Fred told me it was going to be 54-34 degrees and no rain in Idyllwild so we decided to run for it.
Meet time was set out to 6:30am. Why? don't know, ask him. Kimba bailed out, but Avidtest Shannon, Don and Jim showed up.
We weft a car at the bottom and drove up to the top. Never having led a ride here before, I hoped not get lost in the maze that is The Hub. Luckily, we were able to ride a nice sampler: the Optimators, the Grotto, Tub and the Hell ride down with barely any fireroads.
The day started great, the trails were super tacky, and the riders were all yeeeaahhhh!!! in the Optimator and Tub twisty singletrack. But by the time we got to the Mini-Moab lookout a light rain started to bother us. Still, the consensus was to soldier on so after Tub, we rode the sigletrack up to Hell.
The first Hell section was super wet and muddy (I didn't know DG could turn "muddy") so it was a little tricky, especially for first-timers. Before the second section Fred and Don decided it was not challenging enough for them and decided to try their DH skills down the Control Rd while the rest of us carried on and meet us at the bottom.
Luckily we all made it with no technicals nor injuries. I was glad to see how well Shannon and Jim rode the wet DG to the bottom and happy I didn't get lost...too much at least.

Good times!! thanks Fred for the ride

We had totally different experiences Jose. All was good until Hell broke loose, water on my glasses gave the ruts a 3 D effect, they were coming at me fast and furious (SAD), so I took the glasses off, only to have dirt flip up and into both eyes as my brakes failed; I'm fucking blind, the bike won't stop, my life plays out on my eyelids like a fucking movie, there's lots of sex; the left eye is not as bad, so I'm trying to find a line with one blurry eye, I finally pull a Fred Flintstone and slowed the bike with my feet, I'm blind again, there's laughter and the smell of burnt something; this other mfer thinks he's smelling burnt food, my brakes are smoking like nothing I've seen before, they're cooked; Fuck you and Hell Raiser Jose!!!!

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"Just stop this walking shit and let's get this done"
Avidtesty (Arch 2019)

That was a killer ride. There were moments of concern as the drizzle turned into a light rain and the already cool temp cooled even more. It occurred to me that leaving my rain jacket in the truck was not a well-thought-out decision.

Like Fred, it took me a minute to figure out why I was going painfully blind as the rain started coming down. Turns out, when rain starts leaching through your helmet, and saturates the padding, 8-months of condensed salt/sweat starts running into your eyes.

I did enjoy watching Fred berate Jose for 'ride-leading' him straight through HellRaiser. That was some funny sheeit.

And to cap off the ride, who'da thunk a Mexican joint that only serves Bud and Bud Light would have such good food?

The only thing I didn't enjoy so much was riding back to the top of the mountain with Jose as he demonstrated his Argentinian driving skills....

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"it can go full porno alley"

- Kimba - One love, many bikes - 2020

Haha, I had forgotten about that. So true. Stinky, slimy and it burns. Those people who keep their kit fastidiously clean can't appreciate this.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Well, I am glad everyone had a great time. Especially you Fred. Let's do it again,. This time with snow!!

No Mystic Dubbing? Now there has to be part two of this tour for Fred (minus hellraiser of course).
OMFG!!! Fred was coaxed to ride down Hellraiser? I mean, it can't be worst than riding it down intentionally on a hardtail with no seatpost on.

I hope the trails are still tacky this Saturday.

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Department of Good Times

I missed this little gem the first time I read your post. Just thought it deserved a little highlighting and a bump. This would be an epic first sentence for your upcoming children's book Fred.

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

I whannah get back out there, maybe a few more miles. Can we drop all the way down to Hurkey creek? I can't go until Sunday 12/15.

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"Just stop this walking shit and let's get this done"
Avidtesty (Arch 2019)

Try Webster trail next time..