[mntbikenbambam]

hey anyone know any good routes for the San Jaun trail? i have never ridden it, and i wanna try, i heard its great, so yeah. and how brutle is the climb? should i shuttle the first few times???
thankx

 

[Yeti_Rider]

start at the bottom

hey anyone know any good routes for the San Jaun trail? i have never ridden it, and i wanna try, i heard its great, so yeah. and how brutle is the climb? should i shuttle the first few times???
thankx

and warm up on the fabulous 6 mile climb. at the rock, turn right. at the next option, turn right again onto the Vieja Tie trail. take this trail and when it comes to a T, turn left onto Chiquita. this will join back up with the SJT. Turn left to go back to the rock and descend or turn right to continue climbing up to Blue Jay Campground. you can refill on water at the campground. turn around and backtrack but stay on SJT. do not turn onto Chiquita and Veija Tie on the return trip.

you can't really get lost out there but it could be a long day.

this is the route that I usually do and favor it over some other options.

personally, I don't see the value in shuttling it but the climbing is long. not hard but you'll be climbing for well over an hour at the start and once you get to the rock it's up and down for a bit as well.

YR

 

[Guest]

we ride up there a bunch. we go straight at cocktail rock and then right at 4 corners and keep to the right the rest of the way to get back to cocktail. for some detailed routes you can look on mtbbill's website or geoladders.com

if you want to join us on a ride some time PM me. we are going to be riding SJT on monday 26th and we ride it about twice a month. there are some other great trails in the area too.

i plan on riding trabuco-holy jim next week too. that ride will start up at bluejay, go down trabuco then up holy jim and back to bluejay.

 

[vuduvgn]

Oooh, big ride sound good me. Looking like Mr. Derek and I are a doin SJT on Friday. I'd like to learn more about ur rides next week.
BTW, SJT is SSable? Sure, I mean, I can push it up the mtn, but how about actually riding it? Around here I ride a 32x17, and have a 32x18 for emergencies.

 

[Burdman]

SJT is great for SS, but I've never pushed your gearing on that trail. I rode a 32x20 and had more fun on that trail then ever before! I'm now running a 32X18 and don't think this will be an issue.
The back trails can get a little difficult if you don't keep you cranks spinning and there are some places that just can't be done (too tight and rocky), but overall, i think sjt is best done on a SS.
I'm off friday, so i'd be up for this ride too?

Oooh, big ride sound good me. Looking like Mr. Derek and I are a doin SJT on Friday. I'd like to learn more about ur rides next week.
BTW, SJT is SSable? Sure, I mean, I can push it up the mtn, but how about actually riding it? Around here I ride a 32x17, and have a 32x18 for emergencies.

 

[Guest]

a couple of weeks ago the wife and i were riding SJT and a chick on a SS flew past us on the way up. i have seen a few SSers and even a cross bike on SJT. SJT is not a trail to fear. there are climbs on the main divide and trails like trabuco that i can't imagine wanting to ride SS on though.

 

[Burdman]

agreed. it's a great climbing trail for the SS and once you get in a flow it's tons of fun and it seamed like i laid waste to a few gearies myself.
yes, some of the main divide is a bit harder, but still doable. i have not attacked trabuco on the SS yet, but these will happen soon and i know this will be a tough one!

a couple of weeks ago the wife and i were riding SJT and a chick on a SS flew past us on the way up. i have seen a few SSers and even a cross bike on SJT. SJT is not a trail to fear. there are climbs on the main divide and trails like trabuco that i can't imagine wanting to ride SS on though.

 

[BobL]

hey anyone know any good routes for the San Jaun trail? i have never ridden it, and i wanna try, i heard its great, so yeah. and how brutle is the climb? should i shuttle the first few times???
thankx

Don't be a coast potatoe, make the climb, you'll be glad you did. I once timed driving to Blue Jay (the top) and riding up the trail: 15 minutes longer on the bike (yeah, so I'm slow) and at least a gallon of fuel less (OK, I have an econo-box). It appears to be a good SS climb as all my gearless friends love it and kick my ass on the way up, but my BLT w/ 27 speeds has me on my 2nd brew by the time they get back down.
A good start route would be to go left at Cocktail Rock (you'll know it when you see it)on Old San Juan, do the gnarly down to the meadow bearing right at the big tree (obvious route) then the gradual climb thru the meadow to 4 corners. Go right at the 4 way, and STAY RIGHT at all the intersections; this will bring you in a clockwise loop back to Cocktail. Then its a hoot and holler back down. Just remember to look ahead at every open curve and overlook to be aware of uphill traffic and hikers (they have the right of way).
Yeti dude has my favorite way, but it can take a lot longer. The above loop is a solid 21 miles and usually takes me about 4-5 hours with stops and BS sessions.
And if you're into just a fun cruise, drive up to Blue Jay and just ride the upper loop and Viejo Tie. Good fun stuff, goes especially well with a flask of Talisker and some good chewy bread.The climb is better with a stout Islay and a few bangers at the top.

 

[mtbski]

Voodoovegan & Burdman, I'm thinking of climbing Chiquito to Viejo Tie tomorrow morning. As of now it is a tentative plan. I'll decide this afternoon. I can shuttle a driver back to the bottom of SJT if anyone is interested in doing the DH of Viejo Tie & Chiquito. I'll be on GMRS freq 15.5. I'll post here once I decide.

Martin