SART 08/14/11

So is this what is considered a bad luck weekend or what? After thinking about it, I'm chalking it up to a good luck weekend. A front flat on GMR yesterday and my rear tire falling apart on me today. The good luck, I figure my tires could have failed me on GMR yesterday, a descent resulting in something not so good. I'll look at the bright side. My favorite inexpensive tire Serfas Secas haven't done so well lately. Used to use them with confidence but the last tires split down the center. It was worn but this tire, 2 months 800 miles and it split the same way the last tired split. Heck with it, I'm going with another Armadillo. Many riders don't care for them or the slow feel of the ride but last one I used, 5,000 miles without a single flat. That included plenty of rides on GMR back when I was training for Ride Around the Bear. But like I say, it isn't the tire that makes me feel slow! Maybe I'm just tough on tires at my weight but I'm thinking more about the security and tire durability in my old age.

at the start of our ride EricAnderson rides by while we water up at the leaky fountain. He rolls by and we shout but no idea he heard us. Next thing we know he rolls up and we have a little chat about his long rides. Gee, what ears you got Eric ha ha! We roll out and head to Imperial. Gina's pretty happy to be off GMR and she is smiling while Abec rolls on down the road. We hit Imperial turn around to head back into a headwind. Still smiling we run across PainFreak for a shout.

Abec is somewhere ahead when I feel a thump thump somewhere on my bike. I'm thinking flat but tires are pumped. I roll the rear around only to find another big knot like the last tire. That's it, I've had good luck with these budget tires for a couple of years but the last two? Ain't worth breaking my face!

So we roll slowly back from Katella to the leaky fountain. Good, no blow out! Bummer but the good side is that Louie rolls on by and gives us the latest on his trip to the Philippines. His visit allowed him to visit the children receiving the aid raised by his Sikad Ng Bayan fun bike ride. Nice story and a good look at his touring bike.

I had sent a text to Abec telling him that we were out of the ride so that he wouldn't wonder about our no show at the coast. Arriving at the truck we see Alan and Tammy. A little chat and a short clip of Alan's story. Sure, Alan, stills only, I won't post the video! ~whistle~

A while later, Abec sends a self portrait of himself at the coast saying he made it for us ha ha! Sucker! Well, we missed out but really, it turned out to be a nice pleasure cruise and some visits with friends.

Photos:

Eric Anderson chillin' on his bent. Then Gina was admiring his jersey so I asked him to stick out his chest super hero style to display the design. Abec's text pic and Alan and Tammy trying to escape my lens ha ha!

GMR 08/13/11

Wow, a busy day on GMR. Let me see if I can remember everything and every body ha ha! First, we hadn't planned to do GMR but a note from Alyce Billy Goat and Herb suggested we invite ourselves along for the trip. So I do the only decent thing an invite a GMR newbie, Aimee. She's been wanting to do the ride but never got around to it so I sent the invite. Worried that she'd not make it, her response was, I don't want you to think I chickened out so she accepted the invitation on very short notice. Abec escorted her on the ride which was a very good plan because Aimee is way too fast so I hung back with Gina as always. As many GMR newbs, Aimee enjoyed the ride and I have to say, did very well. A planned ride to the shack but she went ended up strolling to the village and with very little problem according to Abec's report. Only one rest stop, wow!

Before I continue, I remember back in 02, a ride partner and I would ride to the village and maybe see 4 or 5 other riders. Now, a bunch! I say at least one hundred today. This ride has grown in popularity big time!

So now we are at the shack when GlendoraMountainroad blogger rides up for a brief chat. Then soon after Matt arrives, both with congrats on the ski lift ride the other day. Wow, I feel like a hero ha ha! We go through the introductions of new GMR riders then we get ready to head off. Guess what, a flat tire! Darn! I have Gina ride ahead and plan to catch up later in the ride. as I'm fixing the flat Fancy Coin Bill rides up from one side and the ever so cool Dutchboy2 from the other. You have to check out Bill's coins. So we chat a bit more then finally I head off. Come to find out DutchBoy had a visit with Gina shortly before our visit. He slowed her down a bit for me but she still smoked me to Peacock Saddle.

