Riv Bikes Tackle The Mountains

[cyclotourist]

You may think your Rivendell does good on the back roads, excels at city riding and really shines when you throw a little dirt into the mix. But did you know they can also be ridden on honest to goodness mountain singletrack? Yes, I'm here to tell you it's true! In fact, I would encourage you to hop on your lugged steel bicycle and ride it in your local mountains. You would be amazed at what it can do.

Photographic documentation of just such an adventure in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/sets/72157633702649228/

Thanks to everyone that came out and enjoyed what can only be described as a perfect day in SoCal. Just doesn't get any better!

Cheers,
David

[Michael Williams]

looks like a good one!    I like the picture of the pitcher and friends around a table toward the end!   -Mike

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[cyclotourist]

That's really the best part. Not the beer necessarily, or even the trails. I can do either whenever I want. It was the good company that came out and enjoyed it today!

Cheers,
David

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

Indeed... the company is what makes the adventure more than just scenery and mileage. Looks like you guys had a great time. 

--Smitty

[Bryan]

Looks like a great day, guys!

Bryan 

[Tom Harrop]

Looks like a nice ride, and good photos too. Can someone tell me what tyres this blue Riv is wearing?

[Leslie]

Ritchey ZED 42mm, that are NLA :(

[Leslie]

At least, it was here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclotourist/8584771948/#comments

[Deacon Patrick]

Fantastic! They are a blast on single track!

With abandon,

Patrick

[cyclotourist]

Yes, that's exactly what they are. Cracked, hard and worn down, but I'm not getting rid of them until they're in tatters and absolutely unrideable! I know of no comparable replacement to what is for me the perfect off-road tire (and that fits my bike @42mm clearance).

Soliciting recommendations!

Cheers,
David

On Sun, May 26, 2013 at 5:18 AM, Leslie <leslie...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ritchey ZED 42mm, that are NLA :(

[Mike]

I must be a misanthrope because I'll take the trails and scenery over the people. ; )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rgKAOdPx58

--mike

[cyclotourist]

We have to work with what we've got! :-)

Cheers,
David

[dougP]

David:

Thanks for getting us together for this ride.  I notice you do NOT have a photo of the Abyss of Death!  As Hugh & I tip-toed along the gravel shelf, he was trying to get shot of it; hope he succeeded. 

Being a "run what you brung" guy, I dismissed David's suggestion that this more of a knobby kinda ride.  In the future I intend to take his suggestions more seriously.  His "mixed surfaces" tend to be sand, gravel, hard pack, severely broken pavement and a token amount of highway.  Make sure to bring a bike that's easy to carry :). 

An interesting factoid for those who live out of So Cal:  This ride was within an hour of millions of people.  And there are tons of places like this around Southern California.  You don't have to get far out your back door for serious adventure. 

dougP

[Deacon Patrick]

It's funny the reactions I get from "knobbies" on their full suspension bikes when they see me riding the trails they consider theirs. Some are baffled, others smile, and when they do manage to speak it's a comment about being barefoot or "Wow! You're rocking that bike!" Who knows, perhaps their horizons are broadened ever so slightly. Grin.

With abandon,

Patrick

On Saturday, May 25, 2013 9:49:37 PM UTC-6, cyclot...@gmail.com wrote:

[Andy Smitty Schmidt]

As a former Southlander... I'd love to see a map of the route. 

--Smitty

On Saturday, May 25, 2013 8:49:37 PM UTC-7, cyclot...@gmail.com wrote:

[Tom Harrop]

Thanks for the tyre info. So is that RIv 700c or 650B? I am considering Clement tyres for my currently-nonexistent 700c trail bike. They have 53-622 and 40-622 options. Has anyone tried them?

PS I tried to split this into a new topic to avoid the dreaded topic drift. Apologies if I didn't succeed...

