Where'd You Ride Today? (New & Improved)
12-27-10, 07:56 PM
#1101
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 197
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did the same ride myself on Xmas Eve.
12-27-10, 08:55 PM
#1102
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
12-29-10, 03:29 PM
#1103
Mostly Mischief
Good ride with my wife yesterday.
We started from the in-law's house near the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, Los Angeles, took the road called 39 and followed it up to the Angeles Crest Highway. Out and back distance of 65 miles with a whopping 7535' of gain. But, come to think of it, that's just half of an average mountain stage in the TdF..
(some of these pics might look familiar to the discerning reader, as I blogged about this same ride 12 months ago)
The ride consist of a 25 mile uphill with up to 8% grade. In other words never too steep.
The entire upper half of the road is closed to vehicles, despite perfect pavement.
A section riddled with debris avalanches and culvert repairs slowed us down. 23mm tires don't do well in 2" of mud.
While this definitely looks wintry, there was probably less than a mile of mirror smooth, rock hard ice on the whole ride. Neither rubber nor plastic cleats grip well on that sort of coating, but picking a way through the shoulder area allowed us a reasonable speedy passage.
Expansive views of chaparral, smog and ocean on the upper reaches.
Such must a vintage bike look once and in a while.
Sonja embarking on the 6000' descent.
Big rains over Christmas filled the San Gabriel river reservoirs...
..and gave flow to an otherwise perpetually dry river bed. Here we are back down in the city in the late afternoon. This is the start of the SGRT, a 40 mile bike path to the ocean. While a tempting outing for another day, the almost completely flat nature of all those miles makes us tired just pondering about it!
We started from the in-law's house near the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, Los Angeles, took the road called 39 and followed it up to the Angeles Crest Highway. Out and back distance of 65 miles with a whopping 7535' of gain. But, come to think of it, that's just half of an average mountain stage in the TdF..
(some of these pics might look familiar to the discerning reader, as I blogged about this same ride 12 months ago)
The ride consist of a 25 mile uphill with up to 8% grade. In other words never too steep.
The entire upper half of the road is closed to vehicles, despite perfect pavement.
A section riddled with debris avalanches and culvert repairs slowed us down. 23mm tires don't do well in 2" of mud.
While this definitely looks wintry, there was probably less than a mile of mirror smooth, rock hard ice on the whole ride. Neither rubber nor plastic cleats grip well on that sort of coating, but picking a way through the shoulder area allowed us a reasonable speedy passage.
Expansive views of chaparral, smog and ocean on the upper reaches.
Such must a vintage bike look once and in a while.
Sonja embarking on the 6000' descent.
Big rains over Christmas filled the San Gabriel river reservoirs...
..and gave flow to an otherwise perpetually dry river bed. Here we are back down in the city in the late afternoon. This is the start of the SGRT, a 40 mile bike path to the ocean. While a tempting outing for another day, the almost completely flat nature of all those miles makes us tired just pondering about it!
Last edited by jan nikolajsen; 12-29-10 at 04:01 PM.
12-29-10, 06:23 PM
#1104
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,929
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
What a terrific report.
That SGRT bike path also passes thru some very sketchy areas on its route to the Pacific Ocean. Be careful if you do it. It is also known for having a deceptive tail wind one way and a heavy head wind the other (usually the return route when you appreciate it the least).
I used to ride those same mountains, though I used to ride the north face from Pear Blossom Hwy to Wrightwood and back. The north face is steeper, more twisty and the trees are more dense and "closer in" to the road. This affords more shade in a typically arid area. They are very nice in the winter but it gets quite cold as you approach the top due to the altitude gained (~8,000 ft).
That SGRT bike path also passes thru some very sketchy areas on its route to the Pacific Ocean. Be careful if you do it. It is also known for having a deceptive tail wind one way and a heavy head wind the other (usually the return route when you appreciate it the least).
I used to ride those same mountains, though I used to ride the north face from Pear Blossom Hwy to Wrightwood and back. The north face is steeper, more twisty and the trees are more dense and "closer in" to the road. This affords more shade in a typically arid area. They are very nice in the winter but it gets quite cold as you approach the top due to the altitude gained (~8,000 ft).
Last edited by Mike Mills; 12-29-10 at 06:27 PM.
