Cycling this week - 04/29/2012

This past week was rather dreary and rainy in the San Gabriel Valley, so there was no commuting.  I made up for it however by doing a lot of climbing on Sunday.  Nabeel and I met up with Rich at his house in Lancaster and got going about 10 AM.  The first 15 miles we had a tailwind, so the climb up Godde Hill Rd. was not that bad, neither was the climb up Bouquet Canyon Rd.  When we turned and went up Spunky Canyon, we had a direct headwind, which seemed to add a few degrees to the grade.  The final climb up San Francisquito Canyon Rd. was just killer, in the heat of the day with a headwind and an 11 percent grade, I was happy when I reached the top.  After the ride was over we went over to a neighbor and co-workers house, and had a spring fling backyard party. A good way to finish off the day. 48 miles total.

The poppies have just begun to spring out, but they are not as prolific as last year

Here is some of the countryside we were riding through - this is just off of Elizabeth Lake Rd and Bouquet Canyon

This is at the intersection of Bouquet Canyon and Spunky Canyon

Here is Nabeel riding along Spunky Canyon before the next hill started

Here are some nicely restored vintage motorcycles - I ran into these at a little general store in Green Valley

Here is Rich as he reached the top of San Francisquito, he is not smiling like he was two weeks ago

The road beckons

Trusty R3 got me through another day of hill climbs

Some more countryside on the way back home, this is on Johnson Rd.