Weekend Warriors

Jessica's Beach Century

Jessica’s Birthday Ride

I joined about 100 riders (okay maybe 20ish) for Jessica’s Birthday Ride. We met up at Milliken and Baseline at 7 am and as we continued our way to SGVT we kept picking up rider after rider. Jessica is pretty popular and all kinds of people joined us for the celebration. Mamils, legit Pros and friends made our way down SGVT to Seal Beach for a beach century. Ryan, Jessica's husband would sprint up the road to capture pictures for us while I did my usual on bike snap shots. I had to cut the ride short and turned off at Ramona but the motley band of cyclist continued their way to the beach and back.

Summer of 2021 - Flat Tires

This is the Summer of Flats

Today Richard O and I rode to Long Beach and back. Overall it was a great ride, towards the beach it started to rain and we got soaked. On Ramona, I got yet another flat! I think this is the Summer of flat tires.

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Beach Century - 121 miles

A new route for a beach and back century

Yesterday Stewart, Frank and I decided on a different route for our beach century. The typical route takes us from Euro Cafe to Diamond Bar. From Diamond Bar we headed to SART. Yesterday I headed east to meet Stew and Frank in Rancho Cucamonga at the corner of Baseline and Milliken. From there we headed south to Green River to pick up SART.

It was a good ride and there wasn't too much traffic on the roads leading to Green River. Milliken near the 60 freeway can get a little sketchy with people in cars (and semi-trucks) making their way to work. Heading east adds 20 miles to the ride but you completely bypass Brea Canyon. Brea Canyon can be a little scary due to the traffic that builds up through the canyon. Brea Canyon, in some sections, gets narrow and cars can pass by you pretty fast.

On SART there was a guy heading in the same direction as us so we got to talking as we made our way to Newport. I didn't get his name but he's done over 83 double centuries. His goal is to hit 100 doubles in his lifetime. I did one double century and it was tough, I can't imagine doing 100! While on PCH, I met a guy named Steve Flick who was wearing a GO FAST jersey. We traded off pulls until Stew, Frank and I made a left on Main St. in Seal Beach. Steve and his friend continued on PCH to SGVT.

In Seal Beach we took a short break before heading up SGVT and ultimately back home. On SGVT I passed some guy on a tri-bike. Several seconds later he sped past me and made some aggressive gesture and was mouthing off something to me. I had my earphones on so I didn't hear what he was saying. I kept my pace and within seconds he was behind me and soon after he was completed out of sight. We stopped at the Pico Rivera Golf course to refill our water bottles.

Once we got off SGVT at Ramona Blvd., we stopped at a McDonalds. There was some elder lady trying to use the bathroom but got stopped short because it was being cleaned. I could tell she REALLY needed to use the bathroom and felt sorry for her. The person cleaning the bathroom should have let the poor lady use the damn bathroom! If someone is noticeably distressed and needs a bathroom, just let them use it. Sucks!

After McDonalds we continued our ride back home. For me it was Pomona. For Frank and Stew, it was Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana respectively On Badillo Stew got two flats. Frank was pressed for time so he continued his trek home and I waited for Stew near San Dimas Ave. and Bonita. Once Stew rejoined me and we continued on Bonita but it was apparent Stew's front tire was slowly loosing air. He was out of tubes so we made it to my house where his wife ultimately picked him up.

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Long Beach and Back

Riding with Friends

Yesterday Ricardo, Carl and I headed to Long Beach. Ricardo and I met Carl off SGVT and Ramona Blvd. From Eurocafe in Claremont it takes about 45 minutes to Encanto Park then another 30 minutes to Ramona Blvd/SGVT. While on the river trails we kept a consistent pace around 22 mph. This was Carl's first time doing this loop so we wanted to make sure everyone stayed together. Rio Hondo Trail and LA River Trail had more of a transient population than both SGVT and SART. Some areas on Rio Hondo and LA River Trail are worst than others but overall they are not bad. SART a few years back was horrible.

From LB we headed to Seal Beach for a snack at Crema. The Creme Cafe is a good place to refuel before heading home.

• Euro Cafe 546 E Baseline Rd, Claremont, CA 91711-2236
• Encanto Park 751 Encanto Pkwy, Duarte, CA 91010
• The Lions Lighthouse 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
• The Crema Cafe 322 Main St, Ste 7, Seal Beach, CA

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Beach Century

Hot Hot Hot

Well it wasn't hot at 5:30 am when Stew and I left for the ride. We made our way to DB and then to dreaded Brea Canyon. Brea Canyon scares me because of the car traffic that comes through right at the time I usually make my way down the canyon. Today Stew and I got lucky. The 57 frwy was running smoothly so most cars used the 57 instead of Brea Canyon to get to Orange County. Once on SART, we kept a steady pace and made it to Newport in good time. At Seal Beach we took a very small break then headed back home via SGVT.

The temperature started heading up with each mile back to the foothills. Once on Badillo, Stew's Garmin recorded a temp around 93 degrees. Yeah, it's getting hot and by Bonita the temperature was approx. 100 degrees. We stopped at the Ace Hardware in San Dimas to get cold water and rest up before the last several miles home. Overall it was a great ride, just hot.

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Beach Century

Ricardo R is back!

On Thursday Ricardo and I decided to ride from Euro Cafe to the beach and back. This was my first ride with Ricardo since he got back from his month long stay in Mexico. It was nice riding with him again as he is always up for adventures of the +100 mile sorts. Since he's been back, about 10 days, this is his fourth century. Ricardo is booking big miles to get himself up to speed. In Mexico he spent more leisure time than time on the bicycle. I can't blame him, I'd probably spend most of my time eating, eating and more eating.

We started from Euro Cafe at 6:30 am and headed down to SART. Once on PCH I was lucky enough to get yet another flat. Actually, two flat tires. I am so on a roll this week. We patched the flats and headed to our favorite rest stop, The Crema Cafe in Seal Beach. Crema has the best chorizo burrito, you know healthy food to fuel the body for the ride back home.

After leaving Crema we jumped on SGVT. We kept a pretty consistent pace and stopped at Pico Rivera Golf Course to grap gatorade and ice. It was about 11:30 am and the day's temps were warming up as we made our way on SGVT to Ramona Blvd. I am glad we stopped at the golf course. Sometimes we just continue on SGVT without stopping and by the time we hit San Dimas I am tired. Stopping at the golf course helped keep me feeling good on for the last several miles home.

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Beach Century

Yesterday Demi, Otto, Warren, Mike and I met up at Euro Cafe and headed down to the beach.  The weather was perfect for a beach century, cool in the morning and sunny by the time we were heading home.  This was the first time in YEARS riding with Mike M so it was a real treat.  He said he isn't riding much but I heard he is doing a lot of secret training these days.  Mike rode strong and 100 miles ain't easy. I think he is secret training.

I joked around saying I am going steady with Warren.  Warren is a diesel engine and kept such a great pace to and from the beach.  He is such a steady even paced rider, it makes these long rides seem easy.  No surges, just an even fast steady pace.  

We saw a number of riders out today, Alvin and his crew, Chad, and Mike Y.

On the way back, Demi's rear cassette was making weird noises so we stopped at Local Bike Stand.  

From left to right: Demi, Otto, Warren and Mike M. 

Seal Beach Century

 This was the first time Alvin and I rode together on a ride other than Montrose.  We headed out to Seal Beach with his friends Jun and El.

From the left: Alvin, Jun, El.