Misc photos

This photo was dated 11/19/2023 which shows that it had to be a LAW ride out of Long Beach. I know that art piece at the start. Did not find a write up but this same ride was repeated 07/21/2025 which is what I posted

The Bike Ways of OC

Oh see the way bikes are.  

That's not pirate bikes.  

Try not to figure that one, not worth it.

Apologize lateness of this.  Sunday got in later than expected, dog waiting, tired still have to play with him.  Then drop dead.

Came back to life with daylight, dog whining, jumping for its morning jog.  A busy day, then hair removal followed by dinner at Peruvian stuff your face place.  Again hit the sack, all goes black.

will try and put a report together

Sunday did the Bikeways of OC.  I've ridden this a few times, realize the last time as Rod writes about 6 months ago.  Went, found his VP report.

Los Angeles Wheelmen VP Report - November 21, 2023

Hello All and Happy Early Thanksgiving:

It's Thanksgiving week and so I was looking for a Thanksgiving song to accompany tonight's e-mail. I found this nice song by Mary Chapin Carpenter. I didn't care much for song actually, but the images contained in the video are rather nice. You should watch it for those alone.

Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter

Sunday:  Last Sunday we were riding "Bikeways of Orange County" which was our century and metric century of the month. There were 5 at the start where Phil Whitworth took this photo:

That's Ben King, Edwin Dair, David Nakai and Mario Solano. Turns out Jacques Stern also rode, but started a bit later. Here's a selfie he took on the ride:

I'm not sure where he took this, but he included a short video in his Strava post which shows the large ball behind him and it has water streaming over its surface which creates a nice effect.

Although I believe many of the riders wanted to do the full century, for various reasons, they all ended up doing the metric century. Ben had to cut out early, but the rest of the starting 5 stayed together throughout the ride.  Here's a selfie of the group coming through Huntington Beach which isn't all that far from the finish.

One final photo from Phil is of this sculpture which I thought was interesting. Not sure where it is.

Difficult to believe was able to keep with though turns out we only did the metric, in fear of not finishing in daylight. As I wrote 8 AM is late for a Century.  Maybe if we had some of that ToF drugs...

Left home 4 AM

Who be there.  At 8 it is only Jacques and me. Perhaps LAWs are afraid of going to the other county.  Or maybe they did not want to miss the final day of Tour de French.  To learn who the winner would be, such suspense.  

We will later get passed by Phil and Mario.  So four of the six riders from last time were present.

Had planned to do long, catch train in Irvine but instead canceled my ticket to enjoy the day with Jacques on medium.

Photos here are food, have to show wife what I'm eating with cutesy banter.

First is the Volcano at Black Bear Diner which she asks isn't that a lot of butter.  No, it's scrambled eggs.  Was going for Ham n Scram but it opens later, farther away so I'd have to choke down that burrito.  This Sunday starts from same locale, can try for it then.  BTW, 3 X in a month from there, should be able to get there blindfolded.

Second is lunch at bagel shop.  Back when I got up early to ride, would stop at either Einstein or Winchell for a breakfast bagel thought a toasted bagel tasted terrific.  Well a toasted sandwich bagel is equally delicious. And I was not lying to the owner who went around asking each patron how their meal is.

I need to get back to bicycling during the week regimen but if that dog sees me, he'll start crying and I'm such push over to a whinner, so I had better quit whining. 

Wife has gone on her annual pilgrimage.   Next year I should be free to join her but told that I want to ride my bike meet her.  Only slightly beyond 1800, figure gives me a couple weeks.  Less than 8 years ago able to cross 800 miles less than 4 days with 5 snowy mountain passes, a Randonneuring thing.  But that was before my rash of injuries.  When I finally show up there, should impress the in-laws.   Bet that first meal will taste good.  She tells me everything taste better there.  Maybe that's why she goes back and not to take time away from me.  Even a weekend a month is deserving of a vacation 

So it's twice in a row I take the medium.  And it is as Rod writes, flat.  Only climbing is freeway overpasses, seems like we're always going over.

Should look at the route sheet if still there as it seems a couple places have glitches, even the GPS leads wrong.  Fortunately I've done the route last year and memory, knock on wood, keeps us on track.

The beginning is like right, left, right, left.  And a complaint goes back to the OCW's Doubles, there are a lot of signal lights.

So I'm thinking when this route was created and perhaps back when OC was less inhabited.  Then I'm thinking who designed the route ought to give their reason for its creation.  Hey that rhymes, maybe a poem is in the making.  Sorry, had an idea on my way home, was not able to piece em, work on it for next time.

From last year VP photos, passed the sweating red sphere on Warner and saw the silver water sculpture Phil took on Main and Alton.

