Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Last Ride of 2013
John and I rode back to back days to the shed. There were a few more people on the road today versus yesterday. Two horse trailers passed us by and several trucks laden with off-road bikes raced up the mountain. Out the saddle for more of the ride to give the knee a straighter downward stroke was my goal. A moment at mile marker 8.9 where the road is repaved -- the slowing of the sense of time to enjoy the moment of not being at the bottom and not being at the top and wanting the moment to last forever where the road is smooth. The average speed was faster overall than the day before. A day off from riding. Enjoy the New Year.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Winding down
2013 is rapidly coming to an end. Got out and rode with Bill and John today. Shed and back. The weather is perfect Rose Parade weather cool in the mornings around the mid 40s with the highs in the 70s. Starting later in the morning means warm sun and fewer clothes.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
SCVelo Incycle Toy Ride
The SCVelo bike club stuffed back packs and pull carts full of toys and rode them to the Sheriff's station in San Dimas. 30 children's bicycles were also donated to families in need. I love the white bear stuffed in John's (Chaffee Autobody) backpack.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Top Ten Day
Today was in the top ten of beautiful days to ride. Perfect temperature. Perfect weather. Perfect road conditions.
Bills view of Baldy.
Bills view of Baldy.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
SCVelo Toy Drive 2013
San Dimas, California (November 26,
2013) – The Southern California Velo Cycling Club (SC Velo) and Incycle Bicycle
Stores are sponsoring a Christmas Toy Collection drive beginning on Saturday
November 30th and concluding on Saturday December 14th. A Toy Ride will be held on Sunday December 15th
to take the collected toys to the San Dimas Sheriff’s station so that they can
be distributed to needy families. All interested
cyclists are invited to join with SC Velo riders to support this worthy cause
by donating toys and/or participating in the ride.
Unwrapped
toys can be left in collection bins at
Incycle Bicycle Stores in San Dimas, Chino, Pasadena, and Rancho
Cucamonga ( see: http://incycle.com ) between November 30th and December
14th. Everyone donating toys to the Toy Drive will
receive an Incycle water bottle in appreciation for their donation.
Incyle’s
San Dimas store will be hosting a Bike Swap Meet during the Toy Drive
collection period. The Bike Swap Meet will
be held on Saturday December 14th. For more information see the Incycle web site
( http://Incycle.com ). Come on out to
participate in this event and bring along some toys for the Toy Drive with you.
The SC Velo Toy Ride will depart
from the San Dimas Incycle store on December 15th at about 9:00 AM
for an easy, no-drop, 1 hour+ ride with SAG support to the San Dimas Sheriff’s
Station to turn the collected toys over to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
representatives.
All toys collected as part of this
drive will be delivered to kids of needy families by deputies from the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s San Dimas station. Last year, the San Dimas station was
able to help a large number of families during the Christmas holiday because of
our Toy Ride.
Monday, November 25, 2013
The view from Bills Ride
Bill got out on the road today. The view of Baldy was spectacular.
He saw forest service trucks hanging out near mile marker 12.57 to assist with the OTS Vehicle.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Sunday Ride
John and I started late on Sunday morning around 10:30 am. Enjoying the warmer temperatures of the day. Enjoying the sun and the blue sky. We were pleasantly surprised when the roadside photographer snapped our photos and chuckled with a familiar voice, It was none other than the world famous and GMR champion, Mr. Beanz. John and I became test subjects as Mr. Beanz clicked and videoed us with multiple cameras. "Are you training for something, GMR?" Beanz asked. I chuckled. Those stunning out of the saddle shots can look awesome. It has been a week since I pedalled. It was a good ride with my thumb bundled in gauze from the Saturday morning incident when a snowman bit my thumb. One ER trip and three stitches later, my thumb is holding me together.
A week ago, I saw this young cyclist paced with his own moto support. He sped along with out breathing hard.
A week ago, I saw this young cyclist paced with his own moto support. He sped along with out breathing hard.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Secret Training
Saturday had a 20 percent chance of rain. On Friday morning it was a late morning decision to go for a short ride. Great decision. It was dry. Clouds overhead. Just a bit of a chill on the way down.
Saturday morning was damp, drizzly and the clouds shrouded the ridge line from view. I hemmed and hawed while John C. like a trooper rode to the shed. What a man.
I ate chili for lunch. Snoozed and then saw the sun was out. Ride! Got out about 1:15 pm. Best time of the day. The road had dried. Very light traffic. Met Duane and Steve riding up GMR to ride down the Monroe Truck Trail.
Two short but well needed rides. Relieve stress. Recover the knee. Have some sun.
Saturday morning was damp, drizzly and the clouds shrouded the ridge line from view. I hemmed and hawed while John C. like a trooper rode to the shed. What a man.
