I moved Bicyclefriends.com and Bicyclefriends.org to point directly at this blog. I also dropped the old Calendar for a new Google Calendar app. I hope this will work better for my needs. If I have your email you will still receive my weekly ride reports.
Thanks,
Jason
Monday, March 30, 2009
Trek SS - My on-going project
I added WI Eno SS Crank, Eno Stainless steel BB and Eno Eccentric Rear Hub (with new DT rim).
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Glendora Mountain Road Ride
I have been in correspondence with Annette, the writer of Glendora Mountain Road. We first met at the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, Pasadena stage. There we agreed late March we'd get together and ride GMR. My plan is to someday make it to Mt. Baldy and she has a great system that I think will get me there in a few months. Link to how she, "Made it."
I was pretty excited for this ride because; one, its a ride and two, I get to meet Annette and some of her ride partners (Its always a good day when you can ride and meet new people along the way).
We decided to stage at the corner of GMR and Sierra Madre. The day was nice and sunny so I opted to ride from my home in Pomona. When I got there Kevin was riding up from his house in Glendora and Carl arrived a few minutes after.
We talked awhile and shortly there after Matt arrived. Matt rides GMR often and recently collided with a Motorcyclist on GMR. The Motorcyclist was going too fast, lost control and laid his bike down. As he slid down GMR, Matt was going up and CRASH! Fortunately Matt was okay. His bike frame was totaled but he came away with just a bruise on his head. Lucky Guy, he should have bought a Lottery Ticket that day too!
Annette arrived about five minutes after Matt and soon after we headed off to the Maintenance Shed. Annette is somewhat of a celebrity on GMR. On her Specialized with a distinctive red bandanna around her neck, she rides GMR regularly and has met quite a few riders along the way. Annette has many stories to tell about GMR. Just visit her site and you'll see!
Above Picture: Carl
Above Picture: Annette and Kevin
Above Picture: Matt
Above Picture: Jason (Me)
I was pretty excited for this ride because; one, its a ride and two, I get to meet Annette and some of her ride partners (Its always a good day when you can ride and meet new people along the way).
We decided to stage at the corner of GMR and Sierra Madre. The day was nice and sunny so I opted to ride from my home in Pomona. When I got there Kevin was riding up from his house in Glendora and Carl arrived a few minutes after.
We talked awhile and shortly there after Matt arrived. Matt rides GMR often and recently collided with a Motorcyclist on GMR. The Motorcyclist was going too fast, lost control and laid his bike down. As he slid down GMR, Matt was going up and CRASH! Fortunately Matt was okay. His bike frame was totaled but he came away with just a bruise on his head. Lucky Guy, he should have bought a Lottery Ticket that day too!
Annette arrived about five minutes after Matt and soon after we headed off to the Maintenance Shed. Annette is somewhat of a celebrity on GMR. On her Specialized with a distinctive red bandanna around her neck, she rides GMR regularly and has met quite a few riders along the way. Annette has many stories to tell about GMR. Just visit her site and you'll see!
Above Picture: CarlAbove Picture: Annette and KevinAbove Picture: MattAbove Picture: Jason (Me)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
34 X 20 - Much Better and Meme's "Air Time"
I swapped out my 18 tooth cog for a 20 and it made all the difference. This time Kevin, Meme and I, made the trek up MC from Oak Mesa. Lower MC was easy with this gear ratio, but I was cautious and paced myself since last weeks ride didn't go over all that well.
By the time we got to the "Logs" I was feeling really good running 34 X 20. I even headed back down to meet up with Meme and Kevin to ride the "Logs" trail one more time. The Three Witches were a piece of cake and I had some sprinting power in my legs for the last 1/16 of a mile to Yellow Gate!
This was Meme's second time riding MC and I was excited to take him out. He just picked up a GT Aggressor from Craigslist.com so he was eager to see what it could do. The bike performed well and I didn't hear any noticeable shift problems. He even got a little airtime in lower MC.
Meme's "Air Time"
So we're riding lower MC with Kevin in the lead, then Meme and finally me closing in the rear. Kevin points to a BMX jump to his right and without thinking Meme takes the jump. "Without thinking" ... Meme took that jump devoid of any conviction or hesitation. What a Champ! I just remember seeing Kevin point, Meme take the jump and me yelling, "Oh no Meme, what are you doing!"
Meme hit the jump perfectly. It was one of those BMX jumps that have a slight curve that throws you up and forward. He was about 3 to 4 feet in the air and "landed" it about 14 paces past the jump. "Landed" I say because when he came down he was a hair too forward and landed on his front wheel. I thought for sure his front wheel would be taco'd and not to mention the bruises that would result from the crash, but like a true MTB'er he did a ditch the bike slash drop and roll maneuver. It was all very impressive and both Meme and his GT Aggressor walked away with very little damage.
Once the dust cleared and an inventory damage check was performed, we couldn't stop laughing. Well, I guess we could say Meme's a true MTB'er now. The first "Crash and Burn" is like a rite of passage and on Meme's second time out he earned his MTB Stripes.
By the time we got to the "Logs" I was feeling really good running 34 X 20. I even headed back down to meet up with Meme and Kevin to ride the "Logs" trail one more time. The Three Witches were a piece of cake and I had some sprinting power in my legs for the last 1/16 of a mile to Yellow Gate!
This was Meme's second time riding MC and I was excited to take him out. He just picked up a GT Aggressor from Craigslist.com so he was eager to see what it could do. The bike performed well and I didn't hear any noticeable shift problems. He even got a little airtime in lower MC.
Meme's "Air Time"
So we're riding lower MC with Kevin in the lead, then Meme and finally me closing in the rear. Kevin points to a BMX jump to his right and without thinking Meme takes the jump. "Without thinking" ... Meme took that jump devoid of any conviction or hesitation. What a Champ! I just remember seeing Kevin point, Meme take the jump and me yelling, "Oh no Meme, what are you doing!"
Meme hit the jump perfectly. It was one of those BMX jumps that have a slight curve that throws you up and forward. He was about 3 to 4 feet in the air and "landed" it about 14 paces past the jump. "Landed" I say because when he came down he was a hair too forward and landed on his front wheel. I thought for sure his front wheel would be taco'd and not to mention the bruises that would result from the crash, but like a true MTB'er he did a ditch the bike slash drop and roll maneuver. It was all very impressive and both Meme and his GT Aggressor walked away with very little damage.
Once the dust cleared and an inventory damage check was performed, we couldn't stop laughing. Well, I guess we could say Meme's a true MTB'er now. The first "Crash and Burn" is like a rite of passage and on Meme's second time out he earned his MTB Stripes.