Ride On, Rabbit!

December 27, 2022.  This week we say good-bye and good luck to our friend Rick the Rabbit, as he and and wife/trail angel Mary relocate their home to Raleigh, N.C.  Born and raised in Upland, Rick is one of the founding members of the Windbreaker club.  You could always find Rick on the roads of Windbreaker Country; he was the leader of the club peloton on weekend rides and a regular commuting to & from work.  Ride On Rick and Mary!  We wish you best of luck in your new home!

Club members gather for our first century together,
the Cool Breeze in Ventura, CA 

Pacing the group on one of our favorite routes,
Glendora Mountain Road

Merry Christmas 2022

 

Merry Christmas from Windbreaker Country!

Ride Report: Windbreaker Weekend 2022 Hurricane, Utah

November 20, 2022.  Windbreakers and friends have returned from an epic outdoor adventure, traveling to southwestern Utah for 3 days of bicycling, golf, and good times with friends.  Meet up for the 360-mile drive northeast was on a cool Thursday morning in Windbreaker Country.  Little did we know that more weather was in store for us when we arrived at our destination.

Following a lunch stop in Las Vegas at Nevada Brew Works, we arrived at our spacious Airbnb in Hurricane, Utah, just outside of St. George. We settled in for a fantastic dinner prepared by the team, following cocktails prepared by our mixologist Tom, and a great selection of beer and wine.

Fantastic wine courtesy of Easter Vineyards!

We rose for the Friday morning ride to temps near 30 deg., so we bundled and rolled out at 7:45 for our destination to Zion National Park.  A beautiful sunrise greeted us as we rode along the Virgin River, eventually arriving at the Zion National Park entrance gate and Visitor Center.  Rick and Jim continued into the park, cycling into the Narrows of Zion Canyon.  The rest of the lads returned for a quick wardrobe change, then off to Sand Hollow GC for a round of golf!

South entrance, Zion National Park

The wind was the story for golf at Sand Hollow; 30+ mph winds provided the challenge.  Our man Craig, though, was up to the task as he made a hole-in-one on the 15th!  With the driving wind in his face!  Friday evening we enjoyed another delicious dinner at the house; more cocktails, great beer, tasty wine and fun recapping a great day.  We also welcomed our special guests from the Salt Lake and Park City areas, Cullen and Griffin Easter, sons of our main man Tom! 

First tee at Sand Hollow G.C.

Saturday morning ride on Southern Pkwy.

We rose for our ride on Saturday morning to even colder morning temps...following breakfast we donned the cycling gear for another crisp morning ride south toward Sand Hollow and St. George, returning by way of the Washington Farms and Telegraph bike routes along the Virgin River gorge.  On the return route, with a few challenging climbs sprinkled in, the wind blew directly into our face, making the last miles very difficult.  Then off to another round of golf (and more wind :)) at Sky Mountain GC in Hurricane.

Saturday evening, following pizza, salad and beer at River Rock Roasting Co., we returned to the house for the closing ceremony for the weekend.  We bid a fond and heartfelt farewell to our very own Rick the "Rabbit" a club founder and longtime club member who is moving to North Carolina.  Rick was a stalwart and longtime member of the club, who led us on many of our Saturday morning ride adventures in Windbreaker Country.  We wish Rick and family the best of luck at their new home.

A great weekend of adventures with great friends.  Ride On!

Grip It and Rip It

October 16, 2022.  A few of the lads gathered at Top Golf Ontario for an afternoon of fun raising funds for the Upland Police Foundation.  Thanks to our very own Craig Scheu and Scheu Management Co. for the sponsorship and invitation.  Good Times!

L to R: Joe, Craig, Chris, Mike, John

NextGen Report

September 27, 2022.  Windbreaker Central has been following the cycling exploits of two of our own,  Cullen and Griffin Easter, sons of Windbreaker veteran Tom, and the related growth of the OpiCure Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Foundation focused on addressing opioid-related addiction and deaths.  The organization's mission is committed to bringing awareness of opioid abuse, redefining best practices for addition recovery, and devoting resources to affect positive change in the Utah community and beyond.  It is in partnership with the cycling community that the organization can make the most difference.  Learn more at www.opicure.org

Founders Cullen (President) and Griffin (Vice-President) are at the "business end", so to speak, of bringing awareness to the challenges at hand.  All summer long, they have organized and participated in community cycling events in the Salt Lake City area, as well as competed in races.  This past weekend, both participated in the Belgian Waffle Ride in Cedar City, Utah.  It was truly a team effort, as 6 miles into the race, Griffin's real wheel locked up.  Brother Cullen, who was racing alongside, offered up his real wheel as a replacement.  Griffin was able to chase back to the leaders and with 6 km to go was racing head-to-head with Peter Stetina.  With this amazing effort, Griffin finished as runner-up, just inched out at the finish line.  Word had it the Cullen could be found enjoying a cheeseburger with former professional cyclist Levi Leipheimer!

