Sunday ride around the mountain

I planned a ride this Sunday morning with a couple of friends; one of them (J) used to ride more and is very fit but hasn’t done anything much more than a mile commute for a year or so the other (N) is a top end cyclist who lives and breathes cycling, I’m in the middle so it’s a bit of a spread in levels.

Classic rides

Old Schwinns outside a shop

Bike dilemmas

I have had my Motobecane Mirage SL for about 4 years now and I’ve ridden over 5,000 fairly hard miles on it; that’s pretty good for a bike purchased for just under $450 (USD).

I’ve written previously about it here

It’s been very good to me and I can’t really fault it at all.  Now though it’s getting a little old and some significant parts are in need of replacement.

Back on the bike (it’s not all about cameras)

Now that I am moved and (mostly) unpacked I have been getting out on the bike again. As you will have noticed I am close to some beautiful landscapes which is encouraging me out more, in fact the picture above is from just a few minutes into my first ride from the new place.  

Cycling is not dangerous

So I have talked a little about this before and I read some things recently that prompted me to mention this again.

As a cyclist I often hear “oh… you must be brave (crazy) cycling on these streets” or “you have to wear a helmet!” or “What? you cycled here?!… on the road?”  

Riding Verdugo – chasing the sunset

You may or may not have noticed that I have not mentioned cycling much recently and to be honest it’s because I haven’t been riding as much.  But my belly is in serious need of control so I am trying to get back into full riding condition.

I didn’t realise how out of condition I was until Tuesday when I decided to ride with a group up Verdugo mountain which is close to me.  

Err… another bike too

Okay call me crazy but you can never have enough bikes.

Up in the mountains again

This Sunday I had time for a ride and so decided to go off-road again.  This time I decided to stay close to home and as I live on the foothills of the Verdugo mountains it seemed the obvious choice.  

Great ride – Santa Monica Mountains

Went for a really good ride this weekend off-road for a change in the Santa Monica mountains.

It wasn’t a route that demanded a high level of skill but was just challenging enough for me as my first time offroad for almost a year and for one of our number (J) who only had a hybrid commuter bike – our leader (T) had led me to believe it was going to be mostly fire road so I invited J on that basis; he enjoyed it anyway (I think).

Four of us set off from Caballero Trail head  (34.136751, -118.546075) where there was plenty of roadside parking (as well as a car park further up); the single track trail was instantly interesting as we negotiated many twists, turns and bumps.

Lucky to have Griffith Park on my doorstep

 

Griffith Park in LA is such a great place, I cycle there almost every week but it’s good for lots more especially as it also has within it’s boundaries; Autry National Center, Bicycle Rental, Greek Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, Griffith Park Southern Railroad, L.A. Equestrian Center, L.A. Live Steamers, L.A. Zoo, Pony Rides and Travel Town (not to mention great views over the city and of the Hollywood sign).

Weekend ride – let’s go off Road!

Looking forward to the weekend as myself and a few friends are finally getting around to taking our bikes on a little off-road action.  As you know I have four bikes and the mountain bike is yet to get an outing since it arrived in October (at least nothing beyond a test ride to check it worked after re-assembly).  I think it will also be the first ride this year when all three of us will be riding together as so far one or other of us has been busy.

So next week I will give you the low-down on our ride in  Sullivan Canyon, CA.

Bike number 4 – Voodoo!

I have had this bike for a little more than a year.  It’s had the least use in that time.  I know I want to go offroad but opportunities seem less than for road work especially when you have been commuting by bike a lot.

Bike number 3 – The Motobecane

Time I added the third post in this series

I guess this would be my favourite bike on the basis that I ride it the most – approx 4 times a week on average (must ride more).

Bike number two – the single speed

I’ve had this Montague Boston longer than any of my other current bikes (though not in this exact configuration).  It’s not my favourite ride but it’s interesting and has been very useful – really it enabled my re-interest in cycling so I am very fond of it from that point of view. Not that I ever stopped cycling, I have commuted by bike more less regularly for every job I have had bar one.