The land now known as the City of Upland was part of a much larger area originally inhabited by the Native American Tongva tribe. Following the secularization of California's land holdings in the early 1800's, the area would later become an irrigation colony founded by brothers George and William Chaffey, who hailed from Canada and developed large portions of what are now the neighboring communities of Ontario and Etiwanda. Upland is located at the historic crossroads of the National Old Trails Road (which later became Foothill Blvd./U.S. Route 66) and Euclid Ave (CA State Route 83). In 1826 the well-known trailblazer Jedediah Smith passed through what is now Upland on the first overland journey to the west coast of North America via the route which would be designated the National Old Trails Road in 1912. Later, Route 66 was a major path for migrants who came west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930's. Euclid Avenue, with its distinctive wide lanes and landscaped median and referred to as "a thing of beauty forever" by George Chaffey, was constructed as the main thoroughfare from Downtown Ontario to Upland and extending north into the mountains.
Located at this historic intersection is one of twelve Madonna of the Trail statues (pictured), which were commissioned by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. These statues are placed in communities along the former National Old Trails Road to commemorate the spirit of pioneer women in the United States. These regular Windbreaker cycling routes take us on these historic roadways as well as into neighboring communities in the Inland Empire, San Gabriel Valley, and Orange County. Ride On!
December 31, 2010. The Windbreakers final ride for 2010 started with a cold 7 am start from Encanto Park in Duarte then down the San Gabriel River bike trail to Seal Beach. Beautiful, clear day, lots of water in the river from record December rains. Ride On and Happy New Year!
December 24, 2010. A cool, crisp Christmas Eve morning ride through the Covina Hills and Claremont Village. Merry Christmas to all from the Windbreakers! Ride On!
No bike rides this weekend…lots of rain in Windbreaker Country. Bummer. This quote from the prolific writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle says it best: "When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking". RIde On!
7 am meet up at Benson & Baseline. Crisp & Cool ride up Glendora Mountain Road. Happy Thanksgiving!
Our very own Rabbit on Glendora Ridge Road, with Mt. Baldy in the background
Big news with last week's announcement by the organizers of the Amgen Tour of California that next year's Stage 7 will begin in Claremont with a true mountaintop finish at Mt Baldy. This is literally in the Windbreakers back yard. The detailed route, to be announced later, is sure to cover very familiar roads in the Windbreaker Nation, including Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road. Ride On!
