I could not resist the title with all the love the Roadeo has had with its model name.
Today was much nicer out than last weekend’s ride across town to the Channel Islands Harbor farmer’s market. Partly cloudy, light breeze and in the upper 50’s not quite shorts weather.
With fair weather for the forecast and working out some touring ideas for the spring I spent some time in the morning putting the Jack Browns back on, pulling the fenders and Roughy Toughys off and rotating the Carradice Nelson longflap back on. I have been dropping a little weight and figure that gives me more loading room on the bike without fear of overload and wonky handling.
Market was a success with the dry weather the farmers are able to get more out of the field and not have as bad of mud to contend with. All three bags, Acorn Hobo, the Frame Bag and Nelson were all stuffed to the max.
It would be a lie if I said there was NO change in handling, but nothing went terrible in any way, no wobbles, shimmy, weird pulling or such as can happen when the load is bigger than rider and bike were meant to transport. Cruising speed through the fields was about the same loaded or not.
Riding no hands was easy as always. All of the above needs to be considered in light of the fact that this bicycle is designed and intended to be a lightweight club racer. I am not advocating that you all ditch the heavier touring bikes to load up the club racer, but knowing how and what you bike is made of and can do is a good thin in my opinion.
The Bounty: 2 Dozen eggs, 2 onions, 3 cloves of garlic, 3 heads of brocoli, 1 cauliflower, a bunch of carrots, bag of beet greens, bunch of collard greens, 7 avocados and a large bag of vegetable chips. Not bad for a lightweight steed burdened with my 215 lb self and all that produce.
Next up is to work out some gear lists and see if I can get it in the bags for some quick S24O spring rides.
Cool and clear this morning in the mid to upper 30’s and snow-capped mountains in the distance. I do something close to this ride almost once a week or more. As you head out the river trail past the old agri-hydro-cracker wasteland the graffiti is always entertaining. Seems like there are always subtle changes.
The Bridge is almost to the right turn out in to the valleys. This creek crossing always shows you just how much a steel frame can flex if you beat it up just right.
Once off of the path it turns into a few miles of county bliss. And then the fence jumper in the road, yes it is no wonder California cows are happy cows.
Then the message to the phone that daddy duty is starting early today, good motivation to make the most of the tailwinds an downhills home,
This ride had been in the works for almost a year. Noel, on of the group from Orange county had Suggested this as a big ride, but it was in the early spring and there were few takers as the days were getting hotter. As the summer time and back to school business started to fall back into its own rhythm, the momentum for this ride started to gather back some of its steam. The date was set for November 13, and it was initially looking like there was going to be a relatively big turnout, almost 10. By friday night people were dropping out, illness, injury, and I think a few may have been intimidated by the elevation profile.
For this ride I had chosen my Rivendell Roadeo, with a low 30/28 gear combination. Not sure if this was brave or silly considering the elevation gains planned for the day. The only thing I changed from my standard set up on the bike for the ride was the front tire. I went with a 35 mm Schwalbe Marathon XR for the added durability on the front end while heading into an area likely to have goathaed thorns and sharp rocks on the downhill side. I had a well broken in Jack Brown on the rear with a spare in my bag. I can handle a rear flat on the way down, but hate losing the front tire on dirt going fast, it has never gone well in the past.
The day started early for me as I was traveling the furthest, 120 miles, to get there. The price you pay for associating with guys who generally live 2 to 4 counties south of you. The weather was crystal clear and I was driving past wide blue skies fringed by the ocean and my own local mountain ranges. The travel and new adventure bug had bitten and I was on my way, down the HWY 1 along the coast, to the 10 and then the 5 deep through parts of industrial Los Angeles that were so far from my intended goal. Once past Anaheim you could start to see the mountains and the excitement was building, this was going to be a good day.
We all met up to start the ride in the small town of Silverado in eastern Orange County. Even with Santa Ana conditions the wind and temperatures were very pleasant at the lower elevations. The group totaled out at 5: Doug, David, James, Jenny and myself. This has to be one of the most amazing kept secrets in Orange County, it is in the bottom of a tree-lined valley houses up both sides and a small little western town as you head up into the mountains along Silverado Canyon Rd on the way to Maple Springs.
The town gives way to a single paved lane into the national park. The whole way is steady but manageable climbing.
The pave gives way to dirt somewhere near the transition to Maple Springs road. This is a jeep track and therefore open to vehicular traffic. We did encounter some 4x4s, but everybody was pleasant and fairly respectful, even the kids with coolers full of beer.
Shockingly there were only a handful of people making use af such a spectacular resource in such a densely populated area. We all pressed up the hill at a respectable pace, sure to take breaks along the way for food, water, pictures and to just enjoy the space. I love the fact that these group rides actually slow me down a bit, when I do this on my own I am wasted by the end, but with the group and taking breaks the whole day is more fun and less exercise. As altitude gained the views became more expansive. Almost all of the eastern LA basin and the mountain ranges beyond were visible.
Onward and upward we made it to the saddle with the Harding truck Trail. From the saddle there were clear views of Orange county and Catalina Island offshore. The weather was much cooler than at the lower elevation and the wind was howling. The decision was made to forgo the out and back leg to the summit and complete the loop along Harding Truck trail. A few hours of climbing gave way to over an hour of what seemed like endless clean fire road bombing downhill.
The trail came to an end at the small town of Modjeska. Back on the pavement it was time ot complete the loop back to the cars.
Thanks to Doug for putting together a detailed map. . Five hours of riding, 25 miles and over 3800 ft of climbing not too bad.
We capped the ride with a meal and some liquids at the Silverado Cafe, then back into the car for one of the most beautiful sunsets and then the slog through LA back home.
The company and the ride made the drive well worth it. The bikes and riders all performed well. Not a single mechanical for the whole group and only one minor spill. Also, a big pat on the back for Jenny who had never ridden anything like this ever proper to this ride. Welcome to the world of underbiking. Next group ride is December 11, Dirt Mulholland. . While the group is based around Rivendell owners, this is not really an exclusive thing, if you are thinking of trying out the world of road bikes on dirt, it is going to be a good time.
It has been the start of our cold weather this week, and some adjustments are still being made in the layering system. I love my Patagonia Houdini that my wife bought me for my birthday this year. It is the perfect super lightweight shell for knocking the edge off of the wind chill. The whole thing zips into its own pocket and ends up about the size of my fist, it weighs next to nothing and is almost always by or on my bike. The downside, as evidenced by this panda portrait on my way up into the hills, the thing is a parachute. The drawcord system keeps it pretty tight around the face, but looking at this picture I know why it felt like I had a parachute on, not just a side effect of the 43deg chill. I have been keeping the hood rolled up into a little ball in the back, but this morning my ears were freezing. The newest version has the hood zip into the collar, but in true patagonia fashion is now being offered in shades of dirt, not the best for playing in traffic.
I will continue to love and wear this jacket, but wear something warmer around my ears on mornings like this. I am curios if others have found a better cycling specific wind jacket that is super lightweight as well?
