Steve's Mountain Bike Page
Turlock, California

Post Surgery Photo-Less Bike Trips

For a number of reasons some trips may not have photos. The most common reason will probably be that I've already posted a sufficient number of photos for some places, particularly those that I frequently ride. However, I still want to add my comments and thoughts after each ride, without cluttering up the Mountain Bike homepage. Below is a list of photo-less trips and comments from each. Return to the trips page for links to previous trips which contain photos.

Auburn, California, May 3, 2008. It was a perfect day at Auburn today, temperature about 70 degrees, the trails in great shape, and very few other riders out. I did the 25 mile loop starting at The Confluence, up Clementine Trail, out the Connector Trail, around Forest Hill Divide Loop, back via the Connector Trail, and down the Culvert and Confluence Trails. I was feeling the best I have post surgery, enjoying the scenery, especially beautiful displays of wildflowers along many of the trails, I felt really strong and fast (for me), and my technical skills were the best in the past 18 months. So I put on my elbow pads at the top of the Culvert Trail (I always wear knee pads) with the intention of taking advantage of those rediscovered skills. By the time I hit the Confluence Trail I was feeling pretty frisky, so I really attacked all those very narrow, rocky sections with the steep rocky drop-offs down to the river. I was flying over all of them until I encountered the one I'd never made. I gave it a really good shot, but I stalled and unclipped my right foot (the uphill side). Apparently I then did a "Miles Todd".

The next thing I knew it was dark and I was vaguely aware that I was tumbling down the slope toward the river like a lifeless rag doll. Everything seemed to be in slow motion for what felt like ten minutes, and all I could hear was a low growling, which was the sound of me sliding down head first, mostly on my back. The growling was occasionally interrupted and I believe I was also tumbling a bit. When I "awoke" I was quite disoriented, out of breath, and stranded down a steep slope with my leg entangled under my bike. I had a bit of pain and saw a bit of blood here and there, but I was amazed that I seemed to be OK. I didn't feel safe, nor capable of untangling myself on such a steep slope so I decided to stay put and wait for a passerby. After what felt like 10 - 15 minutes I heard some hikers and I yelled for help. They could not get down the slope so they offered to call 911. I said no, I just needed some help getting untangled from my bike. Shortly thereafter a biker came by, he untangled me, and he pulled my bike up while I crawled up to the trail. Thanks good Samaritan biker!

For such a major fall on a very dangerous spot I feel incredibly lucky. I got a pretty good headache, plenty of "road rash" on my left shoulder, side and shin, a huge bump on my shin, many small cuts on my fingers and wrists, and a really sore left elbow. What a painful shower I had! Without those knee and elbow pads I would be in serious trouble and I believe my camelback saved my back from major injury. The bike seemed to take it pretty well, I only noted a broken shifter. But I got back just in time to leave it at my LBS for repair and a checkup.

Wilder Ranch, February 22, 2003. Normally I wouldn't write up this ride but I went on a few new trails and I want to say a little bit about how my new Specialized Epic Disc performed on a long hilly ride. I could sum it up in one word... fantastic! I had intended to take the helmet cam but when I hooked it up at home before leaving I discovered a loose wire to the power pack. Any slight movement caused the power to go out. That explains my blank tape from last week! Since Wilder is very bumpy I figured I would just get blank tapes again so I left it at home. It was a beautiful spring day in California. All across the central valley vast seas of almond trees were in full bloom. The billions of dense white flowers made it look like it had snowed. The hillsides of the coast range were deep green and covered with wildflowers due to a mild yet wet winter. It was clear blue skies and perhaps 70 degrees (F) at Wilder and I could wear short sleeves even in the parking lot. Normally, even in summer, it is cold and damp in the parking lot because it is so close to the ocean. For the first time ever I went up the right fork of the Englesman Loop because Neil said it was slightly longer but not quite as steep as the left fork, and that would be easier on the knees. Except for one giant hill towards the start it is a much nicer route, slightly more gradual, narrower, with more vegetation and even some shade. I took the Old Cabin trail to the Eucalyptus, turned around, and for the first time came completely back up it. I did pretty well, only having to walk a few very steep, slick sections. As I said on my last ride, the new bike is lighter and more nimble than my old GT and I went down the Old Cabin trail better than I ever had before. Since the gnarly Enchanted  trail was closed I did another first by taking the 2.2 mile hill climb up the Long Meadow trail. With the exception of one or two steep sections it is a nice gradual climb, providing plenty of good aerobic exercise. I then went down the Chinquapin trail to the Eucalyptus and then back down the Old Cabin, turned around and climbed back out of the Old Cabin. I then went down the southern Eucalyptus and over to the Baldwin trail, then back via Wilder Ridge and the Zane Gray cutoff. Despite all the time off recently, I did pretty well on the hills, probably because of the new bike. As I said last week it climbs like a monkey.  Except for the last trip out of the Old Cabin the knees felt fine. The Zane Gray cutoff was a good test of the brain rear shock because it is all washboard and sharp quick dips. The brain could not be fooled. It handled all the short bumps very well. It was a great ride on a beautiful day. To top it off, when I got home I had a letter approving more Synvisc injections waiting in my mailbox! That's quite unusual since my doctor said second treatments are rarely approved. Perhaps they were approved because I stressed my need to walk without pain during a field course this semester, rather than I need to bike. Here is the route map. 