[Anne Paulson]

Last summer, as part of a Mexico-Canada ride through the Sierra and Cascades, I rode the Angeles Crest highway. Even in the summer, even though we were entirely on paved roads, even though we were close to a metropolis of ten million people, it was almost deserted, and absolutely gorgeous up there. I'd like to go back there some time and ride the dirt, provided I didn't have to ever, ever go back to Palmdale or Tehachapi.

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-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

[cyclotourist]

Success in the topic, Tom!

The MSO 40mm is something I'm looking at, but I would like larger lugged knobs on the sides, similar to the ZEDs that I have. My clearance tops out @ 42mm, so am somewhat limited.

Cheers,
David

[cyclotourist]

Hugh got a pretty good photo of the AOD: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedalpusher61/8838105920/in/set-72157633704949207/ When I recommend knobbies, it's probably a good idea to heed that advice! :-) You do get points for being the under-est underbiker yesterday! And has been noted, the guys with the mountain bikes were the ones we were waiting for to fix their bikes alongside the trail! :-)

Andy et al, the map is linked in this conversation: http://www.flickr.com/groups/socal_rivendell_bicycle_appreciation_society/discuss/72157633499193066/#comment72157633532035291

Next get together will hopefully be on June 23rd at CicLAvia, although might have to do something sooner than that as well!

Cheers,
David

[cyclotourist]

Anne, I have that same epiphany every time we do one of our rides. Whether in the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Anas (Orange County), Eastern San Diego Co, San Clemente, or out in Redlands, it's pretty much the same. Millions of people within 10 miles of our spot, but we'll meet less than a handful out on the trails. It's pretty amazing, but also kind of sad as it seems of people aren't enjoying the natural resources in their back yards. Yes, that means the trails and forests aren't being over used and harmed, but that also means that most people don't know they are there and are just as content to have a 5,000 home housing development (with golf-course!) go in there.

I'm just glad I get to see these areas, and explore Southern California. Because of the good people on this list, I have been able to ride the trails in all the above-mentioned areas, places that I probably would have never seen otherwise! Hooray for the strangers you meet on the interwebs!

Cheers,
David

[dougP]

We had a couple on dual suspended MTBs quiz us about racks & bags.  They immediately plugged "Rivendell" into their phone & hit the website.  One MTBer asked me about "Atlantis" & where they are made.  Mountain bike people seem pretty open to alternatives.

dougP

[dougP]

Anne:

Did you follow ACA's route?  A group of us are pondering that & I agree that south of Tehachapi it's quite the challenge. 

dougP

[cyclotourist]

That couple also followed our advice on where to stop by for pizza and beer. So no problem trying out new things on their part!

Cheers,
David

[Anne Paulson]

I did follow the ACA route; in fact, it was an ACA-led trip. To do that trip loaded is HARD. We did avg 3000 feet of climbing a day for two months.

The climb to Tehachapi was the only time I had to walk, and I walked for about an hour. The climb is not steep, but the headwinds were so ferocious I couldn't keep the bike going in a straight line; if I tried to ride, I was afraid I'd be blown into traffic. One of the others of us, the strongest, did ride the pass, but he was blown off his bike twice, fortunately away from traffic. There's a reason those windmills are there.

[Mike Schiller]

South of Tehachapi  to Gorman area is part of a large private ranch. Not much choice but to drop down to the Mohave. You can go through Willow Springs which is beautiful in the spring but nasty in summer.   South of Gorman is where I did a lot of riding. The area is riddled with good dirt roads. Of course, a lot of climbing is involved. I'd be up for that kind of trip and can help with route planning Doug.

~mike

[Mike Schiller]

Doug, the new Bruce Gordon Rock n' roads would be a good tire for your Atlantis. The roll pretty good on pavement and hook up well on dirt. Almost the perfect tire. I just picked up a set and am anxious to use them ( after my sprained ankle heals).

