Three Kings

The holidays have their positives and negatives, of course. One of the good things is all the friends who have scattered over the years tend to migrate back to home base, giving us a chance to visit and catch up as another year draws to a close.

With Steve being in town, I had an opportunity to ride with two of the brothers Noble today. I think since we go back to sixth grade I am an honorary Noble at this point. I am a king.

We parked at Hazel and did a loop around Granite Bay on single speeds. We cranked out 41.5 miles and I am feeling it right now as I write. The burn from riding a single speed is just different.

Here I make a couple bad attempts at capturing Doug over my shoulder.

It's not easy. I'll keep working on it.

Post ride timer shot:

My arms belong on someone a foot taller. Or an orangutan. Good god.

Another good ride with good people. Each of these rides is always a time to reflect and be thankful for the times we've shared together. So many times we will round a corner or hit a jump and it will trigger a memory from decades past, and it's such a great feeling.

Merry Christmas.

Later.

Vuelta de las Colinas Doradas

Although the forecast called for rain, I awoke yesterday to clear skies. It was cold and breezy, but nothing a few layers of clothing couldn't fix.

I have been exploring the area around my home lately looking for trails. After over five years of living in Shingle Springs, I thought I had found everything. But a recent MTBR post tipped me off to a few new ribbons of dirt I didn't know about. After a few shorter scouting runs, I was ready to put together a big loop.

I like doing rides that combine the road and dirt. I don't know why, really. I guess mostly it's because I hate driving somewhere to ride, so a combo ride allows me to get my dirt jones right from the house.

First up was a gravel fitness path on the south side of Serrano:



Which drops down to a wider gravel road:



After that a short road connection to a bike trail, then to a piece of singletrack. It's really bumpy in spots and pocked by gophers/moles/squirrels—the only place on the entire ride that really hurt my wrist:



Towards the end:



After 150 yards of road, a double-track:



The double-track dumps you out on Silva Valley Parkway. Right across the road is another fitness trail:



After that a short climb up Serrano Parkway and a descent down the Most Dangerous Bike Trail in America:



Built by drunken Austrian mountain climbers, it features steep grades, smooth asphalt and off-camber turns. A coworker's husband once broke his clavicle and a few ribs crashing on it.



Next up was a quarter-mile ride up El Dorado Hills Boulevard to Saratoga, which dead ends at a short double-track:



Another quick ride through an El Dorado Hills neighborhood to the recreation trail over Empire Ranch.



It's about two miles in length with rolling terrain:



After a short transition on Sophia Parkway, it's on to the trail to Brown's Ravine:



Right across the street from the Brown's Ravine entrance is the trail to Wild Oak Park. I have ridden past it HUNDREDS of times without seeing it. What a cool little trail this is:



Flowy and fun:



Nice:



Stairs:



After a short transition on Francisco Drive, the New York Creek trail. I took a crappy picture. This is really a cool little trail, about a mile long, very much similar to something from Salmon Falls/Sweetwater/Brown's Ravine:



Another short transition to the fitness trail through the north side of Serrano. It's about 1.5 miles long. Yeah, it's a gravel road, but if you use your imagination, it's JUST LIKE singletrack:



After that, about an eight-mile ride home. Final stats: 36 miles (about 16 on dirt); 3:04 ride time; 3:18 total time.

Later.