Ride 6 - FINAL STAGE - Downieville EPIC
This day's stage started with the usual business-like hit on the local Safeway for groceries, a big Jamba Juice smoothie, and a stop at CBO in Auburn to try and fix a worn out bushing on the 'Blade. Please note that the Trek branded rigs were flawless thoughout the tour. Success was had at the shop where the bushing was replaced, Powerbars were won, and the shop techie recommended that we shuttle at Downieville. This recommendation was thoroughly discussed by the crew during the drive out to this classic downhill mountain bike destination. After meeting with the manager at YUBA Expeditions, it was confirmed that a loop ride would be the order of the day - shuttle monkeys we are NOT. We discussed a likely route with this heavily bearded gentleman and thanked him by purchasing Downieville Classic pint glasses.
The loop was planned to be the IMBA Epic Big Boulder Ride, with 2nd Divide and 1st Divide thrown in after doing the Toejam thing and earning our DH with one massive and scorching climb. It should be noted that we only saw one set of bike tracks on this dusty winding fireroad. This route is an ambitious 35 mile + ride that would throw over 5,000 of climbing at us, 4k in the first 15 miles. The local temp was 103 degrees. The scenery was awe inspiring, jagged cliffs, cold, snowmelt rivers of emerald green water, this was gold country at its finest. We saw many floating mining rigs run by privateer miners in the rivers ( looked like fun to dB, hey Ann likes gold!). The carnes on the beaches of the river were also photo documented.
However, as the climb ensued - this trip became all business on a scorching hot fireroad, we tried our best to ride in whatever available shade fell upon the road. Jeffro was suffering, but stayed within himself and managed to reach the top of the fireroad only about 10 minutes behind the duo of dB and CRASH who finished 6 mins. ahead of dB. Crash stated that he felt he was the best he had been all Tour - getting stronger as the Tour progressed. ALL were low on water, Jeffro was empty.
Due to our slow pace in the searing heat, and our sense that daylight may become an issue, it was decided to amend the route and drop about 7 miles of fireroad in exchange for an earlier brutal downhill section on a world famous race course that would intersect another planned section of trail. This was know as California's longest DH.
Within a few miles of the dh though we found a spring and filtered water for everyone.
The Butcher Ranch DH was a very worn pro DH race course - better suited for bikes with 5"+ of suspension travel - not 4" or less XC rigs, but we managed. Though a pro race is supposed to occur this coming weekend we saw no riders on the course. The stutter/braking bumps were punishment and really made dB's wrist aggravated from the abuse - yet we bombed on. The trail was also unique, with smooth singletrack winding into tight bushy creek bed sections and then dumping out over rock/boulder gardens that threatened death and dismemberment to those who attacked it at too high or too low a speed.
CRASH was captured in one shot mid air as he wheel chocked one of the nastier sections. Chenger who captured the moment in digital eternity says, "yeah, I rode up on this and thought - WOW someone is going to BUY IT here, I'd better get my camera!" - thus is the Toejam mentality - don't save your fellow TJ'ers from themselves if you can take a picture of the pending carnage. It is a rough group.
CRASH recovered from his gnar-gnar faceplant, licked his fresh wounds - on top of old fresh wounds - and we proceeded with this relentless and rugged, DUSTY descent.
(Three days later and I am still coughing up red dirt. --dB)
The Bucher Shop section finally gave way to a steel bridge where the hot and DUSTY TJ'ers filtered more water and took a dip in the COLD emerald green pools. Refreshed, we then struck out for 2nd Divide, the true gem of the trip.
2nd Divide was buff, rolling sidetrack wwith tech sketch-o-matic, blind curves that could thrust the unseasoned over a 350' cliff and down onto boulders strewn about the Yuba river below. There were close calls had by all, knowing this trail would be a major advantage in any timed event. You either cruise or crash. dB bonked and had to gel up and chow down a chocolate powerbar to continue.
After reaching the Lavezolla Rd. it was decided to ride 1st Divide on out even though we were all smoked. It was a fun little trail with more scenery and we just tooled along till we reached D-ville at the end. A swim in the chilly Yuba River as the sky darkened was our reward, and we managed to get dinner at the Grubstake Saloon before it closed at 9PM. Everyone was almost too tired to eat.
