web site: www.nrmbc.org
885 St. Charles Dr. #11, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805 373-8824 e-mail: mtbikesman@aol.com

December 2013

Looking for a map link to the trailhead? Just click on the "directions" under the ride write-up, this is a link to Google maps! And remember to have your radios for the rides and tune them to channel 5.25.

Summary

The Fine Print

By riding with the North Ranch Mountain Bikers I understand and accept the following:

► I understand that mountain biking can be dangerous and accidents can result in either injury or death.

► I understand there is no charge for the bike rides.

► I understand that the trails the North Ranch Mountain Bikers ride may not be verified for safety or ridability.

► I understand that it is my responsibility to determine if my riding skills match the difficulty of the trail we are riding on.

► I understand that the ride leaders accept no responsibility for my safety on any ride and that I undertake any ride knowing that I and I alone am responsible for my safety on the ride.

NEWS FOR EVERYONE

Sunday, December 15: HOLIDAY PARTY!!.   It's time for a Holiday Celebration!  Let's get together for a fun potluck with good food, joyful gifts and share some holiday cheer.   Please bring an appetizer, salad, side dish or dessert to share.  If you have a preferred beverage be sure to bring it with you.

GIFT EXCHANGE:  We will have a gift exchange. For those who would like to participate, bring a $20 wrapped, new gift with a "from tag" wrapped INSIDE of the gift.  NO GAG gifts or used items, etc...you will be given it back!

WHERE?  Graham's is hosting it this year.  If you need directions send him an email at Graham6122@att.net.  The party starts @ 2p.m.

TOY DRIVE!  In addition to your gift to swap, Charlotte will be collecting toys on behalf of NRMB for the local toy drive. If you would like to participate, please bring a new, un-wrapped, children’s toy or children’s sporting equipment.  She will deliver them all to the collection center at a local Fire Department. Every year, thousands of children experience a Christmas morning with no gifts to open. With the love and support of toy donors like you, many children will receive a new toy this holiday season.

WEEKEND RIDES

Sunday, December 1: Sycamore: Guadalasca - Backbone Loop.   We start off on the connector trail that leads to Big Sycamore Canyon Road. We’ll descend down into the canyon and take Sin Nombre over to Sage and make the climb up to the water tower. From here it’s a fast and fun decent down Wood Canyon. Then it’s another climb up to the top via Guadalasca. We’ll ride the fireroad over to Backbone and enjoy another great descent. After a short jaunt on Two Foxes we’ll head up the main fireroad and climb up the dreaded asphalt hill. From the top it’s just a short ride back to the cars. Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3.5, 19 Miles and 2900 Feet of Climbing , About 3.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Tom

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Wendy exit in Newbury Park. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Wendy until it dead-ends at Potrero Road. Park in the adjacent dirt parking area.

Sunday, December 1: Sycamore Canyon from the Beach - Wood Canyon and Singletracks.   We’ll begin at the parking lot and ride up the Big Sycamore Trail and Wood Canyon. From there we'll go up and down Wood Canyon and climb up to the water tower. The rewarding part of this ride is going down Ranch Center Drive (paved bike path) and the singletracks (Sin Nombre Trail, and Two Foxes/Coyote Trail). Then it’s back to the main fireroad which takes us back to the beach. Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2, Technical Rating = T2, 13 Miles and 1000 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Michelle

A Great Ride for the beginner in you or someone you know..Please join in on the fun.

Directions:   For those who are coming from the San Fernando/ Los Angeles area: Take the 101 Fwy towards Ventura and exit on Kanan Road (make a left turn from the exit ramp).
Then make a right turn on PCH 1 and head towards Sycamore Canyon (it is approximately 14 miles northwest of Kanan Road and is on the right side).

For those who are coming from the Santa Barbara/ Ventura/ Oxnard/ Camarillo area: Take the 101S Fwy (101N for those who are coming from Thousand Oaks/ Simi Valley) and exit on S Las Posas Road (going towards PCH). Then go to PCH 1 South and look for signs to go to Sycamore Canyon (which is on the left side).

If you don’t want to pay the $12 fee for parking in the lot you can look for parking on PCH. For the ride we'll meet on the park side of Pacific Coast Hwy 1 for the ride (in front of the restrooms, located by the campground/ parking lot area, turn left after you pass the gaurd).

