Monday, June 27, 2011

GMR closed July 1st approx

GMR closed July 1st approx 10 am. Reopens on Tues July 5th. Just confirmed w ranger personnel. open to hikers and cyclists.


The road is closed to motor traffic. While it is closed hikers/runners/walkers and cyclists may use the road. I wasn't given a time when it would be opened on Tuesday. It is whenever the forest service personnel get around to it. Could be 8 am. Could be later.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Happy 80th Birthday Glendora Mountain Road

Glendora Mountain Road opened June 26, 1931 to auto traffic.

Check it out!

It was open from 5 am to 7 am and then later from 3 pm to 6 pm while minor repairs were completed.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

First time

No cloud cover this morning. The sun streamed down early and warm. The bike nicely tuned from its Incycle servicing glided up the road. Friends zipped down the mountain in passing. Scott. Bob and Leslie of SC Velo. Ken on his mountain bike beamed that it was a beautiful day for a ride. Met up with Jason and Michael at the top of Monroe. Jason needed a recovery ride after the Thursday mountain bike race. His legs screamed that climbing Highway 39 to the backside of GMR was more challenging than advertised.



Lots of time to think of nothing more than muscles, churning, pedaling, pushing upwards, rhythmic motions, the ligaments surrounding the knee compressing and squeezing. One break in the shade until the bugs swarmed me. The vista from the Sunset turnout.



The alpine section from Glendora Ridge Road, the rolling hills with shade felt good. No need to rush. Conserve water.



It was 80F in the Village at noon. The store by the Lodge was open and the purchase of refrigerated water and the chilled lemon-lime Powerade cooled my core. Met Daniel at Cow Canyon Saddle. We talked of fitting rides in after work. Long summer days with light to ride.



First time this year to reach Baldy. It felt good.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Quiet Night

It was a hot night in the 90s. Got a late start for Wednesday. The was fairly quiet. Ron and Matt said hello in passing but no ride time. I continued up the road. Ken sailed down decided to swing back around and chat a moment. That was good.

Nearing mile marker 10.2 I heard sirens below. I hoped they were not coming up the mountain. They were quickly forgotten. Rode to the wall beyond first saddle. I decided not to push farther. Go home have a few more minutes for dinner. No need to rush. Enjoyed the vistas on the way down. Heard a motorcycle behind me at 10.2 took it slow so I wouldnot swing wide. I was totally amazed the biker slowed got through the turn then passed me. Wow polite. Thanks dude.

I thought a ride without a picture just isn't a ride. But nothing caught my eye until I saw the slew of emergency vehicles at the electronic sign. I stopped to take a picture then I saw a familiar figure amongst the police fire fighters and paramedics. Matt was walking around. I saw his bike parked in the guard rail. Man down! Ron and Matt had ridden together talking . Ron ran over the black base for the orange pilon. He nearly recovered from the unexpected bump but ended up crashing. He was in the ambulance. Around his nose was black and blue. Possibly collar bone and ribs broken. He requested to be taken to Pomona hospital. Dude I wish you a speedy recovery.

The fire fighters quizzed us on riding Glendora Mountain Road. Can' t you ride somewhere else? I finally stated there is less traffic on the road. Commuter traffic is lethal.

So tonight's wish is ride safe. Every time.

No pictures.

Here is the Glendora Patch Report:
"A male bicyclist in his 50s was injured shortly before 7 p.m. when he hit an object in the roadway and fell off his bike while traveling with a group of bicyclists on Glendora Mountain Road near Big Dalton Canyon Road. He suffered abrasions and a possible broken collarbone, Lamborghini said. Police and ambulance arrived on the scene at 7 p.m. and the man was transported to Pomona Valley Medical Center."

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Hello Summer

Bill cruised around Bonelli today on his bike in celebration of the longest day of the year. Quite a foggy morning. Bring on the sun.