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, November 27, 2002. It's been about six weeks since I last rode on a trail. The knee pain has gone and I'm just back to the usual aching so I decided to try riding a trail. I went to New Melones (GH) since it is close and relatively easy on the knees. It was a perfect day, 70 degrees (21 C) and blue skies. I started from the lower trailhead and did the Frontier, Angels Creek (clockwise), Buckbrush, Angels Creek (counterclockwise) and back via the Frontier. Although the knees felt pretty good I decided to be sensible and only ride for 90 minutes. I'll see how they feel in a few days. Since this could have been my last ride and I needed something to do, I took along the helmet cam and made a video. My riding wasn't that great because I was a bit unsure of myself after such a long layoff. However, I got some good views of the trails. For a video right click here, 28 meg, 5:42 minutes. Here is the route map.

Dry Creek, Modesto, October 10, 2002. It had been at least 18 months since I last rode at Dry Creek. Since then they have destroyed much of this ride by putting in a paved cycling path along the entire length of the old route. Although much of the old gnarly trails still remain, there are only relatively short stretches cut up by pavement. You can't get more than a few minutes of trail riding before having to ride on, or cross the pavement. Since the whole trail was only about 10 miles long to begin with, it doesn't seem worth riding anymore. However, what is left is still pretty gnarly. There are plenty of quick ups and downs, very narrow trails through closely packed trees, and trails sometimes only a few inches wide directly above the creek. I was moving at a pretty good clip between two trees and I caught my handlebar on one of them. The bike spun around so fast that I was literally thrown off through the air. I rolled about 10 feet down a steep embankment towards the creek. Fortunately, a bunch of raspberry bushes slowed me down. Except for a few cuts on the raspberry thorns, I was totally unscathed and even a little amused. I had a pretty difficult time climbing back up and dragging the bike back up to the trail. Since I had the helmet cam on I finally recorded one of my falls! See the video. 

