TR: Single Speeding the Central Coast

I was headed to Ojai, CA to spend Thanksgiving with the family and was planning on bringing the bike along. I am a graduate of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and earlier in the week it was announced they would be hosting their first home football playoff game. It was decided to make a weekend of it and continue on up the coast to SLO for some single track, cold beer and playoff football.

The Bike
The Enduro is still on the disabled list with a cracked frame, so I brought along my single speed convert. Earlier in the year I spent a few weeks converting my brother’s early nineties Specialized Rockhopper to a single speed. So far it has done more work as a Cardiff cruiser than a true trail bike. I was looking forward to get to know the bike better on the dirt and to feel the burn of the single speed experience.

Rancho El Nido (Ojai, CA)
It had rained pretty good through Wednesday night but there was a new trail network in Ojai that I really wanted to explore. Rancho El Nido is located a few miles from the house I grew up in, however this would be my first time in the area as it was only opened to the public in 2003. I checked the trail conditions early in the morning over a cup of hot coffee, but it looked a little to wet. However, by noon I was itching for a ride so I threw the bike in the truck and made my way to the trailhead. What I found was a fun network of fire road, double track and some single track tucked along two oak filled canyons. The oak canopy and creek along the Rice Canyon Trail provided a great change of pace to the open dessert landscapes of San Diego County. It felt good to burn some calories and get outdoors as I was soon going to be stuffing my self with cold beer and hot turkey. Directions and a trail map can be found here.

Montana de Oro (Los Osos, CA)
After an early start out of Ojai I arrived at Montana De Oro State Park in Los Osos, CA to check out a newly opened trail. The Hazard Peak Trail was built by the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers over a two year period and was opened in April of 2008 as a re-route of the old Ridge Trail. This is a pure gem of a trail built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. The 3 miles of beautiful bench cut single track climbs steadily at a 5-7% grade with integrated berms, rolling grade dips and drainage nicks. A pure pleasure to climb with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and Morro Bay gave way to a high speed flowy descent. Not much tech to the trail, but the tread was in absolute perfect condition after the recent rains and the small block eights where holding hard in all the corners. Think Vista Del Mar Trail cut into the hills of Torrey Pines. Some of the most enjoyable single track I have ridden and not to be missed if you are in the area. I finished off the ride with a cold Firestone Double Barrel and leftover turkey sandwich while taking in the views of the Pacific Ocean and chatting up some local riders.

Cerro Cabrillo (Moro Bay, CA)
Still buzzing from an afternoon cup of coffee and the Hazard Peak Trail, I set out to the Cerro Cabrillo area of Morro Bay State Park for a sunset ride. Cerro Cabrillo is one of the “Seven Sisters”, a string of volcanic formations that run from San Luis Obispo and culminates with Morro Rock jutting out of the Pacific Ocean. The small network of rolling single and double track was spiced up with a wooden bridge crossing and some fun downhill railroad tie steps. Would be a fun after work quickie ride and was especially beautiful at sunset.

See Canyon (Avila, CA)
I ran into an old friend Friday night in SLO while enjoying a few cold beers. We talked bikes and football and set up a ride for Saturday morning. My friend lives in Avila Beach and has the permission of the local ranchers to ride on their land. We looking at a lot of steep climbs, so I borrowed his rigid single speed Spot 29er that was geared a little lower than my old Specialized convert. This was my first time on a 29er and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although the climbs were still brutal. The ride started with a mile or two climb on pavement before hitting a short steep fire road climb. We then encountered a fun single track descent before some more rolling fire road and excellent views of the Pacific Ocean and Pismo Beach. After a few days of solo riding, it was fun to roll with a group. However, the fire road was a let down after the sweet single track of the day before.

More Pics.....Rancho El Nido

More Pics....Montana De Oro

More Pics....Cerro Cabrillo

More Pics....See Canyon

Wow, really epic photos and great trail description. The treader reports in general have been great lately.

So are you a 29'er single-speed convert now?

Not quite a complete convert, but I will definitely be looking to put one in the garage sometime in the near future. It was a great change of pace and the out of saddle climbing will make you a much stronger rider. My quads are still sore from the weekends rides.

Very nice TR, Matt. Nothing like new dirt to be "thankful" for. I almost had a Flightline flashback looking at a couple of the Cerro Cabrillo pics.

Nice write up, beautiful pictures, this is what a good TR is all about, thank you for posting it.

Very nice TR.... thanks for sharing the photos as well. That trail looks super fun, great job... keep em coming.

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