Limestone Canyon - California, United States

cool ride!!

I too had a great time. Was a little iffy at first but very happy with the end result. Views were great, the group was awesome and over all great outing. Thanks to gone2vegas for the video thank you Hector for all the great pictures (I had no idea you were snapping shots while riding too!). Thanks to Rubbersidedown for the invite and gathering us up for this event and of course big thanks to the Irvine Conservancy and all the volunteers who helped put this together!

I have to say cudos to the Irvine Conservancy for organizing this open access day. Althiough not the most challenging or technical of trails to ride, Limestone Canyon offers breathtaking views of Irvine valley that are otherwise unobtainable. The most exciting aspect of the ride was really the fact that this network of trails is notmally not accessible, except through prior arrangement and then only with a guide. Even more exciting is the fact that there is talk that this may become a monthly open access program, which may evntually turn into an unrestricted public access location. This is great for all Souther California mountain biking enthusiasts. Even if this is not your cup of tea, it means more trails to explore, and also makes the other existing trails (maybe some that are more your cup of tea) will beless crowded by spreading riders over a larger network of trails. (Every try to ride Whiting or Aliso woods on a Saturday morning around 9:30? If so, you know about crowded trails) I do have to mention that I was somewhat taken back by the attitude of a few riders out there though. (these guys were not with our group) But some of the volunteers had asked riders not to lay their bikes on the tall grass around an overlook, as it damages the indiginous grass, and the comments back were uncalled for. It was somewhat embarrasing to be a mountain biker at that point. Here we are,guests on private land, and these guys cop an attitude with the event volunteers. Would these guys go to their friends house for a dinner party, crap on the dining room rug, and then give their friend a hard time when he asks them not to crap on the Pursian? Maybe... My point- the Irvine conservancy may be considering opening more land for everyone to enjoy, and they will base the decision on how things go during these test runs (open access days) so, lets play nice and be friendly. Say hello to a hiker, slow down not to kick up dust, and slow down and yeild to equestrians, if for nothing more that the self serving reason of getting more trails opened up. You might be surprised how much more fun it is to be friendly to other trail users and have them be friendly back. Looking forward to more open accesss days. Thakns again Irvine Conservancy!!