joesch

Looking forward to the pictures when you all can get out after this historic winter storm https://www.latimes.com/california/s...n-ice-and-snow
Will be some super nice postcard pix when it clears up

CAT7RDR

Got out this morning for a short ride under somewhat threatening clouds up to Vantage Pointe in Rowland Hgts.
The San Gabriels and Big Bear were shrouded with storm clouds but I was able to get a view of North OC with Catalina off in the distance.

Vantage Pointe Rd

jsigone

finally some sun, still cold as F. Got a metric in on the new bike. The fit seems pretty dang good, bike feel aero fast, bottom bracket is super responsive when giving it power. Swapped the 42cm X 70mm reach bars for 40cm that had 80mm reach. Only one 10mm spacer left under the stem + bearing cap.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8628144583

jonathanf2

Stayed local on Sunday and decided to climb a few peaks in the area. Even though it was really cold, the air was fresh! I saw quite a few cyclists out enjoying the brief sun break and lots of people were taking photos of the snowcapped Angeles Crest Mountains. Also for fun I climbed the "steepest" street in LA which is a 33.5% grade elevation. At the top there are stairs so I carried my bike further up and then did more climbing.

jsigone

nice fender!

jonathanf2

It's the Ass Saver Win Wing. I think they finally got this one right compared to their earlier mud guard attempts. It's easy to install and it does block puddle splashes and mud quite well.

Eric F 

Fun and challenging gravel ride yesterday that included a taste of almost everything... https://www.strava.com/activities/8628433766 I regret not riding my MTB to the snow, however.

CAT7RDR

Strolled around the east side of La Habra Hgts south of the Puente Hills Habitat.
32 miles and 3.7K of climb on a cloudless sunny day.

SoSmellyAir

Purely exercising: > 1,000 ft. climbing in 19 miles by doing Orchard Hills loop 5x; closest hill to my house.

This is the first winter I have needed a long sleeve thermal jersey (Castelli Tutto Nano RoS Jersey Excel Sports | Shop Online From Boulder Colorado), and I cannot believe I am still wearing it in March.

Eric F 

I had intended to squeeze in my quick "Happy Hour" MTB loop up to Brown Saddle and down through the Meadows before sunset, but no such luck. Brown Mtn. Road was closed off at the Arroyo. I ended up just wandering around the different roads and singletracks in the Hahamonga basin below JPL for about an hour.

jonathanf2

Ha, that was me on Wednesday just wandering. I was almost tempted to ride up to the fire road off the 2 hwy towards Mt. Lukens, but I think I was under dressed and I only brought 1 water bottle for a snowy mountain climb.

Eric F 

I saw that you got shut down on Wednesday. I was hoping it was open yesterday. A couple of friends ignored the barrier yesterday and did the loop I had planned. From their report, there didn't seem to be a reason why it should have been closed. Maybe it was an issue on El Prieto.

jonathanf2

About 30 windy miles on the gravel bike on Wednesday and 20 warm miles + coffee on Thursday! The trails and roads are mess, but for some reason I'm really enjoying the way nature is making it's own path! It's actually making my bike outings a bit more interesting!

Eric F 

That boulder was still there yesterday, but some of the smaller rocks had been kicked aside.

jonathanf2

I was almost tempted as well, but I didn't want to be that cyclist who ignored safety warnings and then get hurt while on the trail. Plus my wife tells me not to get greedy when biking, because that's when I get myself in trouble. She's had to pick me up on a few stranded occasions!

SoSmellyAir

Generally, from the photos of your past rides (on terrain which is too challenging for my meager skills), I would venture that closures may be due to rockslide risks, which often cannot be assessed from the ground. So I agree with jonathanf2 to be cautious.

