web site: www.nrmbc.org
885 St. Charles Dr. #11, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805-530-2554 e-mail: mtbikesman@aol.com

November 2019

The Endurance Rating rates distance, climbing & pace of the rides.   E1 represents the lowest level of exertion needed to complete a ride. And E5 represents the highest level of exertion needed to complete a ride.

The Technical Rating (how smooth/rocky):

T1

Mostly smooth & wide

T2

Mostly smooth but variable width

T3

Predominately uneven surfaces & somewhat rocky

T4

Long segments with rocky and uneven surfaces

T5

Extensive segments with rocky & uneven surfaces with possible drops & exposure


Summary

Saturday

November 2

11:00 AM

WendyMarybeth Guiney Memorial & Life Celebration

Sunday

November 3

8:30 AM (E3.5 - T3.0)

RobertCheeseboro/China Flats Loop

Saturday

November 9

8:30 AM (More - Trails!)

CORBA Trail Restoration with Lunch

Sunday

November 10

9:30 AM (E2 - T2)

RandySycamore Canyon from the Beach - Two Foxes & Wood Canyon

Saturday

November 16

8:30 AM (More - Trails!)

CORBA Trail Restoration with Lunch

Sunday

November 17

8:30 AM (E3.5 - T3)

BruceBackbone from Encinal Rd to Mishe Mokwa (Out & Back)

Sunday

November 24

8:30 AM (E3 - T3)

CharlotteGrasslands - Malibu Creek - Short Bulldog

Friday

November 29

9:30 AM (E3.5 - T3.0)

RandyCheeseboro/China Flats Loop

Saturday

November 30

8:45 AM (E3.5 - T2)

DesiParker Mesa Overlook from Reseda


Randy - 805-530-2554   mtbikesman@aol.com

 

Desi - 818-383-4679   gfxdesi@mac.com

Charlotte - 805 890-1234   cfarrens@gmail.com

 

Robert - roberthiga69@yahoo.com

Steve - 805 402-3128

 

Bruce - brucegruver@sbcglobal.net

Wendy - 818 522-0840   cyberdivachick@yahoo.com

 


The Fine Print

By riding with the North Ranch Mountain Bikers I understand and accept the following:

► I understand that mountain biking can be dangerous and accidents can result in either injury or death.

► I understand there is no charge for the bike rides.

► I understand that the trails the North Ranch Mountain Bikers ride may not be verified for safety or ridability.

► I understand that it is my responsibility to determine if my riding skills match the difficulty of the trail we are riding on.

► I understand that the ride schedulers accept no responsibility for my safety on any ride and that I undertake any ride knowing that I and I alone am responsible for my safety on the ride.

NEWS FOR EVERYONE

Saturday, November 2: Marybeth Guiney Memorial & Life Celebration.   We are holding a Memorial and life celebration for Marybeth Guiney Saturday, November 2nd, at Goleta Beach. This is a slow, social ride on the bike path, any bike will do, road or mountain. It will be about 5-8 miles on flat pavement arranged for the non cyclists joining us.

Lunch is at 1pm and the celebration will start soon after that.

Please bring a water bottle for your drinks at lunch and a flower to throw into the ocean in Marybeth's honor.

We are asking everyone who is comfortable to share an adventure you had with Marybeth.

Any questions, please feel free to contact me (Wendy) anytime..

For sign up and deets, please email Wendy Engelberg at: wendytengelberg@gmail.com Time: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Organizer: Wendy

Location and Directions: Goleta Beach Park, 5986 Sandspit Road, Goleta, CA 93117: Take a right when entering the beach and drive to the end parking lot, AREA D.

Saturday, November 9: CORBA Trail Restoration with Lunch.   Come out and help build and fix up the trails we love to ride! It feels great to ride a trail you've helped build and maintain. For more information, visit the CORBA Trail Crew page. Work days usually last until about 2:00. Be sure to wear suitable clothing (sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, hat, GLOVES) and bring snacks, sunscreen and WATER. CORBA will provide the tools and training.

Remember that CORBA treats volunteers to lunch after the event who register beforehand! Further info on the trailwork can be found on the online registration page (see below). Pre-registration is greatly appreciated because it helps CORBA know how many tools to bring, and to plan how much work can be done.

