12th Annual Dogmeat No Dab Challenge (Los Gatos, CA) BEGINS!

It's NO-DAB season! Rejoice! Are you in for this year's challenge? Recent rains says this could be a good one.

Here's how it works:
Between now and March 31, 2022, try to ride up the infamous Dogmeat hill on a bike but, once you start, you may not at any point let your foot or hand touch the ground or bush or tree or friend or whatever. This is a no-dab challenge! The challenge begins at the start of Dogmeat (In Los Gatos, CA - Technically the second half of Priest Rock in Sierra Azul at the four way intersection) from start of intersection of Limekiln and Priest Rock to top of mountain at the intersection. Feel free to ride as slow as you want (or fast) but it's wheels only to the top. Those that succeed earn their name on the VERY prestigious Wall of Fame and a nice gift card from Summit Bikes in Los Gatos. (Honor system).

Video explaining the challenge brought to you by Mr. Handsome and local legend, Ancient Rascal:
PRIZES:

Summit Bike Store Los Gatos is stepping up once again and graciously giving one lucky participant a $50 gift card. All who participate will be eligible. Thanks so much again SUMMIT!! You guys continue to impress...I can attest, great service and lots of gear to choose from!!

HOW TO WIN: All participants will receive a raffle ticket for just trying (make it or not). If you succeed (No Dabbing the beast), you get three tickets. Winners will be randomly selected.

Here's the beast: Strava Segment

The actual challenge starts at the intersection of Limekiln Trail and Priest Rock Trail and is the Priest Rock ascent to Kennedy Trail at this intersection. Basically, the one going up. (Download map here: http://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/map_SA.pdf)

For getting there, you have a few options. I'll go easy to hardest:

1) Park next to the reservoir on Alma Bridge Road
Google Maps
You can park next to trail head at either Limekiln Trail or Priest Rock Trail. Limekiln is more of a chunky ascent, almost ST in nature - more on the technical side but not bad. Priest Rock Trail is just a steep FR that gets you there faster but more sustained steep. (Note: if you can't make it up lower Priest or Limekiln, you're in for a rude awakening).

2) Park on Jones Rd, Los Gatos and warm up through St. Josephs Hill. Just take this Jones Trail straight to Alma Bridge.
Google Maps
This will give you a little more saddle time if you are looking for a longer ride. On the way back, you can double back and climb to the top of St Joes for some nice views or descend Kennedy for a bigger loop OR go right at the top of Dogmeat and take on the roller coasters to Limekiln for an even bigger day.

What's it like:
It's like a roller coaster but up. You will find there are really 4 tricky walls with some grinding mixed in but relief spots for each wall. The first wall is near the start...it's short but sets the stage...many miss this first one but easy to return to start and try again. The second wall comes after a brief downhill so you have momentum but you have to strategically plan your gearing here as you don't want to get stuck in a bad gear when it pitches up. This wall is pretty manageable if you can handle the gear shift well. The third wall is a real bastard. It's steady, longish, and steep. As long as you keep a decent cadence and stay on the smoothish middle line and have the lungs, it is doable. Get off line and you might find yourself in some gravel and ruts and very, very hard to recover. This wall gets most people. The last wall is not as pitchy but you get a false sense of being done and if you deviate even a little from the "line", it will bite you. All in all, it is a rather feasible task as long as you have some stamina, rest in all the right places, and manage to stay on the main line up. A light bike really helps too with low tire pressure.

Additional challenges:
-No dab from the road below
-Don't stop at top of Dogmeat but go right and try to keep it going all the way to next intersection (woof, good luck)
-20/40 Challenge on the other side of hill
-How many no dabs can you muster during the challenge
-Fastest time
-Slowest time

Last ask, please post up your adventure fail or success in detail. We love to hear how it went, what bike you rode, your strategy, near misses, PICS!

Dogmeat 2020/21 Wall of Fame:
1) Squashyo
2) brucero
3) rox
4) pmarshall (6x)
5) form49b
6) Redwood Rider (4x)
7) mboldt
8) grapenut
9) LG Man
10) Matt
11) DigDirtDude
12) uncannyvalley
13) ancient rascal
14) AG3
15) Zuperdude
16) sb5000
17) Kovarpa
18) mtbhead

So far:
2011: 12
2012: 14
2013: 22
2014: 15
2015: 12
2016: 9
2017: 9
2018: 9
2019: 11
2020: 11
2021: 18

Those that have conquered this beast:
AG3: ('20, '21)
ancient rascal ('11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17, '20, '21)
Andy J. ('13, '14, '15)
ASK ('11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16)
Axe ('13)
bassn ('12)
BigSpin ('15)
bikengineer ('17, '18)
BRoyston ('13, '14, '17, '20)
Brucero ('19, '20, '21)
cragnshag ('16)
Diesel ('11)
DigDirtDude ('13, '21)
Doingitright ('19, '20)
Dopaminer_09 ('11)
El Hombre ('13)
epic_sunday ('16)
FatTireMan ('12)
fc ('19)
form49b ('21)
grapenut ('21)
Ike22 ('13)
Jason F. ('14)
jasony13 ('13)
jparker164 ('18)
Juan Navarro ('15)
Jens Olson ('14)
JL de Jong ('11, '12, '13, '14)
K9-Usurper ('19)
Kea ('18, '20)
KeithMakesWine ('12)
Kovarpa ('21)
Leopold Porkstacker ('13, '15, '18)
LG Man ('12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21)
lilysdad ('12, '13, '14)
Little Rocketman ('18)
locoyokel ('11)
Matt ('21)
mboldt ('11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '21)
Menso ('17)
mtbhead ('12, '21)
mtnride ('18)
mudworm ('14)
orthorex ('11, '12, '13, '14)
Plymmer ('11)
pmarshall ('11, '12, '13, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21)
Redwood Rider ('21)
rogan ('13)
Rox ('21)
sb5000 ('21)
Sid Duffman ('19)
silentben ('14)
sirkrameroy ('13, '15, '16, '19, '20)
skidmarque ('11, '12, '13)
Squashyo ('11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21)
Tosa ('13)
turfnsurf ('17)
Uncannyvalley ('20, '21)
vedson ('16, '19)
vincinator99 ('13, '14, '15)
yz343 ('17, '19)
Zuperdude ('21)

Last year's romp.

Please post up ride report if you make it or don't and pics are always welcome!!

Goooood luck everyone....and, as if I really need to say this, no e-Bikes.