PingWin.com - Mountain bike trips

The January 1st 2004 ride - In Uncle Louie and Rob's eyes...
January 1st 2004 ride, according to Uncle Louie: Out with the old and in with the new! I did a bit over 16 rad mountain miles today starting at the top of Reseda with 12 of my homies: Georgie, Joey, Vicky (that one doesn't seem to work very well), Jammy (neither does that one), Stevie, Davey, Davy and Davie, Deano, Robbie, Tali and Matty - a baker's dozen of overstuffed donuts on bikes. Pictures, courtesy of Tal and Rob, should follow shortly. The smartest of us, Vic, showed up without his shoes, but demonstrating what a trooper he is, he went home, got his shoes (or maybe Fran threw them at him for daring to come home so early with such a lame excuse), drove to Topanga State Park and met up with us on the trails. What a man! Nice to know our tax dollars are not being wasted. The rest of us (and Vic when he finally caught us) went exploring, taking dirt Mulholland to the new Sarania trail, where we were dazed, confused and lost. But we did eventually make it down to Sarania where we hit the road over to Natoma, where we also got turned around and lost trying to climb back up to dirt Mulholland. But we made it, and we found Vic thanks to modern technology in the form of walkie talkies. We were all overcome with emotions at our reunion with Vic. We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we . . . well, this being a PG-13 report, I dare not go any farther. Suffice it to say, none of us will ever be the same again. On we went, climbing up to Hub Junction and then to Eagle Rock for some sumptuous views of the world for as far as the eye can see. That's not saying much for me ever since Jamshyd performed his wizardry on my eyes, but I'm told it was quite spectacular. It was at the top of Eagle Rock that his Royal Pain in the Ass, J.D.K., informed us that we were to each make a prediction for the coming year. I started and ended this charade with my usual panache and style (translation: I embarrassed myself yet again), by predicting that 2004 would have 365 days in it. I was mobbed with laughter as everyone pointed out to me that 2004 is a leap year. Nuff said. We completed the Eagle loop and headed back for our cars. Everyone but Joe gathered at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for after ride refreshments. Now, we all know from Alison/Alyson/Allison (I imagine one of these is correct - they do all sound the same) that Joe's old excuse that she wanted him home early is a fabrication on the part of Joe. Not that I'm calling his credibility into question, but he clearly cannot be trusted on this one issue. Everyone offered to pay for Joe to take that excuse away, but he bowed out saying he doesn't like coffee (even when it's free! imagine that!). The rest of us met, however, and had a wonderful time talking all about Joe. And while we were there, we were converted to the Mormon faith by some traveling crusaders. This was a great way to start 2004. I hope we have many more rides and adventures together this year. Hell, I might even show up for a few more dirt rides, seeking a bit of balance between the road and the mountains! Uncle "Yin and Yang" Louie January 1st 2004 ride, according to Rob: Happy New Year I thought I would jot down a brief outline of today's RCY Mountain Bike Ride #1 for 2004, hoping that Uncle Louie, who today graced our dirt with his presence, would follow with one of his superb commentaries. We had 13 people show up this morning at the top of Reseda to start the new year off right--on a mountain bike ride. Some were tired from partying, a few were apparently still drunk, and one of us even forgot his cycling shoes (but don't expect me to name names....Vittorio). Below is a picture of all the people who started the ride except for the photographer and the unnamed guy who had to return home for his shoes. To add a little novelty to today's ride, The King suggested (aka ordered us) to take dirt Mulholland west to the singletrack trail that took us down to Serrania Park. We then rode the street over to Natoma Ave. (we waved as we passed by Nelson's house--we miss you) and rode the singletrack at the end of the street back up to dirt Mulholland. Turning back to the east, we rode back to Fireroad 30 (where we met back up with the now shoed Vic), up to the Hub and then over to Eagle Rock where we shot the breeze, refueled, and admired the view on a cool, crisp New Year's Day. We finished the rest of the Eagle Rock Loop back to the Hub and eventually back to the cars. Most of us then went to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for some more refueling, yenta-ing, and generally enjoying the first day of the new year. Hope yours was a good beginning, too. Hopefully Uncle Louie will add his commentary later. Also check out some great pictures taken by Tal at his website http://www.pingwin.com/RCY/ Respectfully submitted, Robco Baggins

The January 1st 2004 ride - In Uncle Louie and Rob's eyes...

