Catching up with GMR

It was a Saturday like any other Saturday on Glendora Mountain Road. The lugers were lying down horizontal to the ground inches off the pavement and plummeting along the pavement. Motorcycles abundantly zipped past with a fervor reserved only for the most faithful. Cyclists were a bit more sporadic on the road. My mind felt quiet and reserved today. Engaged with the task at hand of riding up the hillside.

A crowd at the maintenance shed gathered, some headed down Highway 39, some headed down GMR. The talk centered around one motorcyclist who laid down his bike. The dirt all over the road, and the fact that three men couldn't lift the bike upright.

Daryl caught up with me at Fork plus Fork, back from his French vacation.



He was glad to be home and looking forward to having an American quantity of ice in his Coke with his Freedom Fries in Baldy Village. GMR was excellent training for the French Pyrenees. The Brits who worked in the flat oil fields of Qatar used the abundant wind for their pre-ride strength training.

Saturday July 25, 2009



A jam packed weekend I had no time or energy for posting. The Saturday ride started late and I caught up with Jason at the shed. A ride to Fork Plus Four with photos of the Los Angeles I. Martin Cycling club. The view to the west from Fork plus Four:



Back in time to see the son in his pre-test for Black Belt at the Glendora Korean Karate Studio. No air conditioning. He was sweltering for the two hours I watched. The son breaking two boards with his hand. Note the sweat on the back of the jacket.



Home. Late Lunch. The final mountain stage of the Tour de France on Mount Ventoux. The epic battle within team Astana with Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Andreas Kloden. And their challengers of Team Saxo Bank's Andy and Frank Schlenk, along with Garmin-Slipstream's Bradley Wiggins.

Sunday July 26, 2009.
Blueberry pancakes. Incycle Bicycle Clinic.



Sandwiches for lunch. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in the theater, Stage 20 of Le Tour in Paris on the Champs-Élysées. Clean the stove. Load of laundry. Clean and lube the bike.