Time for my third ride with the guys for the Southern California Rivendell Appreciation society, this time in the hills above Santa Monica, Ca. Once again I packed my Rivendell Roadeo, a "Road Bike", for this adventure. Yes, it is possible to get a 63cm road bike into a VW Golf with only removing the front wheel, but that is another post.
The weather was absolutely perfect with partly cloudy skies, 70 degree temps, low humidity and a steady breeze. Once again, a hard day to leave the mountains near home behind.
About 10 of us gathered at the Pete's on 14th and Montana to talk bike, meet faces previously only known through the web or catch up with old friends.
Around 10:30AM we headed across town to the west, up Westridge Road to the Fire roads along Wesridge, Temescal Canyon and then back along the top of Topanga Canyon down to the ocean and back along PCH to Santa Monica. Here is a map of the approximate route:
The climb up Westridge is pretty challenging, almost 2000 feet of gain in the first 8 miles, this spread the group out quite a bit.
There was a pitch at the end where I decided it was time to walk. At some point on the ride when you can walk faster than pedal you just have to take a break, still moving forward and up, but a break none the less. Regrouping at the trailhead, we all were able to take a much-needed breather. Once the group was back together we headed off onto the fire roads, while still climbing the grade was much more manageable. The views were incredible, Starting with classic Southern California canyons,
and then the ridgeline above the San Fernando Valley,
Even with the early season rains we have been having, the trails were in prime condition. Hardpack with a little loose gravel and rock. There were a few erosion rutted sections and washboard, but nothing you could not manage on a road bike.
This ride had plenty of breaks for rest and to let the stragglers catch up. As always on our group rides no one is left behind. This time it was Jon who had a knee going out, thought he could pull it off, but I think he had the longest day out of all of us. Next time I will make sure to have some vitamin I in the kit for the time it is needed more than a spare tube.
The transition from Mulholland to Temascal was a great time for the group shot under the NO STOPPING sign in the middle of wilderness
Now heading south back to the ocean it felt like the home stretch but there was still a fair amount of climbing left. Again, it was hard to believe the weather and the trail conditions for the beginning of December,
Temescal Canyon gave way to the east ridgeline above Topanga Canyon as we now had views of Santa Monica and the Ocean back in our sights.
At this point the day was running long, and there was one more hard climb still ahead. Almost half of the group took a bailout route down Topanga Canyon Rd to PCH and home. While narrow and loaded with cars it was paves and downhill the whole way. From our vantage a little further down the trail we were able to catch Esteban and John holding up their fair share of traffic. You can just make them out in the turn behind the while pickup truck.
The last climb was a bear and I decided to hike it again. The break right before this was a long one, and all the sitting did me no good right before a 15% grade. On the way up we kept crossing paths with a couple of future recruits on full squish mtn bikes. As most we ran across on the trails, they were shocked to see road bike in what they considered the trails. The final drop back down to the coast was incredible.
And then the dive back into the reality, multiple lanes of traffic, doors and all that goes with it after hours out in the hills,
Another fantastic ride in the bag with great company. My legs were fried. I split off from the remains of the group who were heading to Bay Cities Deli to get home. The drive down the coast was a treat unto itself, the display of color during and after the sunset. The range of color and level of contrast was one of the best I have ever seen,
It was only a matter of time now that I bragged on the Quikchinger the other day. Today was the first day back on the bike after pushing the short version of the flu out the door. The Quikchainger just makes things so much easier, and it was pretty simple to figure out what caused the flat as I had rolled up to the stop sign.
This ride had been in the works for almost a year. Noel, on of the group from Orange county had Suggested this as a big ride, but it was in the early spring and there were few takers as the days were getting hotter. As the summer time and back to school business started to fall back into its own rhythm, the momentum for this ride started to gather back some of its steam. The date was set for November 13, and it was initially looking like there was going to be a relatively big turnout, almost 10. By friday night people were dropping out, illness, injury, and I think a few may have been intimidated by the elevation profile.
For this ride I had chosen my Rivendell Roadeo, with a low 30/28 gear combination. Not sure if this was brave or silly considering the elevation gains planned for the day. The only thing I changed from my standard set up on the bike for the ride was the front tire. I went with a 35 mm Schwalbe Marathon XR for the added durability on the front end while heading into an area likely to have goathaed thorns and sharp rocks on the downhill side. I had a well broken in Jack Brown on the rear with a spare in my bag. I can handle a rear flat on the way down, but hate losing the front tire on dirt going fast, it has never gone well in the past.