Last year we did not stop for lunch, so was looking forward though my pancake which coincidently, last year ate the same thing.  Now I think of it, I've eaten at three different Black Bear Diners and have had the same thing each time.  So much for me and variety.

Well the warmth of the day was bogging Jacques who was looking for a miracle.  Found the food choice area extremely crowded and you really could not see any signage for where to go.  So I follow the leader who leads us to the Bagel Shop.

After lunch after checking Jacques cue slip, knew how the rest of the ride went.  Get on the freeway trail which btw, saw earlier a new bike trail along the freeway.  To the San Diego Creek, counter clockwise Back Bay and it's PCH and a surprising tailwind.  SGRT with more air push.  BTW, along the coast it is cool with overcast,

And we had to do a Rod, stop at the gas station on Warner which Jacques gets a bottle of Coke.  It was not that far on when Phil and Mario just powers by us,

Now was debating this coming Sunday as the wife wants me to check the mail and house while gone.  She just left, so I can wait another week.  But August 4 is an easy PCH 200 K Brevet, Malibu to Carpinteria back.  Then the next Sunday is a Memorial Ride which I should do to show my respects.  Why do they do this to me,  Decisions.

So see you when I do.  Happy bicycling, David

11/12/2023 Did a LAW ride

Gladly had me a Valley Rally, really

Can not write for the others that it felt super great to be riding with others.  Thought it was especially terrific to see the long group everyone wore the same jersey.  Write about unity and comradery.  Missed that when I go solo.  And seems less weird of me talking, at least with others around, Whether they know what I'm blabbing about is a different matter.  

So I took the C line to Norwalk station and biked to breakfast at Original Pancake House to have their famous apple pancake, pictured below I've eaten it before from their location in Torrance.  With a full stomach, make my way to the start.

Was thinking there are not many places in the past that I would drive to the start location.  It's something I have been doing since my first bike club, even when Donna rode.  In the beginning of her riding, we'd meet in Temecula at McDonalds, She drove while I biked, depending on how I felt, could make it 12 miles direct or 20 miles with climbing through De Luz which is my frequent choice, it's a beautiful area.  Then we would out and back to Elsinore when there was a lake and very few homes and less to no cars.

Then maybe she got bored, decides we ought to join a club.  In the North San Diego County Union, a section which is free to list things to do and the North County Cycle Club post their rides.  So Donna calls and we meet up in San Marcos Restaurant Row to ride with the Slo-Pokes.  On Sunday's ride Dale would mention about my Pokey toy as I gave each member one.  

She kept up riding for a few years.  The rides were short 10 - 20 miles and they had lunch in different locations, none were chains.  Would make Mel proud. Saturday always started in San Marcos and Sunday was various locations.  Yes back then I had weekends off.  So I'd get up early and ride the 25 - 30 miles with a couple thousand feet of elevation and depending if I get Donna pissed at me whether I get a ride back or not.  I did not know San Diego County and here I get to learn the roads and know the restaurants Once they had a ride start near San Diego, did not realize how far away it is, got to the start late.  Back when there was no cell phone, yeah life was primitive back then, Donna had to wait and worry till I show up.

She realized I could not stay with this group, so when I started riding with the longer, faster group, she lost interest.  Now I have to bike both to and back and I'm putting in over 100 miles.  The club gave me an award, called it 'The Lone Ranger' as after a ride I'd leave, disappearing into the horizon.   

And yes even back when, carried a backpack.  Goes back to my junior college days at El Camino, only four miles away which was rare for a student to ride a bike.  My Mom made a backpack from a rice sack with slots to put my pencil /pen.  In fact she sewed a covering for my heavy chain I'd use to lock up my ride.

Sorry about that, it makes me feel kindred spirit to find Edwin rode to the start, with Rafi not showing up. 

You know there are certain locations which triggers a place in time, where you were when something happened. Of course I would remember the eucalyptus which seems to be embedded.   I don't know if there is another ride that starts from Sorensen Park but when we finished was when Nancy got a call from Kermit of the tragic incident with Pam.  Normally as soon as we finish, I'd be on my way home but I felt compelled to just stand there in silence.  It will be almost ten years ago. And to think that she was going to join us for this ride but she had to be at the corner for the Newcomer ride which there was no new comers.

I looked at her Memorial on the California Triple Crown site and had forgotten Steve Bowen also has a site.  Was not aware that he rode a Double.  Rather certain Pam did not.

Let me get to the important info, who was there.  The long has the mentioned Edwin and Dale, Phil and Julie, The medium has Jacques, Russ, and the rider with a different bike, 18 gears but I can only see one.  I arrived just as they were taking a group photo just before taking off.