Congratulations lads, on the growing awareness and success of the Opicure Foundation, as well as the results in an epic race challenge.  Ride On!

Griffin (L) and Cullen (R) at the starting line of the 
Belgian Waffle Ride - Cedar City, Utah

Ride Report: Tour de Cafe' - DTLA

August 14, 2022.  On Saturday August 6, I joined a member of the Windbreaker NextGen, son Greg, for a special edition tour of Downtown LA, touring a few of the great coffee stops in the Arts District and Civic Center areas.  The ride began at Encanto Park in Duarte; we boarded the Metro L (Gold) Line in Monrovia for the ride to LA.  We then rode to Maru Coffee, Verve Coffee, and G & B Coffee at Grand Central Market.   

First stop - Maru Coffee DTLA

6th Street Bridge

Then to HomeState for great food in Highland Park, then to the Cub House Bicycle Repair Shop in San Marino, before riding to Pasadena and boarding the Gold Line for the return to Duarte.  A great tour of LA neighborhoods on two wheels...Ride On!

Verve Coffee - DTLA Arts District

The Cub House San Marino

Ride Report: Tour de Craft Breweries X - DTLA

July 30, 2022.  Five hearty Windbreaker souls met up on Saturday morning for the latest edition of a fine Windbreaker tradition: the Tour de Craft Breweries.  After a multi-year absence from visiting Downtown Los Angeles, we returned, visiting two new locations and a revisit to an old favorite.

On our way via the San Gabriel River Trail at the Santa Fe Dam

Our route followed familiar roads to the Santa Fe Dam, then through Temple City, San Gabriel, Alhambra, and northeast LA along Huntington Dr. and Mission Blvd. to our destination.  First stop was the Highland Park Brewery near Chinatown for lunch and a well-earned cold beverage.  Then to the Arts District and a return visit to Boomtown Brewery.  And finally to Homebound Brew Haus at Union Station for a celebratory beverage before boarding the Metrolink train for the return trip to Windbreaker country.

Though we missed some of our fellow mates who couldn't make the ride, a good time was had by all.  Ride On!

Highland Park Brewery

Some "roadies" for the return train trip home

Departing Boomtown on our way to Homebound 
Brew Haus at Union Station

Quotebook

 July 3, 2022.  A 4th of July weekend quote from Heinz Stucke: "It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels".  Ride On!

Vineyard Dr., Paso Robles, CA

Weekend Ride Report

May 30, 2022.  Two great rides this weekend on some of the best roads in Windbreaker Country.  Ride On!

The lads gather on a cool, wet morning at the base of GMR.

Memorial Day morning on Woodview Road in Chino Hills

Ride Report: Santa Barbara and Paso Robles

April 3, 2022.  On a recent trip with longtime friends to the Paso Robles Wine Country, I was able to squeeze in a couple beautiful rides.  Ride On!

Along the bike path north of Ventura toward Santa Barbara

At the Summerwood Winery & Inn

Sunrise ride along Vineyard Dr near Opolo Vineyards

Good Works!

 

Two members of the extended Windbreaker "family" have been hard at work bringing an important message of awareness to the world.  Cullen and Griffin Easter, respectfully referred to as our "Heads of State", have founded the OpiCure Foundation, which is committed to bringing awareness of opioid abuse, redefining best practices for addiction recovery and devoting resources to affect positive change in the Utah community and beyond.  Opicure is committed to utilizing the bicycle as a tool to assist those struggling with opioid addiction in their recovery process.

As the bicycling racing season approaches, look for Cullen and Griffin on the circuit and spreading the word on this very important topic.  Congratulations fellas, and Ride On!  More information at www.opicure.org

Happy New Year 2022

January 4, 2022. As we usher in the new year, we look forward to many miles and adventures ahead.  Over the holidays, I came across this image of Madonna del Ghisallo, patron saint of cyclists.  

The story and a little history from Wikipedia: "According to legend, the Medieval count Ghisallo was traveling by the hamlet of Magrelio when he was attacked by bandits. He saw an image of Virgin Mary at a shrine, ran to it, and was saved from the robbers.  The apparition became known as La Madonna del Ghisallo, and she became a patroness of local travelers.

In later times, the hill Madonna del Ghisallo was made part of the Giro di Lombardia bicycle race and has often featured in the Giro d'Italia as well.  The church sits atop a steep hill that climbs up from the shores of Lake Como.  It became a natural stopping point for cyclists.  For this reason a local priest, Father Ermelindo Vigano, proposed that La Madonna del Ghisallo be declared the patroness of cyclists.  This was confirmed by Pope Pius XII. Nowadays the shrine of Madonna del Ghisallo contains a small cycling museum with photos and artifacts from the sport.  There also burns a an eternal flame for cyclists who have died.  One particular notable artifact is the crumpled bicycle that Fabio Casartelli, a native of the region, rode on the day that he died in a crash in the Tour de France.  The church is home to many bikes and cycling jerseys used by cyclists in races".

Ride On!