The day started early for me as I was traveling the furthest, 120 miles, to get there. The price you pay for associating with guys who generally live 2 to 4 counties south of you. The weather was crystal clear and I was driving past wide blue skies fringed by the ocean and my own local mountain ranges. The travel and new adventure bug had bitten and I was on my way, down the HWY 1 along the coast, to the 10 and then the 5 deep through parts of industrial Los Angeles that were so far from my intended goal. Once past Anaheim you could start to see the mountains and the excitement was building, this was going to be a good day.
We all met up to start the ride in the small town of Silverado in eastern Orange County. Even with Santa Ana conditions the wind and temperatures were very pleasant at the lower elevations. The group totaled out at 5: Doug, David, James, Jenny and myself. This has to be one of the most amazing kept secrets in Orange County, it is in the bottom of a tree-lined valley houses up both sides and a small little western town as you head up into the mountains along Silverado Canyon Rd on the way to Maple Springs.
The town gives way to a single paved lane into the national park. The whole way is steady but manageable climbing.
The pave gives way to dirt somewhere near the transition to Maple Springs road. This is a jeep track and therefore open to vehicular traffic. We did encounter some 4x4s, but everybody was pleasant and fairly respectful, even the kids with coolers full of beer.
Shockingly there were only a handful of people making use af such a spectacular resource in such a densely populated area. We all pressed up the hill at a respectable pace, sure to take breaks along the way for food, water, pictures and to just enjoy the space. I love the fact that these group rides actually slow me down a bit, when I do this on my own I am wasted by the end, but with the group and taking breaks the whole day is more fun and less exercise. As altitude gained the views became more expansive. Almost all of the eastern LA basin and the mountain ranges beyond were visible.
Onward and upward we made it to the saddle with the Harding truck Trail. From the saddle there were clear views of Orange county and Catalina Island offshore. The weather was much cooler than at the lower elevation and the wind was howling. The decision was made to forgo the out and back leg to the summit and complete the loop along Harding Truck trail. A few hours of climbing gave way to over an hour of what seemed like endless clean fire road bombing downhill.
The trail came to an end at the small town of Modjeska. Back on the pavement it was time ot complete the loop back to the cars.
Thanks to Doug for putting together a detailed map. . Five hours of riding, 25 miles and over 3800 ft of climbing not too bad.
We capped the ride with a meal and some liquids at the Silverado Cafe, then back into the car for one of the most beautiful sunsets and then the slog through LA back home.
The company and the ride made the drive well worth it. The bikes and riders all performed well. Not a single mechanical for the whole group and only one minor spill. Also, a big pat on the back for Jenny who had never ridden anything like this ever proper to this ride. Welcome to the world of underbiking. Next group ride is December 11, Dirt Mulholland. . While the group is based around Rivendell owners, this is not really an exclusive thing, if you are thinking of trying out the world of road bikes on dirt, it is going to be a good time.
Full Photo set:
While at the post screening ride for the Ride the Divide one of the guys there had these curious grip / pad things on his drop bar brake levers. I was instantly transported back over a decade and a half to Mr. 0.7 and Ms. 0.5 who had faithfully served 8 years of engineering school and reams of notes and derivations.
A bit of inquiry and it turned out that brake lever version was purpose-built by Grab On and lot a reallocated tool grip or some other find from the McMaster Carr catalog. Once home it was straight to the computer to see if these were still in production, and or obtainable. As usual google and the web are our friends. I was able to turn up a couple of sets in blue. Blue turned out to also be half the price of black, while preserving the colorway of the roadeo. A few days later they were in my hands.
Installation was as easy as it looks and reads on the packs. After a quick alcohol wipe, I used a dab of tube repair glue in each as it was the closest to my hand when standing near the bike. After the overnight cure they appear to be securely in place.
It has been almost a week now with them on the bike. I like them so far, a little cushion, a little grip and warmer than a cold lever on a 40 something deg morning. I know these likely seem a bit over the top, but I do not care. The next big test will be the upcoming Santiago Peak Ride Which promises to be an epic of underbiking adventure.
I probably should have been surfing this morning, but would have had a 45 min time window. I can ride with lights, surfing is a little harder in the dark. Daylight savings time is the bane of people who enjoy their mornings, I have dreamed for years of abolishing it.
This is on of those things you wish you had thought of first. This little piece of brazed on metal will be on every bike I have built or re-coated from this day forward.
