merider1

The “Damn, Joel, I’m tiiiired!” ride was stunningly beautiful today with the sun first peeking out and then making it’s full appearance after noon. The Fixer, Magicant and I took off from Sherman Oaks a little after 7:00 am and headed west. Joel really knows his side streets, he took us up Dickens and through to Valley Vista, west of Sepulveda. From there, too many roads to say, but a couple were steep! My butt was burning (as were my lungs in the cold air) on both climbs, but we warmed up quickly. We took these surface streets all the way to Mulholland where we stopped for a quick break and headed off on Mulhollund toward Stunt (we skipped that one, thank goodness!).

As some of you know, Mulholland has some good rollers that keep your heart rate up! We hit those and headed up the Rock Store climb (I called Joe a dirty word several times but with a sweet tone in my voice) and over to Westlake. I was supposed to call Awiner so he and friend could join, but like a dumbass, I left his home number at work (not in my cell phone where I should have saved it!). So, we missed him today. Sorry, Adam! And thank you, Bob and Phil, for trying to post today on the defunct forum for me!

When on Westlake, we decided to take a small detour to a restroom before heading off on Potrero Road (I never can spell that street), and ended up blowing 45 minutes! (Although, it was enjoyable with the great company I had for sure – we had coffee and a snack). Once we got going again, I was cold all over again and my legs were tight, but soon, we were climbing on Potrero, and then it was down, down, down. Sweet!...until, we hit the headwinds. OMG! Heavy headwinds, mind you, for well over an hour. Joel and George did their best pulling me (I love men…I really do ), but even with their help, I was dying. Our speed was reduced and we were fatigued!

We finally hit PCH and a short pit stop. We were all hungry and each had a bar, but we knew we had to stop one more time before hitting Latigo. Then it dawned on us. We had just lost at least a good 45 minutes fighting the winds as well as the 45 minute detour. With the daylight issue, we feared Latigo would be a bad choice (the climbing would have slowed me down considerably!). So, we voted for Santa Monica/Sepulveda as our return with the knowledge that we would barely make it back in time. So, off we went. I was so lucky to have the two of them (Joel in front, George in back) on that stretch of PCH from Malibu to Santa Monica. The cars were insane and my stomach was in my throat. I didn’t dare drink anything or not focus on the task at hand. I was inches from Joel’s wheel trying to point out obstacles, etc. for George. It was harrowing, but we made it to the bike path and up the California Inland (I think that’s the name?). That was a short kick in the rear, and I was really getting tired at that point. George and I had split some brownie bites at a prior pit stop, but even those were wearing off, AND we still had Sepulveda ahead of us.

That’s when the real traffic hit us. The cars on there were going upwards of 60 and tons of them. Plus, we were fast losing daylight. But the boys hung with me even as my climbing slowed horribly (such chivalry!). We finally crested and hit the descent back to finish 115 miles in just an inch of daylight! Phew! From this point forward, on rides longer than 100, I’m carrying my HID, just to be safe.

We celebrated with pizza at Antonio’s. Thanks, guys. I really enjoyed your company today. Joel, you are a really strong rider, mister, no matter what you say!

All in all, it was a fabulous ride! I loved it and Joel’s route is very safe. Had we not lost time, we would have made it up Latigo, the original safer option. Although, I’ll admit, had I climbed that 10 mile stretch, I’d be absolutely toast right now! Joel’s route is NOT an easy one, let me tell you! But it’s a great one. Thanks again…but “Damn, Joel, I’m tiiired!”

Pics to follow, I'm still uploading...

jschen

Awesome. Can't wait for pics.

magicant

Well, m.e. pretty much said it all. Great ride, great company. Took a bit longer than I expected because of the headwinds and planned rest stops that weren't there any more (damn grocery store remodel...) so we had to go a little out of our way to find re-fueling.

Stopped at a bike store in Malibu and they didn't have anything to re-fuel with - no gels, no bars, no drinks. Nada. This was while Fixer and m.e. were at a little quick stop getting some Gatorade since the grocery store I planned on hitting was closed off.

The addition of traffic was definitely a drag, but we were flying down that stretch of PCH (once the headwinds finally subsided).

Long rides on short days definitely limits the flexibility -- come on daylight savings time!!

