Press On Regardless...

It has been a long time since last my legs were this sore and knotted.

They were tight for the entire Psycho-lists ride this morning and in hindsight

I clearly pushed them too far.

Funny, though, there always seemed to be one rider ahead of me; then there were times

with an additional one or two more in between.

I did the only thing I could do, really.

I pressed on.

Regardless. 

Thanks Mark. As much as anything, I think your jersey kept me pressing on.

Yet Another Psycho-list Ride...

to close out the weekend. I understand there have been some larger Psycho-list pelotons, but today's twenty-five or so riders was the largest I have seen since I started riding with the group. This meant there were more competitors at the various KOM spots along the route. Today's route was an out and back along the foothills to the upper San Gabriel River Trail (SGRT), down to the Whittier Narrows Dam, and then back the way we came. If you know the route, you will know there are no prolonged climbs, just some short, sometimes steep, sprinters' hills. Cursed Jorge, on his single speed, was just too powerful and kept me from claiming top spot at any of the top of any of the speed bumps. I think I managed second or third on most of those hills; not bad I suppose for the extra years I have on 'em. Some fast people kept it interesting the whole day. 

bunch of psycho-lists obstructing my view of the mountains

We made it over to the Santa Fe Dam with an average speed of over 19 mph which, considering some stretches of soft pedaling to allow regrouping, was pretty good. While a few riders turned off at this point, the rest of us rode on down river along the SGRT with Greg drilling it out front all the way into the Narrows. Construction on the path is still ongoing along there, but the asphalt is laid, nice and smooth and, being the weekend, it was unobstructed - no detour necessary. Turning around we found the headwind, not like a couple days ago, but enough to get the legs burning. With Greg and, I think Jorge, causing mayhem at the front again, I took a more relaxed position at the back, where the youngest rider in the group (14) was beginning to tire. Props to his dad though, for getting him out. My own 14 year old was probably still asleep at that point. Next time I secretly set the alarm in his room. The finishing miles melted beneath our wheels, and after a last regroup at the bottom of GMR there was one final split. Thing about the Psycho-lists, once they smell the finish (maybe lunch cooking at the Euro Cafe) it's every man for himself. A trio got a bit of a gap in the homestretch. I couldn't let that happen unchallenged, so I tucked in, powered up one final time, and managed to bridge up. Being able to find a nice reserve of energy at the end of a ride is something to be stoked about. Yahoo, now beer me.

nice and smooth, new asphalt. painting still needs to be done,

but the end of construction may be in sight

beautiful day for a ride

i like the colorful new signs along the SGRT, but "Emerald Necklace?" Boston's "Emerald Necklace" has been around for 100 years or so. i think a more unique name would have been better.

Friday with some Psycho-lists...

our little group headed up into San Dimas Canyon

Nice ride with the Friday morning group - Phil and Brenda I have ridden with on past rides, also out today were Mark and Scott. Little bit on the cool side to start, and since Baseline is basically downhill heading west, there is not much chance really, to warm up. It was cool right up to the point where we turned onto Esperanza, that hill there, of course, provides quite a shock to your system and is guaranteed to warm you up right quick. That is if it doesn't shut you down entirely. The KOM there was mine, whether gifted or not I don't know, and it is not really a question you ask. Just accept it and move on to the next hill. We cruised along Golden Hills Road, down through the closed section, and then turned up San Dimas Canyon. It has been a long time since I was last up that way and is such a nice climb up that canyon; if only it connected with some other road and actually went somewhere, instead of dead-ending. Anyway, rather than continue onward in the dirt, we turned around after regrouping, made our way over to Bonelli, Mile Hill (I think that is what people call it), some more descending through the hills to Covina, and then mostly flat back home. Ticked over a little more than thirty-seven miles; as I said a nice Friday morning ride. Psycho-lists on Meetup.

over-the-shoulder shots don't always work.

got Scott and Mark anyway; only half of Phil.

shoulder proves I was there

A Sunday with the Psycho-Lists...

Many of my fellow bloggers across the country, and around the world, have been mentioning things like cold temperatures, rain, even snow lately. Let me assure you, there is none of that around here. I am not necessarily implying that this is a good thing, or a bad thing, it's just how it is. Just about any day on the bike is a good day - 80º temperatures means that good day is also a comfortable one. Anyway nine of us chose to do the Psycho-lists ride this morning, and did so beneath a pretty amazingly clear, blue sky. A route from Claremont to Monrovia, and back through the foothill communities was chosen, so we got to do some low rollers spread out between longer gradual up and down hill sections. Just enough uphill there to keep me happy.

did I mention the sky was somewhat blue today

hamming it up for the camera. there were so many 1on1 Financial kits

it almost seemed like i stumbled into a team training ride

Some of the group was out Halloween partying until late the previous night, but somehow those at the front managed to set a pretty torrid pace early on, maybe not Montrose Ride torrid, but nice and quick none-the-less, and we made it out to the San Gabriel River in good time. From there we followed the route of the aforemetioned Montrose Ride into Monrovia where I was able to get my morning cup of coffee. Better late than never. I have done so much solo riding lately that I was looking forward to doing a group ride, and the Psycho-lists group is a good one to do.

crossing the bridge over the San Gabriel River

you have heard of the Bosburg, one of the famous hills of Flanders, well this here is the Vosburg, in Azusa. i noticed the sign as we went through the roundabout and circled around to get a pic of some of the group heading up with sign in the foreground. Bosburg - Vosburg, nothing in common, but they almost sound the same

Psycho-list rides take place on Friday and Sunday mornings, they mix up their routes weekly which helps keep the rides fresh. You can sign up with the group and receive emails on upcoming rides through their Meetup, or Facebook pages.

