Goathead, Puncturevine or Tribulus terrestris

Goathead, Puncturevine or Tribulus terrestris

I've got flat tires quite many times in last few years and 90% of them is traced back to a goathead (puncturevine) thorn. I removed thorns from the tire many times but couldn't identify the plant the thorns are came from.

This mean looking plant can irritate your leg if those needles are stuck to your pants or socks but they won't give you a flat tire. The needles are not tough enough to penetrate a bike tire. This plant is called yellow star thistle. Quite a descriptive name.

This benign looking plant is the public enemy of cyclists. They look harmless to run over.

Here is the closer look of the seeds of the plant.

The cluster of the spikes are easily separated into tetrapod shaped pikes. It always have at least one pike directing upward. Any tire that runs over is guaranteed to get multiple punctures.

Read more »

Wilder Ranch SP, Santa Cruz

Wilder Ranch SP, Santa Cruz

Wilder ranch state park is one place that is nice to ride in a hot day. There are plenty of shade in the redwood forest. The open meadow has cool sea breeze in any hot day. The scenic ride on the ocean bluff will quench the sweat in no time. A 30 mile loop ride can be made out of this medium to small size park and most of the ride is on single trail.

View Larger Map

Read more »

China Camp

China Camp

The most trail that can be squeezed out of this small state park is 10 miles at the best. The trails are just like any bike trails in the bay area. It has pretty view of north bay from the peak.

View Larger Map

Read more »

Shoreline loop

Shoreline loop

City of Mountain View is streched to Shoreline park where the land meet the bay water. There is always cool northern wind from the bay. This makes it no sweat to ride the 10-mile loop even in hot summer days. The trail is marked with stench like decaying anchovy from the mud and shallow salt water (called bay soup) broilled under the sun. According to the eduationcal posts in the park, the decay of the organic material rich bay soup is a crucial part of the bay eco-system. On the trail are bikers, joggers and bird photographers with a mortar size telescopic lenses slung on the shoulder.

View Larger Map

Read more »

Downieville Downhill

Downieville Downhill

Downieville is a tiny town on highway-49 crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains. The town was settled in the Yuba river valley in the time of California gold rush. There is no more gold mining but the trails developed in the past are dedicated to mountain bikes and dirt bikes. This town holds Downieville Classic every July.

Local bike shop operates shuttle between Downieville (2,090ft) and Packer Saddle (7,070ft). The shortes ride back to the town is a 14-mile downhill. We tried to go to FS93-3 road and the Big Boulder trail. We returned where the trail became narrow and tracks fade in woods.

Most of the ride is very entertaining except the one called "2nd divide". This portion of the trail is mostly on thin terrace high above the roaring white water creek. There are lots of ups and downs and plenty of exposure to steep cliff down to the white water valley. In many places there is no return if bike slips or falls to wrong direction. It is somewhat like riding bike on a roller coaster track in terms of height and exposure. More riders take 3rd divide trail rather than 2nd divide.

View Larger Map

This Guillotine shaped equipment is an exhibit of Downieville heritage. It has cams and hammers mechanism that were used for shattering gold ores.

Read more »