#'s for the day included: 33 miles, 5,200' of elevation gain, 8.2 avg, 30.9 mx spd, 4:03 pedal time.
That night we toredown and packed our rigs for the next day's flight, Jeff stayed up all nite trying to get our pix sorted out and dB crashed for a few hours shuteye before being awoken for out 7AM departure. After traveling all the next day, dB arrived home at 2AM and fell exhausted into his bed - satisfied and glad to be home.
The loop was planned to be the IMBA Epic Big Boulder Ride, with 2nd Divide and 1st Divide thrown in after doing the Toejam thing and earning our DH with one massive and scorching climb. It should be noted that we only saw one set of bike tracks on this dusty winding fireroad. This route is an ambitious 35 mile + ride that would throw over 5,000 of climbing at us, 4k in the first 15 miles. The local temp was 103 degrees. The scenery was awe inspiring, jagged cliffs, cold, snowmelt rivers of emerald green water, this was gold country at its finest. We saw many floating mining rigs run by privateer miners in the rivers ( looked like fun to dB, hey Ann likes gold!). The carnes on the beaches of the river were also photo documented.
However, as the climb ensued - this trip became all business on a scorching hot fireroad, we tried our best to ride in whatever available shade fell upon the road. Jeffro was suffering, but stayed within himself and managed to reach the top of the fireroad only about 10 minutes behind the duo of dB and CRASH who finished 6 mins. ahead of dB. Crash stated that he felt he was the best he had been all Tour - getting stronger as the Tour progressed. ALL were low on water, Jeffro was empty.
Due to our slow pace in the searing heat, and our sense that daylight may become an issue, it was decided to amend the route and drop about 7 miles of fireroad in exchange for an earlier brutal downhill section on a world famous race course that would intersect another planned section of trail. This was know as California's longest DH.
Within a few miles of the dh though we found a spring and filtered water for everyone.
The Butcher Ranch DH was a very worn pro DH race course - better suited for bikes with 5"+ of suspension travel - not 4" or less XC rigs, but we managed. Though a pro race is supposed to occur this coming weekend we saw no riders on the course. The stutter/braking bumps were punishment and really made dB's wrist aggravated from the abuse - yet we bombed on. The trail was also unique, with smooth singletrack winding into tight bushy creek bed sections and then dumping out over rock/boulder gardens that threatened death and dismemberment to those who attacked it at too high or too low a speed.
CRASH was captured in one shot mid air as he wheel chocked one of the nastier sections. Chenger who captured the moment in digital eternity says, "yeah, I rode up on this and thought - WOW someone is going to BUY IT here, I'd better get my camera!" - thus is the Toejam mentality - don't save your fellow TJ'ers from themselves if you can take a picture of the pending carnage. It is a rough group.
CRASH recovered from his gnar-gnar faceplant, licked his fresh wounds - on top of old fresh wounds - and we proceeded with this relentless and rugged, DUSTY descent.
(Three days later and I am still coughing up red dirt. --dB)
The Bucher Shop section finally gave way to a steel bridge where the hot and DUSTY TJ'ers filtered more water and took a dip in the COLD emerald green pools. Refreshed, we then struck out for 2nd Divide, the true gem of the trip.
2nd Divide was buff, rolling sidetrack wwith tech sketch-o-matic, blind curves that could thrust the unseasoned over a 350' cliff and down onto boulders strewn about the Yuba river below. There were close calls had by all, knowing this trail would be a major advantage in any timed event. You either cruise or crash. dB bonked and had to gel up and chow down a chocolate powerbar to continue.
After reaching the Lavezolla Rd. it was decided to ride 1st Divide on out even though we were all smoked. It was a fun little trail with more scenery and we just tooled along till we reached D-ville at the end. A swim in the chilly Yuba River as the sky darkened was our reward, and we managed to get dinner at the Grubstake Saloon before it closed at 9PM. Everyone was almost too tired to eat.
#'s for the day included: 33 miles, 5,200' of elevation gain, 8.2 avg, 30.9 mx spd, 4:03 pedal time.
That night we toredown and packed our rigs for the next day's flight, Jeff stayed up all nite trying to get our pix sorted out and dB crashed for a few hours shuteye before being awoken for out 7AM departure. After traveling all the next day, dB arrived home at 2AM and fell exhausted into his bed - satisfied and glad to be home.
posted by doubleB at 2:50 PM
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