Mount Baldy Century Ride Report with Gratitude
Chuck Bramwell
We had a really good and very hard ride on Saturday.
Rather than bore you with a bunch of words, you can see it every step of the way in the 213 photos at
https://plus.google.com/photos/117894114962436854857/albums/6131891970971976305
Buried in there are a few short 10 second videos to give you a glimpse of all of the “action”.
The heat went up. I was seeing 95 degrees on my handlebar for a couple of hours as I slowly made my way up Glendora Mountain Road then Glendora Ridge Road. It’s a basic Bramwell speed theorem: As the heat goes up, my speed goes down. It wasn’t quite a Thermonuclear Meltdown but it was WAY TOO HOT for March.
My Strava report is at https://www.strava.com/activities/275679362 with 110.8 Miles and 10,279 Feet of Climbing.
I was able to appreciate this ride and am very grateful to be able to tackle such a thing. One year ago, I was in a paceline crash and am so grateful that only broke my Scapula. A lot of people put me back together again.
My wife, Carol, was so understanding … she is such an amazing blessing in my life and is my best friend.
Jill Kahler took one look at me and knew just what we needed to do. She had me working and strengthening all of the muscle groups in my body that weren’t injured shortly after the crash. She pushed me to get out there and walk everyday then get right on the Ergometer and get the blood flowing. Robert Kahler told me to get out of that sling as fast as I could so the Shoulder wouldn’t seize up … it was amazing how fast I was on the road to a “Frozen Shoulder”. I’m a big fan of Robert and Jill … Jill’s at www.MrJills.com and Robert is at www.CyclingPros.com
Guy Dickson showed me the painful wall walking and arm circle exercises that helped keep my shoulder from freezing. This was critical and I appreciate it greatly.
Ruth Meltzer was my Physical Therapist and she challenged me over and over again to work through the tough and torturous exercises that made me stronger. Ruth works for Coury and Buehler Physical Therapy at http://cbphysicaltherapy.com/irvine/ and she rocks!!
Tons of friends and family sent me notes and positive messages. I am so grateful to each of these people who made a such a difference in my recovery. I was blessed that my accident wasn’t worse. I was blessed with a whole bunch of people who put me together again. Thank you!!
Each of us are walking miracles. Cycling is so complicated … it takes so many muscles and bones and hard work to be able to do what we do!! I am so grateful for every ride.
I am very grateful to have been able to see the beauty in this course on Saturday.
I had forgotten how hard this route was but also how beautiful is was. Thanks to all who came out for a great day of cycling.
The following are the results. There was a 2 mile detour around some construction on Lakeview.
Jerry Brown – 111 Miles all the way up to the Ski Lifts – Jerry is an amazing person and he’s 70 years young!! How cool is that?
Rick Burneson – 114 Miles with 10,446 Feet at https://www.strava.com/activities/275654647 with an EPIC Suffer Score of 634!!!! Rick had to add some miles to buy a tire on the way back. He was the first to summit all the way up to the Ski Lifts and was riding great.
Geoff Glass – who wrote: “I made it back to car around 6:15. I thought you guys were ahead of me, but I did not do the ski lifts. My Cateye said 100.15. The riverview construction pushed me over a hundred!
Tired but glad I did it!”
Garth Powell – 100 Miles who wrote: “I decided that the 96 mile option was plenty for my first ride in months. I have some serious months of training to get my fitness back, but I did a little better than I feared I might. Thanks for leading this, and especially for sharing some desperately needed Gatorade four miles shy of the Mt. Baldy stop. I hate Camelbacks as they're like a thermal blanket on me and serve to make my hydration problem even worse. However, I intend to ride that route solo now that I've done it, and I think the trick for me will be to stuff about 12 ounces of bottled water in by back pocket before the GMR climb, and dispose of the empty bottle at the lodge stop. I used that trick for solo reverse "bad little brother" runs going over Mt View road in Mendocino County (can't quite be done with two bottles regardless of weather). Take care and ride well!”
Tony Rodriguez and Camille Longino cranked their Silver Bullet Tandem on this tough course!! Tony wrote: “Thank you for organizing another great ride. A great route, very nice riders and what beautiful scenery in Carbon Cyn, around Puddingstone and up GMR. The Silver Bullet showed 107 miles and 9002 ft of climbing when it was all said and done! Looking forward to riding with you and the group again soon!”
Mike Salmans met us out in Glendora for his first trip up GMR and GRR. Mike’s Strava is at https://www.strava.com/activities/275641511 with 42 Miles and 5,891 Feet of Climbing. Mike is training for the Breathless Agony and this was a good training ride for him.
Congratulations to these riders.
Chuck
Charles P Griffice
OWN and Century Series sure make a difference in allowing all of us to set goals and thereby regain hope for the future. Great email for this Easter season.
Thanks.
Charlie
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Frank Neal
Hi Chuck,
You just touched my heart.
After being a finisher at 1999 PBP, I was involved in a serious car-bike that nearly killed me. I was in the Constant Care hospital unit for nearly two weeks. I was put together in the hospital by all of the Kings Horsemen/Women and the following physical therapy needed by a Pot Load of caring individuals.
I was put back together, and with the gratitude you shared about all the warriors who know how to reconstruct us , rode on to another 25 Doubles and a CTC Hall of Fame.
I now have a new job. When you were riding the Mt. Baldy century, I was supporting the San Dimas Stage Race. Damned! It was hot! Sunday was not as hot as Friday and Saturday. Friday for the SDSR Time Trials on GMR, it soared to 100*+. It was a brutal day for the Pro’s.
Sunday I was doing my Safe Bicycle Booth at the third stage race at the Expo at the downtown San Dimas Crit and proudly wearing my new green CTC HOF jersey. Who should come up but Bart wearing his Gold TMC jersey?
I said, “Great jersey!” He looked at me and said, “Where did you get that green jersey?” Simple. “I earned it after 50 Doubles”.
The CTC has crossed lines never thought possible. From one Double, to three Doubles, to five Doubles and a volunteer day, to 50 Doubles and a Hall of Fame, to 100 CTC Doubles.
There are just no boundaries to this passion.
I have found my new direction. You will find me driving the red BIKE VAN and wearing a white cowboy hat on CTC Doubles.
Safe Riding to All! – Frank Neal, CTC DataGuy
From: ocwsat...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ocwsat...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Bramwell
Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 12:13 AM
To: Cycling, OCWSatCentury on Google
Cc: Chuck Bramwell
Subject: [OCWSatCentury] Mount Baldy Century Ride Report with Gratitude
We had a really good and very hard ride on Saturday.
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Willie
On Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 12:13:17 AM UTC-7, Chuck wrote:
We had a really good and very hard ride on Saturday.
...................
The heat went up. I was seeing 95 degrees on my handlebar for a couple of hours as I slowly made my way up Glendora Mountain Road then Glendora Ridge Road. It’s a basic Bramwell speed theorem: As the heat goes up, my speed goes down. It wasn’t quite a Thermonuclear Meltdown but it was WAY TOO HOT for March.
My Strava report is at https://www.strava.com/activities/275679362 with 110.8 Miles and 10,279 Feet of Climbing.
I was able to appreciate this ride and am very grateful to be able to tackle such a thing. One year ago, I was in a paceline crash and am so grateful that only broke my Scapula. A lot of people put me back together again.
.........................