Death Ride 2009

Markleeville, California is a small town (pop. 200) located in the high Sierra Nevada mountains just south of Lake Tahoe and near the California/Nevada border. The town was established in the 1860's during the silver mining boom and the rush to the Comstock Lode. It is a beautiful spot in California's least populous county, Alpine County.

For 28 years residents and businesses have welcomed approximately 3,000 bicyclists, their families and friends to the Markleeville Death Ride. The 2009 edition and 29th annual ride, also known as the Tour of the California Alps, and which has been referred to as "notorious:, starts and ends at Turtle Rock Park, with climbs over Monitor Pass (8,314'-pictured), Ebbetts Pass (8,730'), and Carson Pass (8,573'), for a daily total of 129 miles and over 15,000 vertical feet of climbing. Also some "white knuckle" descents (just ask Rabbit).

Saturday July 11, 2009 started early for Rabbit and MapBoy with a 3:45 a.m. wake up call in the campground for a 5:30 a.m. start. A beautiful cool morning, followed by warm sunshine, and later in the day headwinds and some rain on the final climb up Carson, but we were fortunate enough to "bag" all five passes...and the Windbreaker colors were worn with pride. Ride On!

Summer Reunion Tour 2009

Trumpets blared, angels wept, and the stars aligned this past weekend as the original founding members of the Windbreakers were able to get together for a ride. Doesn't happen often these days with busy work and family schedules. More summer rides to follow! Ride On!

Head for the Hills II

Back to the San Gabriel Mountains for Rabbit and Map Boy this past weekend. Glendora Mtn Rd, East Fork and San Gabriel Canyon Rd to Crystal Lake. Ride On!

Quote of the Month

Albert Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, but we also know (as seen here) that he enjoyed a bike ride now and again. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize for Physics. Over his lifetime, he published more than 300 scientific works, and more than 150 non-scientific works. In 1999, Time Magazine named him Person of the Century and in the words of a biographer "Einstein is synonymous with genius". This month's quote comes from the man who said he thought of the theory of relativity while riding his bike: "Life is like riding a bicycle,-in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving". Ride On!

Quote of the Month

This month's quote is from that great American author, statesman, and scientist, Benjamin Franklin: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy". The Windbreakers have been known to enjoy an occasional cold one (or two) following a day in the saddle. Ride On!

Head for the Hills!

Rabbit and Map Boy ventured into the San Gabriel Mountains this weekend with a climb up Glendora Mountain Rd (GMR). As we neared the first saddle we broke through the cloud cover to a fantastic clear day! We continued along Glendora Ridge Rd to Cow Canyon Saddle and Mt. Baldy Village finishing with a fast descent back into Upland. Ride On!

Quote of the Month

This month's quote: "Nothing's better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends beside you". Aaron Douglas Trimble.