Back to Back

Another great day for a ride in January. The DPW crew put in overtime hours on Saturday. Again clearing their stockpile area between the electronic sign and gate. I felt fortunate that there were fewer trucks that stayed within a mile radius. Once I was free and clear it was the normal traffic flow for the weekend. A tow truck carrying a crashed car down the mountain. An individual shoveling dirt from a berm along the second saddle to accommodate better seating for his reading. Imagine that.

Matt caught up with me at the shed. For back to back rides the legs felt relatively good. Glendora Ridge Road provided beautiful vistas. Rode to Fork plus Four. Translated this is four miles into Glendora Ridge Road. The photo is from GRR about 2.2 miles.



The flowers at mile marker 10.35 on Glendora Mountain Road for Kevin Unck have faded. However, his sad tale has not permeated the GMR biking world. At that exact spot today another cyclist took the curve too fast and skidded out. The Sho-Air rider had numerous abrasions or road rash where his layer of skin remained in the pavement. Fortunately for him there was no opposing traffic when he lost control. He headed off to his car to drive to the hospital.

I enjoyed a slow ride down and great vistas. Ride Safe.

Shovel Dirt

A perfectly warm day, open road and time to go as far as I wanted. I sucked diesel fumes up the entire mountain. I didn't get the notice. The Department of Public Works had ten or more commercial sized dump trucks on the road hauling dirt up the mountain. Near the bottom gate the bulldozer scooped up dirt from the stockpile and loaded the trucks. I spoke to one individual designated as traffic controller. He said the retention area was full. In order to prepare for the next major storm that will be rolling in soon, they were moving the dirt up the mountain creating berms and other stockpiles to clear up their storage area. Go figure.

DPW was in it for the long haul. The trucks ferried their cargo past the shed and down Glendora Mountain Road towards East Fork. I veered to the right and enjoyed the warm tranquility on Glendora Ridge Road. The view from GRR was beautiful. Three hawks were drifting on the wind. I stopped at three-quarters of a mile in and enjoyed the view.



Road to GRR mile marker 2.12 near hunters hang out. I wanted to save some legs for tomorrow. Along the route I met Jim who rides GMR on Fridays. Good intervals Jim.

2011 San Dimas Stage Race Registration Opens

San Dimas, California (January 26, 2011) - World class professional, talented amateur, and for the first time Junior (17-18), cyclists from around the world are signing to compete in the 12th annual San Dimas Stage Race (SDSR). The highly regarded SDSR, hosted by local bike club SC Velo, is scheduled for March 25th, 26th, and 27th. Three exciting stages of racing are scheduled as well as Kids Races on the last day. Over 800 professional and amateur cyclists are expected to compete for cash prizes.

The race attracts a high caliber of national and international talent, drawn by the good weather to sharpen their form at the start of the season. The list of winners includes Olympians, national and world champions from top pro teams: Tom Danielson, Chris Horner, Scott Moninger, and Ben Day. The women’s list is no less impressive: Amber Neben, Ina Yoko Teutenberg, Christine Thorburn. And Lyne Bessette.

Stage 1 consists of individual time trials on a 3.8 mile course that winds its way up Glendora Mountain Road. This stage is an individual all out effort by the riders to get the best time up the ten hairpin turns and steepest parts of the Glendora Mountain Road. With the size of the field, it will be a long day of racing, with the first rider starting at 9:00 AM and the last one going out in the late afternoon, the exact time being dependent on the number of riders.

Stage 2 will be a Road Race around Bonelli Park sponsored by San Dimas Hospital. The course is on a rolling and twisting 7 mile circuit which includes a two short, but steep, grades. The riders will make several loops around the course, with the overall racing distances varying from 28 to 84 miles, depending upon category. The first group starts at 7:55 AM and the last (Pro men) at 1:15 PM. The best spots for viewing the race will be along Puddingstone Avenue at the Start/Finish area and inside Bonelli Park along Via Verde.

