Ham Hock Trail Brevet - Lessons On Tubeless Tires

Original Ham-Hock Trail route. We rode this with a few detours today

0645 and I was on the road toward Mule Hill Trailhead in South Escondido. Officially 39 degrees and seeking the rising sun and the predicted mid 70's temps today. Sans front HB bag, I had the sign-in sheet board stuffed into my jersey as a cold air buffer. Really started to warm up riding thru Escondido town and downhill toward Lake Hodges. 27.5" + size tires were rolling along good on 31psi (hard road pressure setting).

Tim, Mac & Mike chit-chat at the Mule Hill start. (Troy pic)

New TREK carbon bike owner Sam Thomas was chatting in the gravel lot with Dan Phillips. Rando Tim Knowles was getting ready his Fargo and buddy Mike his Salsa. Mac Imacseng was lamenting about his cheap tire deal. Seems Dan had a rear shock problem, later diagnosed as " stuck down shock" and could be cured with a $8 seal kit from Fox. He wanted to really ride today, as payback from last weeks training ride, which found him tumbling down a ravine & a badly bent rear derailleur. ( * see note below ).

OFR/NCCC rider Troy Buss was atop his TREK FS checking out hard-bodied trail runners. Also in was rando Greg Armstrong from Bonita on a steel frame and rando wantabee Natalia. After signing in, the eight of us were off just after 0800 riding east on the San Dieguito River Trail. Of course, with all the pre-ride drama, I had forgot to lower my tire pressure for dirt trail use. Dan waived us off from his pedal dragging, low-rider Klein.

Rare footage of Albany Sam entering Hill Country Trail. (Troy pic)

Slight chit-chat as we easily traversed the few miles of flat trails before crossing Highland Valley Road & entering the trail laden tree nursery. Big early hard surface climb up to Old Coach Trail, where our first detour too place. Smooth riding now thru high-end housing and past the security shack. Group had broken up now as we hopped onto Justin Trail and dirt again. Mac informed us that Troy had stopped to fix a front flat tire.

Soon the five of us were traversing the back alley dirt trails southbound thru residential Poway. Another detour took us a mile on Espola Road and then back on dirt again. My fanny-pak broke off and went flying dirt-side. I tied that sucker off and made a quick stop with Mac at Garden Road Park. Just down the road was our first control stop at 7-Eleven. Surprisingly, Troy arrived in due order after his flat repair, followed by Sam & Natalia. The whole group was together again. As Troy was pumping air in his tire, I was letting air out of mine... down to more traction @25psi.

Tim, Greg, Kelly & Troy regroup at Cara Way. (Troy pic)

Short ride on Poway Road and car traffic, which I don't appreciate much at all. After the Community Road Fire Station, it was back on the Poway Creek Trail and dirt again. After a gnarly gate ride around, it was more climbing on Poway Trail over to the hike-a-bike. Mike & Tim talked about a option trail route to by-pass the HAB, so we'll look into that re-route on the next recon ride. Good idea guys. I think Troy had tire air pressure problems as he dropped off again. Sam & Natalia were sweepers after the Hill Country Trail climb.

Poway Trail mellows out after some gnarly rocky climbs and a big rut-laced downhill. Nice riding again on semi-manicured dirt until the rocky downhill past the pump station and onto Cara Road. We had a regroup here, waiting for Mac and his quick tire repair. Mike had disappeared from the group, as he was chatting to another MTB'er about selling his Salsa! Do they call that "negotiating on a trail"?

Greg, Tim & Kelly tip-toe across bridge out. (Troy pic)

Next up was the Trans-County Trail which led us over to Penasquitos Canyon Trail system. Bonita Greg led thru this section with some hidden single trak laced in with several HAB water crossing. After a water crossing, we were back on rocky trails on the north side with a few technical sections and little trail traffic. We slo-rolled it into Canyonside Park and soon were back to a group of five: Greg, Tim, Mike, Mac & me.

North trail thru Penasquitos Canyon is the less traveled and more open than the south. Bonita Greg opened the throttles a bit thru here and we were passing joggers and other MTB'ers enforce. Another original route detour as there were still no bridges crossing over to the south side. Nice riding here with some narrow single-trak as we wound our way over to a short sidewalk stint to Sorrento Valley Pkwy and soon smooth riding on Sorrento Valley Road over to our last water control at AM/PM. By then Troy had disappeared from the mix. Probably his bumpy front tire again**.

Kelly, Greg, Mac, Mike & Tim on N. Penasqutos Trail (Troy pic)

Time to load up here, as no water till the finish. We sat outside at the tables about 15 minutes. I was inside at the sink, filling and mixing both bottles for the finish run-in. As we were leaving, Natalia rode in, ready for some real food. Sam later said he just rode by this stop, not anticipating completing in rando time.

