Pine Valley, CA. Yesterday I had the privilege to ride the “Tour de Noble” with Aquaholic and Mark. Since my ID is without brakes at the moment, I loaded up the 7Point7 and made the journey down east of San Diego. I did save 4 pounds by leaving the helmet cam at home.
Aqua, Mark and I started the ride off with the climb up “Extra Credit.” (The fun singletrack that usually marks the end of a great Noble run.) From there it was over to Pine Creek road for the pavement climb affectionately known as “Alp du Wheeze.” Though temps were supposed to be in the mid 80’s, the climb wasn’t that bad with a nice cool breeze. (In fact the weather was beautiful all day.) On the climb up I believe I was passed by a pickup truck loaded with STR folks shuttling to the top. Man was I tempted to grab hold of the trail gate and get a lift.
I reached the Oak tree to find Aqua and Mark chatting up a group of single speeders. One of the bikes had this nice sticker:
Photo by Aquaholic
From there it was down the fire road to Indian Creek trail and up. I don’t think anyone made the waterfall section today. Along the way Mark stayed back to wait for two female riders, one of whom was climbing Indian Creek trail for the first time. (A rough singletrack climb that not only challenges the body, but the mind. I’m always grumbling, pave this fricken trail! Just kidding.)
Mark leading the final climb up Indian Creek:
While waiting at the top, Aqua was able to get these to pictures of the single speed group making their way down the “Pinball” section of Indian Creek trail:
Photo by Aquaholic
Photo by Aquaholic
Once regrouped: Aqua, Mark, the two ladies and I made our way down “Pinball.” The trail has been worked on since I was last down it. It’s a little less chunky, but more rolly with some nice jump opportunities.
Mark and I waiting near the bottom:
Photo by Aquaholic
Once at the bottom of “Pinball” we finished out the ride on Indian Creek trail (a smooth gentle climb) to Noble Canyon trail. Took a break where once again we met up with the single speeders as they were making there way down Noble Canyon. (This was around noon.)
The 5 of us would continue up Noble Canyon to the upper trailhead aka Penny Pines to relax, eat and fill our Camelbak’s. (Around 12:45 pm.) Most of us had just run out of water. While taking it easy Mondo and Fitness guy showed up and agreed to do a Big Laguna loop with us. The ladies decided to head down Noble Canyon and call it a day. (Smart move!!!)
Aqua, Mark, Mondo, Fitness guy and I set off on our Big Laguna adventure, though I quickly discovered that my legs were juiced and I could now feel the elevation with every breath. Needless to say any slight incline slowed me to a crawl as we made our way towards “Middle Earth.” (No I didn’t see any Hobbits.) We took an extended break at a group of rocks. Turns out Mondo and Fitness guy both had tickets to the Chargers preseason game so they had to cut out considering the turtle pace I was holding the group hostage to.
Aqua was battling a sinus problem from jet skiing last Sunday. (That hex I put him for skipping the Santa Barbara trip worked.) He was still able to muster the strength to screw around on this rock.
Let’s see how it goes:
Well, if at first you don’t succeed.
Try again:
Time to move, we continued on up a fire road that wasn’t that bad of climb until it switched back and got a little steeper. Fortunately the climb was short and before I knew it I was on top of “Middle Earth.” (I think.) We made our way down a nice flowing singletrack only to have Aqua break a spoke on his rear wheel.
This seems to affect a 29er worse than a regular bike, because Aqua’s tire was rubbing against the chainstay. Aqua was able to true it up just enough to finish the ride without any major rubbing.
Eventually the singletrack brings you to this fun log jump.
Mark and I hit it:
Photo by Aquaholic
Photo by Aquaholic
After a short time the singletrack dumped us out at the south end of Big Laguna. We continued around in a clockwise manner. I think the Big Laguna trail would be a great place to bring beginners.
After all this riding it was once again time to refill the Camelbaks for the descent down Noble Canyon. We headed over to the campground and refilled. I must say that the Penny Pines water has a much better taste than the campgrounds.
Once refilled we are back on Big Laguna headed for the descent down Noble:
Photo by Aquaholic
Photo by Aquaholic
It was now around 5:00 pm and I was dreading the descent down Noble. I was gassed and began to worry that the trail would easily bite me, since my concentration level was low.
Luckily for me Noble is mostly down and the more you have ridden it the faster it seems to flow by you. “Widowmaker” was chunkier than I remember. I wanted no part of “Barney Rubble,” but I took it easy and rode down it without issue.
Now I dreaded the chunky climb towards “The Stairway to Hell.” Even in my weak condition it passed by quick. When I arrived at Stairway, Aqua was purched up high ready to shoot pics. “Hurry up Wind Stun, I’m loosing the light.” It was a struggle to keep my momentum up, but…
I made it:
Photo by Aquaholic
Mark’s turn:
Photo by Aquaholic
Aqua’s turn:
Man, at the bottom of Stairway it was hard to take a breath and when I exhaled it felt as if I would dry heave.
Both Aqua and Mark claimed to be tired. It sure didn’t look that way when they pedaled.
Once we reached the “extra credit” I decided to bail out down Pine Creek road. I didn’t want to keep us out there much longer. I knew it would take me a while if I attempted to climb “extra credit.”
I would arrive back at my truck at 6:45 pm with Aqua and Mark arriving 10 minutes later.
An epic day for sure. Thanks guys!
“…an economy where clients are cutting back and they're sleeping with their wives again. THEIR WIVES!!!” - Eugene “Gemini” Spellman