Stage 3. The race winds up with a Criterium around the streets of Old Town San Dimas sponsored by Incycle bike stores and Cannondale bikes. The racers will ride quick loops around a tight, 1.2 mile circuit with 6 sharp corners, for times varying from 25 to 90 minutes depending upon their category. The first group will start at 8:15 AM and the last group will start at 3:00 PM. For spectators, this will be an up-close and fast race, with lots of good viewing spots around the tree lined course.

The Kids Races will be a fun event hosted on Sunday, March 27th, at 12:300 PM in downtown San Dimas. Sponsored by Shimano, the races are free to all children, so get your kids’ bikes out and ready to ride. Please note that helmets are mandatory. Registration for the Kids Races will be held on-site in San Dimas on Sunday morning.

All of these events offer great opportunities for participation by cyclists of all levels, as well as wonderful viewing for cycling fans. There are no fees for spectators, just pick a spot along the race route and be prepared to see some exciting racing. For the photographically inclined, the photo-ops will be unparalleled, with lots of up-close action, so bring your cameras.

Please visit scvelo.com for more information about the race, registration, and lodging. Registration is currently open at Bikereg.com and spots are still available.

SDSR related links:

SC Velo info: http://scvelo.com
SDSR info: http://scvelo.com/san-dimas-stage-race
SDSR registration: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12455
Stage 2 Sponsor - San Dimas Hospital: http://www.sandimashospital.com
Stage 3 Sponsor - Incycle Bicycles: http://incycle.com
Stage 3 Sponsor- Cannondale Bikes: http://cannondale.com
Kids Races Sponsor - Shimano: http://shimano.com

San Dimas Stage Race Registration

The San Dimas Stage Race (SDSR) is open for registration. The event takes place on March 25, 26 and 27.

Race Page: http://scvelo.com/news/item/61-2011-san-dimas-stage-race

Registration: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12455


Bill states "The race page is a work in progress - at the moment that dates are wrong, the correct dates are March 25, 26 , & 27 - and some other details of the race
need to be changed. updates will be made over the next few days."

The race is on!

Unck Memorial Ride

Kevin Unck Memorial Ride

Saturday January 22 at 8:00 AM


It’s A Grind Coffee House - Day Creek & Baseline

7325 Day Creek Blvd., Suite 103

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739






This Saturday's Grind Ride will be a Memorial ride in honor of Kevin Unck. Please spread the word and save the date.

Freedom Ride

A four day weekend with temperatures in the 80s. Lot's of sun, lot's of sky, and three days of road fun. Friday. First to melt was my shivering memories of last weekend's ride in the upper 40s. The sun shone down and base layers were shed by the turnout after the first real climb (the ramp). The traffic quiet and calm. John and I road to the top of Monroe, paying homage to the shrine for Kevin Unck at mile marker 10.35.

We hooked up again on Sunday with alot more company on the road. Dodged vehicles up to the shed. Where we met and chatted with Daniel on life and work. Near the ranger station met Kelly from Claremont who needed the use of my Crank Brothers mega tool. The allen wrench to tighten his water bottle cage. I haven't seen Daniel or Kelly in months. Happy New Year guys. Convinced John to have lunch with Bill and myself at the Village Eatery. Breakfast served all day on Sunday. Mine was very good.

Monday was warm and I debated about hiking. With the 80+F I figured the reptiles would be out and about and thought that biking offered the best opportunity of avoiding snakes. I hit the road solo amazed at how light the traffic was between Sunday and Monday. At the top of Monroe, I met Robert and Steve from Pasadena. Their tales of riding to the Mt Baldy Ski lifts and commuting to work on bicycles where amazing. Waved to Tinker Juarez as he flew by. Robert and Steve were off to chase him down.


Robert and Steve of Pasadena.


John and the Trek Portland bike.

Geotripper and Skyhiker

Swearing when I crash on the road with those tiny rocks glazing into my skin, little did I know I was using proper scientific terminology to identify my painful tormentors (schist).

