After over a year of anticipation, I finally embarked on my first extraordinary journey into the South Carolina Mountains.
In response to a Facebook post by a legally blind rider who could still conquer mountain biking, I reached out to be his riding companion, offering to pick him up and drive to the trailhead since he couldn't operate a car. His mountain biking skills, evident in videos he and his wife had shared, fascinated me. Despite his visual impairment, he could ride like the wind! During our drive, he explained that he relied on his peripheral vision to navigate the trail since he couldn't see anything directly in front of him.
It was bittersweet riding Malibu Creek State Park yesterday for the last time!
MCSP is the Yosemite of Southern California, hands down!
I know every inch of this park through our many rides and hikes, so it was fitting that I made this my last ride in California!
This park is home to so many movie and TV locations like the Planet Of The Apes set, and the Mash unit, just to name two.
In four weeks we are moving to Greenville SC and leaving California after 49 years! It is with mixed emotions that I leave for what will be a new chapter and adventure in our lives.
I feel very fortunate that my riding and hiking buddy, Marv, allowed me to drag him along to do these, our go-to trails, one last time. There will be no comparison to the Santa Monica Mountains in South Carolina. The view of the Pacific Ocean from high up in the mountains with a spring breeze on your face and in a good year, flowers all around you, but the Blue Ridge Mountains are just north of us, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers are everywhere, and Savannah and Charleston are just hours away.
Doing the rides of my youth with my e-assist.
Another one off of the list, three to go.
I haven't done Sycamore Canyon in at least 12 years.
16.5 miles with 2500 elevation gain.
The single track was fun but not like Tuesday. Only 3 to go!
My 5th ride off of my list of rides from the old days.
I have not done Sycamore Canyon to Guadalasco single track in at least 15 years.
This e-assist allows an old guy to ride the days of glory; 23 miles with 2700 in elevation gain!
My good buddy made the ride with no e-assist, but he also rode across the country for 9-11 this year.
Even after 23 miles of hard ridding, I still had 32% of my battery left, I love this bike!
Two more off of the list and five to go.
I road out of Trippet Ranch yesterday and first did the Eagle Rock loop to the Hub and then back to Trippet Ranch, and then out to Parker Mesa Overlook.
15 miles with 2500 elevation gain made this an amazing ride! I still had 60% left in the battery, never went beyond level one of assist.
I completed ride #2 on my list of the 9 most epic rides in the L.A. area on my electric assistant mountain bike.
I road Cheesbro today. It was a bit cold and windy but such an amazing day.
I road 16 miles alone at 69 years old and went places I had not been in 12 years.
I had 40% still in the battery, so I could have done 25 miles or more.
On to the other 7 epic rides on my list!
Having a blast riding my e-bike.
These trails are on my wish list to ride with the E assist!
* Malibu Creek State Park 1-18-2022
* Chesebro
* Rocky Peak
* Reseda to Eagle Rock
* Parker Mesa Overlook
* Sycamore Canyon
* Red Box to JPL
* San Gabrial
* Sullivan Trail loop
I road Malibu Creek State Park yesterday. What a great day and great ride.
There was a lot of water and debris from the storm.
Eight amazing rides to go.
Today was my first ride on my mountain bike after installing an electric assist kit.
It was simply AMAZING!
I road 20 miles at an average speed of almost 12 mph with an elevation gain of 1670 feet, BUT, I got a dreaded flat tire within the first mile!
Taking off an electric wheel alone is NO picnic! I had to call Kara to bring me some tools!
Road Pressman Trail and beyond today, good god was it hot!
It is always fun to take a day near home and ride a familiar trails.
The cave is still free of any homeless.
Our adventure led us to the renowned Gabrielino Trail, a 29-mile path that commences its journey in close proximity to the prestigious Jet Propulsion Laboratory, situated just north of the bustling city of Los Angeles. Although we tackled a modest 8-mile segment of this extensive trail, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary.
Great ride up to Mesa Overlook!
I have not ridden to Mesa in over 6 years, but because of the seatless MSUB I can take to the trails once again!
For the first time in 6 years, I road up to the hub and on to Eagle Rock with Marv and Steve.
It is always an amazing ride overlooking the ocean and Catalina Island, but it was tough today!
So much to see in Malibu Creek State Park, miles and miles of trails, two dams and lakes, swimming holes, rock climbers, cliff divers, snakes, and killer birds.
We are so lucky to live so close to this amazing park.
This was Joe and my 3rd ride into the mountains and I wanted to show him this amazing park!
Amazing ride into Ahmanson Ranch today, got close to the cave of Munits, saw amazing yellow canola weeds, and even a very fat rattle snake.
Did a nice single track ride today in the San Gabriel Mountains with Joe, from Red Box down to Switzer Creek.
Another amazing morning on my MSUB, with Marv and Steve!
We left Marv's house and took the roads up to the trail head.
There was some aggressive climbing and some nice down hill, but both Marv and Steve were astounded that I was able to go over 12 miles standing up!
Road my amazing mountain bike deep into Malibu State Park today, I even found a waterfall that I have never seen before. Came upon my first snake and so many flowers!
Road Malibu State Park on my SUB on Saturday, it is where they filmed Planet of the Apes and the Mash Unit and so much more!
MSP is truly the Yosemite of Southern California!
Check out the short video!
From box to an amazing 10 mile mountain bike trail ride in one morning!
This is one special machine!
Road my SUB "stand up bike" on a dirt fire road for the first time, out to Cheseboro where the Woolsey fire tore through.
It was pretty green all and all, but the oak trees took some major damage.
The SUB is a road bike, but it held up fine on the rough terrain!
This was a 28 mile ride on the Topanga Canyon Fire Road, over to Parker Mesa Overlook.
Kara and I were driving out to see Brad, Chris and the kids in Colorado, and I wanted to stop in Moab and ride Slick Rock.
I rented my bike from Moab Cyclery, and they took me up to the trail head. I had heard about this ride like it was a legend.
