The Unbearable Lateness of Being :: The Anatomy of a Bike Commute
The last thing I thought I’d do when I moved to Southern California was sit in a car all day trying to get to work and back home. Although I spent a few shorts months commuting from Altadena to Woodland Hills one or two times per week, and again a few short months driving to [...]
The Lee Bird Birthday Ride :: 7 Riders, 4 Peaks, 63 Miles on Dirt
“No way! That’s impossible!” The words fell heavy into the fire of his psyche and stoked the flames– enough to send Lee Bird on a grueling one day adventure that would become an annual epic mountain bike ride. The “Lee Bird Birthday Ride”, also known as the “4 Peaks Ride”, began in 2004. An excerpt [...]
Pro Girl Get Together and Tango :: mtbchick Tonya blog
I don’t dislike riding with the guys. In fact I enjoy being pushed to become a stronger cyclist, and the group of guys I ride with actually do not resemble a roving locker room as you might imagine. They are respectful adults who typically behave in a mature manner. It is, however, gratifying riding with women, and especially so with another Pro.
Where Was I When December Arrived? :: mtbchick drives a giant truck or two and lives to tell about it
I was wandering around on my bike and stopped by Dorothy Wong and Jeff Herring’s (www.socalcross.org) place to see how they fared in the apocalyptic wind storm. Jeff was in Chinatown building the course for the weekend’s UCI cyclocross races, and surprisingly Dorothy was at home, frantic and on fire as usual. Naturally, I was [...]
Bewilderment in Altadena
Southern California was swarmed with unusually strong Santa Ana winds Wednesday evening. The San Gabriel Valley was hit particularly hard, downing trees, knocking out the power and generally wreaking havoc on the area. Peak winds were clocked around 97 miles per hour on Whitaker Peak, according to the LA Times.
Lunch with mtbchick :: Roasted Tomato and Orange Bell Pepper Soup with Mushroom Panini
After a cold ride in the mountains, nothing warms the heart and soul like a bowl of hot soup and a sandwich. And here at mtbchick.com kitchen, we’ve turned into a bit of a soup kitchen– where we feed hungry mountain bikers. The latest soup on the menu is the Roasted Tomato and Orange Bell [...]
mtbchick love to Steve Jobs :: Apples of my Eye
“What? What? No!” My out-loud reaction to reading the headline on WSJ.com yesterday morning was followed by tears. I wasn’t exactly sure why the passing of Steve Jobs elicited tears and exasperation, but it did. I don’t think I had ever thought about– before that moment– how much Steve Jobs had impacted my life, and [...]
SingleSpeed :: Riding and Racing on One Gear
My interest in singlespeed mountain biking began a few years ago when I borrowed a Cannondale 1FG (yeah, 1 f*&%^*$ gear) for a ride. (A singlespeed mountain bike is just that: a mountain bike with one gear.) Instantly I was intrigued, hooked. There was something so cerebral about the experience which challenged not only my [...]
The Remnants of Summer 2011 :: Autumn Arriving
It’ s cold today. As a matter of fact, I am freezing. Where is my hoodie? Autumn rears its colorful head. Summer school, that’s what I did this summer. A gardening summer school. Heirloom Tomatoes and Basil, Mint, Thyme, Lemon Verbena, Sage, Shiso– Red and Green– Hops, lettuces, Arugula and Figs scattered about the yard [...]
Summertime in SoCal :: Gardening, Eating, Riding
July has finally introduced summer to Southern California. As such, the summer activities begin. From riding up Lower Sam Merrill with Clif Family winery’s Clif Climber wine pouch, olives, cheese, sausage and so on to gardening, it’s been a great summer. Share the Ride! and Enjoy:
