Southern California - LA - how's your air quality for this weekend?

So how's the air by you with all the fires. I was planning a few rides this weekend but my commute the last few days has been nasty breathing in the soot and smoke.

How's the Santa Monica Mtns. area... is it nasty around mullholland/topanga/latigo? Safe to ride or sit this weekend out?

Not sure about now, but I rode from Calabasas to Westlake and back yesterday and it was smoke free. Hotter than the blazes of hell, though, so start early. Everybody I know who is planning to ride this weekend is riding north of Malibu along the coast.

Not sure about now, but I rode from Calabasas to Westlake and back yesterday and it was smoke free. Hotter than the blazes of hell, though, so start early. Everybody I know who is planning to ride this weekend is riding north of Malibu along the coast.

Hey, Bri, did you know there is a club ride starting at Mission Park in Ventura?

The Santa Monica mountains are too hot to be enjoyable right now. I'd love to go to Angeles Crest but there's too much smoke, I think.

Hey, Bri, did you know there is a club ride starting at Mission Park in Ventura?

The Santa Monica mountains are too hot to be enjoyable right now. I'd love to go to Angeles Crest but there's too much smoke, I think.
Yeah, Herb or somebody forwarded the announcement. However, I already promised my wife I'd go hiking with her.

Not sure why she's being so supportive after I went to the velodrome last night and didn't take no for an answer, but she suggested that I go riding tomorrow and we can do our hike Sunday. I might just come out to Ventura tomorrow.

Yeah, Herb or somebody forwarded the announcement. However, I already promised my wife I'd go hiking with her.

Where are you going to go hiking that the air isnt bad?
BTW..the fire seems to have moved down toward foothill....its about a mile above my office right now!

Where are you going to go hiking that the air isnt bad?

We were originally planning on Devil's Punchbowl (we'd be waking at 4 and starting at 6am), but the smoke's starting to spread out. I might look for some hikes in Ventura, but I'm not in the mood to drive any further than that for a hike... or a ride. Maybe Big Bear?

I did a little loop this morning, up the beach to Temescal Canyon, up to Sunset, then to Will Rogers and around the loop there. I could see smoke to the north and south, and a huge pall over the San Gabriels, but Santa Monica itself was smoke-free. Amazing. It was hot above 200 feet, though, even at sunrise.

There's an onshore breeze right now, so it looks like longer rides in the Santa Monica Mountains will work. At least early. Afternoon may get hot. I'll probably head up one of the fire roads and take a closer look.

I was thinking of doing the donut ride in PV tomorrow morning. Does anyone know if the PV fire has been contained? If so, do you think the air quality will be good enough? It's a long drive for me so any info will be appreciated.

Thanks.

It's going to be around 150 here, so i'm heading to the mountains for a ride.

our group is riding from LB to SD, but i just read about the pendelton fires. hmm...

Air quality in Culver is TERRIBLE this morning! My lungs haven't been feeling great from my commute, I'm not happy about it, but I'm staying in this weekend.

Be careful everyone, this smoke can really screw up your lungs.

I wouldn't do any hard riding. I skipped my ride to Santa Clarita and drove instead. This was good move because the whole time the air was just gray through Sepulvida and beyond.

Skipped riding, skipped hiking. Trying to figure out what to do.

Skipped riding, skipped hiking. Trying to figure out what to do.

+1 Looks like I'm stuck inside doing a p90x dvd. Good workout, but not as fun as biking.:(

+1 Looks like I'm stuck inside doing a p90x dvd. Good workout, but not as fun as biking.:(

Does it work?
The other day, my wife was watching the informercial and wonder if its worth the money!!??
Thanks.

Does it work?
The other day, my wife was watching the informercial and wonder if its worth the money!!??
Thanks.

It works. I think it's the most challenging dvds out there. Lost 10 lbs for my Bear ride and lost inches too. I did 1 round (90 days) during the winter. Now I'm gonna start the lean program. I was doing the classic before. The lean is more cardio, but I just substitute my biking and do the arms, back and legs.

It has saved me a lot money from not going to the gym. Plus it's convenient. Some weights, pullup bar from amazon and a dvd player, then you're set to go.

Skipped riding, skipped hiking. Trying to figure out what to do.


Bicycle Film Festival?? :D

Bicycle Dreams at Encino Velodrome? :D

Either sounds good...

