Well, yesterday I got my tail whupped up and down off Ortega Highway.  Sarah (Santa Cruz Hell Ride 2007 contest winner), Brian (aka Donkey), and myself headed down to San Juan for a three-hour tour.  Our mini adventure would take us up San Juan, past Cocktail Rock, up to the four corners, Down the upper part of Chiquita, hook back into the Viejo Tie, and back down San Juan.

We would meet at the base of San Juan at 7:00am.  Here's Sarah getting her gear together.  After dinking around the area a few minutes, Brian leads the charge up San Juan.  I realize he's toying with me from the get go, but still felt like my eyeballs were going to come out of my head for the first 15 minutes of the ride.  After my heart rate got up to speed, it was a little better.

Here's Brian charging that super chunky switchback.  I didn't even attempt it.

After decending the upper portion of Chiquita and heading up the Viejo Tie, I decided to try climbing on the Moment with the fork fully extended (It was re-emphasized to me that a 66.5-deg HA isn't the optimal geometry for climbing).

Brian and Sarah charging a mini-waterfall section on Viejo Tie.  Once we hooked back onto the San Juan Trail above Cocktail Rock, I dropped the travel and the bike felt much better.

Brian would lead the charge down from Cocktail Rock...the amazing thing is that he pins it without dropping his saddle!  I can't even fathom that.

Posing for a closing shot.

Props to Sarah for killing it on the ride on a Nomad with a single chainring up front!  I'd hate to see what she could do on a trail/ XC rig.

Auk