Bicycle Ride to Pasadena

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Mout Fuji
originally uploaded by David Godden.

Today we road through the San Gabriel Mountain foothills on our way to Pasadena for coffee. The skies cleared for a while today after so many weeks of rain.

I have enclosed a picture taken from a vantage point a small way up the road to Mount Fuji thinking that you would appreciate the view. Our ride today was not as spectacular as this but you get the idea anyway. Every Sunday, the Velo Monrovia bicycle group from “Stan’s” place heads out around 8:00 in the morning; summer time take off is at 07:00 give or take the stragglers showing up a little late. Today was no exception. Our trip was quicker than usual due to an overabundance of male testosterone that pops up every so often.

Picture this, several itchy racehorses couped up for three weeks due to rain. The first clear day and all of the riders gather at the old mill. No one can keep their horses in check very well and the best thing to do is let them run off their excessive energy. After ten miles or so of dead out running the horses are easier to control and everyone is happy. Such was the setting today.

Instead of horses, picture thirty or so bicycle riders with too much TV under their belts and glycogen to burn. Our ride today started out fast and speeded up until the rest stop. Unfortunately I was dropped but was able to close in at the appointed rest stop as the lead riders tired so that I was only less than thirty seconds behind. No one noticed that I was a little bit off the back, thank God. The rest of the group straggled in after five to ten minutes or so. Its always nice to stay with the lead, it makes for tall tales later.

After the rest stop the group was softened up enough to ride on together. Comrades in arms, warriors all, beat the path back to home and family. Another day full of laughs, lies and friendship.