Saturday, December 7: Santa Barbara - Little Pine (Advanced).   Climbers, this is your ride: 13 miles of steep fireroad. You will, however, be rewarded for your effort by a 6-7 mile super-sweet, super-technical singletrack that descends down a beautiful canyon. From the Lower Oso parking lot we’ll climb approximately 4 miles up a steep fireroad, alongside a scenic riverbed, to the Cameusa Connector trail turnoff. From here we will continue climbing 2 more miles to a fork in the road and continue up the left fork for another 4 miles to a section of switchbacks known as "The Wall." From the top of The Wall it's another 2 - 2½ miles of moderate climbing to the Water Tower. We’ll continue along the saddle of the mountain from the Water Tower for about 1 - 1.5 more miles to the top where we'll enjoy some lunch and take in the scenic view of the Santa Barbara foothills, Cachuma Lake and, even the ocean on a clear day. Now comes the very narrow (with exposure) and very technical 6-7 mile singletrack decent. You also have the option of going back the down the fireroad to the parking lot if you don't feel up to the singletrack. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E5, Technical Rating = T5, 20 Miles and 3800 Feet of Climbing , About 5 Hours , Ride Leader: Tamara

Directions:   Take the 101 north to Santa Barbara and exit "154/Lake Cachuma". Go straight through the signal light, crossing Hollister Ave. This road will curve around to the left and leads to another major signal intersection, turn right. This is Hwy 154. The 154 will head up and over the mountain. Once you cross a very long bridge look for the Paradise Road turn-off, and turn right. Drive several miles to the Forest Ranger kiosk, in the middle of the road, where you can purchase an Adventure Pass. Continue straight across the cement bridge through the riverbed and park in the Lower Oso parking lot on the right by the bathrooms. Here's where we'll meet to start our ride. Plan for a 1.5 to 1.75 hour drive to get there from Thousand Oaks.

Saturday, December 7: CORBA Skills Clinic.   CORBA's Free Mountain Biking Skills Clinics are held the first Saturday of each month. Mountain biking is a lot like tennis or skiing. Just a few minor adjustments in technique can make a huge difference in your control and proficiency. If you want to get better faster, you need to know the fundamentals of mountain biking technique. Whether you're just getting into mountain biking or have been riding for years, you'll learn some valuable tips that will enhance your trail riding experience. For more information see: http://www.corbamtb.com/programs/skills.shtml

To get to Malibu Creek State Park, take the Ventura Freeway (101) to Calabasas, exit Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon. Go south 3.5 miles. You will cross Mulholland Highway and go another 1/4 mile to the entrance to Malibu Creek State Park on the right. From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway north to Malibu Canyon Road and turn Right. Go 6 miles to the park entrance on your left. Just past the ranger kiosk to the left is a large gravel parking lot that runs parallel to the road. This is where the group meets. Do not go to the lower paved parking lot. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E1, Technical Rating = T1, 5 Miles and 200 Feet of Climbing , About 4.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Kevin

Once or twice a year we'd like to encourage all riders to attend the CORBA skills clinic. Even an experienced MTBer can learn something new for themselves, or learn a better way to convey a technique to a newer rider. While Kevin is listed as the leader, once the clinic starts he will be a student of Mark's just like everyone else. Beginners are strongly encouraged to attend the clinic at least once, as you will be better prepared for the occasional technical terrain you will encounter on the North Ranch beginner rides.

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Las Virgenes Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. The park entrance is on the West Side of the road just south of Mulholland. There is a fee for parking inside the park. Otherwise you can park in the dirt area on the corner of Las Virgenes and Mulholland. Start in the last parking lot by the restrooms inside the park.

Saturday, December 7: Cheeseboro/Gas Pipe/Las Virgenes.   We begin with an easy to moderate climb up the Sulphur Springs trail to Shepherd’s Flat. Then we head east and ride down Sheep Corral (AKA Gaspipe), a really fun technical singletrack that leads down into Las Virgenes Canyon. We’ll continue down the fireroad until it ends at the city street. Then we will cut through the gate to start the Edison Fire Road climb for about 2 miles until the short Canyon View descent back into Cheesebro. 

The T4 rating is due to the Gas Pipe downhill section, which is about 15 minutes long. Meet at 9:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3, Technical Rating = T4, 10 Miles and 1800 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Randy

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Continue up the paved road 1/4 mile to the top parking lot.