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, September 14, 2002. I was supposed to start with Kip and his family but they didn't make a reservation for the shuttle so they had to wait for the second run. It was another perfect day and I repeated my 34 mile ride of August 28th, again alone. I moved quite a bit faster so it took 45 minutes less than the last time. I took the Rim Trail from Mt. Rose up the infamous switchbacks of the south Rim Trail, down to Marlette Lake via Hobart road, up and then back down the Flume Trail, and then to Spooner Lake. Since those three consecutive falls on my shoulder two months ago (it still bothers me) my technical skills have regressed due to a fear of falling. Last weekend at Wilder Ranch I walked several areas that I rode my first time there nearly two years ago when I was just a novice! Today I was determined to get "back on that horse" so I did a lot of the drop offs I walked over on my previous Tahoe rides. I just told myself they were street curbs and stairs, which I have no problem with in the city. If I weren't by myself I probably would have done more. I also did a much better job on the southern Rim Trail uphill switchbacks, making a few, and walking a lot less than the last time. I still did a lot of walking but I managed to pass quite a few people (of course many people also passed me). I had forgotten how nice the long rolling descent was from the top of the switchbacks to Hobart Road. I'm always slow to warm up and at about three hours I starting feeling really strong so I had no reservations about doing the Flume Trail both ways. For a weekend the trail was fairly quiet so I could move at a really good aerobic pace. It helped to have a left front shifter, which I broke early on the last ride. This is a great ride because you get plenty of time to warm up on the north Rim Trail before hitting the killer uphill switchbacks on the south Rim Trail. You then get a tremendous workout going uphill for 2.5 miles at nearly 9,000 feet. But once you reach the top the rest of the trip is a real pleasure. The views from the Flume Trail are spectacular. I did meet up with Kip and his family on the Flume Trail and in the parking lot when I finished. We may do this ride together very soon. When I woke up in the morning I discovered that my water bladder had a small hole in it and all my clothes were soaked. I patched it with a tire patch but I was hesitant to do such a long ride without a reliable water supply. Fortunately the bike shop at Spooner Lake has virtually everything you could possibly need so I replaced the bladder just to be on the safe side. Here is the route map. Here is the official State Park Map (does not include the upper Rim Trial).

Salmon Falls/Sweetwater, Folsom Lake, August 3, 2002. It had been over 15 months since I last rode with Kip, but I felt I was in good enough shape to ride with him. He's in pretty good shape from doing a lot of road riding and his technical skills were even better than I remember. But he's still very mellow and patient. We did the traditional Salmon Falls out and back route since I wouldn't jeopardize my knees by taking his preferred route over Flagstaff Hill. The weather was unusually cool (perfect) for this time of the year and Kip pulled me along at a pretty good clip. I did 99% of the route in my middle front chain ring and I did a lot of pedaling standing up, making the hills much easier than my previous post surgery rides, in which I stuck to the granny gear. We wanted to get in more riding after we finished so we headed down the road to try the Sweetwater trail. We went in for about the first mile but I found the short, steep ups and downs a bit hard on the knees, and I worried about climbing back out. That, coupled with the fact the trail was steeped in poison oak and our legs weren't fresh, caused us to reconsider continuing on. After playing "what was that bush I just brushed against" for the umpteenth time, I realized I did not want to risk being covered in a rash while attending an out of town professional meeting for three days starting tomorrow. I headed back while Kip went out a bit farther, turned around and caught me on the way back. At the finish we both thoroughly washed ourselves in Technu, hoping to ward off the poison oak. Maybe we'll try this trail again in the winter, but we'll certainly do it before, not after riding the Salmon Falls trail. Here is the Salmon Falls area route map, Sweetwater is on the south side of the lake.

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, July 30, 2002. I'm doubtful I'll ever improve my technical skills much more, but I feel that good conditioning can make up for it. In the past riding regularly three times a week really got me into shape so I tried going out with only two days rest. I got out very early in the morning and it was almost too cool for this time of year. I jacked my seat way up, stayed in the middle front chain ring 99% of the time, pedaled standing up quite a bit, and I had my best ever post surgery ride. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek, up the Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier, Buckbrush, and counterclockwise via the Angels Creek. I made nearly everything I used to routinely make, pre surgery, even the poison oak hill I've always been leery of. It will be interesting to see if the knees are ready to do it again in just two days. Here is the route map.

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, July 27, 2002. After the big Downieville Downhill earlier in the week I just wanted a fast paced aerobic ride and New Melones (GH) is the best place. I did Carson Creek, Peninsula Loop, Tower Climb, Frontier, Buckbrush, Angels Creek (both ways), Buckbrush again, and returned via the Frontier. I started the Tower Climb too early, with insufficient warm-up, and the knees hurt for about an hour. I made six of the eight uphill switchbacks and I stayed in the middle front chain ring for most of the return trip. I did a short video of the Carson Creek trail, nothing special other than to show parts of the trails not previously taped. The Tower Climb switchbacks hardly show on video so I didn't bother making one for that trail. I had a problem with the power connector to the bullet cam so I lost an hour of tape. Here is the route map.

