johnlink

What's the lowest chainwheel/cog ratio you used? Mine was 39/28, and I wish I had something lower.

gaucho777 

I am back in my hometown of Westlake Village visiting family over the holidays, so of course I had to bring a bike and ride some of my favorite routes from my youth.

First, some photos from yesterday's ride. I went on a popular climb called the Rock Store climb along Mulholland Hwy, along a mountain ridge overlooking the Pacific (when not covered in clouds) and back inland down Decker Canyon to Westlake. A nice hilly 28-mile loop.



Malibu Lake:


Roadside attraction:


The Rock Store:


View from top of the Rock Store climb:


Some nice rock formations along the side of the road:

noglider 

I used my biggest cog, 25T, so 42 inches. My chainrings are 53/39/30.

noglider 

@gaucho777, fantastic pictures, and I bet the ride was fantastic, too.

johnlink

So your lowest ratio yesterday was 39/25? I'm impressed! While I was struggling up Alpine Hill with 39/28, you were riding away from me with ease.

noglider 

Yes, as you know, I've done a lot of hill work this year. I've made big improvements. I highly recommend dead lifts and squats. They're fun! It probably also helps that I'm smaller, only 160 lbs.

mattk42

Cold, foggy and below freezing this morning on my commute to work. We've had a few mornings like this and not had any road traction issues. But all of the moisture lead to some black ice on the bike path, especially at the entrance (which takes a sharp turn once you enter it). I stupidly leaned into the turn at too much speed and then kept leaning till I hit the ground. The soreness on my hip and elbow will help to remind me to be a bit more careful. No notable damage to the bike, other than cosmetic scratch damage on the brake lever. Though on the rest of the ride to work the cassette was making some noise -- only during pedaling forward and not when coasting or pedaling in reverse. The noise was kind of like when wiping cleaning solution off a window. Maybe with the 100% humidity there was some moisture buildup that froze? I suppose I'll find out when it gets above freezing.

johnlink

So have I, but I haven't ridden Hillier Than Thou.

I'm going to start doing more of both of those.

So am I, although I'm taller. Or is it just that my legs are longer?.

gaucho777 

Thanks, @noglider.

And here are a few more shots from this morning's ride through Westlake Village & nearby Hidden Valley. It's like a someone dropped a piece of idyllic farmland next to a SoCal suburb.











I forgot to get a pick of the bike until I got back to my brother's house, so here's an obligatory shot of the bike against his wall.

johnlink

Why are the water bottle cages upside-down?

Sir_Name 

Sweet Merlin, @gaucho777

obrentharris 

Those are the King Cage Iris cages. That's how they work. The little tab at the bottom supports the bottom of the bottle.

edit: Just noticed that Sir Name, in the post above mine, gave you a picture showing how they work...
Brent

gomango

Ok Gaucho and Sir Name, you win.

Beautiful pics, beautiful bikes.

Thanks for sharing.

rumrunn6

now I want steamers

velomateo

@gaucho777, Riding my local ride. The next time you're in town we should go for a ride.

gaucho777 

@velomateo, sounds good. I miss all the wonderful places to ride in the area.

thinktubes 

Those mountain locales always look so exotic to this flatland, urban dweller...

Vonruden

@gaucho777 the Merlin is HOT!!!

gaucho777 

Thanks, @Vonruden!

Now I'm down a bit further south. I got out for a quick ~20 miles on the Strand (a path the runs along the coast near Venice and Santa Monica) this morning before the rest of the family got started.

Slightspeed

Great pictures! I especially like the lake shot. I've ridden those roads many times, never saw a lake shot like you got. Pretty chilly this morning. I skipped the club ride out thru Westake to Stonehaus. Just took the old Super Course up thru Porter Ranch, only 11 miles. Leaving town tomorrow, so we still have lots to do. Best thing about your pictures, no more smoke! Here's a Porter Ranch view from a few days ago. I haven't gotten the Super Course up to Rock Store yet. It my "cheater" Eroica bike, with a Sugino 30,40,50 triple and a 34t 6 speed Megarange.

Vonruden

Christmas is nigh

Kdogbikes

Got out this morning for a birthday ride. 30* along Lake Erie. Snapped a pic of snowy vineyard on way home. Happy holidays To you all!

Chrome Molly

Got out for a pre-feast 15 mile path ride on the Kona Cinder Cone with freshly mounted studded tires (huge difference between studded and non). No traction issues with what would otherwise have been a soapy slide.

Happy holidays everyone.

eom 

After ride weather report.

Current conditions at
St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS)
Lat: 38.56°NLon: 90.15°WElev: 410ft.

Light Snow and Breezy
26°F
-3°C
Humidity 71%
Wind Speed NW 24 G 39 mph
Barometer 30.17 in (1022.0 mb)
Dewpoint 18°F (-8°C)
Visibility 2.00 mi
Wind Chill 11°F (-12°C)
Last update 24 Dec 1:53 pm CST

I have been baking. Blackberry cobbler yesterday and an apple crumb pie today.
Worried that the ice cream stash was low. Off to the store before closing time.

[IMG]IMG_1317 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG][IMG]IMG_1319 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_1320 by lebagman, on Flickr[/IMG]

Only the bridges had snow. No one else on the trail.

Kdogbikes

I like your style. Bike pics are great but crumb apple pie.....with 4 scoops of ice cream....looks delicious.