Reviewed by: Chain Stain , from Berkeley

Summary:
Signed up for it but didn't train for nearly two months before it started, so I packed a lunch and rode with a small backpack. The beginning hill climb is cleanable if the rest of the pansies who couldn't make it will move to one side. Fun downhill single track. Ate my lunch at a creek crossing and watched riders stack. Finished the bottle of wine then finished the race and got the "Nice Guy Award" for coming in dead-ass last. Have fun and stay funky!

Recommended Route:
It's a race, follow the guy in front of you. If you think you're leading then you're lost.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Bong Hit

Reviewed by: mikeb , from sanfrancisco

Summary:
i got fourth place in beg 35-44. i got poison oak. the only reason i did'nt get lost is that i was chasing somebody who turned out not to be in my age class. BARGER, WHEN WILL YOU FINALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE CALF MARKING AGES LIKE THE MESP SERIES DOES? oh that's right, i'm not supposed to be bitching about racing because i'm not going to race anymore. anyway, the course is nothing special. i certainly would'nt drive to davenport just for the purpose of riding (poaching) these trails when i can drive another forty five minutes and be in nicene marks/soquel. that climb is horrendous but some of the singletrack is quite outstanding. i also vaguely recall some truly dreadful hike a bike sections. (that must explain the reason i have trouble remembering them) i ended up getting a tattoo of the sun desing found on the t shirt on my upper back. the t shirt you get (or can buy) is probably one of the best race t shirts around.

Recommended Route:
marked race course (what else is there?)

Other recommended trails in the same area:
niscene marks/soquel 9or however you spell it) and the hokey pokey trail

Reviewed by: tele mark , from Los Gatos

Summary:
Can't believe the low marks most of the other reviewers gave this trail! I like the Demo Forest, and Skeggs is cool, but T&B is possibly even finer. Yes, there is PO,
but I've avoided getting any both years I did the race by promptly rinsing off in the creek near the finish. Trail has everything, loam, shale, berms, off-camber, hike-a-bikes.

Recommended Route:
Follow the markers

Reviewed by: ted , from aptos,ca

Summary:
trail is a blast, if you are immune to poison oak or just get a mild case of it. I will not go next year because of the poison oak. Race was marked horribly unless you ride slowly.

Recommended Route:
follow the arrows if you are going as slow as dan must have been to see them.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
wilder ranch

Reviewed by: Dan , from Oakland

Summary:
I can't believe you pansies can't handle a little poison oak. I get it every other time I ride and it's just something you have to deal with. This course was one of the hardest rides I've ever done, and as a beginner I only did one lap. The first uphill is a legburner but it's cleanable. I passed a ton of people on this first hill (at least half of my class). A bunch of people were walking almost the whole way. This is the place to really kick some ass. Once you get past the first climb, the singletrack is fantastic. There's a beautiful view at the top that I was able to catch for a couple of seconds (don't stop!). There's quite a bit of loose rock through the first singletrack sections. Be careful but let it float. I ate it here into a nice bush. After awhile you're down in the valley again and have to get up one of the hardest climbs ever. This was one of my favorite parts though. There wasn't a soft, groomed trail. This is the real thing... feel privelaged to be able to ride it. There is some flat riding through an awesome meadow and a bunch of creek crossings, a few ups, a few downs. My memory is pretty blurred due to adrenaline, but after awhile you come to the final descent. Just watch out for the f*cking log(s?). You'll know because there will be a decent crowd hoping for some carnage. One last creek crossing and you're home, wet, and covered with poison oak. The worst spots for oak were the short flats after the second climb. It was pretty much all over the second part of the course though. This is an awesome course with some very picturesque riding if you have a chance to look around. I rarely give 5 Tyres.

Recommended Route:
Follow the arrows

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Wilder, Nisene, Soquel