Sunday, December 8: Mar Ranch Open Space + Chumash.   We park at the Las Llajas (ya-has) trailhead.

1st part of ride (about 4.7 miles and 1050 ft elev gain): We roll down Evening Sky to Yosemite, make a right, go for .5 mile, and meet at the Chivo Cnyn Rd TH. We start this fire road by veering left, after passing the gate, and go for .8 mile. Then we turn rightish (north) and continue on Chivo Cnyn Rd (now a ST) for .55 mile. We take the uphill right fork (Mar Ranch Rd ST) and go for .7 mile. We continue straight (rightish) at the fork and go .2 mile. We take the left uphill ST fork. Now we enjoy .75 mile of DH (inclusive of the Steep Loose DH) to the next fork in the road. Right or left continues our remaining .75 mile DH to Las Llajas Cnyn Rd. We will take a short break. If anyone has any time constraints, it is only about 1/4 mile back to the cars.

2nd part of ride (about 4.3 miles and 1200 ft elev gain): We ride up Las Llajas Cnyn Rd, a gentle climb of about 580 ft in 3.3 miles, until we reach the junction of the steep Oil Wells climb. Then we climb about 620 ft up to the junction of Rocky Peak fire road (similar gain as the Las Llajas climb, but in only 1.0 mile). Nice.

3rd part of ride (5.6 miles and 750 ft elev gain): We continue on Rocky Peak fire road for .7mile, and 300 ft elev gain, climbing to the top of Seashells. Then it is .8 mile, down then up, to the TH at the top of Chumash. Finally, 2.6 miles of T4 technical DH to the bottom of Chumash. We will take a short break and a re-count at this point. Now we take the pavement for a few blocks, make a right at Broken Arrow, go to the end, and enjoy the final ST, .8 mile, through Chumash Park and back to the cars.

 Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T4.0, 15 Miles and 3000 Feet of Climbing , About 3.25 Hours , Ride Leader: Bob

Directions:   Take the 118 Freeway to the Yosemite Avenue exit in Simi Valley. At the end of the off-ramp proceed north to Evening Sky Drive and make a right. Proceed approx. 1/2 mile up to the Las Llajas trailhead and park on the road

Saturday, December 14: Caballero/Sullivan Canyon.   We begin with a moderate to somewhat difficult climb up the Caballero singletrack to dirt Mulholland. Then we head east along Mulholland a couple miles till we reach the Sullivan Canyon cutoff. From here it's a fun, fun, fun downhill all the way to the canyon’s end. The climb out of the canyon is mostly moderate and will proceed along the same trail as before. As a finale we’ll descend Caballero back to the cars. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3.5, 16 Miles and 2300 Feet of Climbing , About 3 Hours , Ride Leader: Charlotte

At the end of the ride, some may add in Farmer's before heading down Cabby.

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Reseda Blvd. exit in Tarzana. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Reseda a couple of miles and park on the street at the trailhead. If you come upon the Braemar Country Club you've gone a little too far.

Sunday, December 15: Sunset Hills/Lang Ranch/Dead Cow Rd..   This is an epic ride with lots of climbing and technical descents. We start up the Sunset Hills Trail including a bonus loop (built by CORBA in October 2011) up and over a few short steep sections and down to the Woodbridge Loop. We'll take the Woodbridge Connector to the Autumn Ridge Trail, up the steep (but short) Heartbreak Hill. Keeping right, we climb up to the the start of the Rocky Singletrack on the left at the crest of the hill. After that fun descent, we climb the Albertson Motorway, go part way around China Flats, and enjoy the downhill technical challenges of Dead Cow Rd. We will endure a few blocks of street riding to the Hidden Meadows trail at the end of Falling Star. This twisty trail connects to the Oak Brook vista trail, which takes us along the ridge and down another fun descent to Lang Ranch Pkwy where we turn right. Then, it's a left on Oak Valley Ln. to the Autumn Ridge trailhead. That leads us back to the Woodbridge Loop and to the Sunset Hills Trail. On the way back down, we bypass the bonus loop and take the original trail (all downhill) to the finish. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E4.5, Technical Rating = T4, 18 Miles and 3800 Feet of Climbing , About 4 Hours , Ride Leader: Jonathan

Directions:   Take the 101 freeway to the 23 North, or take the 118 freeway to the 23 South. From the 23 Freeway, exit at Sunset Hills Bl. Go East on Sunset Hills Bl. for 0.2 miles and turn left on Erbes at the four-way stop. Go 0.7 miles on Erbes to the dirt lot on the right.

