Ridgecrest Composite Mountain Bike Team

10/30/2020

GPX #2

Reminder: Riding this route is not a team sanctioned activity. Please take precautions and be safe! Even though this ride is call the "beginner" loop, it is not easy and should not be taken lightly.

Link to GPX file:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-IwHtlPURLdAJTUyBVQXUSvYdAwEjKyL/view?usp=sharing

The Beginner Loop is the next-to-the-shortest timed route for the Ridgecrest Desert Classic at 15.2 miles. Previous editions of the RDC had the Beginner Loop ending on the Ridgeline, along with the Expert and Sport Loop riders, but because that part of the course was deemed a little too technical for people who are truly "beginners", the course was changed to end on the Blacks downhill section, as recorded in this GPX file. As such, the Beginner Loop covers all of the Classic Loop, plus about an additional 6.3 miles. Also note that this GPX file begins and ends in the asphalt parking lot in front of the CCCC athletics building,the location of the RDC start/finish line. Feel free to start/end here or in the dirt parking lot. Reminder: a mobile device on which you can view GPX files will really come in handy. There are a lot of trails out there, and it's easy to get on the wrong one until you become familiar with the route.

The first 5.8 miles (measuring from the RDC start line) of the BL is the same as the first 5.8 miles of the Classic Loop, so should already be familiar to many team members. At Checkpoint 1, veer slightly to the right on a singletrack. You'll be returning to Checkpoint 1 in about 6.3 miles via the road/doubletrack (Boundary Road). There's left turn at 6.7 miles, then continue to the top of the hill. At the top continue straight and follow the trail through a few rocks, then downhill for a while. At 7.9 miles you will cross Murano Road and continue more or less straight. At about 8.1 miles there's a short tricky climb. You may want/need to dismount, especially if you're not in the correct gear. At the top of the hill you'll bear left slightly, passing some big rocks on your left, then go straight. Downhill for a bit then back up to mile 8.7. Turn left here and go more or less straight until mile 9.2. At this point you'll make a hard left turn. During a race, the Sport and Expert riders would be approaching this point from the opposite direction. You'd share the course with them for the next 2.6 miles.

At mile 9.5 the trail joins Murano Road. Stay on Murano Road for the next 0.4 miles heading more or less Southeast. At mile 9.9, take the singletrack to the right and get ready for a long steady climb to mile 11. At about mile 10.8 you'll pass a large rock formation on your left, then turn left just as you pass it and continue uphill. Once you start heading downhill, pay close attention for the singletrack to the left at mile 11.1. At mile 11.3 you'll join Boundary Road and follow it all the way back to Checkpoint 1. At Checkpoint 1, turn right and follow the Classic Loop trail all the way back to the college.

09/14/2020

GPX #1

Remember, riding this route is not a team sanctioned activity. Please take normal precautions and be safe!

This is a 6.1 mile ride and is mostly a loop -- you'll retrace the first .4 miles on your way back to the start. This has been a semi-official BLM-sanctioned route for many years, and you'll see BLM signage here and there along the way. There is also some new fencing/posts and gates (narrow areas made from wooden posts, wide enough for a bike to get through, but not a car) that were installed last year at various places along the trail to discourage motor vehicles on the trail. A time trial is an organized race against the clock, and that's what this course has been used for. 30 minutes is a pretty good time for this course. If you can do it in an hour, you're well on your way.

Ride or drive to the parking lot just south of Brown Road and a little to the southwest of US 395. If you are riding, and even if you're not, use extreme caution when crossing 395. If you want to ride, and you're heading from town on south China Lake Blvd, there are double-track dirt paths off to the right of the road that will get you all the way up to the 395 intersection.

The Ride:

Head south from the parking lot. At about .4 miles bear right. The trail coming in from the left is the route you'll be returning on.

At about 1.0 miles you'll turn left and find the gate. A little further on there is some additional fencing. Just after you cross the dirt road, more fencing. Look for the opening through the fence off to the right. This is the beginning of a 1-mile gentle climb.

At about 2.0 miles, turn right onto the double-track. Don't cross the road and continue on what looks like a continuation of the trail!

At 2.4 miles you'll make a left-hand turn.

At about 3.1 miles there is a steep downhill followed by an equally steep uphill. Maintain as much of your speed as you feel comfortable with to help you get back up the hill.

At about 3.5 miles you'll see some more fencing. It's rocky here, so watch your speed and bear left.

At about 4.3 miles there is a steep downhill. There are ruts (places where water has dug a little trench) near the bottom. Always try to cross ruts as nearly at a right angle as you can. If you're riding parallel to a rut and your front wheel gets in there, it will be difficult to control your bike.

Turn left at about 4.5 miles. More fencing here. Watch for BLM trail markers.

At about 4.8 miles, short steep downhill with fencing and gate at the bottom. Turn left after passing the fencing.

