Nice pics BD. Sure looks flat down there. ;)

You people in Georgia seem to have a lot of traffic-less space and no hills in sight. Nice.

Tried out my new cassette today, a 12-36. Made the hill climb easier.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70050097

I'm going to have to show you boys some 'hills':

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1..._7935657_n.jpg

Here's the profile:
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com...-7-Profile.pdf

If I wasn't so old, I just might join the amateur ride before the pros go at it. HA! (I like to kid myself):
http://www.letapeducalifornia.com/


STAGE 7 - Claremont to Mt. Baldy, May 21
ROUTE DETAILS

Day: Sat, May 21
Start: Claremont
Finish: Mt. Baldy
Start Time: tbd
Miles: 75.8
KM: 121.9
End ETA: tbd

<DIV id=city-descriptions>If the Stage 6 individual time trial created some separation between the contenders and the chasers, Stage 7 will be the ultimate test of the rider’s resolve to capture the yellow jersey. Did they leave it all on the road in Solvang or did they hold back enough to survive one of the most difficult stages in the history of bicycle racing in the USA? It’s been called the Queen’s Stage and the first true mountain top finish in the Amgen Tour of California’s history. It has been compared to the epic stages of the European Grand Tours. This is the training ground for many of the local racers in southern California, but only a handful has done the entre route and none have done it after six days of racing over 700 miles! There is no question that the winner of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California will be decided on the final 15 switchbacks to the finish on Mt Baldy.

The race begins in the college town of Claremont. The Claremont Colleges are universally regarded as one of the best college consortiums in the world. Two neutral circuits in Claremont will get the rider’s ready for the first climb of the day. Just 3.5 miles from the start, the riders will face an eight mile climb to the Village of Baldy and their first KOM. An acute left turn at the summit will provide them another mile of climbing up Glendora Ridge Road. From here they have 12 miles of narrow and twisting roads that gradually descend to a fast and technical descent down the backside of Glendora Mountain Rd. The vistas are spectacular throughout the Angeles National Forest. Another descent down East Fork will take the riders to Hwy 39 and the town of Azusa. Heading east, the race dips into the City of Glendora for the only Sprint of the day. At this point, the number of flat miles for Stage 7 has dwindled to less than two and there are still nearly 30 miles to the finish.

A left turn onto Glendora Mountain Road and it is “Game On”. The next KOM is a nine mile climb. That is followed by 12 miles of a slight climb back to Baldy Village. A left turn back onto Baldy Road will see the race gain 1,000’ in just three miles…and the real climbing has not even started! At Ice House Canyon, the route makes a hard left turn and the sign to the ski area points towards the sky. Over the next 2.5 miles, the riders will face 10 switchbacks on a road that is so steep that many of the race vehicles cannot make it to the top. At 1.2 miles to go, the road straightens out. The finish line can be seen ahead. At .25 miles to go, the route makes a hard left and the racers face a final five switchbacks to the finish line. This will be the stage where legends are made and winners are decided.

I've ridden that hill. It's ok.

We have a good share of low traffic areas at least some of the time where i live. But I only see long stretches with no hills in sight when I travel a good ways from here. I live right on the Fall Line, the ancient coastline running from Columbus to Augusta. To the southeast of the line it gets flatter and flatter. To the northwest it gets hillier and hillier. Right here on the line has many small hills, some rather steep.

I like a good mix of hilly and flat, not too much of either.

The best of both worlds.

Rode with NealH today. Our plan was to ride the upcoming Tour de Lure route but neither of us loaded the course into our Garmin 800 and the cue sheet was difficult to follow. There are so many route markings in the area so it got a bit confusing at times. We added about 10 miles getting off course and I'm sure that increased the climbing too. We ended up with just over 75 miles and 5500' of climbing in around 5:30 ride time. We did make a stop for lunch in Chimney Rock and had many stops at intersections trying to figure out the way to go. Guess I had better read my Garmin manual. :o

The weather couldn't have been better though. We rode in summer kit all but the first hour of the ride. It did shower on us towards the end of the ride and it actually felt good to me. Rain in Feb. on the bike in summer kit and it felt good. :love: It's been a long two weeks on the bike for me and I'm halfway through the third week's effort and I can tell. I'm tired. Today's ride at times was a struggle. Can't wait for a rest week coming up soon. :thumb:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70499893

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_3669new.jpg
Lots of short steep climbs today.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...MG_3672new.jpg
Lake Lure.

yes -- and just did beat the high winds
 

to answer the orginal question -- yes. First time since Saturday Feb. 12 though. Our weather has been nasty this winter and I have had to make a few trips out of town that interfered with my cycling time.

Today's ride had to be squeezed in between too cold a temps in the early morning and high winds that started about 11:00. When I set out the temp was 48* and I had an 8 to 10mph headwind. The winds gradually increased on the 10 mile trek out and by the time I returned to the starting point, they were hitting 20mph with a temp of 68*.

I feel for those guys who may have waited too late to get started as our winds are now gusting up to 55mph. Those of you who live in calmer climes should appreciate what you have. From now until mid-May we will experience regular winds ranging from 25 to 75mph and then some. :giver:

We had some sunny June-like weather here today with highs in the low 80s. Got in a 40-miler and quite a work-out thanks to the wind. It was helpful for a few uphill sections, but I really didn't have many flat sections with tailwind-only. Forgot the sunscreen and the third water bottle. No burn, but it was definintely a three-bottle ride.

Saturdays 101.5 miles.
DOA jogger on sidewalk covered with a white sheet.
Police would not let us proceed..
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=191658

Todays Ride
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=191659http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=191660

12 miles today in temps up to 50. No deceased people by the roadside, thank goodness.

:lol: From what I've seen, June in SC is more like mid 90s and high humidity.

Rode today for the first time on my new bike. First time really riding.

Only rode a short distance today. I helped my daughter's gymnastics coach move her furniture to her new third-floor apartment yesterday and I've been paying the price since then.

Thought I was going to buy the farm today. Guy in Honda Fit comes over a little rise opposing me and heads straight for me in the opposite lane. Had about 2 seconds before I would have had to head for the ditch. Apparently the guy was daydreaming. Headline would have been "50+er runs over 50+er".

Other wise a good 23 mile ride in 40f weather after a 4"snow.

28 miles in nice but chilly weather. It was a good recovery pace and I tried out the new clip-on fenders I just bought by riding through any puddles left over from yesterday's rain storm.

The weather was iffy here, but I managed to get in a 25 mile ride with some hills. This will be the last ride for me for a while, I'm having rotator cuff surgery this week.

Good luck with the surgery. It looks like you'll have a bit of time to heal up before McKenzie Pass is ready for riding this year.

Thanks, and yes, McKenzie Pass in late May would be really nice.

20 miles yesterday @ 17.2. It was sunny, but chilly. I wanted an easy ride, but a crosswind complicated that. It was different to see snow on the peaks.

Seven of us rode 45 miles yesterday on just a glorious day. We circled the Monterey Peninsula, rode through Carmel, and down to Point Lobos, where we turned around. Lots of climbing, lots of sun - cool temperatures, fabulous time!

Where did you pick up the old man?

Looks like a wonderful ride. I assume that you are the 7th rider taking the picture?

The wife of the "old man" took the picture. That old man is a very fast rider, and was a sub six minute miler in marathons in his day! Here's another picture, that he took, his wife is in it. I'm the little thing all the way to the right.