CORBA's lunch will be after trailwork ends, so bring along a snack to tide you over!

Meeting location and full details are shown on the online registration page, below. Time: 8:30 am.

This time we'll be working on the Sage Trail in Sycamore Canyon (Point Mugu State Park).

PRE-REGISTRATION: https://www.meetup.com/CORBAmtb/events/265316236/

DIRECTIONS:

Meet at the corner of Wendy and Potrero at 8:30 and we'll drive down to the work area. DON'T BE LATE or you'll miss the caravan down.

Saturday, November 16: CORBA Trail Restoration with Lunch.   Come out and help build and fix up the trails we love to ride! It feels great to ride a trail you've helped build and maintain. For more information, visit the CORBA Trail Crew page. Work days usually last until about 2:00. Be sure to wear suitable clothing (sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, hat, GLOVES) and bring snacks, sunscreen and WATER. CORBA will provide the tools and training.

Remember that CORBA treats volunteers to lunch after the event who register beforehand! Further info on the trailwork can be found on the online registration page (see below). Pre-registration is greatly appreciated because it helps CORBA know how many tools to bring, and to plan how much work can be done.

CORBA's lunch will be after trailwork ends, so bring along a snack to tide you over!

Meeting location and full details are shown on the online registration page, below. Time: 8:30 am.

This time we'll be working on the Backbone Trail between Mulholland and Etz Meloy Fireroad. We'll be parking at a spot that is only available for trailworkers.

PRE-REGISTRATION: https://www.meetup.com/CORBAmtb/events/265218539/

DIRECTIONS:

From the 101 Freeway in Thousand Oaks, turn south on Westlake Blvd (CA-23-South). Stay on CA-23-S for 6.7 miles (along the way, Mulholland will come in from the left 5.2 miles from the freeway. Do not turn here, stay straight!). At 6.7 miles, turn into the narrow gravel drive on the left, about 100' past where the Backbone Trail crosses the road.

OR, from the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, turn up Encinal Canyon Road. In 5.0 miles, continue straight onto Lechusa Rd, then turn right immediately onto CA-23 Decker Canyon Road. Drive 1.3 miles and turn right into the gravel drive (Do not turn left at the stop sign at Mulholland Hwy – continue straight!).

WEEKEND RIDES

Sunday, November 3: Cheeseboro/China Flats Loop.   We will begin with an easy to moderate climb up the Sulphur Springs trail to Shepherd’s Flat. Then we head west on the Palo Comado connector singletrack that leads to the Palo Comado fireroad. We’ll continue up this rather steep fireroad for approximately a mile till we come to the top of China Flats. The loop ride around the top of China Flats is both beautiful and easy. We’ll then retrace our tracks and enjoy some fun downhill all the way back to the cars.  Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3.0, 15 Miles and 1800 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Robert

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Continue up the paved road 1/4 mile to the top parking lot.

Sunday, November 10: Sycamore Canyon from the Beach - Two Foxes & Wood Canyon.   We will meet at the parking lot restroom on the hill side of PCH. We begin with a ride up the Big Sycamore Trail. At about three miles, turn left on to Wood Canyon and then a quick right turn to Two Foxes for some single track riding. At the junction with the Sin Nombre trail we have two options: option 1, take Sin Nombre to Ranch Center Road; option 2, less experienced riders can turn right for a short distance and turn left;Big the Sycamore Trail; turn left at the paved Ranch Center Road. We regroup at the water tower and after a short break, continue down Ranch Center Road and turn left at Wood Canyon. The best part of this ride is blasting down Wood Canyon and then back to the main fire road and on to the parking lot. Meet at 9:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E2, Technical Rating = T2, 13 Miles and 950 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Randy

Directions:   For those who are coming from the San Fernando/ Los Angeles area: Take the 101 Fwy towards Ventura and exit on Kanan Road (make a left turn from the exit ramp).
Then make a right turn on PCH 1 and head towards Sycamore Canyon (it is approximately 14 miles northwest of Kanan Road and is on the right side).

For those who are coming from the Santa Barbara/ Ventura/ Oxnard/ Camarillo area: Take the 101S Fwy (101N for those who are coming from Thousand Oaks/ Simi Valley) and exit on S Las Posas Road (going towards PCH). Then go to PCH 1 South and look for signs to go to Sycamore Canyon (which is on the left side).

