Doug and Donna

Doug and Donna are training on Glendora Mountain Road for their upcoming adventure on the Bitterroot 300K loop. This amazing four day journey in the Pacific Northwest along the Trail of the Couer D'Alanes and the Route of Hiwatha promises cooler temperatures and greener surroundings. The Friends of the Trails have a nice write up of the itinerary

Doug took these photos of a peacock foraging along Glendora Mountain Road just past mile marker 10.49. Definitely the highlight of the day.

My bird encounter of the day happened as I was on my way down. The shadow of a four foot wing span silently crossed the road and caught my attention. Matt pointed out the eagle a few minutes later silently floating on the air currents overhead.

Glendora Mountain Road closed 8/29 to 9/2 for fire protection and safety. GRR also closed.
CB#: 6264852439

The Power of Heather

Power is the force of muscles cranking through pedals pushing cyclists up the hill and it is measured in kilowatts of energy. The Power of Heather is a different type of energy very real that can move mountains. When Heather smiles, her power makes you smile as well. She tells tales interspersed with the gentlest of laughter. Vignettes of woe are turned into delight and humor. Her taste for adventure and sport ranges from kayaking to horse back riding. Heather's grace is a magnetism that opens doors, or more aptly makes car drivers a bit more generous when waving us through an intersection or forest rangers ribbing us about riding in the heat. It's amazing what Heather can do.

What a difference a day makes

After yesterday's less than stellar performance, I logged a good night's sleep. The thunderheads were looming over the east with a foreboding grandeur. I checked with my weather czar, Matt, who predicted no rain west of Baldy Road. Good call. I enjoyed the cooler temperatures and set my initial goal of decreasing my time to the first saddle by five minutes. A mild cramp in the hip flexor after the first steep climb by the ranger station made me rethink my goal. Then Motivation showed up and said "Hi". Ken's friends bailed when they saw the thunderheads. Ken spurred my legs to the first saddle and I met my goal plus more. I improved my time by 7.5 minutes. Best time in three months. 52:29. Wow. Thanks Ken.

I am jazzed at my good day and recall a wise saying from Steve: you train on the bad days to make the good days better.

This feels better.

Ken recalled his ride on that wet and wild Sunday August the 3rd when Baldy experienced 4-5 inches of rain in one and a-half hours. The day where flash floods deposited mud waist deep in Baldy Village. Ken made it to Fork plus Four on Glendora Ridge Road before the rain fell "sideways" and the decision to turn back was easy in the cold wet wind.

The photo is from Monday August 4th, the day after the rain when the road was still closed. That day I also met another gentleman. Davey who helped put on the Pomona Valley Stage Race aka. the San Dimas Stage Race.

Davey.

Got out for a Tuesday night ride. My brain and my body neglected to show up. I made first saddle. at least a dozen cyclists enjoying the cooler weather. Saw Scott S., Matt and Tony. Hopefully a good nights sleep will restore some life to my legs.
CB#: 6264852439

Weekend of Fires and Friends

This week has seen two fires in the Azusa Canyon of the Angeles National Forest. The Shoemaker Fire began on August 14th. Today the Tecolote fire erupted at 2:25 pm (August 17). GMR was open this afternoon and Matt took this pic of Tecolote fire from Newman's.

The Forest Service and Fire Fighters attacked strong with eight fire engines, helicopters, bull dozers and other equipment - a total of 27 different units responded. Campers and day visitors were evacuated. Smoke appeared diminished by 7 pm here in Glendora. CBS News Story of the Fire

Bill's photo of the Tecolote Fire at 4:30 pm.

On a more gentler note the ride on Saturday was fairly calm. Charred remains on the mountain side from the Shoemaker fire taken from Glendora Ridge Road about mile marker 1.5. It is the black triangle with the white residue of flame retardant in the third range of mountains. The Williams 2012 fire is the lighter brown hillside.

At the shed talked with Alan about his Cervelo bike and his epic ride in the Ironman race. I liked the idea of the stickers on the front tube.

Alan.

Alan discussed the tight fit of frame and tire.