I ate chili for lunch. Snoozed and then saw the sun was out. Ride! Got out about 1:15 pm. Best time of the day. The road had dried. Very light traffic. Met Duane and Steve riding up GMR to ride down the Monroe Truck Trail.
Two short but well needed rides. Relieve stress. Recover the knee. Have some sun.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Thanksgiving Food Drive Collection
San Dimas, California (November 13,
2013) – The Southern California Velo Cycling Club (SC Velo) and Incycle Bicycle
Stores are conducting a Thanksgiving Food Collection Drive to help provide holiday
dinners to families and individuals that otherwise could not afford one.
Food
items to be donated should be non-perishable, such as Canned Meats, Canned
Vegetables, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Boxes of Stuffing or Turkey Dressing,
Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, bags of rice or dried beans, etc.
The food can be left in collection bins at
Incycle Bicycle Stores in San Dimas, Chino, Pasadena, and Rancho Cucamonga
( http://incycle.com ) between Saturday, November 16th, and Sunday, November
24th. All of the donated food will be
taken to the Salvation Army Regional Food Distribution Center for distribution
to needy families
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Baldy 5 on Pie
After a a trip to Oak Glen for apples and pie on Friday, this necessitated a longer ride on Saturday. I rode to the shed with Eli as Bill and John followed in close pursuit. Matt and John his coworker took an alternate route and rode up Highway 39, East Fork and the backside of GMR for the "Loop". The day was warm not hot and cool not cold. Although the stretch of Glendora Ridge Road shrouded in shade by the hillside and the southern sun chilled and whispered of the pending colder weather. The jacket and knee warmers I had last week would have been used this week.I must have burned a few more calories shivering, right?
Most rides were uneventful, pedaling, meeting people, snacking and then more pedaling. The mountain provided relief from the cares of the city and work. I shook off faint premonitions and rubbed the back of my neck at the beginning of the ride.
Eli talked of his entrepreneurial pursuits and the hope that more women cyclists would ride up Glendora Mountain Road. (Hint Eli, I saw a group of 7-8 women on Sunday). Eli sprinted on the downhill past mile marker 7 and I pushed hard to catch him before the 8% rise topped out. Eli surged ahead at the shed, while I waited for John to catch up. Bill lingered walking out a cramp at Newman's.
At the shed, a pair of cyclists quizzed me about a female rider in a blue jersey. Yes, she was stretching before the first saddle, that was 30 minutes ago. The color of her white shoes as she reached for a hamstring stretch blazed in my brain. The three of us watched three more cyclists approaching. Carla and John were identified. Carla's two friends measuring their time and performance on Strava rode on. She was happy not to have the pressure to keep up. I told her it was "detached contact". She laughed. She explained her philosophy of cycling was to burn a few calories in order to drink beer. John happily asked where have you been all of his life? He's available by the way, Carla.
The ride up the reward climb was just a bit easier this week. The altitude and previous miles pumped the heart. Until the relief of the downhill at GRR 8.3. The next four miles of rolling road, pine and deciduous trees with brightly colored orange, red leaves had all fallen to the ground. The rolling up and down to Cow Canyon Saddle was going along smoothly until John warned me of the rocks tumbling down the hillside at GRR mile marker 10.2. Big ones. I darted across the road to avoid the mini-avalanche. Small critters or old age had loosen the chunks and gravity did the rest.
We dropped into the village and stopped at the small store with vending machines filled with drinks. A powerade had my name on it. A trio of cyclists stopped to eat lunch at the Lodge. They were seated on the patio above the store. The lure of real food spoke to my mouth and my gut. John had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. that looked good as well. I chowed down a Cliff Peanut bar. The powerade was tingly cold on my tongue a few swigs then I filled up the water bottles with powerade. A quick trip up the street to the visitor center. John thought it was toasty warm inside the center and he checked out the King snake in an aquarium too small for its occupant. Back outside, an older hiker in a quilted blue jacket struck up a conversation and tested John's hockey fitness by kicking his shins.
Stopped at the Post Office and the ceptic tank cleaner was pumping away. A few pictures and we were on our way. The climb out was just as hard as ever. What's this uphill thing? Why do I have to pedal? the legs were questioning my resolve. With the hardest climb done, I poured on the speed through the apline rolling section.
