Odd Couple Chronicle

3rd Mountain Biking USA : Lake Chabot November 21, 2006

Filed under: Travelling, USA — ambar @ 7:29 am

Location : Lake Chabot
Distance : 11.2 miles (18km)
Duration : 2-2.5 hrs
Difficulty : Moderate strenuous, mildly technical
Elevation 600′ gain/loss
Ride Type : Loop on fire roads
Parking : $3.50 (we parked outside the parks so it’s free!)
Maps : download here
Comments : long ride but little bit flat than the 2nd attempt. Nice view of the lakes.

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2nd Mountain Biking USA : Purisima Creek November 8, 2006

Filed under: Travelling, USA — ambar @ 2:01 pm



Trail : Harkins Fire Trail to Whittmore Gulch
Location : Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
Distance : 6.8 miles
Difficulty : strenuous, somewhat technical
Duration : 3.5-4 hours
Elevation : 1,400′ gain/loss ; begin/end 400′ ; highest point 1,800′
Ride type : Loop on fire road and singletrack
Map : available on site (recommended)
Date : 4 November 2006, Time 1300-1640
Comments : helmet required ! start in really steep then top onto near Skyline Blv. Stop for amazing view of Half Moon Bay, then lovely technical down through muddy forest. No water availabe on the path, so bring lots !
Overall : 7 from 10 point (definitely really good one)

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First Attempt of Mountain Biking US : Henry Cowell Redwoods October 31, 2006

Filed under: Travelling, USA — ambar @ 3:48 am


Location: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, CA
Distance : 6.5 miles
Difficulty : moderate, mildly technical
Duration : 2.5 hours
Elevation : 600in gain/loss
Ride type : first couple miles were paved road and uphill, then white sandy ground turn to nice loose ground on the forest by the river
Entrance fee : $5 + $1 for biking map
Date : 28 October 2006, afternoon
Comments : pipeline road is quite popular for walkers and horse riders, water available on the observation deck. Good for testing brakes and gears.

I have been mountain biking for three years when Mark lend me his twenty years old bike. Since we were in California a couple weeks ago soon we realised that we were in the mountain biking’s heaven. This area is great for exploring the parks and natural wonder on the saddle; this made us getting itchy to put feet on the paddle again. So here we are in the Northern California trying new bikes from cyclepath shop. I have got bike Contessa 40 from bike-maker Scott which is lot better than my old one.
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