I wen ahead and rode this morning. Air near the beach wasn't bad, but as I climbed Amalfi I could smell some smoke. The higher I went the worse it got; Sullivan and Rustic Canyons were blue-white with it before dawn. I got to end of pavement and turned around. Didn't want that stuff in my lungs. Later on I drove to do some errands, and the whole San Fernando Valley was filled with smoke, so that's where it came from.

The onshore breeze is stronger today, so I'm hoping tomorrow will have better air. Used the extra time to do some bike clean-up and am now enjoying some beer. :)

Here's a fire status page a friend sent me. Good info!


http://yubanet.com/CAFires/index.php

Wow thanks for the info. The AC fire is only 5% contained and they think it will go on until the 8th.:( A lot more evacuations today than yesterday. It looks like it's getting worse instead of better.:cry:

Did fast group ride through the Santa Monica Mts today - air quality was OK today - it has been listed as "moderate" by air quality management for the last day or so. Climbs from PCH into the MTs better than climbs from the valley side, but still OK I think for regular riding/training. Heat is still main issue - best to get ride done by 11a.

http://www2.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/VEMap3D.aspx

I drove around the RPV area. The air is pretty clean...i think...maybe just the heat.
Should of start today. Maybe I will do the route from PV south to Crest down and to Via Cornelle.
Anyway, I think the air in South Bay is doable. FYI

PS- Grrylrida Thank you. I think my wife and I will give p90X a try as soon as we catch the commercial again :-)

Just got back from doing my loop and trash truck at GP. It wasn't smokey however the air looked kinda of dusty for a better term. I just went fast fast and knocked down my miles for the day.

riding from LB to SD was pretty nice. did my first century and feel pretty good. air was fine, no signs of pendelton fire.

what's up chefxian! team moonwalk ftw!

Went to sleep lasp night being able to see the flames from my front yard (we were still miles from it) thinking how lucky we were that the smoke was going away from us, and woke up to walk outside into what looks like fog but smells like a campfire was just put out right under my nose. Forget riding and exercising, I think we're going to have to leave the area just to breathe at all.

8:00am August 30, 2009

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/UrbanKnight/AirQualityAugust30.jpg

Went to sleep lasp night being able to see the flames from my front yard (we were still miles from it) thinking how lucky we were that the smoke was going away from us, and woke up to walk outside into what looks like fog but smells like a campfire was just put out right under my nose. Forget riding and exercising, I think we're going to have to leave the area just to breathe at all.

Wasnt too bad in Burbank earlier....but now its aweful....I was going to do some bike maintanence...guess that will have to wait....

The smoke is everywhere. Smells like a BBQ over here by Griffith Park.

Tinrobot, we're neighbors. I'm basically south of Franklin off Normandie (off course I wouldn't give exact intersection).

We flew in from DC on Thursday night and could see the flames. The air is ****. Not bad...****. Even if you're by the ocean, just know that there are TONS of microscopic particles floating around. It's safer to just be inside, plus the heat is unbearable to boot. I'll be spending my day on the computer, playing with new iPhone, and heading to Frys for some headphones/mic for my online Grad courses.

I typed the alternate word for poop and it XXXX it out :(

Odd morning. Beach area was damp, cool and clear. I rode up toward the mountains and as the east got brighter I could see a tremendous pall of smoke. Didn't smell it until I was at about 1400 feet and got stronger above there. One peak in Topanga was so densely wreathed in smoke I thought there was a new fire, but it was just a plume from somewhere else that had collected in the head of the valley near the Hub Junction. There went the plan to ride that way. Mulholland Highway was smoky enough that my throat was getting scratchy; I rode east to the Nike station and beat feet down the hill into Mandeville Canyon, which was blessedly cool and clear.

Not much of an onshore breeze now, either. Which means it's even worse inland. Gargh.

I typed the alternate word for poop and it XXXX it out :(

Some **** you need to spell differently.

Went for a 2 hour ride up and down PCH through Malibu this morning. Though not visibly bad, it was hazy, and I can feel it now in my lungs. Temps were just this side of hot.

I rode PCH to Latigo and up to the top from Santa Monica today. Left at 6:30am. Air quality wasn't an issue at all.

just returned from fry's in Burbank. It's hot and nasty out. The plumes of smoke are nuts! Nuclearesque!

Not too bad at all from Anaheim to Alamitos Bay and back.

Here we go. Know your air quality

http://www2.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/VEMap3D.aspx

It's OK in Newport Beach but looking at the AQ map I see it's 'Moderate' around OC. Felt OK after today's club ride but was not feeling so good yesterday. Humidity + particulates= ride at your own risk. I work outdoors....wonder how much bad air I've sucked down these years.