By the way, if you are still debating whether or not to do the Tour de Foothills, make up your mind quickly. Prices increase on November 1st. See the link in the upcoming events section to the right.

The morning group ride...

This was one of those morning to play by ear since there were a couple ride options open to me. I could either get out of the house at a respectable time (7:30) and ride with the Psycho-Lists group, or laze my a** and hit up GMR somewhat later. Really though, who sleeps in on Friday anyway, especially when the afternoon temps are probably going to reach the upper 90ºF's.

almost triple digits

So, while I may not mind riding in the heat of the day, it is more pleasant to ride in the earlier, and cooler, morning hours, so I joined the ladies (I can say that since Phil, and myself excluded), this turned out to be an all women's ride.


At this point, I feel like I need to make a few 'well done' statements. Phil's younger daughter was out on her first group ride; if you can remember your first group ride (unfortunately I can't, too long ago, and all that) you will know that there is a whole lot to learn, and a very short time to do the learning in. You get thrown into the fire pretty quickly. The climbing, the descending, clipping in and clicking out, when to stop, and when to roll, etc, etc. She passed with flying colors, and will only get stronger and more confident from here on. It is very cool that she had her dad there to see her through it. Well Done. Second - Anna. She has done spin classes with one of the other Psycho-Lists riders, but has only been riding road for a couple months. Super strong. After the ride split up, she rode the final 7 or 8 miles with me and held my wheel the whole time, then continued on her way when I turned off for home. Well Done.


I was going to use these two examples as a lead in for a post on the benefits of doing group rides, but instead I will save that for later. Suffice it to say that group rides offer the opportunity for novice riders to take their riding experience to the next level. Plenty of non-competitive, or slightly competitive, group rides exist and will allow you to develop, and transition into more competitive type rides, as you want. Soon I will take a look at some of these rides - how to find them, what to expect, etc. and so on. Happy weekend all, enjoy the start of the Tour tomorrow, if you are from the States enjoy the 4th, either relaxing or exciting, as you see fit.

No June Gloom on the Psycho-Lists Ride...

The inland valley areas have been pretty well socked in this week, and whether it has been that June Gloom, or something else, I just have not felt much like riding this week; no Bud's Ride, no Rose Bowl - uninspired. Funny, it also seemed to correspond to a lack of original post material here on the blog as well. Anyway, when a chance to get out on a Friday morning Psycho-Lists Meet-up ride presented itself, I jumped at the opportunity. Nothing like a group ride to shake you out of the doldrums. 7:45, or thereabouts, we were all gathered at the Euro Cafe on Baseline, women outnumbered the men 5 to 4, which was good to see. We did the usual Covina Hills route, with some modifications to throw in a few extra short climbs, which I appreciated. These hills are the closest thing I have found locally, to the mid-week climbing I used to do around the Rose Bowl, though they are not as steep and usually not as long. But, what is good about the route is that you can string them together in a series, and you get something like hill intervals. This first part of the ride, was followed up with a mid-morning stop at Classic Coffee in Glendora, and then the quick ride back. Sky never changed from that fantastic dull grey color, but I don't think anyone really cared; it certainly didn't determine the high quality of the ride. Now, I don't normally let my socks determine my riding style, but I did have my wolf socks on today, and enjoyed hanging in with the pack on the flats, but then let my legs run, lone wolf style, when the roads took on an upward slant. It was just what I needed.

Just to give a little plug to the Psycho-Lists group; I have done a few of their rides now, both Fridays and weekends. If you live in the Claremont / Upland area, and nearby, and are looking for a good group ride, sign up for the group on Meet-up. You will get an email notification when a ride is upcoming. The rides are pretty moderate, not race-pace, like Bud's, but certainly not slow. There is usually some climbing, but regroups are standard. And the company is good.

Cycling Inland Empire: The Psycho-Lists Sunday Ride...

Even though I have been a member of this Facebook group for a while, today was the first opportunity I have had to hit the road with them. You can also find out about their rides on Meetup. Ride left from the Euro Cafe in Claremont at 8:00am heading west on Baseline, swung past Bonelli Park, took in a little climbing and descending in the hills of Covina, and then a brief stop for coffee and baked goods at Classic Coffee in the older downtown section of Glendora, before turning for home. About 31 miles plus or minus a few tenths. It was a good group of solid riders; not the quickest ride I have ever been on (which is refreshing this time of year), but no lolly-gagers either. If you have some decent fitness and know your way around a bike check out the ride some Sunday morning. As Arnold Schwarzenegger might say "I'll be back."

having refueled in Glendora, we get ready to head for home.

cresting the last hill before home. and look how clear it is; yes that is downtown LA back there.