And, the climbing added up to 8200 feet according to my Garmin so definitely a challenge. If we did do the original Latigo route, it would have been close to 10,000 feet (the added elevation of Latigo plus the rollies on Mulholland going back toward Sherman Oaks).

Thanks to m.e. and Fixer for joining - I had a great day.

merider1

8,200 feet! Joel, you said 6-7,000 total when we started the ride this morning! I'm changing the title of this thread to, "Damn, Joel, you liiied!"

jsigone

sounds like a great ride, minus all the cars. I feel you on the head winds, I battled them for only 10 miles and it kicked my butt. I felt like I had a parachute behind me since I'm sitting up ALOT higher now.

Congrats on clicking off another century, I wish I can ride like you guys!!!!

Mr. Beanz

Some friend you are! ...Didn't call Adam for the ride? ...and didn't call me for the PIZZA!

Nice report!

magicant

The Garmin is famous for over-estimating elevation a bit.

But don't you feel good about Butterfield now?

merider1

Thanks, Jeff, and YOU CAN ride like THOSE guys. I ride like I have to stay up or else I'm lost and I want my brownie bites - or, however you wish to interpret that.

merider1

Thanks, Frank. But what up wit dat? ADAM can give me the - but you can't! I mean, really, were you going to drive all the way to Sherman Oaks for Pizza? (GREAT PIZZA CHOICE BY THE WAY, JOEL!).

magicant

Oh, and no one mentioned the snow that was still on the roadside up past Rock Store. Crazy to see that it was still there. Lots of burned hillsides and houses too.

merider1

Hmpf! I think your Garmin UNDERestimated the climbing. My BUTT on the other hand feels differently (if you'd like to feel it, you'll be better able to estimate how much climbing was actually done on our ride today... ) And as for Butterfield, I don't think I want to do it...well, not at the moment anyway. Give me the night to recoop!

cuda2k

I can do that. 8200ft is about 8000ft more than I could do right now, so I'll give you all a big thumbs UP! (goal for 2007 is to become a better climber, as much as one can do in Dallas, Tx. )

merider1

Joel! You ruined the surprise! That's coming in the pics I'm uploading!

merider1

You need to come ride with us, Cuda. We'll whip you in climbing shape in no time!

Mr. Beanz

Who is Frank?

jsigone

ummmm brownies......you're making me crave them now good thing I always stock a box of the easy bake Brownies mixed PB

You're kicking butt too no matter how much you need to draft century last weekend too You ROCK!!! I havn't even done one yet for the yr. I might make an attempt next week, thinking of riding from my house in Escondido up the coast to san onofre on the SS. Iduno what the milage will be

roadfix

Thank you magicant & M.E. for a great ride! Actually my legs feel like butter now... Even if we had plenty of daylight left I think I would have exploded going up Latigo starting at around the 80?? mile mark. Joel is a strong rider and I had trouble keeping up in many spots. Joel and M.E. really made me work hard today. This was not an easy ride. And of course, it's always a blast to ride with M.E.!

merider1

Why, George, that is so sweet of you. Right back at you...

scvroadie

M.E.

Looks like you guys had a great ride today. LA Baby and I finally got our January Century in today. I understand the dark issue, we stopped a little after 5:00, there is no way we could have made it to our homes without lights.

I wanted to thank you for the winds. Your headwinds were our tailwinds on the way back from Ventura to Santa Paula.

merider1

Here is the first batch. Lots of cute men shots! (Hey, I'm allowed as I was the photographer!). A few more pics to follow.

magicant

Where's the picture of your ear?

Great pics, thanks for risking life and limb!

merider1

And some more...look very closely. We have a couple "uphill in the snow" pics for you to enjoy!



Yes, cycling brings out the "kid" in all of us, doesn't it?




Yup, snow on Mulholland, during the Rock Store Climb!


George, showing that, in fact, the snow is real and not me using Photoshop!

merider1

I'm confusing you for some reason with Grumpypig, I think. But I called you Frank last Monday! Is it Fred? I'm sorry, Mr. Beanz...I suck with names and I'm wiped out.

magicant

Are you going schizophrenic from too much riding?

merider1

OMG! I only hit Reply once, I swear! I'm going to go delete four of them.