Santa Barbara, CA. Sunday, Terminaut and I organized a day trip to Santa Barbara to ride Cold Springs and Tunnel. I like to think of these trails as Noble Canyon on steroids. Both trails are hard on bike parts and riders. Long sections of these trails consist of embedded rocks of various sizes that make the OTB possibilities endless. These are the types of trails that you hope someone in your group flats on, just so you can stop, rest and recoup from the descent.
Thirteen of us made the journey from the OC, stopping briefly to pick up Scott aka Nagaredama. Local, Andy met us at the park by the mission.
We left Andy’s truck (and helmet) at the park and proceeded to the bottom of Cold Springs to drop off Joel’s truck and Wayne’s sweet Sprinter van for the later shuttle of Tunnel. (Yes Wayne is very proud to be a Sprinter owner.) We loaded up in our three remaining vehicles and drove up the mountain to the top of Cold Springs. (The road across the ridge has spectacular views.)
When it came time to gear up, Andy discovered that he had left his helmet at the park…DOH! Luckily for him two of us had brought spare helmets to the top, so Andy gladly accepted the use of my full face. (2 helmets, 1 head.)
The fellas lined up and ready to ride:
From left to right: Mondo, Scott aka Nagaredama, Terminaut, Craigo, Shitty aka Doublewide, Steve, Coleman, Tani, Joel, Auk, Wayne, Andy, Grant, Frank and yours truly behind the camera.
We took the fun steep extra credit singletrack down to the Cold Springs trailhead. Hello tripod!
Cold Springs trailhead:
Ah shucks, no bells. (Most of us had brought their own anyway.)
Video:
Cold Springs - "Roll & Flow" (Please right click and select Save Target As...)
The first in my series of Cold Springs videos. Auk is featured in this upper section of trail that flows. Plus Joel gets off on the wrong foot.
Duration = 6:08
File size = 53.5 MB
Cold Springs - "The Chunk" (Please right click and select Save Target As...)
The rough stuff, starring - Auk, Coleman & Joel with stunts by Craigo & Frank.
Duration = 11:33
File size = 102.6 MB
Cold Springs - "Amongst the Trees" (Please right click and select Save Target As...)
The lower section of Cold Springs that is under the trees and popular with hikers. Starring - Joel, Shitty & Auk with stunts by Tani, Steve & Grant.
Duration = 8:57
File size = 79.4 MB
I didn’t take long before we were under the coastal cloud cover.
Auk and Joel taking a break:
Tani, before the tire problems:
The fellas take the time to spectate this difficult switchback. (The lead in is rough.)
Joel gets through it no problem:
We got rolling again, but not for long, Tani’s Maxxis LUST 2.35 High Roller (rear tire) got a tear.
Shitty gave Tani a tire patch and I think that (plus a tube) held for the rest of Cold Springs.
Of course this stop was pretty sudden and Terminaut was behind the saddle…
Are you sterile now Term?
Besides Andy forgetting his helmet, Term forgot his bullet cam mount for his bike frame. He was able to rig a helmet cam mount. Unfortunately a branch would snag the cord a little further down the trail, ending his day of filming.
Look like he is feeling better now:
Another fun switchback on Cold Springs.
Shitty getting it done:
Auk too:
Tani with a rare mistake:
Steve says, “Tani that’s nothing, try this!”
The Lord of Singletrack strikes Grant down for attempting to cut the switchback:
Steve and Grant were uninjured.
Andy sports a Turner Highline and a nice looking helmet:
Andy (a local) says he goes through bike parts pretty quick. Especially derailleurs.
Term comes through as Craigo looks on:
Not much further down the trail T’s into the rest of Cold Springs. Apparantly I didn’t hold up the group long enough because the lead pack and myself took the correct right turn and Coleman lead the rest off to the left. (Both ways take you to the bottom, but the right turn is a better way to go.)
At a stream crossing we realized we had lost half the group.
Here we take a break and wait and wait and…
After a half hour or so Steve climbed up while the rest of us headed down. Sure enough we encountered Wayne climbing up to find us. The rest of the group was already down.
Steve arrived at the bottom a minute after the rest, so regrouped we loaded up in Joel and Wayne’s vehicles for the shuttle back up the mountain.
Term must have been a bad influence on Wayne, because we drove up above the Tunnel trailhead.
Getting ready for our Tunnel run:
Of course the irony is that the guys on XC bikes scurried up the hill to ride a steep loose slope, while those of us on FR/DH bikes rode the pavement down to watch.
Here they come, though they missed the intended route:
The guys traversed across in time to watch Grant give it a try:
Term, Wayne and Andy standing in the loose stuff:
…and coming on down:
Coleman rests at the Tunnel trailhead:
Video:
Tunnel - Part 1 (Please right click and select Save Target As...)
Starring Tani, Terminaut, Joel, Shitty & Andy.
Duration = 8:19
File size = 73.7 MB
Tunnel - Part 2 (Please right click and select Save Target As...)
Starring Joel who does his own stunts & Auk, plus a little stunt work by Nagaredama.
Duration = 9:15
File size = 82.2 MB
Not too far down Tunnel, Tani got the first of 3 flats (in quick session) on that torn High Roller. Eventually a dollar bill and a used tube were used to get Tani rolling through the rest of the trail.
Term cramps up after too many Tani flat fix breaks:
Now to the famous portion of Tunnel, “The Waterfall.”
Steve coming through:
Wayne leads his son Grant through the high line:
Term and Frank work their way through:
Craigo recently recovered from a rib injury comes through:
He said the ribs felt just fine. Good news indeed.
“I don’t think I’m at Mt. Wilson anymore.” – Nagaredama
A tired/happy crew below the waterfall:
What a fun day. No injuries and only one damaged tire. A big thanks to Wayne, Joel, Shitty, Steve and Andy for driving.
Loading up to head off to Carlitos, then home:
Random notes:
- I did a much better job catching wrecks on video than I did with the camera.
- We met at The Path at 5:00 AM and returned there at 10:00 PM.
- Coleman (who is in high school) was up near the front all day. Nice job!
- Beware the poison oak.
- Hard to believe, but after only two shuttle runs, you feel pretty worked. That is how challenging these trails are.
Until next time...
“…an economy where clients are cutting back and they're sleeping with their wives again. THEIR WIVES!!!” - Eugene “Gemini” Spellman