I planned to get up at 6:00 a.m. for this year's ride, but instead regained consciousness at 4:00 a.m. with some kind of very painful ankle problem.After gulping Motrin and swilling coffee, I stuck my foot in a bucket of ice and learned that most of pre-dawn TV programming consists of Girls Gone Wild commercials.
After somehow assembling the requisite intestinal fortitude, I got myself together and hit the road, starting at 7:30 at the bottom of the Ridge Road in Fairfax.
It turned out to be a beautiful day, though initially pretty cold in the 40 degree range. 
The circuit was relatively uncrowded early--rangers said hordes were expected around 10. Those individuals would be the event's only losers--the ones who fail to make it back down to Fairfax before the free beer runs out.
Riders gather at the Point of No Return, followed by miles of downhill at the back of the loop. I fell pathetically right around the corner of the first run.
But fortunately my dirt grovel occurred where the attendant crowd did not witness it. I was please not be run over by anyone either.
A popular crowd spot is the junction where the Pine Lake Loop meets San Geronimo Ridge. By this time it was about 10:00, and people were coming out of the wordwork, including some who rode up out of White Hill or trails from San Geronimo.
Next stop, the Y intersection on San Geronimo trail--one way to Repack, the other back to White Hill or San Geronimo.
Riders hanging around the top of Repack.
Riders gather at the Point of No Return, followed by miles of downhill at the back of the loop. I fell pathetically right around the corner of the first run.
But fortunately my dirt grovel occurred where the attendant crowd did not witness it. I was please not be run over by anyone either.
A popular crowd spot is the junction where the Pine Lake Loop meets San Geronimo Ridge. By this time it was about 10:00, and people were coming out of the wordwork, including some who rode up out of White Hill or trails from San Geronimo.
Next stop, the Y intersection on San Geronimo trail--one way to Repack, the other back to White Hill or San Geronimo.
Riders hanging around the top of Repack.Hazy day view from the top of Repack . . .
Ten minutes later--five for the brave ones--it's all over. . . .Well not quite.
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