Merry Christmas 2013

Wishing all a Merry Windbreaker Christmas...Ride On!

California Roll VIII: To The City of The Angels

December 21, 2013. The Windbreakers wrote another chapter yesterday with a beautiful ride from Upland to Downtown Los Angeles finishing with lunch and some brews at Umami Burger and Angel City Brewery in the historic Arts District, then returning back to the Inland Empire on the Metrolink train.  

1st St. Bridge, Downtown L.A.

Our 41-mile route followed the base of the San Gabriel Mountains through Glendora, Duarte, and Monrovia, then into Sierra Madre and East Pasadena, before merging onto historic Huntington Drive, made famous by Henry Huntington and his development of the Pacific Electric Red Cars. The ride finished on Mission Blvd and the historic 1st Street Bridge then into the Arts District and Union Station.  Ride On!

Thanksgiving Day Ride 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from Puddingstone Pass

Rolling out on Baseline

November 28, 2013.  Cool, clear skies greeted the Windbreakers as we continued the tradition of a Thanksgiving morning ride before settling in for the afternoon feast with family and friends.  Through Puddingstone and Covina Hills then back home through Claremont along "beautiful Bonita".  All the while thankful for our many blessings and great cycling buddies...Ride On!

Good Times!

Congratulations to Windbreaker member and friend Jamie on the recent opening of Alosta Brewing Company.  A stop at the tasting room and a cold one will definitely be on the itinerary for the next Tour de Craft Breweries.  Ride On!

Ride Report: Santa Ana River Trail to Surf City

All smiles on Main Street, Huntington Beach

October 12, 2013.  A beautiful sunny day greeted the Windbreakers as we ventured south to Huntington Beach on the Santa Ana River Trail. Once we arrived on PCH, the sun was just breaking through as we looped up Main Street for a stop at Bagelmania for coffee/bagels, then back on the trail to our starting point at Green River Road, a celebratory toast with Rabbit's own craft brew, then lunch at Euro Cafe.  65 miles roundtrip...A great day with great friends...Ride On!

Ride Report-High Country Adventure

The Sullivan Family has returned from a family vacation to Yosemite.  This classic shot of some of the lads reaching the Yosemite Valley near the end of a 50+ mile ride from Oakhurst.

Ride On!! - Yosemite Valley 2013

Quotes

We here at Windbreaker Central are fans of the occasional quote about cycling.  This one from Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir: "Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls".  Ride On!

Seen on the Road

Downtown Portland, Oregon, 4th of July Weekend, 2013

Tour de Craft Breweries II

All smiles on Beautiful Bonita

June 22, 2013.  With summer upon us, Rick, John, Joe and Vince saddled up for the second edition of the Tour de Craft Breweries.  With the success of the inaugural craft beer tour behind us, this tour promised to be every bit as adventurous as the first. Great ride and suds with stops at I & I Brewery in Chino, La Verne Brewing Co., and Claremont Craft Ales.  Ride On!

Cheers at Claremont Craft Ales

Seen on the Road

From a recent trip to New Orleans...

Chartres St.- French Quarter

Good Times

The other day I came across some old photos of John's Bicycle Shop, which for many years was located on Rosemead Boulevard in Pasadena.  Got my first Schwinn Varsity 10-speed there, and of course like most kids who grew up in the area I had the John's Bicycle Shop book bag, which was an essential accessory for just about kid in this part of the San Gabriel Valley.  Ride On!

"Fresh Beer From Nearby"

Annual Spring Meeting 2013- Dale Bros. Brewery

Ride Report

April 7, 2013.  In commemoration of today's Paris-Roubaix bicycling race, also known as the "Hell of the North" and one of the "monuments" of cycling, a few of the Windbreaker lads set out to find some less-than-ideal roadway conditions, like the cobbles or "setts" as they are known in the north of France.  On Lytle Creek Rd. on the way to Nealy's Corner.  

Seen on the Road

March 17, 2013. Schwinn Breeze - U.S. Custom House, Charleston, South Carolina

Ride Report: Solvang Century

Rick, Lisa, Jackie, Steve, Craig and John gather at the start

March 10, 2013.  The Windbreakers and friends have returned from a fantastic weekend in Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley participating in the 2013 Solvang Century.  A beautiful route beginning in Solvang along the Santa Ynez River valley to Lompoc, then through Vandenburg AFB and Santa Maria.  With some tailwinds finally helping the route continued up Foxen Canyon and the infamous "wall" at mile 90, then back to Solvang along beautiful Ballard Canyon Rd.  Everyone gathered at Solvang Brewing Company for a celebratory beer!

Rusack Vineyards, Ballard Canyon

Craig and Rick-lead the pack back to the barn

Santa Rosa Road

We finished off the weekend with Sunday visits to Figueroa Mountain Brewery, Rusack Vineyards for wine tasting, and lunch in Los Olivos. Ride On!!

Ride Report: Glendora Mountain Road

February 16, 2013.  A beautiful ride up GMR this morning with Rabbit,
Coach, Mike and Map Boy.  Fantastic views of the L.A. Basin and surrounding mountains
Ride On!

Ride Report: Sierra Madre Canyon

January 12, 2013. Always on the lookout for new destinations, the Windbreakers set out under clear, very cold (32 deg at start, 28 deg along the route) skies to Sierra Madre Canyon and Mary's Market.  A beautiful mid-winter ride in Southern California...Ride On!

Happy New Year 2013

Looking forward to good times ahead in 2013...Ride On!