Toward the end of July I was doing some volunteer work at Santa Margarita Ranch on Ancient Peaks Winery property. I was helping my friends from All-Out Events prepare for the Ancient Peaks Classic mountain bike race. I was able to help carry some pieces of wood for one of the bridges that was built and I was able to help cut a short section of trail on the cross-country course. Just watching the course being built ignited my desire to want to improve my mountain bike riding abilities. One day I was even taught how to drive a skidster tractor down the dirt road. My friend Todd took me in his truck the few times I was out on the ranch helping out. Todd may have annihilated a poor snake and I felt bad because I think it was the kind that kill the rattlesnakes and it was good for the property, but 4x4 on the dirt roads sure was fun. The day before the race I was asked to be the onsite EMT for the pre-riders. I got to watch the bikers and direct them on the course near some cabins by a small reservoir/lake that was great and only one person had some minor scrapes and one person needed hydration.
There is a trail called shooters that I have been wanting to try. Last Thursday I took my friend's dog with me to see if I could bike up TV Tower road to the shooters trail without getting off my bike. I was able to accomplish my goal with dog in tow. The only downside was my glutes were so sore all weekend it hurt to sit on the couch at work.
Today I decided I would do my usual ride up stagecoach road then I would add tv tower road and I would do a test ride down shooters then try to ride back up shooters after I completed going down it. I strayed away from my original plan slightly. After a successful ride down shooters without any falls I decided I would continue down into the dirt roads to the college. I arrived at one locked gate and had to lift my bike over and I had to climb through the gate. I arrived at the next gate which happened to be wood and barbwire. I put the bike under the barbwire fence and I did a plank crawl under to retrieve my bike. I then arrived at once last metal gate it was another one to lift my bike over and this time I couldn't crawl through it I had to go over it. I then rode to the bike shop to get a pedal adjustment and refill my water bottles for the return trip up the busy 101 freeway back to where I had parked my car at the bottom of stagecoach road.
The little jaunt on the freeway really made me appreciate the riders out riding with Ride for 9-11 they are absolutely amazing.
I really have grown to love biking and just how incredible everything around me feels as I am riding.