Salmon Falls, Folsom Lake, July 20, 2002. Since I fell on my past three rides and I did not want to spoil an upcoming trip to Downieville in three days, I started out like a beginner, making all the mistakes. I was too cautious, too slow, and too heavy on the brakes. For the first time ever, I went out the high trail and it was scary in my fragile condition. I even walked the first, and toughest creek bed. However, half way back on the return I settled down, doing most of what I normally do. To get my confidence back I returned via the high trail, doing the best I've ever done, only one uphill stumble stop. Here is the area route map. 

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, July 17, 2002. I got out early in the morning hoping to get some good helmet cam footage of one of my favorite local trails. As I suspected the big ride at Wilder Ranch last weekend pushed me to a greater fitness level. The trail was hard and fast, the knees felt great and I wanted to keep moving to get some good video. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek, the Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier and Buckbrush. I was hot-dogging it for the camera and did some jumps, which I'm really too old to do. The last one landed very well but the trail was too narrow. I flew over the handlebars and fell on my left shoulder for the third ride in a row. I also skinned up my thigh pretty badly. I know the kids think this is cool but I don't. No more hot-dogging for me. I really powered up the Tower Climb, did some really professional jobs on the uphill switchbacks (nearly coming to a complete stop while on the bike) and flew down the back way to the Lower Loop. Unfortunately, I didn't connect the camera properly for the second hour so my spectacular Superman and switchback work was for naught. I'm working on the camera problem and will have to be more careful in the future. Be sure to check out what the Angels Creek trail looks like in the spring, lined with California Poppies. During the spring I also photographed the bridge I cross and the subsequent uphill in the Frontier Trail video, during the Iron Angel mountain bike race. I made three videos, one of the Frontier trail is on the videos page, for the Angels Creek video right click here (27.6 meg, 5:22 minutes). For a video of the Buckbrush loop right click here 34 meg, 6:38 minutes.  

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, July 10, 2002. It was supposed to be well over 100 degrees today so I got on the trail at 7 am and finished before it got too hot. The knees bothered me a bit at the start but they seemed to settle down. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek, to the base of Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier, Buckbrush, and counterclockwise via the Angels Creek. I stood up several times, just to get over the top of a few hills, and I didn't feel any adverse affects. Since the knees felt much better after, than before, my last ride at Salmon Falls, I'm going to try Wilder Ranch in three days, regardless of how they feel. Here is the route map.

Salmon Falls, Folsom Lake, July 6, 2002. The knees were aching quite a bit the past two days, so much so that I almost canceled this trip. However, my colleague Jerry had just gotten a bike and he had never been on single track. We did the traditional out and back route, stopping to make quite a few short movies with my new digital camcorder. I definitely need a helmet cam, the videos weren't that great or very exciting, and stopping really slowed us down. Jerry is an accomplished equestrian, skier and basketball player so he did quite well, attempting and making nearly everything. He had three pretty good falls and quite a few "lean overs", but no serious injuries. My demo of how to use downhill momentum to get up the other side of those rocky creek beds ended with quite an endo over the handlebars on a lot of rocks. I scraped my shoulder up a good bit but my pads prevented serious injury. When I got home and took off my watch I discovered several cuts under it so I must have hit pretty hard. Here is a rare photo of me on the trail taken by Jerry. Jerry didn't take much water and he refused my offers until it was too late. He started having cramps and he really started dragging near the end. I took the high trail and Jerry took the low trail on the return. I don't understand what is going on with the knees. They felt no worse, or perhaps even better after the ride than before. Here is the area route map. 

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, June 24, 2002. The doctor said I really didn't have to wait 72 hours after the two knee injections on the 21st so I headed out to New Melones (GH) early in the morning to avoid the heat. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek, slightly up the Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier, Buckbrush, and counterclockwise via the Angels Creek. I felt pretty good but skipped the Tower Climb to save the knees for Wilder Ranch in in three days. Here is the route map.

