dreadedmonkeygod . net

Bolted straight from work to Cheesebro Canyon for a much-needed trail ride. I only had about 90 minutes of daylight left when I got there, so I was hesitant to try the ride out along Palo Comado that I've been itching for. Instead, I opted to head out to Shepherd's Flat (nothing new there, but fun every time), and then east and back along the ridge trail.

I'm glad I braved the unfamiliar trail: it was exactly what I was looking for tonight. Not too heavy, not too easy. Heading east from Shepherd's Flat is a fun trail with plenty of interesting turns and dips. I headed right at a three-way intersection to head back southward along the ridge behind the Baleen Wall.

The ridgeline is a fantastic followup to the relatively flat ride along the canyon. It starts with a short, steep warmup, then flows up three half-mile climbs. After that, it's a smooth, fast downhill back to the canyon trail.

I needed granny gears, but I never felt like I didn't have the gas to finish the climbs, and I'm really happy with how quickly I recovered after each climb. I hit the third climb feeling warm and loose, even after huffing and puffing my way up the two before.

The temperature hovered around 75°, bugs were rare, and a cool breeze refreshed me at the top of every climb. I couldn't ask for a more perfect evening ride.

Chesebro Ridge Loop