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!!!