Salmon Falls, Folsom Lake, June 20, 2002. With two knee injections coming tomorrow, which necessitates a three day layoff, and a meeting this afternoon, I got on the trail at 7:30 am. The temperature at the start was nice and I had the trail mostly to myself, which is unusual there. I did the traditional out and back route at what seemed like a fairly reasonable pace. The trail seemed especially rocky and fun but I had no problems with it and my aerobic capacity seemed very good. I again took the high trail on the return. I have already knocked an hour off the time it took me just two weeks ago so I'm going to have to do something to stretch the time out. Here is the area route map. 

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, June 17, 2002. At 1 pm the 72 hour waiting period was over from the Synvisc injection I had last Friday. I waited a few extra hours and started riding at about 5:30 pm at New Melones (GH). I'm a morning person and don't like the heat so I took it fairly easy. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek, slightly up the Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier, Buckbrush, and counterclockwise via the Angels Creek. Although I wanted the shade it seemed wise not to do the Tower Climb since I had to get in another ride in two days because two knee injections were coming on Friday. I'm already getting fitter, having to use the granny gear much less, and making hills I was purposely walking post surgery. Here is the route map.

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, June 12, 2002. I picked up my bike from the shop (left shifter damage from the fall on my last ride) late in the day and headed out to New Melones (GH). It was well over 90 degrees by 4 pm so I tried to take it easy. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, and Carson Creek, but on the way back on the Frontier a spoke broke and the patch I put on at nearly the same spot one week ago blew. I again had trouble with a brand new tube - the collar around the valve would not unscrew so I could not put the valve in the tire. Unfortunately, I did not pack my multi-tool that includes pliers. I twice tried a patch over the old patch but neither held. I had to walk back to my truck. Fortunately I wasn't far from it by then. However, the knees felt very good and I easily made the double hill on the west side of Angels Creek (for the first time post surgery) and I instinctively stood up while going up the steep, sharp turn near the Buckbrush parking lot. Perhaps I'm ready to do Wilder Ranch soon. 

Salmon Falls, Folsom Lake, June 8, 2002. For this time of year it was fairly pleasant at Salmon Falls. I did the out and back route a bit faster than my ride one week ago. I should probably lay off the Tower Climb at New Melones (GH) because the knees hadn't recovered from a ride there three days ago. I'm glad I've kept wearing the knee and elbow pads. Today I did my first ever edno, pretty much over the handlebars. I was feeling pretty cocky after doing a rather rocky twisting climb and my front tire caught on a rock going down the other side. Other than breaking off one of my bar ends, I wasn't hurt in the slightest. It's not that I'm losing my skills, I'm just being more aggressive trying things I didn't used to do. I again took the high trail on the return. I'd like to try going down it on the way out but the initial climb is pretty steep, particularly starting out when not warmed up. Here is the area route map. That patch I put on during my last ride is still holding up! (Of course I took a spare tube just in case).

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, June 5, 2002. It was supposed to be over 100 degrees today so I headed out to New Melones (GH) early in the morning. However, it seemed like the temperature was already in the 90's by the time I started. I did Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier, Carson Creek and Tower Climb, and back via the Frontier, Buckbrush, and counterclockwise via the Angels Creek. This was the first time I'd been out on such a warm day in over18 months so I had planned to do a little less. However, I had a massive tire blow-out (literally) on the Frontier trail on the way back. I spent a long time in the shade trying to pump up a brand new spare tube but I eventually realized the valve was defective. Even though the hole seemed too big to patch, I tried it and it worked. The rest rejuvenated me and allowed me to continue for another 45 minutes. Here is the route map.

Salmon Falls, Folsom Lake, June 2, 2002. After three consecutive rides at New Melones (GH) with no apparent new knee problems, I decided to try a longer and more difficult ride at Salmon Falls. The weather was perfect and the trail was just as rocky and as cool as I remembered. I had to avoid the steep Flagstaff Hill climb so I did the traditional out and back route. However, I reached the end of the trail more quickly than I anticipated so I took someone most of the way to Peninsula Park. My technical skills were better than ever and my endurance was quite good. I only walked a few long steep climbs to save the knees. I think I'm much better now because I don't bail out, I've figured how to use body English, and I know that each ride may be my last. I had my most serious fall ever. I came around a bend where a tree had fallen over the trail. Bikers had cut a very narrow detour around it on the bank. I took it, the bike slipped, and I fell on my head! It gave me quite a ding and I can still feel it the next day. I would have been in serious trouble without the helmet. I was just about ready to put the knee and elbow guards away but they also saved me. They may look dorky but I think I'll keep wearing them! On the return I couldn't resist taking the high trail, rather than the low one most people take. It is very steep, rocky, difficult, fun, and provides a nice view. Here is the area route map.

