Fuerte, To Potato We Will Go!

Antonio and I set out by 6:30 am to ride up to Potato. When I woke up it was wet and slightly raining.  I wasn't sure about riding today but I told Antonio I would be there so goes the story.

Heading east on Baseline, dark clouds hung low, lighting stuck off in the distance and rain fell quietly on the streets.  A flash of lighting, one, two, three, four,  boom!  Am I making the right decision about riding up to Potato?

Antonio and I met at Mills and Baseline.  Lets do it.  Antonio kept the pace lively up Mills.  I was a little worried because I was already tired.  I kept on his wheel and shortly we were entering Claremont Wilderness Trail and making our trek up Burbank.

Partly Cloudy.  Sunlight shone through the patches of clouds.  It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either.  The moisture in the air coupled with the heat generated from my body made for an uncomfortable climb.   I wasn't miserable but I could have done without the humidity.

Full Suspension.  Wednesday I worked thru the night trying to get my Trek Fuel Ex ready for the final Knobby Time XC race on Thursday.  I couldn't get the shifting tuned properly, ended up racing the hardtail, and on Friday wrenched on the Fuel Ex some more.  Its been a year (Or More?) since I last rode the Fuel Ex, but I will race it for the upcoming Triple Crown Series.  For Potato, the Fuel Ex was my bike of choice.  I figured, work out all the mechanical bugs now, so when I race it will be one sweet racing machine!

The top of Potato!  An American Flag and a Potato. 

Above is Antonio seemingly riding into the clouds.  Clouds make for some great dramatic photo opportunities.  The picture is a little blurry but its the best I can do while trying to ride and shoot!

Antonio and I at the top!  The Trek Fuel Ex did great.  I need to tune the shifting some more but it will be ready on race day. 

Nate ' Dog with his dog!  Nate was running up Cobal Canyon with his dog.  He's training for some epic 250 mile relay race. 

Up and down, up and down.  Once we made it to Potato, we headed back down to Marshal Canyon.  We rode a number of switchbacks, ran into Omar the "El Captain" of SC Velo (At least that's what Antonio called him) and then headed halfway up Marshal Canyon again to hit some more switchbacks off Stephens Ranch Road.  Then we rode back up Marshal Canyon to Cobal Canyon and finally home.  It was semi epic, but if I had more time, I would have attempted to ride back up Burbank.

Fuerte, Fuerte!  Antonio is a much stronger rider than me.  He would speed past me then ride back down to see if I was okay.  When he would ask how I am doing I'd say, "Fuerte."  Hearing this he'd turn around and head back up the mountain.  This happened throughout the ride.