On the Road 12/27

Yeah! Steve was in town and we rode to the top of Monroe/shed at a leisurely pace. We took stops at 11.39, first saddle, Newman's and the top.

On the Road 12/20 & 12/25

Saturday morning. Started the ride after 9:30 am waiting for the temperature to warm up. Bill and I caught up with Matt who was doing intervals on the 8% grade by the ranger station. We rode together for the next four miles. Near the new section of road about half way to the shed I pushed ahead. The distance to the shed seemed mentally longer as I baby the knee in order to avoid pain. I picked up the pace to see if I can make the shed first.  Everyone rendezvoused at the shed for a breather. On the way down we checked out the latest over the side crash site at mile marker 7.0. Two crashes this month at the same location. One on 12/4 the other 12/20. As we were ready to head down, Ken stopped for a moment on his way up.  A few seconds of how are you before his partner showed up and Ken was on the move again. A stop at Newman's to take in the view, the clouds and the water level of the reservoir. We were near the first hair pin curve when I spotted John, who we haven't seen in a year and a half. We chatted with John to catch up with all his circumstances. New abode, new job, and new pounds to loose. John needed the mountain and its good to have him back.

Christmas Day Ride. Only the hard core were out on the road. Bill made it to Newman's. I went to the shed. It was a four meal day and I had calories to burn. Got a flat on the back tire at Colby. Called for rescue.

Celebrity Status

Celebrity Status

Check out the story on the Tribune: http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_22241748/glendora-woman-chronicles-beauty-and-tragedy-glendora-mountain

Same story with a photo of Glendora Mountain Road http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_22259790/glendora-mountain-road-gets-blog

Sit-Rise-Test

Brazilian Researchers have found that the ability to sit on the floor and then to stand up is linked to your longevity. The test is simple and speed is not important. You start with a perfect score of five for each activity. As you sit or stand if you use a hand, knee, or forearm to help you get up or down a point or half a point is subtracted. Those with high scores indicated good core strength or musculo-skeletal fitness. Folks with scores at the bottom had a six times higher rate of mortality from all causes over the next six years.

The ability to sit and stand indicated whether individuals would be able to accomplish basic living tasks such as picking up a dropped glasses, medicines or other necessities. If you score low the best news is that exercise such as walking, yoga, weight training, or swimming will help you improve. I tried my own test before I watched the video. I noticed the scrunching of those abs as I rose. I completed my standing without bracing a hand or knee. I like studying for a test and here is video.

Monday Ride

Bill had a cool and cold ride. At least someone got some sunshine today. The view of Mt Baldy from Newman's

Week of 12/17/2012

Monday December 17, 2012 5:15 am. Felt strong. New Peak Power

Tuesday December 18, 2012 - Lack of Sleep. Enough said.

Wednesday December 19, 2012 5:10 am. Rested. New peak power for 5 seconds. 309 watts. The graph is smoothed over 10 samples and 10 sampling factors. Then I did a multiride analysis for the peak powers over the past three weeks. It shows a very slight increase. Something to smile about.

Thursday December 20, 2012. Awake at 3 am. Decided to do easy intervals today burn off all the calories I am packing in from lunches with the work group. For being an "rest day", I improved my 5 second power metrics to 319 and my max to 349. I enjoy seeing the progress.

Back2Back

Squeezed in two rides. Friday was grey but dry. Saturday was a surprise -- clear and cool. I held back on Friday in order to have any sort of energy for Saturday. Bill rode on Friday and opted out of Saturday. On Friday - I did have to catch up with another pair of cyclists on mountain bikes on the last leg to the shed. I caught the one in the green jersey on the 8% grade, but could not quite reach the other cyclist.

The Saturday view: Mt Baldy had a light layer of snow as did the other surrounding peaks.

I am adjusting to the two different geometries between the indoor trainer and the  outdoor Specialized Road bike. I gave the knee a day of rest on Sunday. I will see if the compression tights and Ensure Muscle Health drink have aided in my recovery.

San Dimas Stage Rage 2013

Mark your calendars, the 14th annual San Dimas Stage Race runs Friday March 22 to Sunday March 24, 2013. Registration is open and some categories fill up fast. There is a big twist for the Time Trial Stage up Glendora Mountain Road. The distance has been increased to 4.25 miles! I call this "More Flat and More Mountain." The start line will be from the "Gas, Food, Lodging" sign, the traditional starting point for many years prior to 2012 with the  finish line repositioned to First Saddle, a flatter straight away with elbow room. The riders last year had comments on the removal of the beginning flat section, so forget your historical timings. Time to start new and fresh.