Alyce too is ahead somewhere as Herb hangs with me on the flat repair. Just as we are ready to go GMR shouts out she's going along for the ride. We ride together for a bit then I notice this is getting hard and the pace is picking up. Hm, I have to hang, I can't get "chicked" on GRR after all the lift kudos from buds ha ha! I manage to hang then thank GMR for pulling me back up to Gina. Gina was already waiting at the saddle so I guess my efforts were extra credit. Oh well, it was fun riding with GMR who along with Matt always has nice words to say about my blog and ride affairs. GMR rolls on as we head slowly back.

It was my plan to roll ahead of Alyce and Herb who had gotten a few extra miles on GRR. Heck, the dry heat, although not that hot was playing games with me today so I talked Gina into a slow roll back figuring Alyce and Herb would meet us at the shack for the descent.

While we're at the shack a rider rides up then recognizes Gina. Gina is still a bit puzzled wondering how he recognized her without the pink helmet ha ha! Turns out to be MChacon01 of the bike forums. Cool, nice guy and he says he chose GMR as a result of my postings. Always nice to know we somewhat encourage riders up the pretty mountain road. Dude's got a nice bike so we check it out then Alyce notices his shoes. Pretty flashy but cool! I have to ask and yup, just as I suspected, they cost nearly as much as my bike ha ha!

Well the little bugs were getting to me and after eating about 6 or 7, we decided to head on down. MChacon01 joins us for the descent which made it cool because he was wearing the same jersey as Gina. Hillbasher gave the jersey to Gina and just in time for the team descent. Heck, I felt like I was recording a TOC team on the way down ha ha!

Baldy Rd to the Lifts (My First Time)

Wow what a ride! Mills and Baseline to the lift on Baldy Rd. I looked it up on MapMyRide and the elevation gain is 5,000 ft in 14 miles. A little foggy at the start but once we hit the slightest elevation, the sun popped was shining bright. Hillbasher and I aimed for Ice House Canyon for starters. Well, first Baldy Village then we'd go from there. HB did a pretty good pace up Baldy Rd so I was hoping to hang close.

Once at the post office my legs were tight but figured ICC was within reach. We pretty much aced that section. I was a bit hesitant as I have never been above the village on my bike but it wasn't all that bad. Something like 700 feet within a mile or so. From there I figured my legs were cooked but HB suggested we try a switchback or two. OK, let's go for it! I've heard horror stories about this section so I was thinking that I'd not make it being out of climbing form. But I was surprised at the not so killer switchbacks. One switchback down, then a second then a third. HB said there were ten and we aced the first three so I figured it couldn't be all that bad.

We did stop a couple of times. Mainly because I had no idea where I was at and wanted some info from HB. Turns out we aren't that far from the top so we keep going. Next thing I know we're about a mile from the top and HB says we're too far to turn back now! So we continue on then hit a slight downhill. I remember a super steep grade at the end the few times I've driven up there so I stopped on a stretch to ask HB where the stretch was. "You're on it!" he said. Well what do you know! So we are about 40 yards from the top when HB shouts "Let's see that sprint!". I sucked it up and sprinted to the top. I was really shocked that I could. I almost died but I sprinted ha ha!

Turned out to be a very cool ride. I wasn't sure about doing the lifts but HB pretty much encouraged me up the entire trip. Actually for a month he's been telling me that I can do it no problem. Well we finally went for it and he was right! Like I said, not being in good form, I made it and it wasn't the killer ride most make it out to be. Heck, if I get back into form, it'll be a walk in the park ha ha! Thanks to HB for coaching me up cause if I had been alone, I probably would have turned back at the tunnels ha ha!

BTW, at the end of the ride, HB presented me with a new TOC jersey. Well actually Gina will have to wear it cause it's too small for this big climber ha ha! But thanks, nice jersey! I've really been making out on rides lately. Eyemage gave me pack of candy chews on our last ride ha ha. Every little bit counts!

