Bonelli Park

While the Northeast United States fought biting cold temperatures, southern California blossomed under a mid-January heatwave certain to bring out riders.



The view from Bonelli to Mount Baldy was picture perfect.



Click for larger view. Photos courtesy of Bill.

Everyone is riding

Bill was out today riding for two hours around Glendora and San Dimas. He stopped at the dam in Bonelli Park. In Bill's words it was a "Dam Day".


Photo courtesy of Bill.

In the afternoon Matt left work a little early and rode up the hill at 4:15 pm. It was really windy after 2 miles. It was the windiest he has ever experienced on a bike! Hard work and slow going but he enjoyed it! Rode all the way to the maintenance building. Very light traffic with only 2 bikes coming down and about 6 cars. Matt owned the road.



Photo courtesy of Matt

A perfect day followed by a perfect sunset.

Sunday Hike Lower Mystic Canyon Trail

Sunday January 11, 2009

Photos are here of the lower Mystic Canyon Trail.

Santa Ana Winds

Saturday was a picture perfect day. Clear skies and warm temperatures. The need to be on mountain overwhelming any other thought processes.

Rick and Greg S. die hard cyclists were on their way to Baldy Village. A reasonable goal with the warmer temperatures even at higher elevations. They were dressed in shorts and short sleeves and sped up fast. Mountain men attacking the new year while the rest of us were dressed a bit warmer in long pants and long sleeves and base layers.

As the public works rock run truck passed us by, it lifted its front scooper from scraping the pavement. A momentary lull of the harsh noise. The bulldozer-like front bucket was lowered back down to graze the road moving the rocks off to the side once it passed us. Eventually we caught up with it as the worker was packing down a new berm along the edge of road and mountain cliff. The dark brown moist earth smelled of heat and fuel. The final touch ups of the aftermath of the vehicle fire.

Glendora Mountain Road was moderately busy with cyclists, motorcycles and cars. The oddity of it all was the talk of Jesse a cyclist I had met twice before, just happened along within seconds of saying his name. His wife packed group goodies in the truck and leap frogged the group.

It was odd though when we sighted Greg S. headed down the mountain. That was too short of a time to make to Baldy Village and back. Rick stopped and explained that the winds were too strong after Newman's point. Making it to the top of Monroe truck trail was problematic. It had to be rough going if Rick and Greg were abandoning their plans. As soon as we rounded the bend at Newman's point the winds kicked in. My bike wobbled with the gusts. The wind buffeted me around as I captured the sights and sounds.



Met up with Ron on the way down. He finished 14th out of 150 riders on a tandem bike in the Death Valley Century in November 2008.

Also met up with the brightest new star on the road Oscar. A young man waiting for his driver's license who could pedal up GMR at 14 mph without breaking a sweat. Ron noticed a crack in Oscar's frame so its time to get check out the manufacturer's warranty. Then Ron noticed a thorn in Matt's tire. One pull released the thorn with a hissing gush of air as well. That's when I prayed that Ron would not look at my bike and find something wrong.

Secret Training photo

Luge - A Tribute to GMR

Tuesday January 6, 2009

Skateboarders float down the mountain with astonishing speeds that I admire and fear. This YouTube Video is amazingly awesome and shows the curves and hills I have come to know. A Tribute to GMR

Sunsets

Monday January 5, 2008

The sweet whispers of Glendora Mountain Road
called to those with a short commute.

Luring adventurers from ergonomic caster chairs
to the open arms of wilderness.

Chaparral forests a perfect cleansing
from the pressures of civilized worlds.

The ridge line of sunsets to free souls
into a perfect moment of bliss.


Sunset from the Monroe - Mystic Y Janaury 5, 2009



Sunset December 26, 2008



Photos courtesy of Matt.

Author's note: I was on the 55 Freeway in Santa Ana when this moment was captured.

Postcard Day

Sunday January 4, 2009

The temperature was warm and the sky was clear with a few clouds. It was a postcard day for a ride. Many other folks thought the same. Plenty of motor vehicle traffic including cars and motorcycles. Everyone wanted one last ride before work begins for the New Year.



On the way down



The cumulus clouds were fascinating.



Another record setting time for SDSR of 34:30, average watts 141 and average speed of 6.6 mph. Having a riding partner to tell stories takes the mind off the legs.