The "Pyro-Cumulus" clouds are so big now. Ominous warning that same thing could be visiting us any day now. The Irvine fires last winter were downright awful for air quality around here.

Here we go. Know your air quality

http://www2.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/VEMap3D.aspx

I wonder how accurate that is because I just live over in Los Feliz, that's pretty close and it says air is moderate. With the amount of ash and such, I'd say it's worse.

For me to get to Altadena and the Angeles Crest foothills is a simple trip up the 2 freeway, to the 210, Exit Fair Oaks, and north of that is pretty much on fire, it's not that far.

Crap, here comes the smoke. Just noticed a slight wind shift here (SSW) and sure enuf we have smoke in the air down here in OC.

Crap, here comes the smoke. Just noticed a slight wind shift here (SSW) and sure enuf we have smoke in the air down here in OC.

The smoke brings us closer, we're all breathing the same crap :D

Close your windows, stay indoors, run your fans.

I wonder how accurate that is because I just live over in Los Feliz, that's pretty close and it says air is moderate. With the amount of ash and such, I'd say it's worse.

For me to get to Altadena and the Angeles Crest foothills is a simple trip up the 2 freeway, to the 210, Exit Fair Oaks, and north of that is pretty much on fire, it's not that far.


Not accurate at all and can't rely on it. I live in Sunland. Mnt. Lukens is right up the street. For my area, the aqmd site has consistantly read moderate. That's a joke...I've stopped looking at it. Past several days, about 2:00 a.m. I wake up because I can smell the smoke inside our house, even though we have double pane windows, doors are sealed and a/c is running. It's also been snowing for the past several days. The air is just plain toxic and visibility most of the morning is bad. Really bad. Can't see the mountains and it looks like a thick fog. In the evening it gets a little better and then I can see the mountains, but the ashes are still floating around quite thickly.

I rode 45 miles yesterday mostly on the San Gabriel River trail. The smoke was bad in the Encanto park area. South of 210, the air was OK -either I could not smell the smoke because of accomodation of the olfactory senses or the air was close to "normal".
I saw maybe about 1/4 of the number of riders on the trail.

several hours later, I experienced vertigo - my wife thought it was from inhaling smoky air but I can't imagine how that can cause that.

I rode 45 miles yesterday mostly on the San Gabriel River trail. The smoke was bad in the Encanto park area. South of 210, the air was OK -either I could not smell the smoke because of accomodation of the olfactory senses or the air was close to "normal".
I saw maybe about 1/4 of the number of riders on the trail.

several hours later, I experienced vertigo - my wife thought it was from inhaling smoky air but I can't imagine how that can cause that.

I don't know why that happens either. When we had that fire that burned up the mobile home park, I foolishly went out and rode. I was dizzy after a shower and I felt just all around sick. I learned my lesson and haven't done it this time. I was tempted though.:(

How is the air around Anaheim down to Newport Beach? I am going to get out of this haze and find some better air tomorrow down the river trail to Dana Point..

Didn't you peeps get the tweet?

All the clean air riding this weekend was being done on PCH, Camarillo to Malibu! Everybody on two wheels but you where there!

I only had my iPhone but I took a few far far shots of the sun blurred by smoke and the pyrocumulus cloud. It's crazy that this fire can create its own weather!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TuKudpPLZyA/Spyb59ktroI/AAAAAAAABEw/dX-_h9B_PQo/s640/IMG_0004.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_TuKudpPLZyA/SpyczBOYArI/AAAAAAAABFk/gPWv2yBgkgM/s640/IMG_0009.JPG

I took one ironically standing next to my fireplace and basically just from the front of my house. One of Sunland/Tujunga from the 210.

It's been snowing at my house since last week.

I work in Orange... it is some distance from any of the fires. Had to go out at lunchtime. The air quality is extremely bad. The sky looks cloudy when I know its soot. I can't imagine what it is like in LA or down near Hemet/Yucaipa. It's like you can cut the air with a knife.

I know we all like to get outdoors and ride... but maybe it's time to use that gym membership and stay indoors. I will be heading down to the beach tonight where at least an onshore breeze and keeping the air quality better. You all keep safe.

Just got back from a 36 mile loop with Grrrlyrida. We went out to the westside. It didn't seem smokey at all but we were also traveling at a brisk 10 mph so I guess my lungs were able to process the dirt in a timely fashion.