At about 5.2 miles, turn right through the gate.

At 5.6 mile, pass through the gate. Turn right to go back to the parking lot, left for another lap.

That's it. Congratulations!

Here is the link to the gpx file:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d_NUsCA6DmRYZSm82h5ZNouyG-T2AYIh/view?usp=sharing

09/14/2020

It's getting close to the start of the season so here is some information.

Unfortunately, we still cannot confirm that there will be any races this season... but we are still planning on holding practices starting around mid-January. Please see www.socaldirt.org for official information from the league.

Official team signups will begin in October. The season fee is $200, if there are races, the race fees will be lower than in the past. $30 for HS or $20 for MS.

Unfortunately, there will be no Ridgecrest Desert Classic this year ☹️.

In order to encourage team members and prospective team members to get out and ride, and to introduce you to trails in the area that you may not be aware of or tried out before, we will periodically be publishing .gpx files of rides that student athletes may want to try out, with parental permission/supervision. If you would like to check out these trails, just know that riding on your own is not a team activity, but could be great to try with your family. We will try to make these challenging, but not so much that they require advanced mountain biking skills. Always prepare for heat and unexpected issues. Bring plenty of water and watch out for critters like snakes🐍. Give snakes a wide berth and don't touch or annoy tortoises 🐢.

Have fun!

03/18/2020

Shortly after making the decision to cancel practices into mid April as we posted earlier today, we received notice from the SoCal League that the rest of the 2020 racing season has been canceled, and that practices are suspended until further notice. See the notice from the league for details. (Link at bottom of the post)

We encourage you to keep training on your own. Official practices may resume later this year, and of course we want you to stay in biking shape, for your own well-being, and because we want you to be ready to ride as soon as next season starts. When you ride, be sure to follow current health guidelines to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.

Though severely abbreviated, we think this season has been a fantastic success. We have watched with great pride over the course of a short couple of months the incredible progress from all of our student-athletes. It’s frustrating to not be able to continue progressing as a team — at least for now — but we’re grateful for what we’ve accomplished together.

We especially want to thank everyone who has supported the team during the season — the coaches, the athletes, the parents, and our sponsors that made it possible to purchase our team jerseys!

See you on the trails!

Good evening SoCal League Family, It is with heavy heart that I write and advise that all racing for the 2020 season is cancelled and all team practi...

03/17/2020

Parents and Student Athletes,

Due to the current situation, and in order to reduce the possibility of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, the school district has cancelled all activities, including athletics, until at least April 14. While the Ridgecrest Composite MTB team is not in any way officially affiliated with Sierra Sands, it is our intention to follow their lead with regard to cancellation of athletic events and practices, so as of today, and up to and including 14 April, all team practices are cancelled until further notice.

As you may already know, the SoCal League race originally scheduled for 28-29 March at Vail Lake has been cancelled. The odds are high that most or all of the remaining races for this season will be cancelled as well. :(

Just because official practices are cancelled does not mean you should stop riding. We want you to continue riding (if you're well, obviously), and, especially now that school is temporarily cancelled, we hope you'll increase your time and miles on your bike.

We'll be thinking about ways that we can help keep team members involved, within the confines of the guidance we receive from the District and the League. While it's a long way off, one goal to keep in mind participation in the Ridgecrest Desert Classic in November. Accordingly, we'd like all team members to become comfortable riding the Beginner Loop (approximately 14 miles). Hopefully you'll consider signing up to race that route (or, possibly, the Sport or Expert Loop) in November. Aden and Jocelyn did most, but not quite all, of the Beginner Loop on Sunday. If you want help finding the course, let us know when you're going to be out there and one of the coaches can help you find your way. And, of course, if you're riding in a group, please practice social distancing.

Parents/guardians: Please note that the above means that for at least until 14 April, there will be no officially-sanctioned NICA practices or other events taking place locally, just like off-season. Obviously, if a coach encounters a student-athlete on the trail, we will interact with them, encourage them, and offer any guidance or assistance they might need, but in an unofficial capacity.

Trail conditions are perfect right now, so get out there and ride! We will be.

03/13/2020

Pictures of the first round of the NICA MTB race at Lake Perris!!! All the kids had a great time and did really good!!!

03/13/2020

For those who have not seen the email from the SoCal Cycling League sent earlier today, the Vail Lake Challenge race on March 21-22 has been officially canceled. Note that the season is not canceled. Current league plans are to hold all other races as planned with some changes to the last two races. Please see the following link for details.

Hello SoCal League Family, We are writing to give you an update on the plans for the remainder of the SoCal League’s 2020 race season in light of the...

03/13/2020

The first race of the season was a blast. Here are some pictures from the event

03/13/2020

Start of the 8th grade boys NICA race at Lake Parris

03/13/2020