Glendora Ridge Road Closed 12/24/2015 to 12/28/2015 due to icy road conditions

Toy Ride Success

The SC Velo/Incycle Toy Ride was a Great Success!

Toys collected during the three week drive were delivered to the San Dimas Sheriff's Station. Apart of the toys delivered were 40 bikes donated by SC Velo, Incycle, Impact Racing Team and a generous donation by Cannondale. 

Many of the toys were carried by the Toy Riders in back backs on their ride over to the San Dimas Sheriff's station. The rest of the toys and the bikes were transported by vans.

The officials at the Sheriff's station were impressed and grateful for all of the toys and bikes we have provided them to distribute to deserving local families. 

Many thanks to everyone that contributed and participated!

Can you spot Hammer the mini-pincher is sitting in the photo?

Hard Core

The summer crowd of folks on the mountain have gone holiday shopping. Only the hard core veterans who need their Gmr fix ride during the winter months. My ride schedule has dropped to once a week  with the short days. Blame the cold weather, but the in door exercise routine fell by the wayside as well. The Saturday morning sun felt good albeit a bit cool. A whole week off I took in the grinding gears, the small hillside erosion as squirrels scurried away, the rhythm of wheels and chains and pumping hearts. Joan and I forged ahead as Matt and Bill caught up. At the shed, Joan was quick to descend. Matt, Bill and I lingered on. We stopped at Newman's to check out the reservoir when a large red tail hawk fell overhead. The wing span was impressive as the bird flew low overhead. Fortunately the white remembrances of dinner floated down to the hillside. We were happy not to have been tagged with hawk crap.

GMR Cleanup

Kudos to those who participated in the GMR Cleanup Saturday December 12 sponsored by Extreme Boardshop and REI. People trekked from San Diego, Riverside and surrounding cities to participate in festivities and fun. They covered seven miles of road collecting items discarded along the road. Their good work should inspire us all to pick up our items. The Angeles Forest thanks you.

It was a tough day of riding for me as the winter hours cuts into my ride time. It was nice to meet Yann at the shed.

SC Velo Toy Drive

The Southern California Velo Cycling Club (SC Velo) and Incycle Bicycle Stores are sponsoring a Christmas Toy Collection drive beginning on Friday November 27^th and concluding on Saturday December 19^th.  A Toy Ride will be held on Sunday, December 20^th 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 27^th  and December 19^th. 

The SC Velo Toy Ride will depart from the San Dimas Incycle store on Sunday, December 20^th 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.

This is Tim and his son on the S bends of GMR. Tim's role is to pedal while his son coaches him on his performance. Faster. Faster. That's 50 extra pounds Tim is pulling up to Mt Baldy. Tim passed me by near windy tunnel. I thought wow what a great sag wagon when I noticed his son in the back. I pushed a bit harder or perhaps Tim was ready for a kinder pace. We rode to the shed and had a blast. His son really liked the long boarders walking up the road with their gear.

Another ride. Back to back and half an hour earlier. What luxury to have the autumn opportunity for midweek rides. Mostly quiet. No skateboarders to keep me alert. What a struggle to get the body going. It could have been that bacon and eggs for lunch. Another rarity.

It's been too long. So this ride felt really good. This is just what the doc didn't order. The ride helped clear the sinuses. And the hearing was sharp. A hiker on the way up had a unique sound to her stride. I asked if she had stones in her sneaker treads. She said wow you heard that. Indeed I did.

Glendora Mountain Road is closed. Red Flag conditions have closed GMR.

2015 Thanksgiving Food Collection Drive

San Dimas, California (November 9, 2015) – 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 Friday, November 13^th, and Monday, November 23rd.  All of the donated food will be taken to the Salvation Army Regional Food Distribution Center for distribution to needy families

Ron and Matt

Ron's photos of the Monday Ride on Glendora Mountain Road. The Road opened Monday.

GLendora Mountain Road is closed to everyone including bicyclist this evening with hopes to open friday night due to red flag warning.

Heather and I ventured out to Glendora Ridge Road. The weather was a perfect temperature to go a bit farther.

Close Encounter

This close encounter happened to my friend Ron on Glendora Mountain Road near mile marker 10.

Back to back rides to catch the waning autumn sunset. My last Wednesday night ride for the season. The descent was dark even with my lights blazing. On my descent there was a moment as a wide span of feathers flew past my face. An owl starting it's evening foray.