Sunday, December 15: Reseda to the Foundation.   From the Reseda parking area we will take the singletrack connector up to dirt Mullholland, then take Temescal to the Hub. From the Hub its an easy, fairly flat trip out to the Foundation, with it's spectacular view in all directions. This is our turnaround point, from here we'll retrace our route back to the parking lot at Reseda. Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2, Technical Rating = T2, 9 Miles and 800 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Kevin

Directions:   Take the 101 Fwy to the Reseda Blvd exit in Tarzana. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Reseda; pass the Caballero trail, up through/past the opening in the fence up to the paid parking area. Park just before the "white line" as the paid parking starts just beyond that white line. At the end of the ride, when leaving the parking area, be sure to stop at the photo enforced stop sign.

Saturday, December 21: Brown Mountain Dam and Summit with Optional El Preito Descent.   We begin in Hahamonga Watershed Park at the base of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Alta Dena, heading south across Devil's Gate Dam to a northbound trail head on the southeast side of the watershed. We join the Gabrielino Trail via the JPL employee parking lot, and head to the Brown Mountain Dam. This XC canyon run offers a bit of everything, including a few water crossings. After a brief respite we head back out of the canyon to climb Brown Mountain. We ascend the Fern Truck Trail to the Brown Mountain Saddle, catch our breath, and summit via Brown Mountain Road, a single track. After another respite we enjoy down-hill action back to the Saddle. ADVANCED RIDERS may opt for a run down the east side of the Fern Truck Trail and the HIGHLY TECHNICAL El Prieto Trail, while the rest of the group descends Fern Truck Trail. Both routes lead back to the junction of the Gabrielino Trail. Once regrouped we head back to Hahamonga Watershed Park via trails on the eastern perimeter of JPL, including a one-quarter mile stretch of tricky gravel. THE EL PRIETO TRAIL IS OPTIONAL ON THIS RIDE, AND CARRIES A T RATING OF 4.0. IT REQUIRES GREAT SKILL AND CONTROL. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E4.0, Technical Rating = T3.5, 22 Miles and 3000 Feet of Climbing , About 3.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Jesse

This is an ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE ride, and will be led at a MODERATE PACE. Please rate yourself appropriately. The ride leader may allow or drop riders at his/her discretion.

Please bring:
***YOUR RADIO, TUNED TO 5.25***
Plenty of electrolyte-based fluids
A snack or two
A spare inner tube and patch kit
A pump and/or CO2 cartridges
A helmet
A working mountain bike . . . yes. please bring a working mountain bike.

All participants riding with the North Ranch Mountain Bikers understand and accept the following:

► Properly fitting, undamaged helmets are mandatory.

► Mountain biking can be dangerous. Accidents may result in either injury or death.

► There is no charge for the bike rides.

► Trails ridden may not be verified for safety or "ride-ability".

► It is the participant's responsibility to determine if their riding skills match the difficulty of the trails on which we ride.

► Ride leaders accept no responsibility for participant safety on any ride. Participants undertake any ride knowing they alone are responsible for their own safety on the ride.

Post-ride refueling at Los Gringos Locos, where the guacamole is made fresh at your table:

www.losgringoslocos.com
631 Foothill Blvd
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
http://goo.gl/maps/lcnEG

Directions:   [***Three options, two from the west and one from the east, are provided to the park entrance, followed by directions to the parking lot where rides are staged. Please read all options before departing. Contact the ride leader with questions.***]

[From Conejo Valley & Points West to Park Entrance]

Option 1:
Take US-101 S to CA-134 E to CA-2 N to I-210 E. Take the first exit, CA-2 N, Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada/Flintridge.

Option 2:
Take CA-23 N to CA-118 E to I-210 E. Exit at CA-2 N, Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada/Flintridge

Options 1 & 2 from the off ramp:
Turn right/south. Make a left at the second light, Foothill Boulevard, heading east. Cross the intersection at Oak Grove Drive about 3/4 of a mile later, and head straight into the the park.

[From Pasadena & Points East to Park Entrance]

Option 3:
Navigate to I-210 W. Exit at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada/Flintridge. Turn right/east on Foothill Boulevard, heading east. Cross the intersection at Oak Grove Drive about 3/4 of a mile later, and head straight into the the park.