Shane had his stories of riding in 119F heat in Arizona. Drinking a gallon of water and losing 10 pounds of weight. That's too hot for me. He also encountered a Pacific Rattlesnake, black with brown gold diamonds on the trail from cold water creek up to Baldy ridge. Snakes can be rather stubborn and unforgiving.

Got a first look of Robert's Parliament of Owls video. Momma bear and cubs. A full bellied mountain lion.

Glendora Mountain Road is Open. Yes Robert this me...

Glendora Mountain Road is Open. Yes Robert this means cars.

FWD:

Brush Fire above Glendora

ROAD CLOSED. BRUSH FIRE. there is a brush fire 8 to 10 miles north of Glendora. Road is closed. No homes threatened at this time.
CB#: 6264852439

Baldy Village Status

Dave - who we met on Saturday sends us this update on the status of Baldy Village one week after a flash flood dumped 4-5 inches of rain in the space of an hour and a half ---

Glendora Ridge Road is messy with dirt as it ends at Baldy Road. (attached) The main Baldy Village Road is dusty but cleared. On the west side of the street many are still working to clean up, especially behind the Ranger station. (attached). Many Trucks that say Team Rubicon are clearing things.

Glendora Ridge Road

Behind the Ranger Station in Baldy Village

Team Rubicon Trucks cleaning up the mess

Ambivalent Critters

It was hot out today. The thermometer read 95F. Joan showed up and off we went. Shade was welcome relief. Several motorists raced up Glendora Mountain Road only to turn around at the closed gate. We found our rhythm in the cool breeze and the shade of the mountain moving up the ramp. It was hot enough to imagine that the tar stripes that filled the cracks were moving. Joan said "Snake!" It itook me a few more pedals before I saw it move. Eric a mountain biker had a closer look.

Saturday Ride

The road has been closed since last Sunday with the Flash Flood Warnings for the mountains. The gate was open for 2-3 hours on Friday morning with closures forecast for another week.

Saturday morning was a few degrees cooler than the previous two weekends. I did well by keeping up with Joan. She sets a very steady tempo and holds it. I have this sprint and lag style so her pace mile over mile up to the shed is challenging for me. John and Bill enjoyed their ride to the shed. With Matt sprinting between the two groups. Dave introduced himself on Glendora Ridge Road. He had experienced the sunday rain and hailstones on Baldy Road.


Dave

Matt

Mike

Scott

John

Joan

Bill

Glendora Mountain Road is closed.!!

Glendora Mountain Road is closed.!!

Glendora Mountain Road is open.

Glendora Mountain Road is open.

Eye on Baldy

Matt drove up to Baldy to survey the effects of Sunday's flash flood that dumped 4-5 inches of rain in 1.5 hours. The water took mountain with it leaving a lasting impression on the homes and roads. The Village continued with digging out today.

Five feet of mud.

A Baldy Village Garage.

Thanks Matt for the update.

Glendora Mountain Road closed due to flash flood w...

Glendora Mountain Road closed due to flash flood warnings.

Matt happened upon these tent city on his ride this morning. He reports: These poor kids came up yesterday evening and when the flood hit they closed the roads and didn't sweep them. They got stuck behind the gate and spent the night at the GMR and GRR intersection

Three Dog Night

Bill and John rode Thursday morning to beat the heat. Their pedals flew unimpeded past the first saddle, until they reached the "battle zone". Tiny land mines lurked on the road waiting patiently for the unwary cyclist to sail by. With a whoosh, their momentum punctuated with hissing air brought them to a stand still. Simple, a thorn lodged firmly in John's front tire. All right not bad. Get that flat fixed and on their way they go, when pop. John picked up a new problem. Again in the front tire. Off comes the wheel, examination. Root cause analysis determined John had picked up a wire. The thorn was easy to remove. The wire not so. Lodged into the tread, the wire wouldn't budge. Unable to get a grip with his fingers, nothing in the tool kit gripped it. John took the bull by its horns so to say. He bit the wire with his teeth and spat it onto the ground. He patched the tube. Covered the hole. Tire back on the bike. Time to crank on the pedals and get moving again. It was less than half a mile later when the tire went flat a third time. Words! The patch covered the primary hole, but a secondary hole at the edge of the patch had been missed.

Bill likened the ride after the American Band Three Dog Night, calling it the Three Flat Day.