Our Favorite Roads VI

November 30, 2025.  The 250-acre Puddingstone Reservoir is a popular destination for our weekend bicycling.  Formed by the Puddingstone Dam, which was completed in 1928, the area is part of the Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, a popular recreation amenity in the east San Gabriel Valley. The name "Puddingstone" comes from the rock formations found in the area, which were named by early visitors who thought they resembled a pudding with raisins.

View of Puddingstone Reservoir looking east toward La Verne

Riding north on Raging Waters Drive

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

November 1, 2025.  Our semi-annual Tour de Craft Breweries cycling adventures hold a special place among our many favorite Windbreaker traditions.  Past tours have taken us to Orange County, Downtown LA, the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley.  Under sunny skies, five of our merry band of cycling brothers gathered on the first Saturday morning in November for a spirited tour along the San Gabriel Mountain foothills, before turning southwest through Alhambra, El Sereno and Lincoln Heights, finishing in the Arts District of Downtown LA.  After stops and Benny Boy Brewing and a return visit to one of our favorites, Angel City Brewing, we boarded the afternoon Metrolink train for the 1-hour return to Windbreaker Country.  Good times all around!  Ride On!

Our route for the day; west toward Pasadena
then southwest to DTLA. A mostly gentle descent
with a few decent bumps for fun!  Approx. 45 miles.

Stop #1; Benny Boy in Lincoln Heights.
L to R: John, Jim, Joe, Tom, Mike.
And Happy Birthday to Tom!!!

Over the LA River at the 1st St. Bridge

Ready to board the train at LA Union Station

Bikes parked at Angel City Brewing

Ride Report: Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Canada

September 3-17, 2025.  Windbreaker wife Therese and I recently returned from a wonderful trip exploring the coastlines and beautiful cities and villages of western Nova Scotia and then historic Quebec City, QC, Canada.  Along the way, we booked three separate half-day e-bike cycling adventures; first departing Wolfville, through Starrs Point along the Minas Basin waterway, next out of Halifax, NS along the Shearwater Flyer Trail, then finally an absolutely beautiful day near Quebec City on Ille-d'Orleans along the Chenal des Grands Voiliers and the St. Lawrence River.  Ride On!

Overlooking the Cornwallis River and the Minas Basin, near 
Wolfville and Starrs Point, NS.

Lunch stop along the Shearwater Trail near Halifax, NS

Ready for fall touring Ille-d'Orleans.  Stops along the way for 
strawberries, chocolate, and wine!

Cycling through the village of Ste-Petronille, 
Ille-d'Orleans.  Skyline of Quebec CIty in the 
background.

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!