"For such an unpublicized road, the Glendora Ridge Road is spectacular. It winds across the top of a high ridge, a fault block caught between the now inactive San Gabriel fault and the highly active Sierra Madre-Cucamonga fault system along the steep mountain front. The rocks include beautiful exposures of Proterozoic gneiss and schist, some of the oldest rocks in California, along with Mesozoic or early Cenozoic granitic rocks (some gneiss is shown in the photo at the end of this post). "From Geotripper

Catching up with my email, I noticed that Skyhiker hiked the Garcia Trail. Garcia Trail Skyhiker's first trip ventured out on my favorite trail along Mystic Canyon Mystic Canyon Hike

Perhaps it is the cooler weather and fewer ski-like clothes needed for the bikes that I find myself in a winter pattern of recreation.

Bicyclist Dies on Glendora Mountain Road

Last updated 01/14/2010 - Descending GMR a bicyclist swept wide on the right hand bend between mile marker 10.2 and 10.49 crossing over the lane marker and collided with oncoming traffic. Bill provided the video clip below taken on July 10, 2010. This particular curve, Bobcat Corner demands proper body language to negotiate at high speeds.

Road conditions: Lots of sandy dry dirt, and small pebbly rocks on the road. Use caution descending. Lots of slippery silt on the road. Slow down. Keep to the proper lane.


Kevin Unck at San Dimas Stage Race - Glendora Mountain Road Time Trial March 2010

"A Rancho Cucamonga man died Sunday morning as he rode his bicycle on Glendora Mountain Road. Kevin B. Unck, 44, was riding his Felt road bicycle south on Glendora Mountain just north of Sierra Madre Avenue when he struck a Toyota Land Cruiser that was traveling northbound.

The Land Cruiser was traveling about 20 mph while the cyclist was traveling approximately 30 mph when they both approached a blind curve.

Unck was unable to negotiate the curve in the road and his bicycle drifted into the northbound lanes where he struck the vehicle head-on, according to the release.

Unck was airlifted to USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he later died.

Habern was not injured.

The CHP is investigating the collision.

-Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Read more: http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_17055896?source=rss_viewed#ixzz1Ayjyye8w"

His sister wrote:

" Kevin was riding with his cycling team and was 4th in position, the guy in front of him slipped on mud and gravel that was on the road. He fortunately pulled out of his near fall, however, my brother wasn’t so lucky. He hit the mud and gravel, lost control, took a spill and slid across the lines, he was then run over by the vehicle.

I write this to you again, not complaining, but simply hoping that a reminder might be made to even the most experienced and talented riders; as you said, you never know and road conditions are a HUGE obstacle in the cycling world.

Kevin passed away doing what he absolutely loved, cycling." From Rancho Cucamonga man dies in first SoCal biking fatality of the new year

Saturday the day before the unfortunate incident I noticed a squirrel in the middle of the southbound lane at mile marker 14.00. Little did I know that within 24 hours another cyclist's fate would have the same outcome. As I passed the flattened body, I could feel my heart softening. The steep down hill slope combined with a blind bend became the downfall of this little guy. The living buddy hovered confused and worried along the guard rail by the forest ranger station chirping, poised in fright, hoping it's fallen friend would wake up and run amongst the trees. My evil dread of those little dudes softened as I realized our eventual fate is shared. A loved one is missed.

To the Unck family our heart felt sympathy for your loss.

Getting Back into Gear

The dark of winter stole the power and speed my summer legs had. Replaced with the quiet acceptance of winter, creaky and cold, enjoy the pace and just ride. It beats being behind a desk and splendor of the woods, river and air calm the spirit. The hardiest of the riders were out on Saturday morning. The road had many areas of dry compact soil on the asphalt. The equipment that cleaned the hill side slippage left its own residue between mile markers 14 and 9.49. Still I was surprised by the folks who got their ride completed as I just start out. Then there were the fewer still who were out riding in shorts I hope you come from Alaska like the guy Dan I met a week ago. I had four layers on going downhill. Two base layers, jersey and jacket. My fingers got cold, my toes were fine.

The Saturday prior, I took the family out on New Year's Day along the San Gabriel River Trail. We had a leisurely ride down to the dam. The river was bursting forth with water. I petted a gopher snake at the Center. Easy pedaling. Steve, Michelle and Tom.



New Year's Day was stellar and not too bad. I am ready for the sun to come back.

Picture Perfect January Ride

Bill got out around Bonelli on Wednesday. Lucky Dude. I was inside in an office all day.