Big Cat

I met Robert pushing a mountain bike with a crank that fell off, while I was hiking up Big Dalton Canyon one Sunday morning. He talked about the wildlife and the scat on the road. Anyone who would push a bicycle up the inclines in the Canyon is dedicated to his quest. Follow Robert and his adventures on his Parliament 0f 0wls website. By his enthusiasm I knew it was just a matter of time.

Watch this mountain lion strolling the forest. Awesome! And thank you for sharing!

Letape du California

New friends Ross, Ben, Lloyd along with all my buddies from Adobo Velo.

Lots of activity on the road with 1000 riders from the Letape plus the City of Glendora's Community Bike Ride for Earth Day. The city provided a motorcycle escort for it's group. Met up with Kimberly and Ron at the shed. Howdy! Then saw Ron G. and Cheryl at the bottom.

From Ray

Ray has mapped out the end of the Reward Climb at Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 8.3.

On a completely different note:
I must admit this short video takes the video of the year award. Watch this to learn how to motivate those around you. Reward Behavior.

GRR 8.3

Wow, the heat was hotter than expected. Three water bottles. Made it to 8.3. That's 38 miles round trip. On the way back I saw a large golden feathered hawk checking out the dead squirrel. The wing span was impressive.

Tuesday Ride

Got out for a ride on Tuesday evening. Warmish at 87F. Saw a motorcyclist with a skunk pelt on his helmet, then I smelt it. Whooh! Excellent deterrent to keep cyclists away. Another tip of the night. Don't ride over sticks. Happened to see a stick in the road at mile marker 13.54. Rode around it. And as I did, I noticed it had a head, eyes and tail. Photo coming.

Sunday Hike

A rare hike along the ridge trail. The view shows the road winding to the left with "the" Glendora Mountain looking dark and green in the center. Newman's point is the farthest point on the left.

The snow on the hills and the clear blue sky to the north made for outstanding scenery.

The view to the west towards Azusa. The rains of the past week have the hills alive with green. This is the best time of the year.

The sweeping grandeur of the mountains took my breath away. Baldy is in the center.

It is a rare occasion that I find myself driving on Glendora Mountain Road. Normally I am pushing pedals and burning calories not hydrocarbons to fuel my altitude change. I started driving up the mountain with a gas gauge hovering above the empty line. I thought I had enough to go the four miles up the road to the first saddle. I must admit the road feels different in a car. The lane feels narrower and the curvature of the pavement had a different dynamic over four wheels versus two. However on the way up the first time, the low fuel light came on. Damn. Oatmeal doesn't fuel a car. I panicked and headed down, on the way down the arrow pumps back up over the empty line and the fuel light goes off. Sigh. I could have made it to first saddle. I drove to a gas station put gas in and headed up a second time. And all the while I had a chance on Saturday to fill the tank, but didn't take it thinking I had enough. Lesson Learned. The Hard Way.

Saturday Ride

more coming later.

Abel Romero

Abel Romero rode the SDSR 2012. I caught him on the Glendora Mountain Road Time Trial.

Looking Great!

Matt found this group playing music with guitars and drums on his ride last Wednesday April 4, 2012. This band liberated themselves from the confines of society and its volume restrictions. They enjoyed the great outdoors, Matt enjoyed the music. and residents who couldn't complain.

Bill did his three bottle test on Monday. He rode his Madone up GMR Monday morning to road test it with a 3rd water bottle attached. The 60 cm frame of the bike was just the right size to accommodate the mounting of a 3rd bottle cage using the Twofish Quick Cage Adaptor - see: http://adventurecycling.org/store/index.cfm/product/587/twofish-quick-cage-adaptor.cfm

Its 50. Its 80. Its 50. Its 80. The weather has been all out good or all around blah. From the cold grey cover of clouds that spat on me last week with visibility at five feet to the warmth and greatness of today. Last Saturday the going was hampered both up and down as well as mentally and physically. Featured below is the berm near the Experimental Forest Sign on GRR mile marker 2.45. Shivers!

To the wonderful weather on Monday evening April 2, 2012. Yes I rode on a Monday! Yipee!

With the picture perfect day, the scenery fresh and brilliant after a six month hiatus. It was a good time to be riding. Met Christina at the first saddle and rode til she met up with her crew. They had an awesome sag support for their ride as they offered me goodies as I pedaled solo. Thank you for your kindness! Met John a friend and cohort of Matt. No dallying for me today. Short stop at the shed and back in saddle. I figured Matt and John would catch up with me.

I rode on Glendora Ridge Road past mile marker 6.20 ("Fork plus 6.3") to the bend where there are burnt out trees still standing. The trip odometer rolled over to 17.0 miles. Perfect. Today's total 34 miles. It was the gloriously great day, warm weather and willing legs.

The wall at Glendora Ridge Road mile marker 6.0 looked worse for wear.

The view of Mt Baldy at Fork plus Six.

The west side of Little Dalton Canyon is colored with purple grey flowers on the oak trees in bloom.

The view approaching Fork plus Six.

Matt and John are checking out the non-existant restraining wall.

View the valley.

Glendora Ridge Road looking back at the road (Fork plus Four) on the most outer right. Bill rescued a pair of cyclists with his new tire pump.

Cat Five Winner SDSR

Rick Barossa rode in the Cat 5 Men's group. He took 1st on the mountain, 3rd in the road race (Wow what a wet ride!) and crashed in the last lap of the crit. Rick is in the rain cape in the second photo. Leading the pack in the criterium.