SC Velo Toy Ride

The Southern California Velo Cycling Club (SC Velo) and
Incycle Bicycle Stores sponsored Christmas Toy Ride was
held on December 9, 2012. Toys that were collected at the
four Incycle Bicycle stores and Dale Bros Brewery in Upland
since the weekend after Thanksgiving were taken to the
San Dimas Sheriff's station so that they can be distributed
to needy families. A large and varied assortment of toys
donated by cyclists from all over the region were delivered
to the Sheriff's station on Sunday morning. In addition to
the toys, SC Velo and Incycle Bicycle stores worked together
to get a total of 28 new bikes for the deputies of the
San Dimas Station to deliver along with the toys to children
of needy families.  The toys and bikes will brighten many
local children's Christmases.

Week of 12/10/2012

Training at 5:15 am. Monday

Tuesday. Holiday Luncheon at Brookside Golf Course near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The day was gorgeous. The view spectacular of the green grass the clear blue sky and mountains that chiseled the landscape. I saw a few cyclists riding on the way back to work. My motivation dropped to zero closeted in my office.

Wednesday. The goal for today is no sugar. Too many calories were consumed yesterday via Banana Bread, Oatmeal cookies and Holiday Lunch.

FWD:

Car crash near shed

Yet another reason to stay home when its dark.....
 Four Injured After Car Plunges Off Glendora Mountain Road

The Glendora Patch reports a vehicle with four riders crashed at mile marker six at 12:30 am. This is half a mile from the shed.

Here is the result of the crash. Photo courtesy of Matt.

Bills View

Bill had a grand view of the world from Newman's point today. The first West to Los Angeles. The second East to Mt. Baldy. Either way you look at it, the working stiffs at their desks can only dream of gorgeous rides like this.

What have I been doing

I have converted into the autumn-winter pattern of cycling indoors during the week. I use a cycleops indoor trainer.  The advantage of riding indoors includes heating which means I can where shorts, cooling I can turn on fan, Tour de France DVDs - Miguel Indurain et al and power data. Yes. I do enjoy looking at the charts. Read the NY Times article about intervals and how you can spend 90% less time and improve your fitness.

Tue Nov 27, 2012

Wed Nov 28, 2012

Fri Nov 30, 2012 6 AM

Fri Nov 30, 2012 3 PM

Mon Dec 3, 2012

Tue Dec 4, 2012

Wed Dec 5, 2012

Thur Dec 6, 2012

Bike Swap Meet at Incycle San Dimas.
CB#:

Weekend Activities

Friday was a slow ride up the hill thinking that I would be riding again on Saturday. A quiet ride all the way around. It was a very pleasant surprise to meet up with Robert from Parliment of Owls He had many a tale to tell about critters and creatures and trails he ventures on. Friday, to my surprise turned out to be the driest day of the weekend.

Saturday, wet and drizzling all day long. No hikes. No bikes. I did cheer the Fit4Fall runners who had the wettest part of the entire day for their event. As the runners passed by on my spot on Bennett Avenue, I spotted the neighbor's son, Travis a fitness expert who runs 100 miles. Then I spotted a friend Mike who normally runs with his dog Savannah on GMR, Big Dalton and the trail. The kids participating beamed as I cheered them on. Being the only spectator for a mile standing in the rain they were amazed. They all seemed pleased when I stated "downhill" was just around the corner.

Sunday, I hiked along Mystic Trail, before my muscles said quit!

Azusa Fire - November 14

It was warm today and a small brush fire was doused at Morris Dam today.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Azusa-Brush-Fire-179340291.html

Tour de Foothills 2012

The Tour de Foothills had sunny day for their event. The air was crisp and cool with the wind blowing cold. Plenty of folks doing the full 100 mile ride that swung up Glendora Mountain Road. Riders were happy that they were dry. Ken quickly said hello on the way up. Chatted with Eric and friends at the top of Monroe at the King of Mountain Finish.  Photo: Friends and Eric on the right.

Bill and Matt arrived together. On the way down, I gave my Gore Wind Stopper gloves a debut. They fit well so I could still grip the brakes and helped the fingers tremendously. The double leggings were toasty and tube shell kept my neck and head warm. I missed my Gore jacket and toe cozies, but I thought the sun would have heated the air more. Boy was I wrong.