Added a couple pictures at the bottom from Hillbasher's camera.




Upper profile is the overall ride. Lower profile is the last 3 miles to the lifts.

SART 08/07/11

Another 42 miles on the trail with Aimee and ABEC. An encounter at the coast with Greg and Bob of the Haircut Crew. Plus a little visit with Angie and Jeff. Hmm, found out they were married but we weren't invited to the wedding. Like I said, Hmmmmmm! It's OK, Angie made up for it by handing out a few goodies to us hungry people ha ha!

A short visit video and some pics.

SART 8/6/11

47 trail miles with Gina and Abec. Abec upgraded his bike with a new component package so I'm sure he was ready to ride. We threw in a few extra miles for fun. Pretty nice day on the trail, a little breezy but not too bad.

Ran into Boyd right before the coast so he stopped to chat with us for a while. Yes ladies and gentlemen, he won the 2011 TDF ( Tour De Farts). He fills us in on the story then heads off. Then Mark shows, then Alex2. So we spend a bunch of time at the coast. Pretty normal for us though ha ha!

We head back with Alex who shoots off the front after a short warm up. I hang with him for a while to get some footage then drop back for Gina. By this time, I'm tired. Gina's tired too with the few extra miles so hey, I get to blame the late mile slacking on her ha ha!

Badly Rd to the Village...8/5/11

Today was some good climbing, from Mills and Baseline to Baldy Village up Baldy Road. Eyemage and I got an early start so the heat wasn't a factor. It was Eyemage's first time up Baldy Road and my second time since 1998. I was actually shocked that it didn't feel as bad as I expected. Yeah, steep compared to GMR but much shorter. I could hear Eyemage shouting out grades from his Garmin, 12%, 14%, 16%. Good thing I had my triple cause I'm not sure I'd make it on my standard double right now ha ha!

Eyemage did very well for his first time. Matter of fact, I expected him to attack near the top. I was waiting for his attack and I kept thinking to myself, "go now suckuh, Go now suckuh!". I knew that if he went too early, the final steep section before the village would slow him down then I'd catch back up ha ha! I paced myself well and never really felt too much of a struggle. I'm actually shocked though!

Well, 9 miles pretty much straight up with 2,467 feet of climbing. Doesn't sound like much but it felt like most of it was in the second half of the climb. Surely just my imagination but that's when I really started to feel the grade. Well OK really, I felt it as soon as we left the Von's parking lot ha ha!

Good thing is that once you are up there, it's all downhill from there. It's a fast descent but I stopped to take a couple of pics so at my top speed of 42 on the upper section is when I applied the brakes. I'm sure that I could easily do 50 but at my age, no thanks! I did hit 45.8 on the last drop but its a much nicer strip of road on that section. Thankfully, I wasn't as lucky as Eyemage. Poor guy had a car tailgating him through the tunnels on the descent. Boy, those tunnels are dark and there is no shoulder at all! But, it is a bit of motivation on the way up to lift the pace ha ha!

That is Eyemage in the pic, descending Baldy Rd. The first 30 narrow seconds of the video is footage from Eyemage.

Bonelli Park/ Covina Hills

Wowee!! It was a hot one. 94 at the end of the ride. Not sure why but all my ride partners try to kill me on the rides. Hillbasher suggested a ride around Bonelli Park. I was expecting a few loops around the park but he took me on a tour of Covina. Nice 20 miler with some hills and some short steep sections to test the legs.

Nice hills along the course but I think it's more the heat that is a factor. I only had one water bottle figuring we'd stay along the park. My thoughts were that if I had one, that would force us to stop along the way for a break and some water. I'm not real familiar with the outer sections of the park so I had to ration my water not knowing where the heck I was ha ha! Hillbasher keeps talking about being out of shape but the freaker kept lifting the pace forcing me to play catch up. Another one of those guys ha ha! Only 20 miles but with the heat, I felt like I had done 40.

A picture of an actual Hillbasher smile, very rare!