Mountain Biking and (sort of) Camping at Big Bear

[6spd_monte]

For those of you who don't know, I like to go mountain biking. Yes, I landed myself in the hospital a couple of years ago but fortunately I'm all better and with a new sense of good judgement I can continue to have fun safely. My two riding buddies like to go mtb racing. I don't like to race but I go with them as a one man support/pit-crew/photo guy. They always like to pre-ride the course a few days before the race and I tag along for that too because it's a great excuse to check out trails in new locations.
On June 11-12 we were in Big Bear pre riding the course for the race that was held on June 20th. We drove up in my van on Friday night and arrived at the Pine Knot campground around midnight. Quickly and quietly set up camp and got to sleep.

Here's our campsite in the am:




I'm not really much for real camping, as you may be starting to figure out (Pine Knot has running water and toilets), so I slept in the van.




My friends shared the tent. Here's Noel waking up:


And Derek, um, still sleeping. He's not really a morning person...


In order for me to be able to sleep in the van, the bikes had to go out. But, we wanted them to still be there in the morning so we chained them to the wheel:




BIkes all set up and ready to go:


We pedaled to breakfast at Denny's


Then we hit the trail! I don't have a lot of pictures of riding because we were having too much fun to stop!
Here's one of the views:


And we found what might have been the last remaining patch of snow of the season, so we made a snowman!


We stood our bikes up for a sweet photo op:


And, before we went on our way, we made our snowman anatomically correct...


I promise it wasn't my idea. But I didn't stop it either.
That's it. We rode 24 miles that day and then drove home. Too much fun!

[T.Low]

Dude, your van looks even more awesome in a camping setting like that.

Looks like a good time.

[Smiliesafari]

Your van looks awesome. I'm with you on the "sleeping on an asphalt pad vs nice comfy van".

[mdmead]

Great pics! Looks like a fun trip.

[astrozam]

Thanks for sharing the pics and story James, good to see ya back in the saddle, 24miles offroad in 1 day...very beastly
How'd you're friends do in the race a few days later?

[6spd_monte]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I washed the van right before we left, so that probably added to the awesomeness. Sleeping in the van was pretty comfy, but it would have been nicer if we had remembered to bring pillows! We all just laid our heads on piles of clothes or towels for the night.

As for the race, Noel finished First in his category an Derek finished Third in his. I'll post up some race pics maybe tomorrow.

I was pleased with how well these pictures came out. Would you believe that they were all taken with my cell phone? The pics of the race will be from a real camera.

[phr1$k37]

Would you believe that they were all taken with my cell phone? The pics of the race will be from a real camera.

With bountiful light your photos will always turn out good! Hey do you have headcam!?

I just got back into biking - both commuting to work and trial riding. I sold my older '99(?) Orange Specialized A1 frame and pieced together my 2001 Sp. Rockhopper A1 hardtail. Trying to get my girlfriend into this sport. Got a few bruises already heh he. Ordered a crankset from jensonusa as I just bent 2-cogs this past Sunday. Your friend who rides the Trek must be VERY tall!?!?

[LaGrasta]

Nice post, I love Big Bear! I've stayed at that camp ground before too.

[6spd_monte]

Here's some more pics...
Race start:


Action shot:


A random fire truck at the restaurant where the award ceremony was held. This truck is far from home, I'd love to hear the story of how a fire truck from Catalina Island ended up in Big Bear.


Derek finished Third:


And Noel finished First:

Hey do you have headcam!?
Your friend who rides the Trek must be VERY tall!?!?

No, I don't have a helmet cam. I have been thinking about getting one.
Derek rides the Top Fuel. He's tall, but not freakishly so. He's 6'1 or 6'2, but his legs are unusually long in relation to the rest of him. That's why he rides a size extra large bike when most people his height ride a large.

[phr1$k37]

Wow!? So ... are you being modest - did you place 2nd? Your friends who are not morning folks placed well! Congrats!

Yes I note the long legs in the photo. I am 5'9" and ride 17" & 19" frames. The 19" gives me some awkward moments but I like the larger frame.