Rare Sunday Ride

Today is the last stage of the Amgen Tour of California in Thousand Oaks. I needed my own ride on familiar turf along Glendora Mountain Road. Very few cyclists today. Rode to the top of Monroe in a good time. The weather felt more like January, clouds, cold. The visibility was clear. The towers of LA were gleaming bright. The afternoon slipped away with bicycle cleaning, tire replacement, and family. So the stories have been skimpy while I get homework done.

Bill and I took five hundred pictures from two days of Tour. We have selected around one hundred. I expect to have a link tomorrow.

I did meet up with a Sunday regular, Frank. Email isn't getting through, so here is your picture.

Stage 7 Tour of California

An interesting day in Los Angeles at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 7 with Bill, Jason and myself. Here are the first photos.

Stage 6

Drove west out of Wrightwood around 8 am. Past the Blue Ridge KOM. Team Velocity had an eight man posse climbing up the hill. Stopped at the Pacific Crest Trail head parking. Only one other car blaring loud music. I could feel it in the air. This wasn't it. Drove on to Dawson's Saddle. More life. Yep this was it. Elevation 7931 feet.

Stage 6 Tour of California Prep

"Stage 6 is going to hurt us all" -- Lance Armstrong -- "It looks like a seven hour bike ride".

From the Bob Roll Interview on Versus.com

My plans have changed. I am no longer contemplating riding SR39, I am choosing an alternate route. See the message from the Amgen Tour of California website.


Spectator Advisory
Due to last year's Station fire in the Angeles National Forest, there will be some limitations for spectators coming into the Forest to watch the race:

* Access to Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2) is closed just north of La Canada Flintridge. The only access is via Upper Big Tujunga, Big Pine Rd, or via Hwy 2 through Wrightwood. Hwy 39 up to Hwy 2 has been closed since 1964. You can see that route on the maps, but that route is closed by gates and there is constant construction projects on Hwy 39. There are large sections of Hwy 39 that have been removed. You will not be able to get through via bicycles.

* Hwy 2 has recently reopened from the standard winter closure. Caltrans is still working on several sections of the road. The National Forest Service has advised the race that you will not be allowed to park overnight on any section of Hwy 2. The Park Rangers will be prepared to cite anyone that is parking overnight.

* Parking will be limited. There is still a significant amount of snow on the side of the road. Plan accordingly.

* There is also no overnight parking on Angeles Forest Highway or on Upper Big Tujunga.

Monday Night

Rain fell on Glendora throughout the day. It was a cold cloudy ride without alot activity on the road.




Three furtive fellows were intent on something north of the ranger station.



Birds were chirping about, but not much else.

Best Laid Plans

... of mice and men. Didn't ride SR 39 to Angeles Crest. Ranger Bob at the Gate said "Road is closed. I can't stop you but you will receive a ticket."

There were a crowd of US Forest Service personnel. One group had already been let through. They were waiting for a bus load of Boy Scouts.

They were actively working on the road today, Saturday. They would like to open the road for Memorial Day Weekend to Coldbrook Camp. There are corporate donations for project completion. The next goal is to open it to Crystal Lake by July 4th.

Prepping for Stage 6

The Amgen Tour of California starts Sunday. Stage 6 is the epic ride from Palmdale to Big Bear with 12,000 feet of climbing. My plan is to ride SR39 to Highway 2. This puts me somewhere between the Cloudburst KOM and Dawson Saddle KOM. I must arrive prior to the peloton about 11am in time to watch them fly by.

Based on my timings last week, I want to hit the road 30-40 minutes earlier today.

After training with a 7.8 pound back pack on Wednesday, I have a new rear mounted water carrier.

The Wednesday descent from Monroe was quite eventful. It was about 6 pm as I cruised past the shed only to meet up with my arch nemesis a kamikaze squirrel, who decided to play chicken with me in the middle of road. Running straight towards my bike down the center yellow strip as straight as a squirrel can which is to say all over the road. I stopped and shouted while it turned around. Hightailed back along the center line for twenty feet then crossed into the hillside. Feeling confident I only had one last hill to climb on the way home. I was tired. The extra 7-8 pounds does that to you. I was riding slow at the top of the last hill a blind curve around mile marker 7, when a squirrel brained driver in a white camaro or mustang decided to play James Bond and used the entire left lane (my lane) to turn this bend. Being on the outer white line, my choices were try to move to the opposite lane. Nope. too slow. Car too wide. To the right was a dirt turn out. That would mean instantly crashing. I had just a few inches of road on the right which I moved into and thought the skinniest thoughts I could. The driver did move back into the proper lane. Narrowly avoiding impact. I had some choice words for his squirrel like driving patterns. I live to see another day.

SR 39 has spoiled me. Beyond the gate there are few vehicles and solitude. Later.