Mr Bob H's Blog: Cycling this week

After last weeks Heartbreak 100 ride, I decided it was time to get out of the mountains and head for the beach. So, on Saturday, Nabeel and I rode down to Long Beach, Seal Beach, and back on the river trails. There was a pretty stiff headwind all the way down to Long Beach, keeping our speed down. On the way back up, we had either a tailwind or a crosswind, which allowed us to pick up the pace a little - 74.7 miles in 4:42. Of course we had to stop at Chronic Tacos, and order some tasty fish tacos for lunch, then we headed over to Seal Beach and had afternoon coffee on Main Street before heading back home.

Somehow Nabeel got it in my head that we should ride up to Mt. Wilson on Monday, so we did. A fitting ride for Memorial day. The weather could not have been any better. I can't believe I have never done this ride before. It has to be one of the best mountain rides I have ever done. I know I said I was done with mountains after last weekend, but I guess I just can't get it out of my system. Anyway, It was about 19-20 miles of climbing and about 4,500 feet up from Foothill Blvd. in La Canada. The total climbing for the day turned out to be almost 7,000, due to rollers and some up hills on the way back down, plus the 1,000 feet from my house to Foothill Blvd.. The average grade was not bad, about 5-6%. The portion from Foothill Blvd to the top took about 2-1/2 hours at an easy pace. Once at the top there is a great little cafe, two large observatories, a museum, and some awesome views. The ride down is great. Overall we did 68.75 miles in 5:13.

Saturday - Here is Nabeel sitting on the same bench by the lighthouse that he sat on just 18 months ago. That was a 78 mile ride back in October 2010, and it was the longest he had ever done. Now he has ridden 15 centuries in 15 weeks and averages almost 200 miles per week.

Saturday - The Queen Mary

Saturday - Shoreline Village

Saturday - You can see the wind in the palm trees.

Saturday - The route info looks like a smiley face - 450 feet down, and 450 feet up in 74 miles - it doesn't get much flatter.

Monday - Here is Nabeel at the intersection of Foothill Blvd. and Angeles Crest Hwy - 19 miles up to the top.

Monday - A fitting sign for Memorial day

Monday - This is my riding style for going uphill.

Monday - The radio and television towers are humongous.

Monday - Here we are with the San Gabriel valley and Los Angeles in the background.

Monday - Nabeel in front of the 100 inch telescope. There is also a 60 inch telescope a few hundred yards away from this one.

Monday - Here is Nabeel being sucked up into an alien spaceship. They hang out up here and use the radio waves and powerful electro-magnetic frequencies to communicate with their far away galaxies.