[All options from Park Entrance]
Follow the unnamed road about 500 feet and take the first left turn, followed by a quick right at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. An ample parking lot is on your right, near the soccer & baseball fields, just before the watershed. If that lot is full, use overflow parking on the dirt lot in the watershed. Rides start & end at the paved lot.

****Don't park in spots on the upper road near the entrance of the park. They're limited to two hours.****

Saturday, December 21: Brown Mountain Dam for Advanced Beginners.   We start with an easy counter-clockwise trip around the watershed, then get into the Arroyo Seco canyon proper as we start up the Gabrioleno trail. It starts out paved, then turns to fireroad, then double track, then singletrack. The further up we get, the more fun and technical it becomes. Think of the rock garden leading to the MASH set in Malibu Creek for comparison. Overall more rideable, but with hike-a-bike sections for everyone. Also lots of stream crossings. We'll take a break at the dam, then double back down for a quicker run back down the trail. When we arrive back at the watershed, we'll continue counter-clockwise around the park, with JPL on our right. A brief encounter with a sandy wash, and we're back to the parking lot. Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2, Technical Rating = T3, 11 Miles and 700 Feet of Climbing , About 3 Hours , Ride Leader: Kevin

Directions:   [***Three options, two from the west and one from the east, are provided to the park entrance, followed by directions to the parking lot where rides are staged. Please read all options before departing. Contact the ride leader with questions.***]

[From Conejo Valley & Points West to Park Entrance]

Option 1:
Take US-101 S to CA-134 E to CA-2 N to I-210 E. Take the first exit, CA-2 N, Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada/Flintridge.

Option 2:
Take CA-23 N to CA-118 E to I-210 E. Exit at CA-2 N, Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada/Flintridge

Options 1 & 2 from the off ramp:
Turn right/south. Make a left at the second light, Foothill Boulevard, heading east. Cross the intersection at Oak Grove Drive about 3/4 of a mile later, and head straight into the the park.

[From Pasadena & Points East to Park Entrance]

Option 3:
Navigate to I-210 W. Exit at Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada/Flintridge. Turn right/east on Foothill Boulevard, heading east. Cross the intersection at Oak Grove Drive about 3/4 of a mile later, and head straight into the the park.

[All options from Park Entrance]
Follow the unnamed road about 500 feet and take the first left turn, followed by a quick right at the stop sign at the bottom of the hill. An ample parking lot is on your right, near the soccer & baseball fields, just before the watershed. If that lot is full, use overflow parking on the dirt lot in the watershed. Rides start & end at the paved lot.

****Don't park in spots on the upper road near the entrance of the park. They're limited to two hours.****

Sunday, December 22: Lower Merrill to Inspiration Point, Mid Merrill, Sunset & El Prieto.   This is a long ride with lots of singletrack thrills, technical challenges and good ‘ol So Cal history. We will park at JPL parking lot, ride pavement eastbound for a few miles, then up the Lower Sam Merrill where we will discover the ruins of what was once a very sheik resort and listen to Echo Mountain mock us. We will then ride the remains of the old Mt. Lowe Railroad Trail, up to the Inspiration Point where, if it’s a clear day, will offer some of the best views of the greater LA area you’ll find anywhere. Now the fun begins as we go down the Middle Sam Merrill, then down Sunset Trail, both white-knuckle adventures. For those not interested in the technical white-knuckle adventures, you can descend back down Mt. Lowe fireroad and meet up at Millard Campgrounds. Then the fun continues as we ride up Millard Canyon fireroad over to El Prieto singletrack which we take down and through the Arroyo, and back to the JPL parking lot. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E5, Technical Rating = T5, 21 Miles and 4100 Feet of Climbing , About 5 Hours , Ride Leader: Tamara

Directions:   From Thousand Oaks: 101E; 134E; 2N; to 210E or 23N; or take 118E to 210E. Take 210 East and exit at Windsor/Arroyo Blvd., turn left at the off ramp onto Windsor and continue for about a mile. Park in the paved parking area on the left near the entrance to JPL, just before the street curves to the right becoming Ventura Street.