12-30-10, 01:20 PM
#1107
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I rode out to Fire Island and two or three miles east along the beach. Riding on the beach is hard work, and hard on the bike. I tried to downshift the front derailleur, and the cable came off; sand in the works somewhere made the friction too much I guess. So you see a piece of driftwood holding the derailleur in the middle gear. And of course chain suck sucks. It was a beautiful day for a ride, but I came back as tired as I would have been after 40 miles on a road bike.
Sometimes one sees seals sunning themselves on the sand at this time of year. But I didn't.
Sometimes one sees seals sunning themselves on the sand at this time of year. But I didn't.
12-31-10, 09:10 PM
#1108
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 1,044
Bikes: Schwinn, Bottecchia, Miyata, projects
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rode my '80 Schwinn World Sport fixed conversion from Downtown St. Pete to Dunedin via the Pinellas Trail. A very flat (save for the overpass ramps) 50 mile round trip. Happy New Year's Eve.
12-31-10, 10:03 PM
#1109
Ellensburg, WA
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ellensburg, WA
Posts: 3,755
Bikes: See my signature
Mentioned: 77 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 313 Post(s)
Liked 458 Times
in
160 Posts
Made it to the mailbox and back - 1 mile total on my Klein MTB. Hardpack snow on the ground and 10 degrees F - just too cold to try anymore than that. Just had to get something in on the last day of the year.
__________________
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1968 Peugeot PL8; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, mid-80's Bianchi Veloce, 1984 or 85 Vitus 979
12-31-10, 10:31 PM
#1110
Mostly Mischief
Rode the Glendora Mtn Road to the shack and a little beyond. Up there we met a couple of graying gentlemen who had done what I described in post #1105 (7000+ feet of climbing) followed by the climb we just did. All before lunch. But on carbon, so big deal...
01-01-11, 01:38 PM
#1111
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,409 Times
in
909 Posts
New Year's Eve, with drrobwave, Nash County, NC. about 45 degrees, but the sun helped.
New Year's Day, with the Cyclists of Wilson, Wilson County, NC about 47 degrees and overcast.
New Year's Day, with the Cyclists of Wilson, Wilson County, NC about 47 degrees and overcast.
01-01-11, 01:56 PM
#1112
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Yesterday, I rode to the train station, rode the train into NYC, cycled through Manhattan, and rode back home. NYC had some streets where the slush was two or three inches deep, and under that, there was very bumpy ice. I didn't fall, though I did slip many times. I had 28mm tires pumped to 100 psi, which is the opposite of the ideal, but I managed.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
01-01-11, 07:14 PM
#1113
Mostly Mischief
New Year Day's ride. I promise this is the last time this season I'll post pics of the San Gabriel mountains and the endless expanses of chaparral covered hill sides. I realize they all look similar, and also near identical to the ones I posted 12 months ago. But a NYD ride is a strong tradition, so here we go:
Festive headwear to go with the gnarly grimace.
A portion of the 12 mile long Glendora Ridge Road can be seen in the background. A slip and the Razesa would tumble 1500' down the canyon.
Festive headwear to go with the gnarly grimace.
A portion of the 12 mile long Glendora Ridge Road can be seen in the background. A slip and the Razesa would tumble 1500' down the canyon.
Last edited by jan nikolajsen; 01-01-11 at 08:02 PM.
01-01-11, 08:02 PM
#1115
Mostly Mischief
Thanks! About 4300'. The snowy giant in the background is 10000'
01-01-11, 08:02 PM
#1116
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
I had a New Years ride and enjoyed the beach front travel along the lake here in Chicago. It is 22f here with a 22 mph wind. I got in 30 miles.
Within a block of leaving home, I discovered that my RD cable was rusted solid. The derailleur would not move off the 19t cog. So I rode using the 38t or 46t chainring on the crank. This worked well enough for a longer solo ride with no hills.
The lakefront path was battered by recent storms, so I was required to ride on soft embankment to get around the damage. Sure enough, just as I stand up to climb, the rear axle slips out of the drop-outs and I go over like Humpty-Dumpty. I fell down the embankment, clipped-in (of-course).
I met another rider after 25 miles. Mike & I had coffee and talked about family. This was the best part of the ride.
Now I need to align the handlebar stem and replace the RD cable. I hope to ride 4 days by this time next week.