Eric F 

That might be the case. I took the wise/safe choice and stayed out. If I was with other competent, experienced, and skilled riders I may have opted to go rogue, but solo, that's a little bit too big a gamble for me.

jsigone

Finally got to ride outside again! Dana Point Hundo, 50miles of cold and brutal head winds coming back south really sucked. Was on the freeway since one guy didn't have a pass.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8661030173

Eric F 

Saturday...Gravel bike "Two Benches" ride. Started with the climb up to Brown Saddle, descended through the Meadows (my "Happy Hour" loop), and rolled over to Cheery Canyon for some more fun in the dirt. The barrier and tape at the bottom of Brown was still there, but the barrier had been pushed aside a bit. I ignored it this time and headed up the road. I came across a few cyclists and a lot of hikers on the rogue side. It was a pretty demanding ride that left my legs pretty trashed. https://www.strava.com/activities/8660979105




Sunday...Looking at the weather forecast in the morning, it looked like I had a 3 hour window of no rain, so I headed out to join a "coffee ride" group that I have ridden with frequently, and typically includes a few long-time friends. At the meeting point, there were just 2 guys I don't really know. A hundred yards away, there was another group gathering, including a few guys I know, and all high-quality riders. I switched my plans and joined the second group. A few miles in, I flatted. Despite my urging for the group to roll on, they waited for me. Not long after rolling again, the rain started. It was pretty moderate for a while, and no one was interested in turning around. After getting to the point where it was shorter to keep going forward on the route than turning back, the rain got heavier. I was dressed warmly enough, but I'm really not a fan of being that wet. I do not enjoy riding in the rain. https://www.strava.com/activities/8666254547

jonathanf2

I'm amazed you're climbing the area with road gearing. There are days climbing on my gravel bike with 40:50t low gearing where I struggle a bit! Honestly I'm fine with 1x for gravel, I find 2x gravel makes more sense if you're running 2 wheelsets and have a set of skinnier tires for the aero benefits, but like me you have a dedicated road bike. I haven't noticed much drop in speed after switching to 1x. For example taking Linda Vista Ave. going south on the descent near the Rose Bowl, my speeds area about the same between my 1x setup and when I had 2x gearing. I don't really miss it and chain retention and shifting feel better.

Eric F 

It's not exactly "road gearing". The low gear in my road bike is 39x29. The low gear on my gravel bike is 34x36, which is plenty low enough for me going up Brown and Cherry. Don't forget that I occasionally do those climbs on my 32x19 singlespeed, too.

If the gear ratio is the same, it makes zero difference if it's 1x or 2x. A ratio is a ratio.

jsigone

My buddy wrecked his bike and body bad right before xmas and fractured 4 vertebrae, Had lower back fused together ouch...Today was his first saturday back on the bike, He got clearance Wed and did 36 miles. we doubled down had did 68 HAAA. He was dead meat after 40 and climbing Torrey Pines at mile 57 didn't help. He didn't walk. Perseverance! Reminds me of myself when I went through a car windshield in 2014, broke 10 bones plus internals. I told him it will slowly get easier.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8699127371

Big bag day and test out new Enve saddle + new ass saver rear fender. This bag and fender combo will be the setup for the Solvang Double Century next Saturdfay.. Also got to try out some columbia hiking rain proof pants, just look like MC Hammer I can dig being dry the whole time!!


Bike rack at Lofty Coffee



food

SoSmellyAir

Rode my gravel bike > 38 miles down to and around Newport back bay. Does the increased rolling resistance of riding gravel TLR tires with tubes make this trip effectively a half century's worth of exercise?

jonathanf2

I think for wide profile tires, tubeless is almost a must. The ride quality advantages are real. For 28c and under, I'm not fully convinced just because of the added difficulty mounting a narrow profile tires. Plus TPU tubes negates the weight advantage of tubeless.

Eric F 

I'm in Laguna this week, and rode the Back Bay and San Diego Creek trails for the first time yesterday...https://www.strava.com/activities/8708646373. Fantastic riding if you're solo or with a couple of friends

Sunday morning, I rode from Laguna to HB Pier and back on PCH.