It was good to start the descent from mile marker 8.3. Down the reward climb, GRR had twisty tight curves, blind from a visual and auditory sense. You can't see around the bends and the mountain side absorbs the noise. The road was still in shade so no hint or gleams from shiny car parts. The road was narrow with no center stripe. I kept reasonably tight distance to my white line, but as I rounded a blind curve. I saw two cyclists in single file headed uphill with two cars gunning past them on my side of the road. there was no room. I stomped on my brakes. My back tire fish tailed to the left and put my bike more in harm's way. I released my grip on the brakes. One option was a face plant on the white hood of the first car. the other option was to take a plunge over the side. There was only reaction, there was very little thinking time. I steered up onto the asphalt berm lined thick with dry, brittle weeds. I was still upright and moving. The cars passed. The weeds had high potential for stickers. I negotiated back onto the road. Still upright. The drivers were white knuckling it, they didn't bother to stop. I coasted to a turn out. The heart rate was pumping. I was in one piece. John amazed at the what just happened with his front row seat. Great bike handling skills. Your rims are awesome. Not even a pinch flat. I checked out the tires for stickers. I felt none. Breath in. I am still in one piece. Breath out. No ambulance ride. Yipee. A young fellow with an Iowa Jersey had stopped nursing his bum knee. His tale distracted my mind. He could not appreciate the feat I had just pulled off.
After a recovery period, John and I restarted the descent. The trio from the Lodge breezed past us. Every blind curve I approached with caution. It was good to put the hard climbs past us and in the cool of the shade in the shed. It had warmed up on the way home, by mile marker 4. At the shed, a surprise meet up with Ron. We chatted about broken collar bones, steel plates and airports.
John and I headed out from the shed. The wind was blowing warm and dry. With the gusts on the Glendora Mountain Road, I rode in the middle of the lane. GMR was a wider road and a delineated yellow center line. The last bit of hill near mile marker 7 has a blind curve and true to the day two more drivers speeding around the bend. Their tires squealed with a high pitched frenzy to match the white knuckles as the need to keep in their lane more imperative. Another "grey poupon" moment. Where my yellow jersey could have been mustard on the road. The mountain gods were testing my resolve on Saturday. My descending mojo broken, I took it slower than normal and thankfully squirrels stayed out of my way.
Road Rage incident in the city, a police car blaring its siren. I was finally at home. As time passed the event seemed inconsequential to those who hear my tale. In that instant of facing down a charging car with outcomes equally likely to result in ambulance rides, broken bones and medical bills, I am thankful to being upright and well.
Most rides were uneventful, pedaling, meeting people, snacking and then more pedaling. The mountain provided relief from the cares of the city and work. I shook off faint premonitions and rubbed the back of my neck at the beginning of the ride.
Eli talked of his entrepreneurial pursuits and the hope that more women cyclists would ride up Glendora Mountain Road. (Hint Eli, I saw a group of 7-8 women on Sunday). Eli sprinted on the downhill past mile marker 7 and I pushed hard to catch him before the 8% rise topped out. Eli surged ahead at the shed, while I waited for John to catch up. Bill lingered walking out a cramp at Newman's.
At the shed, a pair of cyclists quizzed me about a female rider in a blue jersey. Yes, she was stretching before the first saddle, that was 30 minutes ago. The color of her white shoes as she reached for a hamstring stretch blazed in my brain. The three of us watched three more cyclists approaching. Carla and John were identified. Carla's two friends measuring their time and performance on Strava rode on. She was happy not to have the pressure to keep up. I told her it was "detached contact". She laughed. She explained her philosophy of cycling was to burn a few calories in order to drink beer. John happily asked where have you been all of his life? He's available by the way, Carla.
The ride up the reward climb was just a bit easier this week. The altitude and previous miles pumped the heart. Until the relief of the downhill at GRR 8.3. The next four miles of rolling road, pine and deciduous trees with brightly colored orange, red leaves had all fallen to the ground. The rolling up and down to Cow Canyon Saddle was going along smoothly until John warned me of the rocks tumbling down the hillside at GRR mile marker 10.2. Big ones. I darted across the road to avoid the mini-avalanche. Small critters or old age had loosen the chunks and gravity did the rest.
We dropped into the village and stopped at the small store with vending machines filled with drinks. A powerade had my name on it. A trio of cyclists stopped to eat lunch at the Lodge. They were seated on the patio above the store. The lure of real food spoke to my mouth and my gut. John had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. that looked good as well. I chowed down a Cliff Peanut bar. The powerade was tingly cold on my tongue a few swigs then I filled up the water bottles with powerade. A quick trip up the street to the visitor center. John thought it was toasty warm inside the center and he checked out the King snake in an aquarium too small for its occupant. Back outside, an older hiker in a quilted blue jacket struck up a conversation and tested John's hockey fitness by kicking his shins.
Stopped at the Post Office and the ceptic tank cleaner was pumping away. A few pictures and we were on our way. The climb out was just as hard as ever. What's this uphill thing? Why do I have to pedal? the legs were questioning my resolve. With the hardest climb done, I poured on the speed through the apline rolling section.
