Monday, September 29, 2014

Three days - Three rides

Saturday - September 27th - Tour de Foothills riders were on the road pulling us by as if we were standing still. They zipped, zoomed and zoared up the hill. It was pleasantly cool on the way up. Clouds speckled the sky. I noticed I dropped off of Joan's and Heather's wheels when I began to think of work. Doh! I am suppose to leave that at the bottom of the hill. John caught up with us at the Top of Monroe. Heather and Joan brought jackets. I didn't get the memo. I chatted with John waiting for the sun to warm me up, TdF riders flock down the hill. Shane stopped by and talk of New York, hockey and maple syrup ensued.

I made a goal to exercise 30 minutes every day this week.

Sunday - September 28th - A drizzly start to the day, but it cleared up and Bill was ready to ride. Here was an opportunity to do a slow ride using those slow twitch muscles in the ham strings. A VW car club were staged at the Angeles National Forest Sign. There were 30 or so vehicles. We were up a mile or more before I heard the sirens of the US Forest Service truck. I rode and then put my foot down to allow the truck to go past. It became a game of how far could I go before the next emergency vehicle went by. The EVS - emergency vehicle sprint. The hook and ladders don't make the turns well so they take up the entire lane. In between the first responders the VW club drove past in a whir. I stopped for them as well. Fourteen stops. Seven by the first saddle. There was an over the side vehicle at mile marker 6.6. I came the conclusion that the drizzling clouds delayed the Sunday sweep by the helicopter. Bill egged me to ride to Newman's.

Monday - September 29th - After work. Joan and I rode up and I kept up with her in a satisfactory manner. Maybe she hung back to talk to me, I don't have enough air to do both biking and talking. I do think the slow ride was good for my performance Monday evening.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Catching up with photos

Well its been a couple of crazy weeks for me. Here are my photos from my rides.



From September 25, 2014
Matt, Ron, Joan on the road during Heather's second flat



From September 25, 2014
Heather said, "Hey, I am getting really good at changing flats." This was her second of three flats on Saturday, September 6th, 2014.



From September 25, 2014
Joan and I had sewing on our minds.



From A week laterMonday Sept 8 evening I tried to ride in the morning, but rain turned me back. Joan and I road at 5 pm the sky was full of clouds.

From September 25, 2014
More Azusa Canyon



From September 25, 2014

From September 25, 2014


From September 25, 2014 I must like clouds.

From September 25, 2014Joan and Heather Sept 8th


From September 25, 2014


From September 25, 2014

From September 25, 2014Sunset from Joan's porch

From September 25, 2014Smoke from the Orange County Fire Sept 13th 2014

From September 25, 2014Zoomed into OC Fire.

From September 25, 2014Glendora Mountain Road in the foreground. OC Fire in the distance. Can you feel the heat?

From September 25, 2014Mark on a Sunday ride. Sept 14th. 2014


From September 25, 2014


From September 25, 2014Shane had excellent training tips for maximizing performance.


From September 25, 2014September 20th Ride to Fork Plus Four.


From September 25, 2014Baldy from Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 4.


From September 25, 2014San Gabriel Reservoir. the lowest level of water I have seen since 2008.


From September 25, 2014The cave that should be under water.


From September 25, 2014


From September 25, 2014The view from first saddle.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Secret Training

The heat let up a bit down from its 112F high to the 90s. It felt refreshingly cool in comparison. Saturday the cloud cover in the morning decreased the need to sweat. I concentrated on the pull up of the pedal stroke and occasionaly surged ahead. A highway patrol officer on his motorcycle passed by, and then proceeded to look back three times. He didn't like the side by side riding. He stopped and chatted with the skateboarders at the first saddle recommending gravity bikes over the boards. Most of the time I was single file, however, I was riding one wheel beside another cyclist when the CHP passed me by and warned me about being ticketed. The adrenaline really pumped after that.

The merry cast were Bill and John, Heather, Joan and I. Ron and Matt. After meeting up at the shed. Joan, Heather, John and Bill headed down. Ron, Matt and I headed for Fork plus Four on GRR. Ron continued on another couple of miles. Got home in one piece.

Monday evening, Heather, Steve and I rode to the yellow box just beyond the first saddle and feed zone. Steve kept talking which was good mentally to think of horse races, county fairs, CPAs, kids getting jobs, Boy Scouts and camping.

Bicycling has been my steady friend, relief, and escape from the work world. I just need to use bug spray in the evenings.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Saturday Ride

It's been a busy weekend with family and an epic ride for Heather who had a "Three Flat Day".

Here's the view from Ron and Matt

http://ppl.ug/zVEn-qJv9vY/


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwyCYhX3XZ98R1ltOFNmNUFJbHM/edit?usp=sharing

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Who invited you?

Even squirrels like oranges.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Fox

Baby fox up gmr this morning.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Labor Day Ride Photos


Derrick the youngest rider on the road today made it half way up.
We descended the mountain together.

Derrick's mentor, Doug.

Cheryl in fine form at the shed. Cool tape on her handle bars.


John eats cooked red potatoes to refuel while riding.
 
This gentleman rode from Oregon to New Hampshire in 50 days.

Cheryl's friends.


the view of Little Dalton Canyon. Enlarge to see GMR on the far hillside.

Bill and Doug discuss Titanium Salsa Vaya Bikes.

Bill checking the tires on his Salsa.
 
Heather at the shed. 

Matt at the Shed.

Heather and Matt at Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 4. After riding "north" GMR (a "yoyo") for a couple of miles.


Heather has sites on riding to the Village.

Fork Plus Four.

Water levels at the lowest in the San Gabriel Reservoir from Newman's point.

This cave is normally under water.

An additional white line above the water level shows the shrinkage in recent days.