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, May 27, 2002. Since it was a holiday and also a nice day I headed out to New Melones (GH) for an easy ride. Despite only a one day layoff, I did the same route as May 25, but slightly faster. I resisted the temptation to move to my middle front chain ring but it will have to happen soon. I feel very fit and I'm sure I could ride all day if I wanted. I'm already getting bored with New Melones (GH) so I may venture out next week if the knees feel up to it. 

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, May 25, 2002. After the seemingly successful ride one week ago I started studying the trail maps for the Tahoe and Downieville areas. However, by mid week the knees reminded me it will probably be quite awhile before I'm ready to ride those areas. The knees weren't too bad by this morning and I couldn't face three days of boredom in town, so I headed out to New Melones (GH) to try a longer ride. I did the Angels Creek, Buckbrush, Frontier and Carson Creek trails to the base of the Tower Climb. I turned around and came back the Frontier trail, did the Buckbrush again, and returned counterclockwise via the Angels Creek trail. Last week I went up the Tower Climb just to test my endurance and skills, even though it did bother the knees quite a bit. However, I've decided to ration what little knee cartilage I have left by avoiding long hill climbs, whenever possible. I've almost never done the Angels Creek trail counterclockwise because it seems more uphill than down. However, the slow pace up the hills permitted me to enjoy some pretty nice wildflower displays I normally fly by. Considering how bad the knees sometimes feel during the week, two and a half hours of trail riding seems fairly comfortable once the knees warm up. I feel I could easily ride all day but I'm trying not to overdo it. Yesterday I got notice that I'll be getting the Synvisc injections this week. If they provide even the slightest extra cushioning I will be pleased. Here is the route map.

New Melones (GH) Recreation Area, May 18, 2002. It's now been one full year since I last rode on a trail and six full months since my surgeries. Since I'm close to giving up and buying a motorcycle, I figured I had nothing to lose by trying a short (two hour) ride on the trails at New Melones (GH). I almost turned around and came back several times during the drive out there. However, since it was such a nice day I figured a drive in the country would do me some good, even if I chickened out and didn't ride. To minimize overdoing it I decided to start on the Angels Creek trail, rather than my usual Tower Climb route. My intent was to take it very easy. However, once I hit the first downhill the adrenalin kicked in. Whoever coined the phrase "it's just like riding a bike" for something that comes back quickly, sure knew what they were talking about. It was as if the clock magically turned back a full year. My skills and confidence levels were as good as ever. I felt so good I did one loop of every trail, including the Tower Climb. I even passed two riders and made four of the seven uphill switchbacks on the Tower Climb. Despite high temperatures and a full year off, my fitness level was amazingly good. My times weren't much slower than the last time I rode there and I didn't need any breaks, even on the Tower Climb. To protect my knees I wore braces, stayed in the small, rather than middle front ring, and I did no standing-up pedaling whatsoever. Except for the Tower Climb the knees felt fairly good once I warmed up. A full gram of Motrin at the start probably helped. Much to my surprise "posting" on the pedals didn't bother them at all so I really let go on the downhill's. Fortunately, I didn't take much water, otherwise I probably would have done two loops. Now the $64,000 question is "how will my knees feel the next few days"? Even if they get worse it was worth it. Riding on single track was even more fun than I remembered and I'm not ready to give it up just yet. Check back in a few days for a knee update. I would gladly settle for "no worse". Here is the route map.
Update May 20, 2002. So far the knees feel no worse, perhaps even slightly better. I'm now cautiously optimistic and I'll try the trails again on May 25. Hopefully I won't get carried away and do too much too soon. 

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