Me and the Moonlander!

[Gear]

Count me in for the floatilla. I love my Moonlander. The 4.7 inch tires work great on beach sand. Im out of Huntington Beach.

It is good to see you over here on the Portal. I am also stoked that you are out of Huntington Beach and not Fresno. I would like to get a ride together. When you get a chance PM with days/times that you ride. I'll see if we can't meet somewhere in the middle.

Thanks

Justin

 

[Gear]

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve - January 29, 2012

Two of us took off this morning and found a new way up to the top of Elfin Forest Recreation Reserve. A nice tight trail that lead up to and then joined the Equine Incline Loop Trail. The photo above is taken at the Ridgetop Picnic Area(#10 on the map)

http://olivenhain.com/files/docs/Park/trail-map2010.pdf
Trail Map.

A photograph looking West about half way up the hill.

Another GoPro shot showing how tight the trail was. I need to work on a new camera angle.

One last one trying to show some elevation gain. A Great Time! It is always fun to find a new trail.

Distance 16.9 miles
Elevation 2114 feet
Moving Average 6.4

 

[natopotato]

Just bought my Moonlander, pretty stoked with our recent snowstorm to take it out in the dunes and along Lake Michigan. To anybody wanting to order one, the bike shop where I purchased mine has one of every size Moonlander. Velo City Cycles in Holland, MI. :beer::beer:

 

[Gear]

Just bought my Moonlander, pretty stoked with our recent snowstorm to take it out in the dunes and along Lake Michigan. To anybody wanting to order one, the bike shop where I purchased mine has one of every size Moonlander. Velo City Cycles in Holland, MI. :beer::beer:

The Dunes and Lake Michigan sound really nice on a Moonlander. Congrats on the purchase! I'm Loving Mine.:bike_rider:

 

[Gear]

Sprouts Farmers Market - January 30, 2012

Out the door and onto the trail. Another beautiful day!

So the long and the short of it is I ran out of Granola Cereal. So I linked up some new trails to me and managed to ride over to Sprouts. 10 miles round trip and only about 1.5 on the road.

My new motto is "Google Earth is your friend." And with that I have been rewarded with some awesome new ways to get around town.

Distance 10.5 miles
Elevation 1680 feet
Moving Average 6.4 mph

 

[TD64]

Nice! I am looking forward to checking this bike out!

 

[arlon]

How do you keep from getting flats or are there just fewer stickley things out there. I live in West Texas, miles and miles of beach but just a long way to the water. A sand bike would be really neat out here I think but everything that grows has a thorn on it someplace. I've just completely given up being able to ride a bike much of anywhere because of the time I spend pumping tires and fixing flats. The green goo was basically useless, might get you home but you'll have to pump up the tires in the morning. I need some steel belted AT's for my bicycle..

 

[Gear]

Nice! I am looking forward to checking this bike out!

Hello Tony,
I am getting stronger and will be interested in one of your epic rides soon!:roost: Just need to work on the motor.

How do you keep from getting flats or are there just fewer stickley things out there. I live in West Texas, miles and miles of beach but just a long way to the water. A sand bike would be really neat out here I think but everything that grows has a thorn on it someplace. I've just completely given up being able to ride a bike much of anywhere because of the time I spend pumping tires and fixing flats. The green goo was basically useless, might get you home but you'll have to pump up the tires in the morning. I need some steel belted AT's for my bicycle..

Well thorns suck! I was concerned about flats as well. So I put 8 oz of Staun's Tire Sealant in each tire. My boys have been flatting and I just keep riding. I am starting to wonder if the lower tire pressure has something to do with it. Larger contact patch equals less pressure on sharp objects. I would ask around with the local bike stores and see if they have any suggestions on how not to flat. If folks are riding there must be an answer. You would have a great time on the beaches. Not only that but the bike lets you get away from the crowds. Fun, Fun

 

[Gear]

Revisited - Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve - January 31, 2012

Today was all about climbing. I might not be fast, but the Moonlanders traction keeps me pedaling up these loose trails.

Once on top I explored several of the signed trails.

One that got me excited was the Cielo Trail (#25 on the map). This trail descents down below the Olivenhain Dam. What interested me was that this is a new and third way down off the mountain.

http://olivenhain.com/files/docs/Park/trail-map2010.pdf
Elfin Forest Recreation Reserve Map

Lake Hodges Overlook(#18 on the map)

Google Earth image of todays ride.

Distance 10.4 miles
Elevation 2254 feet
Moving Average 5.1 mph

 

[Gear]

Moonlander Modification

Bear Bell - A simple bell that jingles as I go down the trail. With Southern California's trails being as busy as they are it has been a nice addition to the bike. Most cases I will round a corner to find hikers already standing off to the side of the trail. The little hanging bag has a magnet in it for when you want to silence the bell. Simple slip the bag over the bell and the magnet keeps the ball inside from moving.

The bell doing its magic! "Hi there, have a nice day!"

 

[arlon]

Love the bell. Who ever came up with that idea deserves a free meal.. There are a number of bike riders out here but they all stay on pavement. I have seen VERY few bikes off the pavement since my move out here. There is a bike shop in town and I have not visited them but will try that suggestion. Still liking that bike of yours. You need to start a real blog and maybe get some sponsorship as well and open a few peoples eyes to the possibilities in their own back yards.

 

[Gear]

Still liking that bike of yours. You need to start a real blog and maybe get some sponsorship as well and open a few peoples eyes to the possibilities in their own back yards.

Thanks for the encouragement. Responses like yours keep me on my bike. Just hoping to push a few others to dust off there bike and look outside. Remember Google Earth is your friend. These last couple weeks have really taken me back to when I was a kid, traveling everywhere by skateboard. It has been a blast exploring the many ways to get around town. Many of those ways have been completely new to me. Quite freeing and the exercise is paying off.

 

[Gear]

Honey Do List - February 1, 2012

My boys needed a new towel rack in there bathroom. So today's chore was a trip to Home Depot for some supplies. Yes thats a 4' piece of wood strapped to my back. Yes I could have taken the Jeep or the Pinzgauer, but off I went exploring on my bike.

This shot was quickly taken as I was returning to my house. I think my body was still in shock from yesterdays ride.

So many ways to get there! This is what I chose at that moment(green loop).

Distance 12.4 miles
Elevation 1156 feet
Moving Average 9.2 mph

 

[arlon]

I like the documentary style pics. Beautiful vistas are nice but there is a place for the "normal" stuff. The google earth maps of your path (how ever you get them there) are really a neat touch too.

 

[Gear]

The google earth maps of your path (how ever you get them there) are really a neat touch too.

Another plus to this whole adventure. I am learning how to use products that I already have(i.e. Garmin 60CSX GPS, GoPro Hero Camera, iPhone 4s Camera with the app. Pano). The Google Earth map has turned out to be pretty easy. I simple hook up the Garmin to my computer, download the days event to a free Garmin program called Garmin Basecamp. Then once you see the breadcrumb trail on your screen you can one click and send it to Google Earth. Then save the image to your computer. Pretty straight forward. Give it a try!