If you don’t want to pay the $12 fee for parking in the lot you can look for parking on PCH. For the ride we'll meet on the park side of Pacific Coast Hwy 1 for the ride (in front of the restrooms, located by the campground/ parking lot area, turn left after you pass the gaurd).

Sunday, November 17: Backbone from Encinal Rd to Mishe Mokwa (Out & Back).   This ride has lots of swooping, curving singletrack and some great views! We start with a gradual climb up the Encinal singletrack segment to the Decker/Mulholland singletrack segment of the Backbone Trail, cross the road and continue up to Etz Meloy Motorway. We'll head west on the Etz Meloy segment of the Backbone Trail enjoying spectacular views in all directions, including the Pacific Ocean, Hidden Valley and Lake Sherwood. After 2 miles on the fireroad, we'll cross Yerba Buena Rd to get onto the Backbone singletrack and ride it 4.5 miles to the base of the Mishe Mokwa Trail. We'll turn around here and retrace our path. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3, 20 Miles and 2500 Feet of Climbing , About 3.5 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Bruce

We have a group that does both a longer and shorter ride. Something for everyone!

Directions:   From Thousand Oaks and points west, exit the 101 Freeway at Westlake Blvd and head south. About 3.5 miles past Potrero, turn left onto Mulholland and go 2.5 miles. Make a very sharp right turn onto Encinal Canyon Rd (west, back towards Decker), drive for 2.3 miles until you see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.
From Agoura and points east, exit the 101 at Kanan and head south. After 6 miles, turn right onto Mulholland for 1 mile, then bear left onto Encinal Canyon Rd. After 2.3 miles more, you will see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.

Sunday, November 24: Grasslands - Malibu Creek - Short Bulldog.   We start at De Anza Park and ride over to Malibu Creek State Park via the Grasslands trail. Then we proceed along the main fire road, which passes through a fairly short but technical rocky streambed (if too technical please don’t hesitate to walk). After a short stop at the M*A*S*H site we’ll take on the first 1.25 miles of the Bulldog Fire Road. Then we cut off to Lookout Fire Road that brings us down to a paved road in the Malibu Lake area. We’ll take Crags Road to a back entrance of the park and peddle back to the cars via the same path as before. Meet at 8:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3, Technical Rating = T3, 14 Miles and 2100 Feet of Climbing , About 2.75 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Charlotte

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

Friday, November 29: Cheeseboro/China Flats Loop.   We will begin with an easy to moderate climb up the Sulphur Springs trail to Shepherd’s Flat. Then we head west on the Palo Comado connector singletrack that leads to the Palo Comado fireroad. We’ll continue up this rather steep fireroad for approximately a mile till we come to the top of China Flats. The loop ride around the top of China Flats is both beautiful and easy. We’ll then retrace our tracks and enjoy some fun downhill all the way back to the cars.  Meet at 9:30 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T3.0, 15 Miles and 1800 Feet of Climbing , About 2.5 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Randy

Directions:   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Continue up the paved road 1/4 mile to the top parking lot.

Saturday, November 30: Parker Mesa Overlook from Reseda.   This is a scenic out and back ride with terrific views along the way and of the ocean and the islands at the Parker Mesa Overlook. We will start at the South end of Reseda (not at the Caballero Trail, but further up Reseda.) We will ride up to the top end of Dirt Mulholland and ride across the Temescal Ridge Trail to the Hub. From here will we ride past Eagles Rock and continue onto Trippet Ranch, then continue onto the Parker Mesa Overlook before turning around. Meet at 8:45 am and be ready to depart 15 minutes later.
Endurance Rating = E3.5, Technical Rating = T2, 17 Miles and 3100 Feet of Climbing , About 3 Hours
, Ride Scheduler: Desi

Directions:   Take the 101 Fwy to the Reseda Blvd exit in Tarzana. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Reseda; pass the Caballero trail, up through/past the opening in the fence up to the paid parking area. Park just before the "white line" as the paid parking starts just beyond that white line.

