I am in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. I am 62. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, very near where Jay Leno currently has is garage.

I have a Specialty bicycle I bought used from eBay for $250. I am very happy that I got such a good bicycle for that price. Here in the San Fernando Valley we need a mountain bike even for just riding the streets since there are many hills. I like the freedom of going off-road if I choose. My fantasy is to ride a trail up a mountain but so far the best I can do is to ride to the trailhead.

I think that knee safety is worthwhile. I once asked about knee protection in some other forum and got many rude responses. I wish I could remember what forum that was so I can avoid it. I hope people can at least be nice if they want to say I am being ridiculous.

I have also been trying to fix up Google Maps, with pictures and with corrections. Google does not make it as easy as they could. Also, it seems that things like trails (bicycling and hiking) are not important to Google. About a week ago a father and two sons (I think it was two sons) got lost in the national forest and they said they got lost due to Google Maps. It would help if a bicycling forum could be a place for bicyclists to collaborate on fixing up Google Maps for bicyclists. For example, there is a certain nearby route that would be a preferred route but there is one intersection of it that I am not sure what to do about. Also, there is a bicycle and pedestrian trail that includes an underpass that is a big surprise. It would help for people know to carry a flashlight, even if it is high Noon and 100 degrees outside, a flashlight would help. I have posted pictures in Google Maps so that should help but the area needs more work. I posted comments and the Google Maps reviewer is clueless to what I am trying to say.