Motorcycle versus Skate Boader

While I walked behind the closed gate on Big Dalton Road, I heard the emergency vehicles sirens blare up GMR. Spoke to a crew of mountain bikers headed somewhere else they indicated and the WildCad website confirmed that a Skate Boarder and a motorcycle collided this morning two miles up.

7/22/2012 08:33 ANF-3818 Car vs Skate Boarder Traffic Collision Glendora Mtn Rd 2 miles n/o City Line TB page H1

Mt Baldy Village Tips

Got a request from reader who rode the L'Etape du California two years in a row where is a good place to refuel in the Village.

Knowing that you have done the L'Etape puts you into the strong man category. Hydration is so very important this time of the year and can topple the best of us. Doing the L'Etape, you may have missed spotting the amenities along the way. From Glendora Ridge Road, turn left onto Baldy Road. The first spot you will see on the left is the Post Office. Many cyclists hang out in the shade and fill up the water bottles from the public drinking fountain. Up the road from the Post Office are the Lodge and the Visitor's Center. There is a general store by the Lodge that sells bottles of water, trail mix, red vines, snacks, beer, shirts, etc. They stock a machine with a Powerade for $2 a bottle. Refrigerated water and chilled Powerade cools your core on a hot summer ride. The cashier of the store is a real kick. If you ask how she is, she is usually states, Too Damn Good! Just a few meters from the store is the Visitor's Center with public restrooms with running water. There is one other restaurant in the Village that is on the outskirts called the Buckhorn. In desperation one trip they provided water and had a few things to buy. Just for reference there is a water fountain at the Bike Shelter in the city of Glendora by the Equestrian Center near the traffic light of Boulder Springs and GMR. You know well there is nothing in between unless you have a Sag vehicle. There is a side trip down GMR to East Fork and a store at Camp Williams. It is out of the way and not really an option. Start early in the day and ride safe.

What the doctor ordered

Bills photo from his ride this morning. I need my dose of medicine. but first work.

Bastille Day Ride

It was a day to connect to people rather than miles as the heat and humidity drained the energy faster than I could down three bottles of fluids. And I was completely out before the end of the ride.

I saw TeJay Van Garderen fly by me up Glendora Mountain Road sporting his white jersey and red BMC shorts. Seriously, his real name was Michael and in Matt's humble opinion Michael was cranking up the road as if it was a flat stage. Needless to say the real TeJay was riding the flat ride for Stage 13 of the 99th Tour de France starting from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and ending in Le Cap d'Agde along the Mediterranean coast of France.

A few folks were riding along the road. Not alot and not like the throng of a couple hundred riders on July 4th when the road was closed.

Ken zipped up to the shed. Happy to be on the bike. His tag line is: Work cramps my ride schedule. Yip. This whole needing money to eat and have shelter is overrated.

Greg. Awesome to see you back on the mountain. Greg's second ride up the road after a long hiatus. He beamed with joy as his goal is to get back to his former level of fitness. Goals.

Dan breezed up Baldy Road and down Glendora Ridge Road and met us at the shed. He started at 6 am. Which seemed so blissfully cool by the time I arrived at the shed.

John R. had the facts and figures on bicycle deaths from automobiles. 37 in Southern California for the year. As a bicycle commuter to work riding 40 miles of city street and bicycle trails he was empathic about cyclists knowing what is behind them all the time.

On a lighter note, he sure did talk up his upcoming event at the end of September the Everest Challenge. It is a USAC Competitive event, however there is a category of participant for "public" or "tourist" type cyclists. Hmm, interesting, an event without racing. I could be a tourist type participant. John has a way of talking to convince yourself you can do it. The public class of participant can pick and choose their portion of the routes and have full sag support. Hmm, I think I can. John will be training by climbing 10,000 feet per week. Let me do the math. Doh! Very little time for training. But more motivation. Well, I will see. I have not made any commitment. First it is a mental activity.

Tip of the day: You know you're riding too slow when the turkey vultures start strafing you as you descend. Laughs. I made it home. I tried to keep better attention to what was behind me.

Ken: Work cramps my ride schedule. Same for me, Ken, Same for me.

Greg: It's great to back on the road.

Dan: the man with a plan. One mile at a time.

John: You can ride Everest Challenge. Its fun at your own pace.

Triple treat. Matt. Moi. Dan

Elusive Baldy.

Catching up with Friends

Friends I have seen along the road over the past few weeks Ruby and Ralph as SAG support vehicle.

Jason of Bicycle Friends

Jason and Michael

Rob and I raced to the shed. Leading the yellow jersey spurred this domestique to my best time. Rob prepped for his nine Tour de France Stage Rides with five HC category climbs.

Ray Clone capturing the elusive MIA.

Mr Beanz and Friend.

Daniel and I rode to Baldy and back. Thanks Daniel for the company.

Canyon Velo enjoying the Road Closed Holiday.

SC Velo blowing past the shed on July 4th.

Amy

SCVelo at the gate. Bill's photo

Michael and Linus, professors from Claremont Colleges enjoyed the Wednesday morning crowd.

Road Closed

Small blurb about the roads being closed. Yes GMR and GRR will be closed. Chantry Flats will be closed on the evening of the 4th. Forest Roads closed on July 4 2012

Hey Ray

We needed to clear off the DVR in order to make room for the upcoming Tour de France recordings. As we watched Stage 7 ATOC, the fellow in the foreground is TeJay Van Garderen's father Marcel. I happened to notice the fashionable and flashy jerseys in the background. Hey Ray is this you?