NIGHT RIDES

Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday Nights.  See Summary Section of the Newsletter for meeting times, ride times are 15 minutes later. The lengths of all rides are between 10 & 15 miles with ride times of 1.5 - 2.5 hours. Lights are needed for the months of September to May. During the summer months they may not be needed, but it's a good idea to bring them just in case there's a delay. The specific routes taken for the night rides will be determined at the trailhead.

Meeting Locations for Evening Rides:

EVENING INTERVALS .   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Park outside of the gate as it closes at sunset.

MTB Backbone at Encinal.   From Thousand Oaks and points west, exit the 101 Freeway at Westlake Blvd and head south. About 3.5 miles past Potrero, turn left onto Mulholland and go 2.5 miles. Make a very sharp right turn onto Encinal Canyon Rd (west, back towards Decker), drive for 2.3 miles until you see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.
From Agoura and points east, exit the 101 at Kanan and head south. After 6 miles, turn right onto Mulholland for 1 mile, then bear left onto Encinal Canyon Rd. After 2.3 miles more, you will see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.

MTB Backbone at Encinal - Beginner.   From Thousand Oaks and points west, exit the 101 Freeway at Westlake Blvd and head south. About 3.5 miles past Potrero, turn left onto Mulholland and go 2.5 miles. Make a very sharp right turn onto Encinal Canyon Rd (west, back towards Decker), drive for 2.3 miles until you see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.
From Agoura and points east, exit the 101 at Kanan and head south. After 6 miles, turn right onto Mulholland for 1 mile, then bear left onto Encinal Canyon Rd. After 2.3 miles more, you will see the LA County Fire Camp sign on the left. Turn up the dirt road on the right that takes you to the trailhead parking.

MTB Backbone from Kanan at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Kanan exit in Agoura Hills. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Kanan for several miles until you reach the third tunnel. Park in the paved parking area just before the tunnel.

MTB Backbone from Kanan Beginner.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Kanan exit in Agoura Hills. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Kanan for several miles until you reach the third tunnel. Park in the paved parking area just before the tunnel.

MTB Calabasas Peak at Night.   Take the 101 Fwy to Valley Circle/Mulholland Dr. exit. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue south on Mulholland and make a right on Valmar which becomes Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Continue on Old Topanga which will join Mulholland Hwy briefly and then continue on the left. Follow Old Topanga about 1.5 miles and look for the Calabasas Peak trail head on the right across from Summit to Summit trail.

MTB Cheeseboro at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Park in the lower, paved parking lot (the gate to the upper lot is closed and locked at sunset).

MTB Cheeseboro at Night - Beginner Ride.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Chesebro exit in Agoura. Head north and make a right on Chesebro Road. Follow the narrow road one-mile and turn right at the park entrance. Park in the lower, paved parking lot (the gate to the upper lot is closed and locked at sunset).

MTB Chumash at Night.   Take the 118 Freeway to the Yosemite Avenue exit in Simi Valley. At the end of the off-ramp proceed north to Flanagan and make a right. Park on the side of the road at the end of Flanagan.

MTB Dos Vientos at Night.   From the 101 freeway, turn south onto Wendy Drive, towards the ocean. Continue for about 0.7 miles and turn right at Borchard Rd and head West. Turn left on to S. Reino Rd heading South for about 0.5 mile to the Alberton's parking lot. Park in the Northeast corner of the Alberton's parking lot. We will meet there.

MTB Grasslands - slower paced .   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Grasslands at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Grasslands/Las Virgenes View at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Grasslands/MCSP at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Johnson's Motorway at Night.   From Thousand Oaks take the 118 and exit at Rocky Peak Rd. Turn right, and then an immediate left onto Santa Susana Pass Rd. Proceed to Iverson Rd. and turn left. From the the South, from the 118 exit Topanga Cyn Blvd & turn left. Turn right on Santa Susana Pass Rd., and right onto Iverson Rd. Parking is just outside the gate, near the underpass in Iverson Rd.

MTB Lang Ranch/Albertson - slower paced.   Exit the 101 Freeway on Westlake Blvd and head north for about 3 miles. When you go past the North Ranch Community Center you will go downhill and the first traffic light is at the corner of Westlake and Lang Ranch Parkway. Turn right onto Lang Ranch Parkway and drive about 0.8 miles to where the pavement ends and Albertson Fire Road begins.

