[Speeddog]

The group of somewhat haggard looking hooligans gathered promptly at 9:15 AM on the doorstep of ProItalia in Glendale.

After a little BS'ing and freeloading of ProItalia coffee, we all set off for the infamous Angeles Crest Highway. Yours truly led the brigade, starting a disturbing trend of leading everyone past the required turns in the route, giving all riders lots of U-Turn practice.

A quick stop at Shell for most of us to gas up, and it was off up the hill!

The dire warnings of Pashnit and other internet references to the CHP presence on the hill were wild overstatements for the day. A grand total of 1 (one) Chippie was spotted ...

A fairly spirited ride wound up through the fast sweepers, moderately open straights and impressive scenery of ACH. A pair of local hotshoes jumped into the middle of our pack, making short work of the lead half and getting small and far away in a big hurry.

Newcomb's ranch was the first stop, with a nice collection of bikes ranging from decrepit 2-stroke enduros to very shiny 999's.

The chap in the center of the pic, in jeans and gray shirt, had ridden his Monster over from freaking ENGLAND, and had been touring for about the last two months, or more. Apparently, this is all you need for unlimited touring:

Using our best SoCal Hooligan / Yankee Scum manners, we pawned a DML card off on him, talked a little, and went on about our business. Apparently Shawn is the only member with any conscience, remarking later that it would have been polite (and fun) to at least have invited him to join us for food later.
Buncha Sociopaths we are...............

After some astounding food and drink service at Newcomb's, we set off to complete the first leg of the trip, winding through the rest of ACH, through several scattered rockfall areas and lots of fast, open twisty.

The gas stop at Big Pines turned out to only exist in Nick's imagination, as it's really just a big ranger station. Another blast past a critical route intersection left most of the group parked at Mountain High Ski resort, wondering "Where the [email protected] is Will?". Simultaneously, Will was wondering "Where the [email protected] are those pikers?", after astutely stopping at the Big Pines ranger station. A short burst of Keystone Cops activity reassembled the group. Well-founded concern over the lack of a gas stop was politely blown off by all of the riders who had lots of gas...

The crew then headed toward the desert on Big Pines Highway.
A significant reduction in blind corners was somewhat tempered by a couple of sandy apexes, but it was all good until...Shawn's S4R coasted to a halt, out of gas. Had the ride leader (oops, that's me) not led the group astray at nearly every intersection, he would have made the last 1/4 mile to the gas station.

Another burst of Keystone Cops activity got him back on the road, and after a short rest in beautiful downtown Valyermo, we commenced the final leg back on Angeles Forest Highway. Probably the best roads of the trip were nearly wasted on the shagged-out remnants of the group.

The end-of-ride gathering at Casa Bianca was good icing on the mediocre cake of a ride. Now that we all somewhat know the route, we can put it in the ride rotation and do it up totally right next time.

Maybe next time I'm ride leader I'll know the route and where the gas is...

 

[Guest]

Once again Nick a fine summation of the days riding. Did you have a minor in English when you got your Engineering degree?? I think you have an untapped talent for the art of story telling. A side job at a motorcycle magazine would be nice, just think of all the free stuff you could pass on to your club mates... ;D ;D

On a side note, I think you got some 'splaining to do. My wife is clearly visable in every picture, and the focal point of one. Anything you want to tell me...

 

[be]

I am glad to hear you guys did not see many cops. When I left you and headed back the way we came, I passed a convoy of about 5 cops headed your way. A few minutes later another group of 5. And then 2 bikes pulled over by a cop in an SUV. Looked like it was about to get pretty crowded up there. I think our timing was perfect.

 

[Speeddog]

Minor in English? Virtually all of the english classes I remember consisted of the teacher telling me that my interpretation of the symbolism or meaning of <insert legendary literature title here> was wrong. My unverbalized reaction to that was " [email protected] you, that's what it meant to me. What makes your interpretation right?"
But I digress...thanks for the compliment.
A side job at a cycle mag could be interesting. Hmmmmm.

Man, I've gotta learn to be more subtle. First Eric and Will expose my dastardly plan to run Shawn out of gas, and now you've uncovered my plot to steal your wife (it'd be a lot more convincing if I could remember her name :-[)....but, upon further review, _you're_ in the pictures too. Betcha didn't think about that

Bruce & David & his SO, wish you could have stayed for the whole tour.
You missed some good pizza and some pretty heavy slagging.
We could have commandeered one whole corner of the place, instead of just one booth. Maybe it was better this way though, it seemed to me like we pushed the anxiety meter up a notch just with the four of us. Stands to reason, as we're obviously some h&llraisin' [email protected]$$ muthas, what with our leathers and jeans and helmets and Ducatis. Why it was just last week, Shawn tore the arm off of that couple's baby and ate it right in front of 'em. Word must be gettin' around...;D

 

[ericmonstro]

Great re-cap and a great ride boys. That is FOR SURE the best ride I have been on yet. I was thinking about it all day on Sunday. Damnit I want to go back RIGHT NOW!! I think my favorite part of the ride was when we were all riding our bikes, and Shawn was pushing his! ;D

Perhaps in your recaps you should post an image of that map you had OF the ride route...I'd like to see where we went today.

Good times, good times
Eric

 

[Speeddog]

Eric, glad you enjoyed the ride.

That's an excellent suggestion, I'll check on how I can upload the map when I get home tonight.

 

[Guest]

More pics... muhahahahaha!

[[ Westsiders getting ready to head east ]]

[[ Group leader figuring out the route to ACH ]]

[[ Bruce, posterboy of fossil fuel conservation ]]

[[ Newcomb suffering from a temporary infestation of Monster Ducks ]]

[[ If only the food was as good as this picture... ]]

[[ Dark v. shiny ]]



[[ Picture of a certain leather-clad rider (two pics below) pushing his S4R should be inserted here, but frankly I didn't want to risk an encounter with any armed comrades of his ]]

[[ Hooligans take over Pearblossom's commercial center ]]

[[ Oh my - I could make waaaay too many smarta$$ captions for this one. But I won't. Because Shawn's a really nice guy. And for reasons stated above. ]]

[[ As the sun sets, what devious scheme is group leader thinking of next? ]]

 

[ericmonstro]

GOOD PICTURES.....ahahahaha.
good times, good times.

 

[be]

Great Pictures Will.

When is the next ride?

 

[Speeddog]

[email protected] awesome photos!
Will, you're hired!

Eric, thanks for the "bump" on posting the map, I hadn't thought it was possible so I didn't even look.

The resolution's a little skimpy, I'll play with it to see if I can improve the legibility.

I had a blast, seems y'all did too.

 

[Guest]

I don't know about this. If "road demon" here had to push his "dead metal" home after pizza and beer the other day, I'm seeing plenty of "tantrums" and "angry fist to the heavens"; "cosmic balance" and "sunflower faces" be damned.

Plus, I can't help but believing that, as his S4R was coasting to a halt, he was cussing so hard that he would've made a sailor blush. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D