It was good to start the descent from mile marker 8.3. Down the reward climb, GRR had twisty tight curves, blind from a visual and auditory sense. You can't see around the bends and the mountain side absorbs the noise. The road was still in shade so no hint or gleams from shiny car parts. The road was narrow with no center stripe. I kept reasonably tight distance to my white line, but as I rounded a blind curve. I saw two cyclists in single file headed uphill with two cars gunning past them on my side of the road. there was no room. I stomped on my brakes. My back tire fish tailed to the left and put my bike more in harm's way. I released my grip on the brakes. One option was a face plant on the white hood of the first car. the other option was to take a plunge over the side. There was only reaction, there was very little thinking time. I steered up onto the asphalt berm lined thick with dry, brittle weeds. I was still upright and moving. The cars passed. The weeds had high potential for stickers. I negotiated back onto the road. Still upright. The drivers were white knuckling it, they didn't bother to stop. I coasted to a turn out. The heart rate was pumping. I was in one piece. John amazed at the what just happened with his front row seat. Great bike handling skills. Your rims are awesome. Not even a pinch flat. I checked out the tires for stickers. I felt none. Breath in. I am still in one piece. Breath out. No ambulance ride. Yipee. A young fellow with an Iowa Jersey had stopped nursing his bum knee. His tale distracted my mind. He could not appreciate the feat I had just pulled off.
After a recovery period, John and I restarted the descent. The trio from the Lodge breezed past us. Every blind curve I approached with caution. It was good to put the hard climbs past us and in the cool of the shade in the shed. It had warmed up on the way home, by mile marker 4. At the shed, a surprise meet up with Ron. We chatted about broken collar bones, steel plates and airports.
John and I headed out from the shed. The wind was blowing warm and dry. With the gusts on the Glendora Mountain Road, I rode in the middle of the lane. GMR was a wider road and a delineated yellow center line. The last bit of hill near mile marker 7 has a blind curve and true to the day two more drivers speeding around the bend. Their tires squealed with a high pitched frenzy to match the white knuckles as the need to keep in their lane more imperative. Another "grey poupon" moment. Where my yellow jersey could have been mustard on the road. The mountain gods were testing my resolve on Saturday. My descending mojo broken, I took it slower than normal and thankfully squirrels stayed out of my way.
Road Rage incident in the city, a police car blaring its siren. I was finally at home. As time passed the event seemed inconsequential to those who hear my tale. In that instant of facing down a charging car with outcomes equally likely to result in ambulance rides, broken bones and medical bills, I am thankful to being upright and well.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Baldy 4
Matt wanted to go far. I thought he meant Glendora Ridge Road +4, or +6. John upped the ante and said Cow Canyon Saddle. The weather was perfect, with the day that dawned clear and the haze of the valley below us. Temperatures in the 70s-80s, it couldn't get any better. What the heck, it's Baldy. Fortunately John told tales, Matt listened and I huffed and I puffed to get up the Reward Climb (aka the wall). The great thing about friends chatting is that you concentrate on their words and put the body into auto pilot. Tales of Tom and his broom sweeping Glendora Mountain Road. Rides to Crystal Lake, and Mountain Biking up Mount Wilson.
Goal for this week: I must put in more time on the indoor trainer.
Today's ride was harder than the first time to Baldy this year. I need more training in the upper altitudes. Got there. Got back. Long day. Good ride.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Bill's Big Day
Monday, October 14, 2013
Culvert on Glendora Mountain Road
Bill has the scoop from a foreman on site: Roughly two more weeks to go
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Saturday 10/12
It was a ride full of friends, as John C. waited for us at Palm Drive. Rick and Greg pedalled by and I kept pace with Rick for about 2.5 miles before dropping off. Greg had his new Trek Madone 660 bicycle. An ultra light 15 pound "pure air" machine.
Bill, John and I rode to the shed from the first saddle. Hung out at the shed when Andy and Lin arrived. The five of us rode to fork plus six with a stop at fork plus four chatting with the furloughed US Forest Rangers.
Spent five hours out on the road, with plenty of chatting at the shed. It was a 38.5 mile ride.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Glendora Mountain Road Closed due to high winds. 1...
Glendora Mountain Road Closed due to high winds. 10/3/2013 to 10/7/2013.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Madre Fire 9/24 - A Day Later
The fire crews did a superb job on the Madre Fire.
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Under Investigation |
| Date of Origin | Monday September 23rd, 2013 approx. 06:00 PM |
| Location | San Gabriel Canyon 1/4 mile west of the entrance station |
| Incident Commander | Tomaselli |
Current Situation as of 09/24/2013 5 pm
| Total Personnel | 450 |
|---|---|
| Size | 250 acres |
| Percent Contained | 70% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Friday September 27th, 2013 approx. 08:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Chaparral (6 feet), dormant brush, hardwood slash. |
| Fire Behavior | Active backing |
| Significant Events | Unified command with US Forest Service & LA County. |
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Madre Fire - Azusa Canyon 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Saturday 9/21
Wasn't it just 110F? Now its merely 60F. If the photos look a bit bleary, I am shivering.
