The Rider

The air is dry. The sun bares down relentlessly on all underneath its vast umbrella. The asphalt seemingly glows under the intensity of summers wrath.

The rider n a quiet highway has no quick escape. To continue forward or to retreat both will require the same amount of time, the same amount of suffering in the heat. He chooses to press forward.

Caught in a monotnous cadence of pedaling, struggling to hear the music from his Ipod. One speaker has already broken, creating a steady beat in one ear, and an eerie silence in the other.

A car hasn't passed for as long as he can remember, adding to the solitude. Peering at the landscape around, as sweat continually streams past his eyes, he sees cactus, dry brush, and other plants which find home in this dry high desert enviroment.

Up the road there are two blackbirds on the ground. As the rider approaches, they swiftly ascend to safety above. The rider looks down and eyes the roadkill the birds are keen on finishing, once passed the birds return with a delighted squawk.

There must be shade around, the rider thinks to himself. But none can be found as the rider trudges even farther uphill, up the road towards more pain, more suffering.

Still no cars have passed. Usually there are a few on this highway, though never many. Maybe it is too hot for even cars to be here today.

Up ahead he sees a small turnout off the highway. There is a small tree blocking the suns rays, barely big enough to be sufficient. Quickly the rider pedals to the shade, dismounting his bike, then crouches in this miniscule area of shade.

Grabbing his water bottle of his bicycle, he drinks the last two sips of warm water. Looking around he sees no running water. There will not be anymore for miles, miles of uphill, miles of sun.

Gritting his teeth, the rider begins to remount his bike, the sooner he leaves, the sooner he will escape the dry mouth which is plaguing him now.

There is a sound from down the highway. A car. As it approaches the rider hears a faint sound of European techno music bouncing off the mountains walls. Peering down the highway, the rider eyes a strange shaped car rapidly approaching, tires squeeling as the rubber clings to the asphalt on each turn.

The windows are down, yet the rider cannot make out the occupants, just black hair flailing in the wind, seeming to dance with the beat of the music.

Suddenly the car is by the rider. It turns sharply into the turnout, without slowing down, somehow maintaining its balance with the road.

With an abrupt stop, the car creates a cloud of dust, blocking the view of the car from the rider. As the cloud slowly clears, a blue and silver car sits in front of the rider. A strange barrel of sorts is attached to where the rear seat would normally be, but on this car, the rear has been removed.

Both doors swing open and out step two young ladies, both dressed in closely fitting white tank tops and black jeans. Each with black hair blowing in a breeze which the rider cannot feel.

They approach and speak.

"Want a Red Bull?"

The rider suddenly realizes the strange car is nothing other than the red bull mini cooper.

"Yeah, I'd actually love one right now."

A brief conversation, a picture taken of the passenger handing the rider the red bull, then the car is gone.

Stunned by what has just happened the rider pinches himself, but he isn't dreaming. There is still a cold red bull in his hand. He drinks it.

Suddenly, like he has grown wings, the rider mounts his stallion and finishes his ride with his new found energy.

Fact or fiction? I'll let you decide.

At the end of a long week

This past week I finished school for the semester. I'll be taking the summer off, focusing on work, racing, and other things.

The racing started fast. On Tuesday night I did an hour long weekly crit down in Long Beach, fun race on a great course in a nice park. I finished mid pack, I made my moves, chased down most the breaks, mostly using it as just a training ride, not really going for the win. It was good times, if I can I plan to head down there some more this year.

On Saturday was the annual San Fernando Criterium. Fortunatley I won't be a cat 5 for very much longer because the start was at 7:30, that means I woke up at 5 on Saturday...ME! Anyways, course was 6 corners with a false flat to the finish line each time around. It was the first time I had raced with teammates, only 3 of us but we made sure to lead the pack across the line on several laps, just to get that Bearclaw jersey in the eyes of the crowd.

I made a move at the last turn before heading to the line in the final lap. It stuck and I pulled a huge gap over the field. Crossing the line feeling victorious, I was suddenly stunned to hear the race directors decided that we should go one more lap...later citing that the race was set up for multiple people to sprint to the line, not for some joker to go across by himself. Anyways, I now had one more lap to go and thought I just might hold on. I didn't. I got caught somewhere close to the line, but still finished top 10.

Sunday's crit was in Glendale, only a four corner course but it was fun. We had a later start time which I was thankful of. For the most part the field sstayed together. Riders tried to attack, including myself, but as I've seen in cat 5 races...if you attack, you will be by yourself. It seems to be easier to not work hard for the majority of the race, so thats what most riders do.

I did witness my first crash in a race, first corner of the last lap, 2 riders direct next to me on the outside had a bonding experience, it was pretty loud, but as I rode away inches from being taken down with them, all I could do was chuckle. The race came to a sprint, my positioning was a little farther back than it should have but I still took 9th, by inchs.
(All the pics are from Sundays Bicycle John's Grand Prix in Glendale...taken by mom, thanks!)

Charlton-Chilao-Horse Flats

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Today was a good one. I got a chance to ride with Ben and Michele who recently returned from a month in Thailand, judging by their stories, it sounds like an awesome place.
We piled the bikes on and in my car and made our way up the crest, although the weather in the basin was OK, once up in the mountains it was nothing but clear skies and clean air. I have to say I often take for granted the beauty of the mountains which I have spent so much time in over the years, but going up there with Ben and Michele, who have not been there at all or for a real long time, helped to put back in perspective the treasure nestled so close to the madness of Los Angeles.
We got to Charlton where the ride starts and I quickly realized I forgot socks... Ben quickly realized he forgot his MTB shoes. Fortunate for me, Ben had an extra pair of socks in his pockets...? But, sadly my pockets were empty of extra shoes to help Ben. He was able to make due with the shoes he had though and rode surprisingly well with the shoes he had. Fortunately his clipless pedals had a platform, but that only helps a little.
The ride was great, the forest service was cutting up dead trees near where we started,leaving a pleasant scent of pine in the air, a good change to the smell of LA air I am well accustomed to.
We stopped at Horse Flats and pulled out our climbing shoes we had all brought and gave some bouldering problems a try. I'll admit, it's been awhile since I've climbed and to say the least I was a bit rusty, however, Ben and Michele rocked it!
We finished out the trail, all of us riding excellent. Ben met a yucca plant face to face which drew some good blood from his face, unfortunately, the camera battery had already died. The crash was pretty sweet though, something he should be proud of!
We all made it up the brutally steep climb at the end then headed back to civilization, that is all.