Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Windbreakers!!

Seen on the Road

Seen on the road on today's ride...December 5, 2009. Photo by Craig S. Ride On!

El Tour de Tucson

November 21, 2009. Map Boy joined his brother and friends at this years El Tour de Tucson. A 109 mile perimeter ride around beautiful Tucson, Arizona. Ride On!

2009 Tour de Foothills

November 14. 2009. Sunny clear blue skies greeted the Windbreakers, spouses and friends and approximately 796 other riders for the 2009 Tour de Foothills. Following a police escort on Route 66 from Memorial Park in Upland, the metric century route took riders through Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas, Glendora, and Rancho Cucamonga. A great ride followed by a great post-ride celebration at Rabbit's house...Ride On!

Gallery

A new feature; bikes and riders seen on the road. Here, a rider and her bike in Happy Camp, State of Jefferson. Cycle Oregon 2009

Cycle Oregon 2009-A Bike Ride Through the State of Jefferson

Map Boy joined Windbreaker buddies Brad ("Bell Boy") and Tom ("Bobby Goat") for a fantastic week of bicycling in southwest Oregon and across the border into California in an area known to locals as The State of Jefferson. That's right, back in 1941 people in these parts set out to secede from the neighboring states and establish a new state. For a number of reasons the effort died later that same year, however one still sees all sorts of evidence that many are still holding onto the dream (see pic of Jefferson "state" flag).

Cycle Oregon '09 included a total of 478 miles starting in Medford, with rides over the Siskiyou Mountains to Yreka; on the State of Jefferson Scenic Byway near the Klamath River to Happy Camp; back over the Siskiyous and Grayback Mountain to Lake Selmac; then along the wild and scenic Rogue River to Glendale; great climbs along Cow and Snow Creeks to Goolaway Gap; and along Jumpoff Joe Creek to Grants Pass; then finally closing the loop on the Applegate Trail through historic Jacksonville to the finish in Medford. The only unfortunate "bump" in the road was a rather aggressive stomach norovirus that found its way into the traveling camp, making approximately 200 riders/volunteers very ill and unable to continue. Fortunately though, we weren't affected. All in all, a great, great ride...Ride On!

Quote of the Month

This month's quote comes from one of the icons of bicycling, Gary Fisher, who is considered to be one of the inventors of the mountain bike. Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 1988, Outside Magazine recognized him in 2000 as one of "50 who left their mark" in the sport. This month's quote from Gary Fisher: "Anybody who rides a bike is a friend of mine". Ride On!

Heavy Metal

We here at Windbreaker Central are pleased to report that our man Rick the Rabbit is in full recovery mode following outpatient surgery last week to repair a broken collarbone suffered while out on a mountain bike expedition a few days prior. Rabbit had a 4 inch titanium plate added (see image).

Sometimes called the "space age metal", titanium is named for the titans of Greek mythology. Just as a "safety tip" Rabbit, titanium loses its strength when heated above 806 degrees F. So remember that the next time you are screaming down Euclid Avenue!!!

Be Well our friend and Ride On!!!

Death Ride 2009

Markleeville, California is a small town (pop. 200) located in the high Sierra Nevada mountains just south of Lake Tahoe and near the California/Nevada border. The town was established in the 1860's during the silver mining boom and the rush to the Comstock Lode. It is a beautiful spot in California's least populous county, Alpine County.

For 28 years residents and businesses have welcomed approximately 3,000 bicyclists, their families and friends to the Markleeville Death Ride. The 2009 edition and 29th annual ride, also known as the Tour of the California Alps, and which has been referred to as "notorious:, starts and ends at Turtle Rock Park, with climbs over Monitor Pass (8,314'-pictured), Ebbetts Pass (8,730'), and Carson Pass (8,573'), for a daily total of 129 miles and over 15,000 vertical feet of climbing. Also some "white knuckle" descents (just ask Rabbit).