Good to ride. Sunny day. Burned lots of calories on the descent and was nicely tuckered out the rest of the day to enjoy being a couch potato with my daughter.

Bills Election Day Ride

Bill cycled up Glendora Mountain Road then made a hard left onto the Glendora Motorway a dirt road along the ridge. He took this picture show casing the view of the road.

Three Days

Three days of riding and hiking then riding again. A weekend chalk full of activities starting on a grey Friday that took a long time to warm up, I found every excuse to delay my start, my water bottles needing cleaning, my medical insurance needed checking and then ventured out about 10:28 am. Once there, it was plenty of road and few travelers. Mentally the ride seemed longer, and I had to pull myself along by reaching interim goals, on my way to the shed. I turned around at fork plus one.

Saturday, I hiked Claremont Wilderness Park a five mile loop with a college buddy. Amazing how a few miles can pound on your hips. Good to get the ground muscles going again.

Sunday another round up to the shed. Hotter than expected. Was I shivering on Friday? Now here I am sweating. Not the usual ground. Got out earlier than most as more folks were headed up as I headed down.

GMR open

Glendora Mountain Road, GRR and Dalton Road opened some time on Sunday afternoon. I rode up Monday evening, full moon was helpful.

Did you make it to the milky way?

Hillbasher states [it was] Saturday night that we headed up to the shack. One group of 7 or 8 left at 5:45PM and our group of 6 left about 20 minutes later. Conditions were absolutely perfect for a night ride. Warm, no wind, almost full moon that came up before 5PM, and to top it off, the road was closed to cars. Should have been there, you would have loved it.

GMR closed 10/26/2012

Matt reports that Glendora Mountain Road is closed today as of 4 pm. Closed due to Red Flag Fire Danger. GMR, GRR and Big Dalton Canyon.

Mr. Beanz and company were out for a Friday evening ride. I will have to get an update.

Saturday 10/20/2012

Saturday morning, cloudy, grey, with drizzle that dripped down. The hope of cycling above the clouds that got thicker the higher I rode, dwindled with each stroke. It turned out a full complement of riders were out that day training for the Tour de Foothills on November 10th. Plenty of folks pedaling up the road. I enjoyed one stint of keeping ahead of a couple of riders, pushing myself to go faster and keep my mere bike length of a lead for as long as possible. I kept it for a mile and then watched as they raced away.

At the top of Monroe, the cow bells rung as the riders rolled in, the rest stop blared with music, fifty or more riders stopped for sandwiches, cookies and water. I found John, Matt and a new fellow, Lin.

It was a wetter ride down with John, Matt, Bill and myself. Visibility was low and drizzle was more pronounced. Matt had a great ride up Lin, new to cycling and taking on 100 mile events. John spoke of sun at Cow Canyon saddle. Talk of bears, bikes until the chill set in. Bill had ridden with several different folks, Terry being one of them. I happily donned knee warms, jacket and warm head band for the descent. Amazing how cold and wet one day can be and then just as quick summer could burst out again. Change was in the air as autumn arrived.

This ride benefited from the training on Monday and Wednesday. It is always a trade off balancing between work and life. The ride was sweet indeed.

Bears, oh my.

The action hovered overhead this afternoon as a bear roamed residential neighborhoods a few blocks north of my home. It was big news for the LA and Glendora as the helicopters danced in the air.

KTLA Story:
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-glendora-bear-october19,0,2545895.story

Monday

Bill's Monday Ride

Wow, when you are retired you can ride whenever you want.

I have not been motivated and the Saturday ride in the afternoon gave me the smackdown to get out and ride. So my Monday night ride felt oh so good.

Catching up with Bill

Bill got out for a ride on a cool and cloudy morning. Quite refreshing after weeks of  oven baking heat. It was 50F descending the mountain. That's 50F lower than just a week ago. The panorama was taken at Newman's Point.

Saturday Ride 09/29/2012

Bill rode his new bike Salsa Vaya Ti bike. Disc Brakes. Mountain Bike sized wheels.

Scooter will crawl up your leg if you aren't watching. Cyclists have the tastiest snacks?

Please return Parliment of Owls camera
His pictures are awesome

Walk along the ridge 09/23/2012

Spectacular morning to take a different walk along the Glendora Ridge. It was worth the view.

Bill does a nice job on the post processing.