The Epicenter/Aptos shuttle is fine, but it doesn't help you for Demo. If you use it I highly recommend Burger Dot (burger.) post-ride!
Yeah I've ridden demo plenty, just wondering if the out is worth it.
If you like a double dose of bacon it could be worth it..........
I weigh 140 lbs soaking wet so if I lost any weight there wouldn't be much left. And my 5010 is quite nice and gets ridden regularly. And to the contrary one of the best, albeit used and more affordable, investments I've made.
Just wanted to call attention to this cancer post.
Aptos shuttle is not that good since it does not help climb Demo much.
I'm sure you always ride to the top of Packer Saddle
I think your numbers are accurate. Last time I rode demo we pedalled from the parking lot up to ridge, hit Braille first then up suffer and down flow before grinding our way back to the car. Was surprised when strava read 4000' of climbing for that ride as it didn't feel like that much but I guess thats what it is.
Really depends on the rider. If I do that ride I can get it done in about 2-2.5 hours. If you do the round-about climb for flow that climb is fairly mellow, it is the climb out of the bottom of flow up sulphur to braille that is ~40 minutes of hell. And then you have to climb out of the bottom of braille to get back to your car. One of my fav rides, but bring water and CO2, you are deep in the woods!
Is the whole ride 2-2.5 hours or is that all climbing time?
That's fast! I'd say for the average rider, the basic flow loop from the lot, up buzzards, down ridge, flow, up hihns etc is about 2.5hours, especially your first time there could be more like 3 hours. Add the braile loop, another hour, so about 3.5 hours total minumum.
Flow and Braille laps (up Buzzards and up Sulphur) is about a 3300 foot climb. Shuttling the road and fire road cuts out about 600-800 feet of the climb depending on how close you park to the locked gate. Really not advisable on weekends since there are so many cyclists and the lots dust kicked up by vehicles.
If alone, I'd ride it for the first time on a weekend day, not during the week. Lots of people there on the weekends. Also parts are closed during the week for work this season, but all is open on the weekend. The only trail that is easy to miss is Ridge trail, it's directly across from the bench at the top of Aptos Creek Fire Rd.