There is a rhythm to life. From the working parents picking up children from day care to the drivers speeding up the road parking in dirt turn outs. The pace was frenzied and rushed to catch the last rays of the autumn sky.

Friday ride. I have a fondness for clouds and weather patterns are quite variable. I needed to stop and take photos along the way. The following photo is looking down Little Dalton from below the shed.

It was a day to ride out of the fog and into the sun.

Clouds you could walk on, if you had wings.

Here's a zoom across second saddle as Joan attacks the final climb home.

After climbing the hill myself, I stopped at mile marker 7.0 where the stone wall is in disrepair. Click on this pano to get the full view of the clouds.

This is one benefit to riding a bike.

Human remains found at mile marker 10.5

http://glendoracitynews.com/2015/10/13/breaking-human-remains-discovered-along-glendora-mtn-rd/

Day is done. Gone the sun.

The light is fading fast. I had a good fast ride tonight. Two minutes faster than last week. A better average for power output as well. I was pleased. I had my front light but had forgotten the rear red tail light. I need to find the clear goggles.

Monday Rides

The long hot dry summer dramatically changed course with a light rain and spectacular views. Bill owned the road not spying a soul until the top of Monroe. He captured this view at Newman's early in the morning. Riders came out later in the morning.

Matt and Joan snapped this view of another car over the side at Coyote Corner.

Saturday's ride was fast and challenging. Kept up with Joan the first half. Then Heather and I pushed each other with a lively pace. I made a break for it after Newmans realizing Heather is a faster descender. She overtook me in second saddle and I fought hard to catch up. Heather raced to the shed like a pro. Matt and Bill joined us.

The road was hot and quiet Wednesday evening. The temperature was "north" of 95F at 5 pm. The shade was a slight improvement. Barely. As we approached first saddle a cool breeze blew on our faces. We pedaled on to mile marker 9.06. One more mile? Sure. We started early. Then 8.02. We're almost to Newmans? Let's do it. Yes. Got there! Amazing for a hot Wednesday evening. Thanks Heather.

Monday ride. The work duties fulfilled. The commute home endured. A small whirlwind of activity turned me into a riding machine. My daughter said before I left let's eat pizza. A rare treat for someone avoiding gluten and dairy. I thought about pizza every single pedal stroke. I put in a fast ride. Only two minutes slower than my personal best. Not bad for a hot 93F dry day. I bike for pie.

Monday Night Ride Reunion

Saturday's  ride started with a flat tire. Heather and Joan were quick to find the hole in the tube and removed the offending shard from the tire. Heather insisted that I place the patch over the hole. I called road side support. Bill finished the assembly and final pumping. We rode to Newman's and then enjoyed coffee at Classic Coffee.

The Monday Night Riders gathered for a reunion ride Saturday. From the left Cathy, Heather, Joan and myself.

Two great rides this weekend. Friday was a perfect temperature. Saturday the heat was on.

The road at dusk.

The recent rain cleared the air and provided a gorgeous view.

Wednesday night ride with Heather and Joan

Monday night ride had different weather. Joan and I got lucky with a dry road. The clouds made it dark fast.

Catching up with me. The weekend was short compared to the long Labor Day Weekend with the closed road. Plenty of cyclists enjoyed a motor less road. Three rides over four days was a holiday treat. This weekend was a single ride to the shed.

Not quite Glendora Mountain Road. A lovely Southern California September sunset at dockweiler beach

Road closed for Labor Day Weekend 9/4 To 9/7/2015. Glendora mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road are closed. Enjoy your weekend.

A view of Glendora Ridge Road looking south from Cow canyon saddle.

Matts view of the road Monday morning. The marine layer was thick and left moisture on the world

Monday on the Road

Car goes over the hillside at mile marker 7. Five injured.

http://abc7.com/news/car-goes-over-cliff-in-glendora;-5-injured/963301/

Bill was amazed at the fog that rolled in this morning. The view from First Saddle from Bill's GoPro camera.

Rent a five star tent at Baldy Notch.

Detours on Glendora Mountain Road are expensive. This car went over the side at 11:30 am Sunday morning.

GMR car of the year. This BMW goes for a cool $180k. The locale is Newman's Point. Matt offered to trade in his bike for a test drive but was politely declined.