Glendora Mountain Road

Monday, July 21, 2014

Bill's ride

I set out on my ride this morning at 7:40 AM. I met Matt up on Sierra Madre coming back from his ride - he rode along with me for a bit to chat. The biggest news item was that there had been a car fire up on GMR on Sunday. It was at mile marker 12.19 and fortunately was extinguished before it could do much damage to the mountain foliage I took a couple of pictures of the debris left after the car had been removed.

Editor's Note: The information I found indicated the vehicle fire happened on Saturday 7/19/2014 at 8:37 pm.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

This is July

The high dark clouds dominated the sky. I felt a bit chilly as my muscles warmed up. They cooled the air, kept the sun from burning through and made the vistas spectacular. Joan and I rode together as Bill spotted John in his truck. Joan's mobile app normally ticks off the miles and provides miles per hour and split averages, however today it had fantastic news for us. It said our speed was 157 mph. Wow, the oatmeal really powered my legs. It was a glitch and as it caught up with reality our rate stabilized between six and seven miles per hour.

The hook and ladder fire engine and the long bed tow truck were the excitement of the morning. They hauled up an over the side vehicle after mile marker 10.

I chatted about Tour de France news. It has been a brutal Tour this year with plenty of crashes and notable abandonments. Top Favorites gone. Mark Cavendish, Andy Schleck, Chris Fromme, Alberto Contador, Andrew Talansky, Fabian Cancellera to train for the World Championship and my favorite Ted King as Lantern Rouge. Many others battered and braised with road rash, scraped along the way: TeJay Van Garderen, Peter Sagan. The emotions of dreams ending with broken bones and real blood gushing from their arms, legs, faces and not the fake TV blood makes my daughter whince. They ride with gauze applied to their wounds with a white woven mesh to hold it in place. Perhaps this is the Tour de Mummies.

Joan and I made excellent time to the shed even stopping for the "biathlon" event of biking and then zooming with the camera lens to get up close photos. Joan went down. Matt and I went to Fork plus Four (the point of no return). Met John C. Matt's former co-worker.

Chatted with Jeff and Ken B. about frames, cassettes, lights and ocular migraines. Bill and John Cr. caught up with us.

Met Jay back at the shed. And someone who needed help with the shortest way down hill.

From July 19, 2014

From

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Weekend Rides

Friday I popped out for a quick ride and got to mile marker 7 before the downhill to the shed. The moisture was quick thick and dark grey over the valley. Stopped at First Saddle for the view and chatted with Robert from Parliament of Owls. I got a first "tire" adventure with the dump trucks hauling dirt from behind the forest station to Irwindale. The water trucks sprayed the street and a fine layer of mud made the descent interesting.
Saturday Bill and I started out. The quietness of the road was a pleasant surprise. I commented to rider at the bottom gate that his red polka dot king of the mountain socks were apropos for the road. Mr. KOM caught me at mile marker 10. I kicked up the pace and rode his wheel for a mile then passed him by and stayed ahead for two miles. He passed me on the downhill. I raced to catch him on the uphill but not quite as my legs said it was the second day in the row. Matt and Joan were at the shed. Joan and Bill rode down and Matt and I pushed on to the Experimental Forest sign.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Monday Night Ride

Joan motivated me to get out and ride Monday night. Her tempo was lively and for the second day in a row it felt alright. I did well and my body didn't complain too much. The afternoon was hot, the air was clear which was a huge improvement over the week before. I pedaled on the elliptical trainer Tuesday Night as I watched Stage 4 of the Tour de France. The big news was the Chris Froome crash 5 km into the race. No spoilers here. Tomorrow is the cobblestones of Stage 5.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

July 4 and 6 Rides

Friday July 4, 2014. Glendora Mountain Road is the cycling mecca of Southern California on July 4th. With the road closed, cyclists of all abilities turned out for one of the hottest days of the year. GMR is not for the faint of heart or the unprepared Fourth of July Rider. Extra water should always be carried during the summer. Many riders had mountain top finishes for their goals. Some were achieved and others will try again on cooler days. I rode to Fork Plus Four a 30 mile round trip. The realization that I can ride to Baldy on a cooler day and deciding not to ride to Baldy was a smart move.

Sunday July 6, 2014. Fireworks leave alot of fine microns in the sky. The air quality was much better today. A lot fewer people riding the road. It was easier to connect and talk to other riders. Met Ed who is a proud leasee of a Nissan Leaf. While he charges his car at the San Dimas charging station he rides his bike up GMR. Smart deal both in terms of dollars $140/month and for use of his time.

Tony and Luis reconnected with me at the shed. I first rode with them on August 1, 2012. Nearly two years later. Good to see you back in the saddle and riding strong with the Incycle Employees.

Doug S. was headed up to the shed, as I started down. Hey Doug. Good to see you.
Back at the first saddle the valley below looked serene. Ken and Eric rode up chatted about the wave of riders on Friday. Good times.

The news item of the day was a lost dog at Coyote Corner - the hair pin turn with tall pine trees about mile marker 10.6. Two Forest Service personnel were luring the dog with water. It was a long way up the mountain. It had stayed in the same spot for more than an hour. Perhaps the pavement might be too hot for its paws.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014