There seem to be a lot of photos taken on the ride, imagine Rod should have lots to choose.

As the two routes start different directions, thought we might beat the others to lunch as they have to go over Turnbull to get there.  Forget that thought as early in the ride tragedy struck with Dale going down by railroad tracks, the same ones that took down Rafi, the same ones that's taken down others, Though there is a bike path to avoid the hazard, obviously it is not obvious.  Wish I had a bull horn mouth so Dale might have heard my warning.  

I know I wrote this before, will write it again.  TO AVOID FURTHER INJURIES, let's change the route to use the bike trail that parallels' Lambert.  I guess you could put in the route sheet by Lambert to use the bypass but does GPS give you that info for those that rely solely on machine.  I'll never give in, I've seen 2001 Space Odessey.

After tough Dale picks up all his stuff and picks himself back on the bike, Phil gets a flat from a thorn he shows everyone.  It takes time to get that new tire off.  And as we begin, finds another thorn induced puncture.  Though Phil tells us to go ahead, we are one as a group and wait, even after he inserts a bad tube which Edwin professionally rolled up.

Below is Phil mending his tire.

OK, now that we are rested up, time to climb which this ride has plenty.

Another SUGGESTION, rather than take busy Whittier, go up to Jasmine which is a bike route to our next turn, less cars, safer

These are old routes which may have been okay then, but might need updating now.  That Hacienda golf course was started in 1920 from the sign, the route might have been made then.

We begin the West / East portion which I'd have to agree with Dale is quite enjoyable.  He was taking photos plenty and I marvel at how green the area is this late in the Summer, there is no Autumn in SouCal even if you point out leaves are changing colors, yeah to brown. 

And what cars there were, were polite.  Will apologize as the others were checking out, OK let's call it sandstone color, not orange house with the bronze horse, with the lengthy kind of steepish ascent, was not going to lose my momentum upward.  You all can kick my butt on the downhill which they all did.

And a favorite road though could do without all the vehicle, Colima with all the great smells of the restaurant.  Thought we go by the Banana Bay with the ghostbuster stay puff marshmallow man.but we turned on Nogales.  Had this joke that there is no high winds but later on we do ride on Gale.  Which I have to apologizes at the Memorial.  Did not hear Nancy introduction to Gayle, at first did not recall but through the day thought she looked familiar, then her shoes, thought of Forrest with his tattoo sleeves, then I have a photo of the two climb Lake and her face matches.  Funny how memory works.

So some shallow climbs on good and Puente, Dale the stud brings up a suggested climb we might enjoy, circling Mount Sac.  Well I've never gone through the campus, seen it number of times on the number of Grand and this could be the only time we do not go up and over.  OK, we did not go all the way up but the new road made up the difference and we get that , at least for me, oh no descent.  So we all did the extra credit and live to tell about it, OK, I will tell about it.

Another thing about doing the same ride repeatedly, no Rod it did not feel new to me, there are new structures.  And a highlight at least for me to tell Dale of the Humane Society and the sounds of dogs barking.

And in the past, riders will miss the turn, not these bunch.

And lunch is at The Habit.  I'm thinking Rod may have shares in the company.  So you'd think after my big pancake, would not, could not eat.  Not a chance.  While waiting for my burger parked by the drink dispenser, emptying the juices.  Was getting a tad warm out, 

On the wall is a painting, pic below with a lone bicyclist. 

Now we get to the real deal, the two big climbs to end with.  But first I need more time to rest, take my tire over a pothole to blow the air out. As I ride at the back, the others did not know I was no longer with them.  Boy it sure got quiet and peaceful.

Well it was short lived as I can change a tube quick.  Thank you group for waiting and coming back to, why the heck we have to have him back.  

Next to final uphill is Brea Canyon Cut-off and me personally was worried.  Recall the first time Jacques and Terry climbed and suffered.  Was having vision of me having to walk the bike up.  But surprised myself as it is not as bad as expected.  I am happy.  Not so happy on the backside, coming down.  Thought I might have to walk it.  We got a woman with us, have to keep a macho image.  May have squealed a little, I'm going to crash.  But I'm down with it.

Did not see any at the Carl's lunch stop. Prior was talking to the missus during breakfast what is the Special as they end to have some new offering each month, generally just re[ackagine their burger with a catchy ad,  Looked at their site, it's guacamole.  My wife loves avocadoes, was telling me how expensive they are and have no taste.  Back when I rode in avocado country, on a windy day, would ride the canyons and pick up fallen fruit to take home.  It was great workout as my backpack would get heavier as I climbed.  She'd ask why are all the fruit bruised.  Don't worry, when they soften, they're good.  I can not pick fruit off someone else's tree but when it's on the pavement, finder's keeper.

