Ride Report: Windbreakers Special Edition - Whittier Narrows

August 9, 2025.  Under warm morning skies in Windbreaker Country, the Windbreakers set out on a "Special Edition" ride to re-visit area foothill communities, then south through the San Gabriel Valley to the Whittier Narrows.  The Whittier Narrows is a narrows or water gap between the Puente Hills and Montebello Hills through which the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel River flow to enter the Los Angeles Basin.  The area is further distinguished in local area history as one of the earliest human settlements, occupied by the Tongva and later traversed by Spanish explorers on journeys through the area.  Historic Mission Vieja was built there in 1771, but due to flooding was forced to relocate to Mission San Gabriel Archangel in San Gabriel.  The area is now occupied by a large regional park and the historic Bosque del Rio Hondo ("Forest of the Deep River").  

Our 50-mile cycling route took us west along the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, through La Verne, Azusa, Monrovia, Arcadia and Sierra Madre.  Then south through East Pasadena and Temple City, joining the Rio Hondo River Trail at its intersection with Santa Anita Ave. We entered the Whittier Narrows area on this trail, then joining the San Gabriel River Trail north to Baldwin Park, and the nearby Metrolink train station for the return train trip home to beat the day's rising temperature.  We capped the day with lunch and cold beverages at King's Brewing Company/Crazy Gringo BBQ in Downtown Upland.  All in all, a great day and ride.  Ride On!

West on Baseline Ave through La Verne (photo: Hammer)

Joining the San Gabriel River Trail in Azusa Canyon:
L to R: Windbreaker buddy Tom, Doc, John, Jim, Joe, Mike,
Craig and our OC Bureau Chief Chris.

Here gathered at the Baldwin Park Metrolink train station. 
We had enough time to cool off with a cold beverage, 
courtesy of Jim and his visit to a nearby mini-mart!

Weekend Ride Report; A Visit from a Special Guest!

July 1, 2025.  This past Saturday, June 28, 2025, we were very fortunate to be joined by longtime club member and Arizona Bureau Chief Steve ("Coach"), who moved to Arizona a few years ago following many years as a resident of Windbreaker country.  Since moving to Arizona, we have joined him on a few rides there, including the El Tour de Tucson and Tour de Scottsdale.  But this time he came west out our way for a vacation with family, and we were happy to re-unite and have him along for the regular Saturday morning ride.  Ride On!

Gathered for a quick stop at Bonelli Park overlooking
Puddingstone Reservoir.
L to R: John, Joe, Jim, Steve, and Mike.

Ride Report: Windbreakers Special Edition - Tour de Craft Breweries XII

June 7, 2025.  A few of the Windbreakers gathered on a recent Saturday morning for our latest "Special Edition" ride, a spin through Villa Park, Orange Heights, Anaheim Hills, and the Santa Ana River Canyon.  We finished along the Santa Ana River Trail with stops at Stereo Brewing in Placentia , and Green Cheek Beer Co. in Orange. Then to the finish where we began the day at the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC).  Ride On!

First stop at Stereo Brewing: Lunch, cold beverages, and a meet-up
with our Orange County Bureau Chief Chris C. 

The pulled pork sandwiches hit the spot!

World Bicycle Day 2025

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, World Bicycle Day, June 3, recognizes the "uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit and sustainable means of transport".  Ride On!

Our Favorite Roads V

May 25, 2025.  Throughout Windbreaker Country, we are lucky to have many street segments that are part of historic neighborhood and commercial districts and have interesting stories to tell.  One such street is Mills Avenue, along the eastern edge of Claremont.  A portion of Mills Avenue runs through the Russian Village District of Claremont, which is comprised of 15 folk architecture style houses and was built by Konstanty ("Steve") Stys, a Polish (not Russian) immigrant, and others during the Great Depression.  

The District is located at the intersection of South Mills Avenue and East Cucamonga Avenue  The historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.  Local residents nicknamed the houses built by Stys the "Russian Village", mistakenly assuming that Stys came from Russia.  The homes are constructed of local field stones from the alluvial plains around Claremont, as well as salvaged and recycled materials from railroad cars and debris remaining after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.  (Source: Wikipedia).

Looking south on Mills Avenue in the
Russian Village Historic District.  Ride On!

Weekend Ride Report

May 10, 2025. The stars lined up this past weekend and most of the local lads were in town and able to get out for an early Saturday morning ride.  With temps forecasted for the mid-90s, we rolled out early to try and beat the heat.  Our route took us east through Rancho Cucamonga, then north into Fontana and to Nealy's Corner.  We cycled back along the foothills with a well-earned finish at Butter Cafe & Bakery for coffee and a late breakfast.  Ride On!

All together at Butter Cafe and our
host with the most, Angel!  Thanks Angel!

Ride Report - Windbreakers Special Edition - Tour de Scottsdale 2025

April 12, 2025.  Several of our Southern California-based clubmates gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona this past weekend to participate in the annual Tour de Scottsdale Metric Century bicycle ride.  We joined our longtime club member Steve, who now lives in the Phoenix area with the title of our Windbreaker "Arizona Bureau Chief".

On the 1st tee at McDowell Mountain G.C.:
L to R: Craig, Ryan, Tom, Steve, John

Prior to Saturday morning's ride, we met up on Friday afternoon for a round of golf at McDowell Mountain G.C., followed by dinner and drinks at the club restaurant.  A warm afternoon in the low 90's gave us somewhat of a preview of the temperatures to be expected the following day for the ride.  After picking up our registration packets on Friday night at WestWorld of Scottsdale, we retired for the night to prep for the next morning's ride.

As the Saturday morning sun rose in the east, we anticipated a hot one, with temperatures forecast in the low-mid 90's by noon.  An early start was called for, with the gang gathering in the hotel lobby for breakfast at 6:00 a.m.  Following breakfast, we rode the short 2.5 miles over to WestWorld for the 7:00 a.m. mass start.

At 7:00 a.m. sharp, the riders left WestWorld and headed north toward Cave Creek and Desert Highlands, before heading east toward Rio Verde and around the McDowell Sonoran Mountain Preserve.  Later in the morning, as we got toward the end of the ride and entered the Fountain Hills area, the heat definitely picked up.  The Windbreakers hung tough, however, with stout finishes by all back at Westworld.

Later that evening, we met for a fantastic dinner and drinks, hosted by Steve and his lovely wife Ces at their beautiful home.  A great weekend with friends...Ride On!

At the starting line: L to R: 
Ryan, Joe, Tom, Craig, John (Steve joined later).

Happy New Year 2025

January 1, 2025.  To welcome in 2025, I was invited to join Windbreaker nextgen/son Greg for an early morning ride to Pasadena to partake in the 136th Rose Parade fun.  Meetup was bright & early (6:30 a.m. at Philz Coffee in Claremont), then wheels down heading west to the APU/Citrus A-Line rail station in Azusa. Following a short train ride to Downtown Pasadena, we debarked the train at Raymond Ave., riding north to our planned coffee stop at Copa Vida in Old Pasadena.  We then rode east along Green Street, one block south of the Colorado Blvd. parade route and the throngs of people along both street frontages.  At Wilson Ave., we were able to squeeze ourselves in to view some of the floats and bands participating in the parade.  With another train to catch at the El Monte Metrolink station, we rode south through East Pasadena, Arcadia and Temple City, through old neighborhoods of our youth.  The 11:00 a..m. Metrolink returned us to Upland, arriving at 12 noon.  A great ride and day...Happy New Year 2025!

A warm cup at Copa Vida in Old Pasadena

Catching some parade action at the intersection of 
 Colorado Blvd. & Wilson Ave.