MTB Lang Ranch/Albertson at Night.   Exit the 101 Freeway on Westlake Blvd and head north for about 3 miles. When you go past the North Ranch Community Center you will go downhill and the first traffic light is at the corner of Westlake and Lang Ranch Parkway. Turn right onto Lang Ranch Parkway and drive about 0.8 miles to where the pavement ends and Albertson Fire Road begins.

MTB Lang Ranch/Sunset at Night.   Heading north on the 23 toward Simi, get off at Sunset Blvd and turn right. Continue straight until just before you get to the guard shack. Park in the lot on the right.

MTB Las Virgenes Canyon at Night.   From the 101, exit Las Virgenes and turn North (away from the ocean). Proceed approximately 1.5 miles to the dead end. Parking is on the street.

MTB Malibu Creek State Park at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Las Virgenes Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Las Virgenes toward the ocean. Park in one of the dirt areas on the corner of Las Virgenes and Mulholland.

MTB New Millennium/Las Virgenes View/Grasslands at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB New Millennium/Las Virgenes View/MCSP/Grasslands at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lost Hills Road exit in Calabasas. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Park in the lot for DeAnza Park located on the northwest corner of Lost Hills and Las Virgenes Roads.

MTB Reseda at Night.   Due to the extra drive, we will meet @ 6:15 and ride by 6:30. Meeting place: Take the 101 Freeway to the Reseda Blvd. exit in Tarzana. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Reseda and park at the Caballero trailhead. Trailhead is on the left. If you pass the Braemar Country Club you’ve gone too far.

MTB Santa Rosa/Wildwood at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Lynn Road exit in Thousand Oaks. At the end of the off-ramp proceed north. Take Lynn for several miles (it will turn into Olsen Road) until you reach Mountclef Blvd (at CLU). Or, from the 23 Freeway, exit at Avenida de los Arboles and go west. Turn right on Mountclef (at the stop sign after Moorpark Rd.), cross Olsen Rd. and park on the street.

MTB Space Mountain at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Moorpark Road exit in Thousand Oaks. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south toward the ocean. Take Moorpark till it dead-ends at Greenmeadow Avenue and park in the dirt lot on the right.

MTB Sycamore Canyon at Night.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Wendy exit in Newbury Park. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Wendy until it dead-ends at Potrero Road. Park in the adjacent dirt parking area.

MTB Sycamore Canyon- Beginner.   Take the 101 Freeway to the Wendy exit in Newbury Park. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south on Wendy until it dead-ends at Potrero Road. Park in the adjacent dirt parking area.

MTB Topanga Area at Night.   From Thousand Oaks: take the 101 South and exit at Mulholland Dr/Valley Circle Blvd. Turn left on Calabasas Rd then make first right on Mulholland Dr. Drive approx 1.75 miles and turn right (south) on Topanga Cyn Blvd. Drive approx 3 miles and make a left on Viewridge Rd (just past the summit). Park at end of Viewridge Rd. From the East SF Valley: take the 101 North and exit at Topanga Cyn Blvd SOUTH. Drive South for 3.5 miles and make a left on Viewridge Rd (just past the summit). Park at the end of the Viewridge Rd.

MTB Trippet Ranch to Overlook at Night.   Take the 101 Fwy to the Topanga Blvd exit. At the end of the off-ramp proceed south (towards the ocean). Continue up Topange approx. 5 miles until you reach Entrada which is the entrance to the park on the left. Follow Entrada to the park entrance.

MTB Triunfo Canyon Trail at Night.   Exit the 101 Freeway going south on Westlake Blvd. Go south for about a mile and then turn west (right) on Triunfo Canyon Road. This will lead you to Triunfo Park. Turn left onto Tamarack St and turn into the second parking lot on the left. We start at the far west end of the park.

MTB Wildwood at Night.   Take the Lynn Road exit, off of the 101 Fwy in Thousand Oaks, and go north until you come to Avenida De Los Arboles. Turn left and go about 1 mile to the end. From Simi Valley, go west on the 118 Fwy and then south when it turns into the 23 Fwy. Get off on Avenida De Los Arboles and go right for about 2 miles to the end. Hang a U-turn at the end (watch for opposing traffic) and then turn right into the dirt parking lot.