Sunday, December 22: Wildwood/Lynnmere.   Wildwood is a great place for an easier ride. There's a lot of neat riding (single track, fire road, creek crossings, and a small waterfall). We'll head out towards Lizard Rock via the fire road. At the base of Lizard Rock, there's a short hill that we'll be walking. From here we'll take the singletrack, that has a few technical sections (all walkable), down to the valley floor and head on to the falls for a short break. Then there's a climb up the Lynnmere trail that we’ll be walking. Then lots of fun to be had on the singletrack that leads out to Lynn Road. After a couple miles of road riding we'll end up back at the main Wildwood parking lot. Meet at 9:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2.5, Technical Rating = T3, 7 Miles and 1000 Feet of Climbing , About 2 Hours , Ride Leader: Randy

Directions:   Take the Lynn Road exit, off of the 101 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, and go north until you come to Avenida De Los Arboles. Turn left and go about 1 mile to the end. From Simi Valley, go west on the 118 Fwy and then south when it turns into the 23 Fwy. Get off on Avenida De Los Arboles and go right for about 2 miles to the end. Hang a U-turn at the end (watch for opposing traffic) and then turn right into the dirt parking lot.

Monday, December 23: Newbury Park & Dos Vientos Figure 8.   This will be a bit of a roller-coaster of a ride along trails that go up and down the hills in the open spaces of Newbury Park and Dos Vientos. None of the hills are long grinds but the frequent changes in pace should keep you on your toes! Along the way we'll see the twin ponds, some trails the equestrians would like to keep to themselves, and one trail that almost nobody knows about. We'll also see lots of houses below us with people parked on their sofas watching TV while we're having fun on our bikes! Most of our route will be on singletrack (including one that was built in the spring of 2011 that allows us to connect this all together), with some fireroad and a block or two on pavement a few times to connect it all up. Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3, 16 Miles and 2500 Feet of Climbing , About 3.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Jonathan

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Wendy exit in Newbury Park. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Wendy until it dead-ends at Potrero Road. Park in the adjacent dirt parking area.

Saturday, December 28: Ahmanson/Cheeseboro Beginner.   The National Park Service opened the Victory Blvd entrance to the Ahmanson Ranch area (now called the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve – what a mouthful!). Let’s start a ride here and venture into Cheeseboro from the east side for a change. After traversing the rolling hills of Ahmanson we’ll drop down into Las Virgenes Canyon and then downshift to make the climb up to Cheeseboro via what we "affectionately" have called "Pump Road" (Las Virgenes Canyon connector.)  From there we will ride to Cheeseboro Canyon and on up to Sulphur Springs and possibly to Shepard Flats depending on the group.  From there we will turn around and head back the way we came.    Meet at 9:00 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2.5-3, Technical Rating = T2.5, About 3 Hours , Ride Leader: Michelle

A Great Ride for the STRONG beginner who's ready for a little bit of a challenge..Please join in on the fun.

Directions:   Exit the 101 freeway at the Mulholland/Valley Circle off ramp and head north on Valley Circle for about 2 miles. Turn left (west) on Victory Blvd and head up the hill to the end, which is the Preserve entrance. Parking is $3 in the NPS gravel lot (worked on the honor system, but they do check!) or free on the side roads close by.

Sunday, December 29: Tapia Canyon featuring G-Out and Kona.   Intermediate single-track lovers seeking thrills, this is your ride! We begin at the Castaic Sports Complex and Aquatic Center, riding about a mile of pavement to the Tapia Canyon Fire Road. After a short side visit on bonus XC single track we follow the fire road about 3.5 miles gradually up to the Twin Power Towers to regroup, catch our breath and snap a photo or two. We then take a combination of single track and fire road over to one of the most thrilling adventures in Southern California, the G-Out single track. Divided into two segments, Upper G-Out starts as speedy a ridge-line traverse, giving way to Lower G-Out, a seat-of-your-pants, roller coaster ride through a desert canyon. Lower G-Out is packed with a few switchbacks, BMX-type rollers, off-cambered turns and generous flow sections. It is TECHNICAL, gets the heart pumping, suspension squishing, gears shifting . . . and puts a huge smile on your face. Think El Prieto without all the rocks and drop-offs. A one-and-a-half-mile fire road climb up from G-Out leaves us back at the power towers where we begin the second thrill of the ride, Kona. The Kona descent is akin to Sin Nombre on steroids . . . long, flowing sections of single track with twists and turns, rollers and a few jumps to keep that smile on your face. It offers several braided sections, giving riders a chance to customize their descent. Kona deposits us about a mile and a half up the Tapia Canyon Fire Road, which we take back to the Sports Complex the way we came, smiles still affixed to our faces. THIS RIDE TAKES PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, MADE AVAILABLE TO MOUNTAIN BIKERS BY GRACIOUS RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHILE CLIMBING THE LOWER SECTION OF TAPIA CANYON FIRE ROAD WE ARE ASKED TO STAY TO THE RIGHT, RIDING SINGLE-FILE WITH A MINIMUM OF NOISE, UNTIL WE REACH THE THRESHOLD OF THE WHITE GATE ABOUT HALFWAY UP TO THE POWER TOWERS. FAILURE TO COMPLY JEOPARDIZES EVERYONE'S PRIVILEGE TO THIS AREA. CONSULT THE RIDE LEADER IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.0, Technical Rating = T4.0, 16 Miles and 1550 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Jesse

