Windbreaker Wisdom

Ride Report: California Roll XIII Corona - San Clemente

January 19, 2019.  Windbreakers and friends have returned from a beautiful Saturday in the saddle exploring new roads through Orange County.  Following nearly a week of rain in Windbreaker country, the skies cleared for a beautiful and crisp Saturday morning meet-up and drive to the West Corona Metrolink station to begin our latest "special edition" ride. After meeting longtime Windbreaker friend Vince and other cycling friends from the Corona area, California Roll XIII rolled out at approximately 7:30 am headed for the Santa Ana River trail at the Green River Rd trailhead.  We diverted from the bike trail at Gypsum Canyon Rd, heading for the Anaheim Hills  and points south.  At Mile 10 we were greeted with a pretty aggressive hill climb up Serrano Rd to wake the legs.  But soon enough we were over the ridge and greeted with a beautiful view of Orange County.  And shortly thereafter we were on the road we were looking for: Santiago Canyon Road.

Santiago Canyon

Santiago Creek to our right had plenty of water from the week's rains and the hills were carpeted with a beautiful green landscape.  

Chris motors past on Santiago Canyon Rd.

We continued through Santiago and Modjeska Canyons past Cook's Corner into Mission Viejo.  

Famous Cook's Corner - Santiago Canyon Rd.

Following a regroup at Avery Parkway we completed the ride through San Juan Capistrano, and Doheny State Park eventually joining Coast Hwy and El Camino Real for our destination at Pizza Port in San Clemente.  

Lunch on the patio at Pizza Port San Clemente

Following lunch and beers and visits with good friends we backtracked to Docent Brewing in San Juan Capistrano for a celebratory round before boarding Metrolink for the return ride to Corona.  61 miles and approximately 3,200' of climbing - a great day!  

Cheers to a great day on the bike!
Docent Brewing San Juan Capistrano

We missed some of our regular weekend cycling buddies who had to miss due to illness or other commitments but look forward to more great rides soon.  Another California Roll in the books - Ride On!

Vince, Joe and Chris on Coast Hwy.

Happy New Year 2019

Happy New Year from the Windbreakers - Ride On!

Historic Roads in Windbreaker Country

December 31, 2018.  For nearly 15 years now, we Windbreakers have had our morning "meet-ups" at the corner of Benson Avenue and Baseline Road in the City of Upland.  Indeed, that very first club ride when Ridemaster Joe and I met on a cold morning in 2004 started on Baseline Road. 

Windbreaker Country is criss-crossed with historic roads...whether it be Foothill Boulevard ("Route 66") or Euclid Avenue (referred to by the Chaffey brothers as "a thing of beauty forever"), our rides cover these routes each weekend.  But what about Baseline Road (also referred to as 16th Street in Upland)?  There is history here as well.

A Base Line monument located in a San Bernardino park,
with snow-covered San Bernardino Peak in the background.

November 7, 1852 was an important date in the San Bernardino Valley and Southern California.  For it was on this date that Col. Henry Washington, a United States Deputy Surveyor began his work to set a base line from a monument on top of San Bernardino Peak across the valley and into Los Angeles County.  In the U.S. Public Land Survey System, a baseline is a principal east - west line (i.e. a parallel) upon which all rectangular surveys in a defined area are based.

This base line crosses a meridian (the north -south line and one of only three in the State of California) near San Bernardino Peak, which form the basis for land titles and legal descriptions of property established in California, and upon which all subdivision surveys for the southern part of the state were made - and still are. Baseline Road follows this east - west orientation (hence the name).

Col. Henry Washington's monument, atop San Bernardino Peak

San Bernardino Peak (elev. 10,624'), with Col. Washington's monument on top, is clearly visible as we look due east from our morning meet-up spot.  We tip our helmets to Col. Washington...Ride On!

Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas from the Windbreakers - Ride On!

Windbreakers Holiday Palooza 2018

December 9, 2018.  

The spirit of Christmas and the holiday season was in the air as the Windbreaker family gathered for the annual holiday season get-together at the Andrews home.  Plenty of food and drink (including the always popular "man-candy" courtesy of Christine Lowe), good conversation, and of course games to round out the evening.  It is a busy time of year, of course, so not all were able to attend and of course we missed our fellow Windbreakers who weren't able to join the fun

Man Candy!

LCR!

A great group of friends sharing good times to celebrate 2018.  Ride On!

Ride Report: El Tour de Tucson 2018

November 17, 2018.  Chris, Tom and yours truly returned recently from participating in the 2018 edition of the El Tour de Tucson www.perimeterbicycling.com, held annually in Tucson, Arizona. El Tour is one of the largest road bicycling events in the U.S., attracting between 7,000 and 10,000 participants.  Tucson is consistent ranked by several journals as one of the "most bikeable large U.S. cities" and "top ten best bike towns". This year the 102-mile century ride included over 2,500 participants alone, including 3 stalwarts from the Windbreaker Bicycle Club.

Chilly 7:00 am start in Downtown Tucson

After arriving on Friday afternoon and checking in at the rider expo, we were joined by our wonderful hosts for the weekend, Fred and Sandra Luckau, friends of Chris and Teri Carlson.  We headed to Barrio Brewing Co. for dinner and a cold beverage before heading to their beautiful home in the Tanque Verde area just outside of Tucson.  

Rising early the next morning, and heading to the start in Downtown Tucson, we joined the other riders on a cold, crisp roll-out following a counter-clockwise route southeast of Tucson toward the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve, then north along Old Spanish Trail and at the western edge of Saguaro National Park.  

Top of the climb, mile 30. Warming up!

As the weather warmed we continued along the foothills of the Catalina Mountains through Oro Valley, Tortolita and Marana before returning to Downtown Tucson and the finish line party.  A great effort by the Windbreakers!

At the Marana, AZ Rotary Club rest stop, mile 80

In addition to representing our club, I was proud to represent the Ontario-Montclair Rotary Club in the companion event, the Ride to End Polio, which is held in conjunction with El Tour.  Many thanks to my fellow club members who supported this effort.  And finally, and big Windbreaker "thank you" to Fred and Sandra Luckau, our wonderful hosts during our stay in Tucson.  Ride On!

L to R, Chris, Tom, John, Teri, and our hosts, Fred and Sandra