so, how bad is the front country on weekends?

[skatetokil]

I'm thinking about coming to the firestone race with 3-4 guys from the 909, and while I'm in the area try to hit up tunnel/coldsprings. It looks like that's only really doable on sunday for us however (unless we skip race practice which would be silly).

I know the situation up there is a bit tense, so is it a mistake to try and ride that weekend? if not, is there anybody doing the firestone dh and not the xc who wants to show us around and get in a couple shuttle runs?

[Bicyclist]

It's not bad. I shuttled Tunnel on a Sun. twice and saw only a handful of people mid-day. I hear Cold Springs is crowded, though.

[Zark]

Just wear a cowbell and stop for the uppity hikers...Kill 'em with kindness. Do not let them stop you from having fun, then they win!

[skatetokil]

cant i just kill em with my front wheel? i guess kindness works too.

[bomberboy11]

Lower CS is particularly bad. When you drop down off the fire road (whether you take the illustrious WC section or the fast straightaway) make a left when you come to a fork and you'll go down the less crowded and IMO more fun way. San Ysidro is probably worse I would say since there's more possibility of encountering a horse and it can be a bit higher speed and tighter in spots.

Chances are I might be working enough of the weekend I won't be able to devote a whole day to race, but I would be more than willing to try and squeeze in a shuttle.

[skatetokil]

yeah, i'm gonna need a guide or a good map. is the trail system unusually complicated, or is it one of those "park at the top, ride to the bottom" sorts of deals?

[Pat...]

It's pretty much park at the top, ride down, but you could get confused which way to go in a few places.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tunnel Trail
Here's a map for where tunnel is (look for the boulders parrallel to the road, at the trailhead). In the interactive map, you can see the boulders to the right of where I drew the blue line.


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mtnbrider/graphics/ridemonkey/Tunnel.jpg


Interactive Map:
http://www.google.com/local?f=q&hl=en&q=Santa+Barbara,+CA&t=h&ll=34.495491,-119.698523&spn=0.00225,0.005407
Here is the trail (i'm not sure why the blue line got so blurry): http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mtnbrider/graphics/ridemonkey/tunneltrail.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cold Springs
Interactive Map:Trailhead: http://www.google.com/local?f=q&hl=en&q=Santa+Barbara,+CA&t=h&ll=34.488625,-119.670553&spn=0.002118,0.005407

The trail (I couldn't find the bottom section of trail where it comes out):
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/mtnbrider/graphics/ridemonkey/tunneltrail.jpg

[skatetokil]

cool, thanks man. any advice for parking at the bottom? gibralter road is where it looks to spit out.

[Bicyclist]

The end's right by the SB Mission, couldn't tell you exact directions though.

[Pat...]

Tunnel ends above the mission, so theres is about a mile or 2 or road. It's all downhill.

Cold Springs ends in Montecito on a narrow asphault road.

I am bad with street names though. Maybe someone can give you a google local link to the end of the trails - your car.

[bomberboy11]

That isn't anywhere near where Cold Springs is...

Skatetokil, I wrote up some detailed directions for San Ysidro and Cold Springs a few weeks ago, so PM me your email address and I'll send them to you along with a quick one for Tunnel as well.