time slot.

Tidbits: Mark rode (rid?) road and trail today...AND still had energy for G&T's! (go figure)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/11/09 - Case Jr. High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: T, OMMB
- Distance: 3.8 miles
- Weather: partly cloudy
- Temp: 81
- Humidity: 72%
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: excellent
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 20%
- Bug Report: stupid deer flies were chasing and assaulting us!
- Wildlife: just some woodpecker
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: some whoops added to T's bruise collection...ouuuuch
- Notes: real nice ride at a good rate...just a great place for daily practice! Tracked by Nuvi 205.

Tidbits: Upstate New York has a real nice wine region...thanks M & A!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/9/09 - Big River "Middle" from West

- Place: West Greenwich, RI
- Riders: Alex, Greg, Patrick, Sara, Spencer, T, OMMB
- Distance: 6.8 mi
- Weather: overcast, but nice
- Temp: 70
- Humidity: nil
- Pollen Level: niller
- Trail Conditions: good but a few mud holes (good thing, otherwise Greg would be sad)
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: nillest
- Wildlife: just 4 motocross dudes stalking us
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: 1 yikes by Greg (I'm sure mud was involved somehow), 1 yikes by Sara (sorry I missed it), rumor of 1 whoops by Alex, 1 oh holy sheet by Teri (the up side of the ramp was great, but her front wheel "slipped' off the down side ending in a gnarly endo...yeah, ass over "T" kettle!!!)
- Notes: we followed a track from the OMMB archive that was well handled by all...even the rookier rookie! Another stellar group ride! All had a blast (or the smiles hid the grimaces)

Tidbits:
1) today marks one month until a 4th anniversary for T and OMMB!
2) a welcome back to Alex...still got it (and he even rivaled Greg in the mud lovers category)
3) tough ride for our newest, but she got through the whole ride with a great attitude!
4) we used T's Nuvi 205 to log this trail, it tracked great from inside the Camelback.
5) today's rewards...trail head brews from S & S and a clam boil at the home base.

Download the Google Earth File....https://www.qdrive.net/download/sharelinkdownloader.php?id=30262&key=GhX9tXP46mX3MqX6Cp452nx4OmN7tj86rhN

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...8/6/09 - Case Jr High

- Place: Swansea, MA
- Riders: T, OMMB
- Distance: 3.5 mi
- Weather: nice
- Temp: 75
- Humidity: med
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: slightly muddy, not bad
- Technical Level: beginner/intermediate
- Hills: 25%
- Bug Report: low
- Wildlife: just a little black and white woodpecker
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: nope
- Notes: went for a quick ride on the regular loop with some extra climbs thrown in

Tidbits: for people with very short term memory, weather.com has historical data (thanks T)

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Trail Report...08/02/09 - Big River West

- Place: West Greenwich, RI
- Riders: Greg, Mark, Pat, Spenc, T, OMMB
- Distance: 6.8 miles
- Weather: excellent
- Temp: 80
- Humidity: low
- Pollen Level: low
- Trail Conditions: good
- Technical Level: intermediate
- Hills: 15%
- Bug Report: low
- Wild life: ICE COLD beers at the trail head!! ("m o o n")
- Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Pat, 1 oh sheet off a jump into the woods; Spenc, 1 whoops, 1 yikes; T, 1 yikes slide out; Mark, 2 unobserved whoops; all had yikes over the seesaw!
- Notes: First group ride in a while was a blast! Included a mix of old pros and young-ens!

Tidbits:

1) Something old - Patrick and Spencer ("the originals") returned for an epic ride and showed us how little rust they had accumulated!

2) Something new - Congrats to Greg for surviving his first MTB ride...he was willing to try everything we threw at him!! (but why does he like the mud so much???)

3) Check out the movie (crank up the volume)...

4) And let's not forgot the Original Seesaw Sallie....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6hWwpRLsbs

5) Then there's more video....http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1B623E786503582C

Happy Trails,

OMMB