Saturday July 11, 2009 started early for Rabbit and MapBoy with a 3:45 a.m. wake up call in the campground for a 5:30 a.m. start. A beautiful cool morning, followed by warm sunshine, and later in the day headwinds and some rain on the final climb up Carson, but we were fortunate enough to "bag" all five passes...and the Windbreaker colors were worn with pride. Ride On!

Summer Reunion Tour 2009

Trumpets blared, angels wept, and the stars aligned this past weekend as the original founding members of the Windbreakers were able to get together for a ride. Doesn't happen often these days with busy work and family schedules. More summer rides to follow! Ride On!

Head for the Hills II

Back to the San Gabriel Mountains for Rabbit and Map Boy this past weekend. Glendora Mtn Rd, East Fork and San Gabriel Canyon Rd to Crystal Lake. Ride On!

Quote of the Month

Albert Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, but we also know (as seen here) that he enjoyed a bike ride now and again. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize for Physics. Over his lifetime, he published more than 300 scientific works, and more than 150 non-scientific works. In 1999, Time Magazine named him Person of the Century and in the words of a biographer "Einstein is synonymous with genius". This month's quote comes from the man who said he thought of the theory of relativity while riding his bike: "Life is like riding a bicycle,-in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving". Ride On!

Quote of the Month

This month's quote is from that great American author, statesman, and scientist, Benjamin Franklin: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". The Windbreakers have been known to enjoy an occasional cold one (or two) following a day in the saddle. Ride On!

Head for the Hills!

Rabbit and Map Boy ventured into the San Gabriel Mountains this weekend with a climb up Glendora Mountain Rd (GMR). As we neared the first saddle we broke through the cloud cover to a fantastic clear day! We continued along Glendora Ridge Rd to Cow Canyon Saddle and Mt. Baldy Village finishing with a fast descent back into Upland. Ride On!

Quote of the Month

This month's quote: "Nothing's better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends beside you". Aaron Douglas Trimble.

More Tour of California 2009

More shots from the side of the road at the Amgen Tour of California.

Amgen Tour of California 2009

February 22, 2009. Rabbit and Map Boy were among the 300,000 spectators who lined the route for Stage 8 of the Amgen Tour of California, the Queen Stage which covered 98.6 miles from Rancho Bernardo through North San Diego County leading to the finish in Escondido. Windbreaker Base Camp (Map Boy's Car) was set up just below the summit of the 3rd KOM climb of the day; the 4,000 foot hors categorie ascent up Palomar Mountain peaking at 5,123 feet above sea level. Many say this climb is on par with the greatest climbs in Europe.

Map Boy sampled a 30-mile portion of the day's route, starting at the summit and following a loop on E. Grade Rd. toward Lake Henshaw culminating with a 7-mile climb up the S. Grade Rd. portion of the Palomar climb back to the top. This wasn't enough for our Rabbit, however, who apparently was feeling more eager on this day. He joined friends Vince with others at the I-15/SR 76 junction (36 miles from the summit), following a meandering route to experience the 12-mile full flavor of the Palomar climb from the base at Rincon! Believe me, this is not flat countryside; I know all will join me in saying "Ride On Rabbit!!"

The day had a Tour de France feel with 20 switchbacks, snow along the roadside, and rabid cycling fans turning out to see the biggest names in the sport. A great day!!

Tour de Palm Springs 2009

Map Boy joined Windbreaker brother Steve and friend Rich at the 2009 Tour de Palm Springs. A crisp morning chill and crosswind gave way to a beautiful clear day in the Coachella Valley. Ride On!

Quote of the Month

Starting this month, a new Ride On! feature debuts. Each month we will share a great quotation-this month's is one that Dave, Brad and I viewed at the Embers Brew House in Joseph, Oregon while on Cycle Oregon 2008. The quotation is from Abraham Lincoln: "Live a Good Life. And in the end, it's not the years in a life, it's the life in years. RIde On!

Windbreakers California Roll IV-Ride to the Roses

Sunny skies and perfect temperatures accompanied the Windbreakers as they cycled to Pasadena to meet the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day, January 1. Upon returning to Upland, we met for lunch at the Upland Bulldog. A great day...Ride On!