~mike

[hsmitham]

Mike,

I like the Buddhist's notion of  the middle path which Plato understood even earlier. I appreciate being on my bicycle out in nature alone in a meditative state of mind but can appreciate sharing it with nice humans.  Like my Riv Brothers and Sisters. Perhaps I'm taking you're comment to literal which I can too often do. I have moved though a misanthropic phase in my life but then realized it's not them it's me. So now I filter though the humans which come within proximity and surround my self with people that are nice.

Best,

Hugh

Sunland, CA

[hsmitham]

David,

Thanks for organizing what I consider an epic ride! I'll be at your door again ready to ride...Jim, Doug, Johnathan and David are great riding partners couldn't ask for better people. Yes the gorge of consequence was sobering and made me wish I had Billy goat hoofs but made the ride that much more interesting! See the NorCal Riv  folk don't have all the fun :-)

I think I'll ride my Salsa Ala Carte on the next iteration of this ride. That is unless someone can tell me if there are tires with knobby's made for 650b at least 40mm? I heard there have been plans for 5 years by ? Pasela?? to make some. Homer shod with the "Force Field Fatty Rumkin's" have continued to amaze me they handled the mountain single track relatively well and would be ultimate with knobs.

Mike missed you. Heal up for the next one.

Looking forward to the next SoCal Riv ride CicLavia!

Best,

Hugh

Sunland, CA

On Sunday, May 26, 2013 8:30:48 AM UTC-7, dougP wrote:

[Mike]

On Sunday, May 26, 2013 3:43:50 PM UTC-7, hsmitham wrote:

Mike,

I like the Buddhist's notion of  the middle path which Plato understood even earlier. I appreciate being on my bicycle out in nature alone in a meditative state of mind but can appreciate sharing it with nice humans.  Like my Riv Brothers and Sisters. Perhaps I'm taking you're comment to literal which I can too often do. 

Best,

Hugh

Definitely taking it too literal. No worries stuff doesn't always translate over the Interweb. I do love post ride grub with riding companions after an exceptional ride. Still, like Henry C., I don't hate people, but I do sometimes feel better when they're not around. My work days are spent in a frequently hectic environment (an emergency room) so I enjoy my solitude on my days off.

I've actually ridden with David here in Portland a few years ago. It was a great ride but too short. Unfortunately we were unable to connect the last time he was here. I've ridden with others from the list and it's always been fun. 

I remember back in SF I knew people that couldn't handle riding alone which always seemed kind of sad to me. Ever since I started riding I've enjoyed riding alone. I remember doing my first century after I had been riding 6 months, I felt like I was on a walkabout. Same with my first solo S24O years later. 

--mike

[Hugh Smitham]

Hey Mike,

I figured I took it too literal. Yeah I can imagine working in an ER
would make me want alone time too. I'm a fairly social person but at
times human contact can wear me out especially as I age. Solo rides
are wonderful because you don't have to compromise on the ride you
desire. I like your equating a solo ride to a walkabout.

I just finished reading about Freddie Hoffman now he inspires me. Talk
about a ramble.

David was complementary and said you were someone to definitely ride
with. So it's my plan to ride with PDX folks next year. I love Puddle
town and have never ridden my bike up there, so many reasons to visit.

Best,



Hugh (Overly literal)
Sunland, Ca

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[Mike]

One thing that's really weird about Portland is that in spite of being surround by forest and having access to dirt roads, it's not like down there where you have access to singletrack. If you want to singletrack here you gotta throw the bikes in the car and drive for an hour or so although once there it's pretty awesome.

Glad everyone down there had fun on the ride.

Andy has been getting some Riv rides together up here. I'll miss the ride next weekend although I'm sure to get out for some riding and will be going to a live taping of Live Wire (http://www.livewireradio.org/attend_a_live_show) with my wife and friends.

--mike

[cyclotourist]

Mike talks a good talk, but don't let him fool you, he's a pretty good guy. :-)

Cheers,
David

--mike

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[Hugh Smitham]

Yep he is.

Best,


Hugh
Sunland, Ca

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