Within a block of leaving home, I discovered that my RD cable was rusted solid. The derailleur would not move off the 19t cog. So I rode using the 38t or 46t chainring on the crank. This worked well enough for a longer solo ride with no hills.
The lakefront path was battered by recent storms, so I was required to ride on soft embankment to get around the damage. Sure enough, just as I stand up to climb, the rear axle slips out of the drop-outs and I go over like Humpty-Dumpty. I fell down the embankment, clipped-in (of-course).
I met another rider after 25 miles. Mike & I had coffee and talked about family. This was the best part of the ride.
Now I need to align the handlebar stem and replace the RD cable. I hope to ride 4 days by this time next week.
01-01-11, 08:07 PM
#1118
Mostly Mischief
01-02-11, 12:13 AM
#1120
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around Seattle
Posts: 1,207
Bikes: 1969 Raleigh Sports: The Root Beer Bomber
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did 14 miles today on the Raleigh Sports, in somewhere-below-freezing temps. Probably 30 degrees with wind-chill. I was warm enough, except for my legs and my butt! Forgot to put on long underwear, and the Brooks saddle doesn't warm up the way a padded Turbo does. Took about an hour to defrost! 
The Sports was a great winter bike. Lots of icy spots on the trail, and the Sports took them in stride and never slipped. Those darn Delta Cruisers were perfect for this weather. I was certainly having more fun than any of the joggers I saw!
The Sports was a great winter bike. Lots of icy spots on the trail, and the Sports took them in stride and never slipped. Those darn Delta Cruisers were perfect for this weather. I was certainly having more fun than any of the joggers I saw!
01-02-11, 06:31 AM
#1121
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,874
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1856 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
I had a New Years ride and enjoyed the beach front travel along the lake here in Chicago. It is 22f here with a 22 mph wind. I got in 30 miles.
Within a block of leaving home, I discovered that my RD cable was rusted solid. The derailleur would not move off the 19t cog. So I rode using the 38t or 46t chainring on the crank. This worked well enough for a longer solo ride with no hills.
The lakefront path was battered by recent storms, so I was required to ride on soft embankment to get around the damage. Sure enough, just as I stand up to climb, the rear axle slips out of the drop-outs and I go over like Humpty-Dumpty. I fell down the embankment, clipped-in (of-course).
I met another rider after 25 miles. Mike & I had coffee and talked about family. This was the best part of the ride.
Now I need to align the handlebar stem and replace the RD cable. I hope to ride 4 days by this time next week.
Within a block of leaving home, I discovered that my RD cable was rusted solid. The derailleur would not move off the 19t cog. So I rode using the 38t or 46t chainring on the crank. This worked well enough for a longer solo ride with no hills.
The lakefront path was battered by recent storms, so I was required to ride on soft embankment to get around the damage. Sure enough, just as I stand up to climb, the rear axle slips out of the drop-outs and I go over like Humpty-Dumpty. I fell down the embankment, clipped-in (of-course).
I met another rider after 25 miles. Mike & I had coffee and talked about family. This was the best part of the ride.
Now I need to align the handlebar stem and replace the RD cable. I hope to ride 4 days by this time next week.
What were your start/finish points? I used to go from home in Rogers Park to the Loop or the Shedd Aquarium, then turn around.
01-02-11, 10:28 AM
#1122
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Barretscv, that was my favorite ride as a kid in Rogers Park. My wife and I came to Chicago a few years ago to run that, and the weather was just as you described. I'd hope to join you on that some weekend this winter if I can get free!
What were your start/finish points? I used to go from home in Rogers Park to the Loop or the Shedd Aquarium, then turn around.
What were your start/finish points? I used to go from home in Rogers Park to the Loop or the Shedd Aquarium, then turn around.
I ride from home and live near California Ave and Peterson. It's about a 3 mile ride east to the north termination point of the Lakefront Bike Path. Yesterday I rode from home down past McCormick Place to about 35th St and back.
One benifit of the freezing weather is freedom from the heavy foot traffic often seen during better weather!