This is an ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE ride, led at a MODERATE PACE. Please rate yourself appropriately. The ride leader may allow or drop riders at his/her discretion.

Please bring:
***YOUR RADIO, TUNED TO 5.25***
Plenty of electrolyte-based fluids
A snack or two
A spare inner tube and patch kit
A pump and/or CO2 cartridges
A helmet
A working mountain bike . . . yes. please bring a working mountain bike.

All participants riding with the North Ranch Mountain Bikers understand and accept the following:

► Properly fitting, undamaged helmets are mandatory.

► Mountain biking can be dangerous. Accidents may result in either injury or death.

► There is no charge for the bike rides.

► Trails ridden may not be verified for safety or "ride-ability".

► It is the participant's responsibility to determine if their riding skills match the difficulty of the trails on which we ride.

► Ride leaders accept no responsibility for participant safety on any ride. Participants undertake any ride knowing they alone are responsible for their own safety on the ride.

Post-ride refueling at Mike's Diner, Castaic
31537 Castaic Rd, Castaic, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/IxzNK

We will ride our mountain bikes. It will be fun.

Directions:   From the I-5 / I-405 interchange, take I-5 northbound 17 miles to the PARKER ROAD exit. Turn right/east on RIDGE ROUTE ROAD, then right/south on CASTAIC ROAD. Park at the Castaic Sports Complex, 0.2 miles south on the east/left side of the road, one block past the Aquatic Center. Outdoor estrooms are located near the soccer fields.

31320 North Castaic Road
Castaic, CA 91384

Wednesday, January 1: Space Mountain/Rosewood.   This is a fun loop ride with lots of singletrack and switchbacks for your biking enjoyment. We start with a singletrack climb up Space Mountain. Then we’ll continue along the Los Robles Trail to the "Lookout" and take a break at the picnic table. Then it’s time to catch some thrills as we make our way down the Rosewood Singletrack to Lynn Road. After a short jaunt on pavement we are back on dirt again. This portion of the trail has a few ups and downs and connects with the whoop-de-doo trail that leads back to the cars. Meet at 12:01 pm and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3, Technical Rating = T3, 8 Miles and 1500 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours , Ride Leader: Randy

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Moorpark Road exit in Thousand Oaks. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Moorpark till it dead-ends at Greenmeadow Avenue and park in the dirt lot on the right.

NIGHT RIDES

Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday Nights.  See Summary Section of the Newsletter for meeting times, ride times are 15 minutes later. The lengths of all rides are between 10 & 15 miles with ride times of 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Lights are needed for the months of September to May. During the summer months they may not be needed, but it's a good idea to bring them just in case there's a delay. The specific routes taken for the night rides will be determined at the trailhead.

Meeting Locations for Evening Rides:

Calabasas Peak at Night.   Take the 101 Fwy to Valley Circle/Mulholland Dr. exit. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue south on Mulholland and make a right on Valmar which becomes Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Continue on Old Topanga which will join Mulholland Hwy briefly and then continue on the left. Follow Old Topanga about 1.5 miles and look for the Calabasas Peak trail head on the right across from Summit to Summit trail.

Lang Ranch/Sunset at Night.   Heading north on the 23 toward Simi, get off at Sunset Blvd and turn right. Continue straight until just before you get to the guard shack. Park in the lot on the right.

MTB Backbone from Kanan at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Kanan exit in Agoura Hills. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Kanan for several miles until you reach the third tunnel. Park in the paved parking area just before the tunnel.