At the opposite end of the day, the sun had burned through and at 8:10 pm this evening the waning light lifted my spirits after a long day in the office. Thoughts of my first Wednesday night ride in March cold, dark reading the road by braille seemed like yesterday. Enjoy the warmth. Enjoy the light.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday Night

It's always a holiday to be riding on GMR, particularly on a Monday night. Today was the night before Summer Solistice. Good for the legs to get the muscles and heart moving.



Summer's eve. Lot's of sunlight, warmth. Time of the day when the deer came out to eat. Spotted two deer on the hillside at the bottom. As soon as they heard the camera noise they moved out of sight. Saw Ron and Matt coming down.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Fork plus ?

What was it about the grey marine layer that drains the desire to ride. I shook it off. It was drier than Friday's all morning ride dampening drizzle. The goal for the day was cycle to the sun. Found it by Newmans.




Fork plus one. Matt was hiking on Baldy. Find him on the mountain.


Fork plus 2.5


Fork plus seven


The flies were biting bad after 7.5. I turned around and scooted home. Talked to Ron at the top of Monroe. Bicycle Friends and Mr. Beanz are riding on Sunday. Ride fast to avoid the flies.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Hike

Hike. Too wet to ride. Baldy must wait. Hiked instead.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Monday Monday

The guys at worked wondered why I wanted to "speed dial" through the 2 hour meeting. What do you mean "speed dial". It finished in record time 1:15 minutes. Burning daylight. Time to hit the road.



The quiet of the road was punctuated with those who choose to dance on the edge of physics. Sitting on the wall at first saddle one driver raced by me at 50 mph nearly taking my toes off. I am pleased my toes are in tact.

The moon rise was good. Above the smaze was great. Having a Monday Night ride was perfect.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Race to the Sun


The route along Glendora Mountain Road was foggy and damp for June. At the shed I wondered if Sun was in my "stars". About Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 4 (fork plus four) I found it

Stopped and played lizard as I soaked up some sun.






Headed on up to fork plus seven. The legs were feeling better.



Making it to Baldy Village is in sight.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Monday Night Ride

First Monday Night Ride of the year.


Yep. Priceless.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Full Week of Riding.

It was a full week of riding for me. Three days of adventures. 86 plus miles. Yahooie. Road to Fork plus Seven. The view of Baldy from Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 7.19. Getting closer to the Village. But where was Ray? He must have eaten too many pancakes at the Fire Fighter's pancake breakfast to get started for the day.



Downhill felt good. Glendora Ridge Road at mile marker 6.0. Beautiful day.



Met Scott Tedro at the dirt turn out by the electronic sign. I had to ask him if he liked his Ford Transit Connect. His answer was yes. Good airconditioning. Reasonable miles per gallon. Plenty of room for the bike and accessories. Nice car, Scott. I feel a Transit Connect in my future. And your 36:50 to the top was a sweet time.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Memorial Week

First the iconic ride of Andy Schleck during Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California with Mount Baldy in the background. This is the first leg down Glendora Ridge Road on May 21, 2011.



The peloton approaches the second KOM on Glendora Mountain Road. Near the shed. Go Andy.



Now back to us normal folks. Sunday morning hike was delayed to the afternoon. It rained in the morning. I saw two deer on the road. One walked straight towards the car. She jumped up the hillside. In the afternoon the clouds moved out and it was a perfect time for a walk.



Big Dalton Creek.




It was my first Monday ride since the February President's Day Holiday. More Monday holidays please. Perfect weather. It was sunny, warm -- not hot and clear sky. A trifecta of right temperature, right amount of sun, right amount of riding.




First Wednesday evening ride to the shed for 2011. Attribute this to longer daylight hours and leaving a mangement meeting at Dave and Busters a bit early. Here is my first picture after my course work from the "Mr. Beanz School of Photography While Riding a Bike."




Proof is in the pictures. I made to the Top of Monroe. Chatted with Ron and Matt. I had hopes of seeing Ray Clone to show him that "MIA" was on the road.



The big question is can I get my mind and my knee in tune for a ride to Baldy. Stay tuned.