I don't know what it is about swim practice. I may ache more the day after running or lifting weights, but I always feel dazed the morning after I swim. But hey, at least swimming makes the abs look real purty.

Trail Reviews: Skeggs Point (El Corte De Madera OSP)

In the interests of providing some actual content on this Blog, I give you the inagural edition of Trail Reviews. This week we'll look at Skeggs Point, one of the most popular (yet highly regulated) mountain biking preserves.

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of trails at Skeggs. The list merely highlights trails and trail features that may not be obvious to those new to Skeggs.

Upper Steam Donkey: Generally ridden top to bottom. Steep rutted descent followed in quick succession by three short technical climbs. If you can climb all three you are DA STUD. Generally followed by

Lower Steam Donkey: Fun, fast descent. Be sure to hop the log at the top.

Blue Blossom: Generally ridden south to north. Now bi-directional. Along with Crosscut Trail,¹ Blue Blossom used to be the last hardcore trail at Skeggs. If you could ride down the wall, you were DA STUD. Unfortunately, the last of the re-routes eliminated the wall. It's still a destination trail with a nice section of tight singletrack, though.

South Leaf: Tragically underappreciated. Subject to seasonal trail closures. Generally ridden north to south. Long, rutted climb followed by technical, cross-country singletrack. South Leaf is out of the way, so if you ride it, be prepared for a long day.

Virginia Mill: Generally ridden as a continuation of South Leaf. Not particularly interesting until the near the creek crossing. Used to be that you had to haul your bike on top of a downed redwood to cross the creek. Since the crossing was impassable to horses, they've now erected a bridge. The trail is still closed to bikes, so who can say how much fun they've sucked out of it.

Timberview: Generally ridden top to bottom. It's a fire road. Whee! Only mountain goats will appreciate the climb on the lower portions of Timberview. If you take a novice to intermediate rider up Timberview, be prepared to get smacked (at least once the puddle that was once your "friend" collects itself).

Manzanita: Yeah, it's fun, but everybody knows about it. 'Nuff said.

North Leaf: Watch out for rangers with radar guns (?!!?!) on lower sections near the El Corte De Madera Creek Trail junction.

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Recommended Short (<90 minute) Loop: Upper Steam Donkey, Lower Steam Donkey, Spring Board, Lawrence Creek, Blue Blossom, Spring Board, Gordon Mill

Recommended Long (3 hour) Loop: Upper Steam Donkey, Lower Steam Donkey, Gordon Mill, Crosscut, Timberview, Giant Salamander, Methuselah, South Leaf, Virginia Mill, Lawrence Creek, Blue Blossom, Spring Board, Gordon Mill

Be sure to check the ECDM website for the latest updates on seasonal and other trail closures.


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1. Currently closed for reconstruction

Another two-a-day workout yesterday. An unexpected swim meet at IVC prompted a quick trail run through the Indian Valley OSP. We followed that up with a ride at Tamarancho, the Boy Scout camp. It felt good to get back on technical singletrack again, though I was a little rusty on the downhills. Climb strength was good. I actually managed to catch my coach on the last hill, something I've never been able to do before.

Sitting at home last night, I watched the moon climb over a windless, glassy bay. Even though this is a ridiculously overpriced city, there are some undeniable attractions.

Ever had one of those workouts where the next morning you feel like somebody clocked you upside the head with a frying pan?
It's one of those mornings.

Hotel Soap Project No. 6

Manufacturer: Gilchrist & Soames

Product Name: Chamomile Conditioning Shampoo

Source: Unknown

What's hot?: It's big! Really, this is the biggest bottle of shampoo schwag I've yet seen.

What's not?: Wishy washy scent; wishy-washy product; website plays music

Comments: I've already given one Gilchrist & Soames product a tepid review, so it's no surprise that I'm lukewarm about this one, too. The bottle is huge (4 oz.), but the scent is nothing special. I'm also not sold on the benefits of conditioning shampoo. Lance Arthur seems to think that it's fine. As he notes

So what about those shampoos with conditioner built-in? Well, when you think about it, you’re going to dump it all on your head and work it around anyway, so doing both at the same time doesn’t hurt anything. The shampoo cleans your scalp, the conditioner soaks into your hair, your scalp doesn't care about being conditioned, your hair doesn’t care about being shampooed, all set!

To my mind, at any rate, shampoo cleans whatever it touches and conditioner moisturizes whatever it touches. Thus, the shampoo and conditioner in a bottle of conditioning shampoo are forever duking it out on your head.

Not that I care anymore, now that I've got a buzz cut.

One last word: To whoever at Gilchrist & Soames thought that playing music on the website was a good idea...1997 is calling. They want their website back.

Real MTB Triathlon
Granite Bay, CA
April 3, 2005
02:31:42
Official Results

I don't know what I like best about this picture: That I found this bottle lying on the street or that the variety of weed is called "Romulan."
Like, "Oh, you've got glaucoma? Try the Romulan. But if you just need to control nausea, Klingon is way better."