MTB Cheeseboro at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Park in the lower, paved parking lot (the gate to the upper lot is closed and locked at sunset).

MTB Chumash at Night.   Take the 118 Freeway to the Yosemite Avenue exit in Simi Valley. At the end of the off-ramp proceed north to Flanagan and make a right. Park on the side of the road at the end of Flanagan.

MTB CLU/Santa Rosa at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lynn Road exit in Thousand Oaks. At the end of the off-ramp proceed north. Take Lynn for several miles (it will turn into Olsen Road) until you reach Mountclef Blvd (at CLU). Or, from the 23 Freeway, exit at Avenida de los Arboles and go west. Turn right on Mountclef (at the stop sign after Moorpark Rd.), cross Olsen Rd. and park on the street.

MTB Dos Vientos at Night.   From the 101 freeway, turn south onto Wendy Drive, towards the ocean. Continue for about 0.7 miles and turn right at Borchard Rd and head West 0.5 miles. Turn left on to S. Reino Rd taking this South for about a mile passing Maurice Dr. On your left as you pass Paseo de Leon will be a Church parking lot. We will meet there.

MTB Grasslands at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Grasslands/Las Virgenes View at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Grasslands/MCSP at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Johnson's Motorway at Night.   From Thousand Oaks take the 118 and exit at Rocky Peak Rd. Turn right, and then an immediate left onto Santa Susana Pass Rd. Proceed to Iverson Rd. and turn left. From the the South, from the 118 exit Topanga Cyn Blvd & turn left. Turn right on Santa Susana Pass Rd., and right onto Iverson Rd.
Parking is just outside the gate, near the underpass in Iverson Rd.

MTB Lang Ranch/Albertson at Night.   Exit the 101 Freeway on Westlake Blvd and head north for about 3 miles. When you go past the North Ranch Community Center you will go downhill and the first traffic light is at the corner of Westlake and Lang Ranch Parkway. Turn right onto Lang Ranch Parkway and drive about 0.8 miles to where the pavement ends and Albertson Fire Road begins.

MTB Las Virgenes Canyon at Night.   From the 101, exit Las Virgenes and turn North (away from the ocean). Proceed approximately 1.5 miles to the dead end. Parking is on the street.

MTB Malibu Creek State Park - Bulldog at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Las Virgenes Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Las Virgenes toward the ocean. Turn right onto Mulholland and proceed a 1/4 mile and park on the road at the trailhead.

MTB Malibu Creek State Park at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Las Virgenes Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Las Virgenes toward the ocean. Park in one of the dirt areas on the corner of Las Virgenes and Mulholland.

MTB New Millennium/Las Virgenes View/Grasslands at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Reseda at Night.   Due to the extra drive, we will meet @ 6:15 and ride by 6:30. Meeting place: Take the 101 Freeway to the Reseda Blvd. exit in Tarzana. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Reseda and park at the Caballero trailhead. Trailhead is on the left. If you pass the Braemar Country Club you’ve gone too far.

MTB Space Mountain at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Moorpark Road exit in Thousand Oaks. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Moorpark till it dead-ends at Greenmeadow Avenue and park in the dirt lot on the right.

MTB Sycamore Canyon at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Wendy exit in Newbury Park. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Wendy until it dead-ends at Potrero Road. Park in the adjacent dirt parking area.

MTB Triunfo Canyon Trail at Night.   Exit the 101 Freeway going south on Westlake Blvd. Go south for about a mile and then turn west (right) on Triunfo Canyon Road. This will lead you to Triunfo Park. Turn left onto Tamarack St and turn into the second parking lot on the left. We start at the far west end of the park.

MTB Wildwood at Night.   Take the Lynn Road exit, off of the 101 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, and go north until you come to Avenida De Los Arboles. Turn left and go about 1 mile to the end. From Simi Valley, go west on the 118 Fwy and then south when it turns into the 23 Fwy. Get off on Avenida De Los Arboles and go right for about 2 miles to the end. Hang a U-turn at the end (watch for opposing traffic) and then turn right into the dirt parking lot.

Night Ride Placeholder.   

Trippet Ranch to Overlook at Night.   Take the 101 Fwy to the Topanga Blvd exit. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Topange approx. 5 miles until you reach Entrada which is the entrance to the park on the left. Follow Entrada to the park entrance.