Next up was a more relaxing, last chance to recoup, SR-56 Bike Path section. Mac pulled off, needing to put some more air in his leaking tire. Just after the duck pond crossing, Mike pulled off, surprisingly riding home to his house near here! With a major effort, Mac soon caught up to Greg, Tim & I before we were back onto dirt again. Another original route detour ahead at Watson Ranch Road.

SR-56 Bike Path duck pond. Mike left the group here.

The first short downhill brought us to a quick, sudden stop at a sink-hole. Whew! Jumping across with bike in hand was an effort, but doable. Just Tim, Mac, Greg and I now, as we followed the trail under Camino del Sur and finally over to Lusardi Trail.

I noticed a well kitted rider ahead and zeroed in on him as we traversed the rocky climb and side-hill where Dan went over a few weeks earlier. Catching up, he said he had a long ride doing a 8 mile loop today! I didn't say much sucking air, but did manage a "good job" to him. After a short regroup near the INFO trail-head signboard, we were off to Lusardi Loop and the meager tumbleweeds ahead.

After the careful downhill, we were back onto the smoothed out dirt road. A few weeks ago, this was a muddy mess to ride on. Today it was super! After a water dip and passing under Camino Del Sur again,

it was on to the wide rocky trail following the Lusardi Creek along. Up at the "Coast To Crest" trail sign, we had a nasty sidehill climb. Greg made it look easy, as Mac and I nearly got tangled up, but recovered enough to walk up to remount and continue upward. After some rutty downhills, it was water crossing time.

Kelly recovers from bushwack, Greg tip-toes across Lusardi Creek (Mac pic)

Lusardi Creek was running about a foot deep, so I ventured thru. No problem. Exiting the water on the far bank, I hit a tumbleweed maze, stopped and laid over. Not to be deterred, I popped up & pushed up. Mac & Greg tippy-toed across on a few rocks. Tom had dropped off somewhere behind, later saying the winter heat and cramping took hold on the Lusardi Loop cilmbing. Socks damp, we continued on after a short reprise.

33-switchbacks ahead was the signal after climbing Artesian Road and following power-line trail. I do good on climbing these and really suck going down. So it was foot down on the left hand turns. Blame it on the bike being too long! Hehe. Nice riding along Santa Fe Trail single-trak & I soon spotted 3 riders ahead. After a short regroup at the Fruit Market road trailhead crossing. we were off in pace-pursuit!

It didn't take long to close in on draft position before the downhill to the rusty bridge. The trio pulled off to let Greg & I pass. Mac had decided to downshift into survival mode here. Tiring climb up to the dam, but the downhill later was worth it. At the dam, Mac decided to get in some additional climbing and jogged over to Del Dios Hwy. and Via Rancho Parkway. Next up was the smoother road section before hitting the trails again to the parking lot turn.

Water level is up a bit at Lake Hodges Dam

Just Greg & I now as we amped it up on the wide bumpy trail around the lake, thru a few flattened rock gardens and some "thank yous" to passed joggers. Pass the pedestrian bridge and a hi-speed run to the finish. We even had a few minutes to spare. Tough route with the rando time constraints.

Mac pulled in about 10 minutes later from his road adventure. Tim was in after that, shirt open and HR strap throbbing! Greg was soon off for a sandwich as we waited around. Mac called Troy to check on him and he was already home! Next up was Sam, who reported "they" were at the top of Del Dios by the dam, 6 miles from the finish. We interpreted "they" as Sam & Natalia.

Later on, Greg packed his bike and was off for some more trail riding in prep for his upcoming 24-hr mtn. bike race (15 mile loops) and another try at the Arizona 400 MTB Race. Mac rolled out, opting to pick up his wife for an evening at the beach. Sam & Natalia rolled in just as Tim was leaving. All accounted for. Sam related a few brief experiences as Tim offered Natalia some band-aids. Final "adios" and I was off to refill my bottle at Chevron before riding to San Marcos and the failing sun.

Pleasant turn out with a few new faces. Time to crank-up my efforts to get a revised rando time structure for these hard dirt trail routes. Stay tuned.

Clear skies
Hi: 76     Lo: 39
Wind: NE @15mph early
92 miles

- randorides

After a DNS, Dan picked up a new Marin Carbon 29'er! NICE!

* Dan later visited his buddy Fred at Leucadia Bike Shop. Not to be denied, he walked out with a sale deal & road bike trade-in on a Marin CXR carbon niner! That's one way to solve a "stuck down shock" problem! Go Dan (presently converting over to tubeless)! 

 









** from Troy
"I went home via trek superstore san marcos and picked up a couple of tubeless tires, some rim liners and valve cores.   Got those installed this morning and hopefully no more flats when time counts!  Also, it took about 55-60lbs of pressure from my compressor to seat the tires without dips, bulges.   If I had kept pumping the front on the Saturday ride, it probably would have probably seated properly, but that is quite the workout with a hand pump."