January 1st 2004 ride, according to Uncle Louie:

Out with the old and in with the new! I did a bit over 16 rad mountain miles today starting at the top of Reseda with 12 of my homies: Georgie, Joey, Vicky (that one doesn't seem to work very well), Jammy (neither does that one), Stevie, Davey, Davy and Davie, Deano, Robbie, Tali and Matty - a baker's dozen of overstuffed donuts on bikes. Pictures, courtesy of Tal and Rob, should follow shortly.

The smartest of us, Vic, showed up without his shoes, but demonstrating what a trooper he is, he went home, got his shoes (or maybe Fran threw them at him for daring to come home so early with such a lame excuse), drove to Topanga State Park and met up with us on the trails. What a man! Nice to know our tax dollars are not being wasted.

The rest of us (and Vic when he finally caught us) went exploring, taking dirt Mulholland to the new Sarania trail, where we were dazed, confused and lost. But we did eventually make it down to Sarania where we hit the road over to Natoma, where we also got turned around and lost trying to climb back up to dirt Mulholland. But we made it, and we found Vic thanks to modern technology in the form of walkie talkies. We were all overcome with emotions at our reunion with Vic. We laughed, we cried, we hugged, we . . . well, this being a PG-13 report, I dare not go any farther. Suffice it to say, none of us will ever be the same again.

On we went, climbing up to Hub Junction and then to Eagle Rock for some sumptuous views of the world for as far as the eye can see. That's not saying much for me ever since Jamshyd performed his wizardry on my eyes, but I'm told it was quite spectacular. It was at the top of Eagle Rock that his Royal Pain in the Ass, J.D.K., informed us that we were to each make a prediction for the coming year. I started and ended this charade with my usual panache and style (translation: I embarrassed myself yet again), by predicting that 2004 would have 365 days in it. I was mobbed with laughter as everyone pointed out to me that 2004 is a leap year. Nuff said.

We completed the Eagle loop and headed back for our cars. Everyone but Joe gathered at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for after ride refreshments. Now, we all know from Alison/Alyson/Allison (I imagine one of these is correct - they do all sound the same) that Joe's old excuse that she wanted him home early is a fabrication on the part of Joe. Not that I'm calling his credibility into question, but he clearly cannot be trusted on this one issue. Everyone offered to pay for Joe to take that excuse away, but he bowed out saying he doesn't like coffee (even when it's free! imagine that!). The rest of us met, however, and had a wonderful time talking all about Joe. And while we were there, we were converted to the Mormon faith by some traveling crusaders.

This was a great way to start 2004. I hope we have many more rides and adventures together this year. Hell, I might even show up for a few more dirt rides, seeking a bit of balance between the road and the mountains!

Uncle "Yin and Yang" Louie

January 1st 2004 ride, according to Rob:

Happy New Year

I thought I would jot down a brief outline of today's RCY Mountain Bike Ride #1 for 2004, hoping that Uncle Louie, who today graced our dirt with his presence, would follow with one of his superb commentaries.

We had 13 people show up this morning at the top of Reseda to start the new year off right--on a mountain bike ride. Some were tired from partying, a few were apparently still drunk, and one of us even forgot his cycling shoes (but don't expect me to name names....Vittorio). Below is a picture of all the people who started the ride except for the photographer and the unnamed guy who had to return home for his shoes.

To add a little novelty to today's ride, The King suggested (aka ordered us) to take dirt Mulholland west to the singletrack trail that took us down to Serrania Park. We then rode the street over to Natoma Ave. (we waved as we passed by Nelson's house--we miss you) and rode the singletrack at the end of the street back up to dirt Mulholland. Turning back to the east, we rode back to Fireroad 30 (where we met back up with the now shoed Vic), up to the Hub and then over to Eagle Rock where we shot the breeze, refueled, and admired the view on a cool, crisp New Year's Day.

We finished the rest of the Eagle Rock Loop back to the Hub and eventually back to the cars. Most of us then went to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for some more refueling, yenta-ing, and generally enjoying the first day of the new year.

Hope yours was a good beginning, too.

Hopefully Uncle Louie will add his commentary later. Also check out some great pictures taken by Tal at his website http://www.pingwin.com/RCY/

Respectfully submitted,

Robco Baggins