It has been almost a year now since I received my Roadeo from Rivendell. When it came in from Waterford Mark called to confirm my choice of color, or lack there of. I asked if they could add a chain peg, and Mark told me I did not want one, what I really wanted was a Columbine Quikchainger. I had not really ever paid any attention to these before, and Mark assured me I would be much happier with one of these over a simple peg. If you have never used either the point of each is to assist with keeping things clean when the rear wheel is out of the bike.
For the last year or so I have figured that this metal widget had some sort of magic spell over my bike, I have not needed to take the back wheel off in almost a year of riding. I am doomed now that I put it in writing, but none the less, before Thursday morning of this past week the wheel had never come off since the original build last December. I thought I had everything ready to go the night before for my morning ride, and came down in the morning to find the rear tire flat. The thing is, I was actually excited to finally get to use the chainger.
It is so simple I could not really believe it. With the bike upright, you shift into the outermost cog, and remove the wheel as you normally would. But you do not have to lay a finger on the chain. It rests on the Quikchainger and is held cleanly above the stay. To reinstall the wheel I pull the derailer back a bit, slip the wheel in with the chain on the outermost cog. The distance between the rear dropout and the quickchainger exposes a bit of chain for this engagement. The only thing you touch is the wheel and the derailer, no greasy fingers from the chain. Absolutely flawless, so simple, yet works so perfectly. The pics give a step by step:
Thank you for Mark at Rivendell suggesting that I go with this, and the guys at Columbine Cycle Works for creating these.
The weather was absolutely perfect with partly cloudy skies, 70 degree temps, low humidity and a steady breeze. Once again, a hard day to leave the mountains near home behind.
About 10 of us gathered at the Pete's on 14th and Montana to talk bike, meet faces previously only known through the web or catch up with old friends.
Around 10:30AM we headed across town to the west, up Westridge Road to the Fire roads along Wesridge, Temescal Canyon and then back along the top of Topanga Canyon down to the ocean and back along PCH to Santa Monica. Here is a map of the approximate route:
The climb up Westridge is pretty challenging, almost 2000 feet of gain in the first 8 miles, this spread the group out quite a bit.
There was a pitch at the end where I decided it was time to walk. At some point on the ride when you can walk faster than pedal you just have to take a break, still moving forward and up, but a break none the less. Regrouping at the trailhead, we all were able to take a much-needed breather. Once the group was back together we headed off onto the fire roads, while still climbing the grade was much more manageable. The views were incredible, Starting with classic Southern California canyons,
and then the ridgeline above the San Fernando Valley,
Even with the early season rains we have been having, the trails were in prime condition. Hardpack with a little loose gravel and rock. There were a few erosion rutted sections and washboard, but nothing you could not manage on a road bike.
This ride had plenty of breaks for rest and to let the stragglers catch up. As always on our group rides no one is left behind. This time it was Jon who had a knee going out, thought he could pull it off, but I think he had the longest day out of all of us. Next time I will make sure to have some vitamin I in the kit for the time it is needed more than a spare tube.
The transition from Mulholland to Temascal was a great time for the group shot under the NO STOPPING sign in the middle of wilderness
Now heading south back to the ocean it felt like the home stretch but there was still a fair amount of climbing left. Again, it was hard to believe the weather and the trail conditions for the beginning of December,
Temescal Canyon gave way to the east ridgeline above Topanga Canyon as we now had views of Santa Monica and the Ocean back in our sights.
At this point the day was running long, and there was one more hard climb still ahead. Almost half of the group took a bailout route down Topanga Canyon Rd to PCH and home. While narrow and loaded with cars it was paves and downhill the whole way. From our vantage a little further down the trail we were able to catch Esteban and John holding up their fair share of traffic. You can just make them out in the turn behind the while pickup truck.
The last climb was a bear and I decided to hike it again. The break right before this was a long one, and all the sitting did me no good right before a 15% grade. On the way up we kept crossing paths with a couple of future recruits on full squish mtn bikes. As most we ran across on the trails, they were shocked to see road bike in what they considered the trails. The final drop back down to the coast was incredible.
And then the dive back into the reality, multiple lanes of traffic, doors and all that goes with it after hours out in the hills,
Another fantastic ride in the bag with great company. My legs were fried. I split off from the remains of the group who were heading to Bay Cities Deli to get home. The drive down the coast was a treat unto itself, the display of color during and after the sunset. The range of color and level of contrast was one of the best I have ever seen,