Michael
01-03-11, 12:32 AM
#1123
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Around Seattle
Posts: 1,207
Bikes: 1969 Raleigh Sports: The Root Beer Bomber
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Funny story... ehem. So I went for a ride on the Interurban Trail, which runs from scenic industrial Renton past scenic industrial Kent to scenic industrial Auburn. Fourteen miles of warehouses on one side, and railroad tracks on the other. There is a lovely view of Mt. Rainier on one side but it isn't really compensation for the trail itself. Very straight, very bland, running under an electrical right-of-way. Might be more fun on a go-fast bike, but I was on the Sports. Anyway, I picked it because it was nearby, and it was in the sunshine, and the temperature was hovering at 33 in the shade and just under 40 in the sun.
First off, a shot of the delights of the trail:
sportsride4 by snarkypup, on Flickr
The ride started interestingly enough, with this guy hanging out in the parking lot where I left my car:
sportsride5 by snarkypup, on Flickr
He let me get that close, and just glared at me a moment later when I cycled by him. The Sports and I enjoyed this next moment, pondering the origin of this trail:
sportsride6 by snarkypup, on Flickr
In the basket is a waterbottle, my purse and (a moment later), my camera. Sometimes my gloves. I love being able to whip them off and just reach back and drop them into the basket without slowing down. The Sports zipped along.
The Root Beer Bomber meets another sturdy machine:
sportsride1 by snarkypup, on Flickr
Finally, I posed for a self-portrait in bundles, with bike:
sportsride3 by snarkypup, on Flickr
Note the balaclava, snow boots and lined nordic ski pants. It was a tad chilly. Shortly after I snapped this picture, as I was walking over to get the camera, the ground beneath the kickstand gave way and the bike crashed in the opposite direction (dang basket) onto the concrete. The right grip, the shellacked-and-beautiful-but-much-hated Portuguese cork, shattered. Well, I thought, god clearly agrees with me that the cork sucks. So I pedalled the 10-12 miles back to the car, and took the Bomber straight to the lbs. They pried off the rest of the grips in about 2 minutes. Had I known it would be that easy to get rid of them after I attached them with automotive glue (per Riv's instructions), I would have gotten rid of them months ago. On the shelf was a cheap pair of those hand-sewn leather grips with padding inside. Dark brown with lighter brown stitching. We slapped 'em on. All done! New grips are on, and look great. Very padded and comfy, and if I hate 'em later, I'm out like $15. All in all, a great ride, and a great outcome. About 20-24 miles.
First off, a shot of the delights of the trail:
sportsride4 by snarkypup, on Flickr
The ride started interestingly enough, with this guy hanging out in the parking lot where I left my car:
sportsride5 by snarkypup, on Flickr
He let me get that close, and just glared at me a moment later when I cycled by him. The Sports and I enjoyed this next moment, pondering the origin of this trail:
sportsride6 by snarkypup, on Flickr
In the basket is a waterbottle, my purse and (a moment later), my camera. Sometimes my gloves. I love being able to whip them off and just reach back and drop them into the basket without slowing down. The Sports zipped along.
The Root Beer Bomber meets another sturdy machine:
sportsride1 by snarkypup, on Flickr
Finally, I posed for a self-portrait in bundles, with bike:
sportsride3 by snarkypup, on Flickr
Note the balaclava, snow boots and lined nordic ski pants. It was a tad chilly. Shortly after I snapped this picture, as I was walking over to get the camera, the ground beneath the kickstand gave way and the bike crashed in the opposite direction (dang basket) onto the concrete. The right grip, the shellacked-and-beautiful-but-much-hated Portuguese cork, shattered. Well, I thought, god clearly agrees with me that the cork sucks. So I pedalled the 10-12 miles back to the car, and took the Bomber straight to the lbs. They pried off the rest of the grips in about 2 minutes. Had I known it would be that easy to get rid of them after I attached them with automotive glue (per Riv's instructions), I would have gotten rid of them months ago. On the shelf was a cheap pair of those hand-sewn leather grips with padding inside. Dark brown with lighter brown stitching. We slapped 'em on. All done! New grips are on, and look great. Very padded and comfy, and if I hate 'em later, I'm out like $15. All in all, a great ride, and a great outcome. About 20-24 miles.
01-03-11, 06:52 AM
#1125
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,658
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1609 Post(s)
Liked 2,590 Times
in
1,224 Posts
The ride started interestingly enough, with this guy hanging out in the parking lot where I left my car:
Whats he got there? A Ram?
Whats he got there? A Ram?