So we got the final climb to get to, the feature, the longest ascent, what a great place to put it toward the end.  Writing of avocado, as Dale showed us his added altitude, I got mine.  Have not done it in years, Avocado Terrace and Skyline, goes a bit higher and a lot steeper.  Fortunately I was not in the mood, neither was Dale.

So the octogenarian Phil with Edwin in tow takes off up Turnbull.  I follow Julie and Dale takes up the rear on his heavy bike.  I've asked each club member if they have ridden Tour de Sewer as this is the featured section which I'm trying to recall how they got all those riders on this narrow road.  There is a rest stop at the top and the people gathered taking over that whole area. Julie did the Tour but at the time was not as accomplished and just did the river trails.  So she tells me that I could pass her as she is pulling away from me.

Yes it was rather embarrassing, I'm using all the gears my bike could afford and I'm struggling.

The first time I've done Turnbull is the Whittier Hill Challenge which was put on by Red Cross or some health organization.  It consisted of going up three time from the two directions and since it was all new to me, did not know I was doing the same ascent, till the third time as things looked familiar.

Hugh Murphy who lived in the area at the time turned the three ascents into a century ride.  Not a lot of participants, have a t-shirt which could be a collector item, definitely not.

And back when I was a climber, Kermit would try to get me to-do the Whittier Flyers, a club he belonged to, but I refuse as I do not race.  Renee was queen of the mountain.  And was also queen of the mountain at GWBR.  She's a studdette.

Knowing the climb very well, know from the curves and landmarks how near to the summit, can look down where I came and there are some beautiful views, much prettier going up then coming down where all you look at is the road surface.  And somehow, on this day, not much traffic going our direction.  The whole time probably less than two, on the descent, there were none.  I kept looking back and took the whole lane, 

So at the summit we all gathered, had a generous volunteer take our photo.  I'm sure it probably a great shot with us all in club colors.  Phil is riding about while waiting so as to put in his metric century.  I had a suggestion in case anyone still needed to climb, across the way is a paved road that goes up to a plateau, Nothing up there except a 180 panoramic view.  BTW, I wasn't going to go up in case someone did.

Well the rest of the ride is rather a let down as it was all down hill.  Edwin who rode to the start was planning on taking the train out of East LA.  I've never taken the E line that far, intrigued  So when we returned, decided would tag along and join him, at Crenshaw take the K line.  OK, I'm riding a bit farther than if I took the C line but hey, it's new to me.  And the route he uses, kind of complicated.  Let's say it has a lot of turns and could not duplicate it,  Had I chose the way would have just stayed on Beverly directly.  It was all good.

Ooops, did not realize how late it is.  Well that's my report.

Debating on this coming Sunday, the century out of Long Beach. Will think about it some, done that one at least a couple or three times.

Well if I go, then I'll see you then,
Happy bicycling, David

Los Angeles Wheelmen VP Report - November 14, 2023

Hello All:

Last Sunday's ride was "Vallley Rally" which got me to thinking about valley music for our theme tonight and I came up with this.Try to imagine yourself riding across the San Gabriel Valley with this music playing.  You should watch the video if for no other reason than to see a young Lee Majors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg3HcxYcbog

Sunday: As mentioned, we were riding "Valley Rally" which started in Whittier and headed for points east. It appears we had seven riders, all of whom are in this photo I got from Dale Aaronson.

That's Phil Whitworth, David Nakai, Julie Shishino, Jacques Stern, Russ Brynes (standing), Dale Aaronson and Edwin Dair. (I don't know who took the photo)  Jacques and Russ did the medium (with hill) and the rest rode the long route. I had a report from David who noted that Phil had a flat early in the ride and included this photo in his report.

Apparently it was a thorn, which is always a problem this time of year. Phil sent this photo of the long group at lunch.  With the matching jerseys it is hard to tell them apart.

The long group ended their day with a trip over Turnbull Canyon where Dale took this shot from the top.  Looks like it was a very nice day.

10/17/2023

This is the date for the photo.  That is a Tuesday.

I recall when I did this ride,  Was after a night time ride up on Angeles Crest.  It was hot when I finished so ice cream soda is what I needed,  See the time was 10:36.  If I'm correct, LAW had a ride to Mt Wilson.  Checking the LAW reports, they indeed had that ride but on the 15th.  Looking at my Rando results find I did not do a ride around that time.  Though on that same day have a pic of the sign Upper Big Tujunga.  Oddly it has the same 10:36 time and it's the only photo of the ride.