[DrRoebuck]

<table width="700" border="0"><tr><td>Got a late start on Saturday, after doing some maintenance on my bike. Decided to head up PCH to Latigo, do the 9-mile climb, then descend Mulholland Highway to the north end of PCH. Once there, depending on how I was feeling, I would either head north on PCH to Point Magu or head back home.

The climbing lately has been brutally hot: 95+ every weekend. I thought the temps were supposed to be cooler this weekend.

Latigo was 93-degrees most the way, then peaked at 99 near the top.

<hr size="1" width="600">

"You ain't one of them terr'ists, is ya?"

A look down at Latigo.

Parting shot of the Pacific Ocean. See ya in a few hours!

Remnant of past fires.

Neverending climb.

You can't really see it, but the temperature on the Suunto reads 95-F.

OMG, a self-portrait. And what's with the sock sliding down into
my shoe? Is this a new "thing" I get to deal with?

More of the road just travelled.

I believe this is at the summit.

This is someone's house. I would have gotten a better shot but … I didn't.

Rock formations in the Santa Monica Mountains.

After 10 miles of descending Mulholland, I come around a corner and see the ocean again. Hallelujah.
</td></tr></table>

 

[DrRoebuck]

<table width="700" border="0"><tr><td>Going from the top of Mulholland back down to the coast was like jumping in a pool. 20-degree difference. It was a great descent.

I was at mile 42 when I got back down to PCH. And I was feeling pretty good, so I decided to head north to Point Magu. This would give me 90+ miles for the day, my longest ride in a long time.

I figured Neptune's Net wasn't too far up PCH from where I was, and that would be a good place to get some lunch and refill my bottles.

<hr size="1" width="600">

Eating and refilling at Neptune's Net.

I think one of the smartest decisions I ever made was getting the braze-ons for a third bottle cage.

The assault on the headwind, heading northwest on PCH. Then you round a corner and see the rock and all is good.

I've found that wearing a hat/visor helps keep me cool on the hot days. HTH.

Farmland near Oxnard.

View southeast from the Las Posas overpass.

That's probably military stuff at the top of the mountain.

Heading back toward the rock.

Ditto.

It's much bigger in person. (That's what they all say.)

Taking my second break.

Starting the ride home … 35-40 miles away. 35-40 miles of a kick-ass tailwind, that is. Once I got going I was flying.

Since I don't see a cliff on that side, does this mean that, in his spare time, Aquaman hurls rocks at cars from the ocean?

<hr size="1" width="600">
After getting back into Santa Monica, I was at mile 88, with 4 miles to go till I got home. So I decided to meander up and down the bike path to get some extra miles and round out the 100.

All told, I got 101 solo miles, with ~6000-ft of climbing. Hands-down the most challenging ride I've ever done, and I felt pretty damn good the whole time (except when the temps rose above 95-F).

<hr size="1" width="600">

Taking sunset shots with a P & S, while riding … not that easy.

The man setting up a sobriety checkpoint. Awesome.

The bike looks ready for more. Me? Not so much.</td></tr></table>

 

[bigrider]

First.

Congratulations on a great century with a lot of climbing. The pics were great. I really the picture of the man. You take great people pictures LOL. I was in Oxnard a year or so ago. I am heading to Sovang this winter for a business trip.

 

[DrRoebuck]

I am heading to Sovang this winter for a business trip.

Are you bringing a bike?

 

[bigrider]

Are you bringing a bike?

Only if someone asks me to bring one or has a 59 c-c I can borrow.

 

[MB1]

.....I think one of the smartest decisions I ever made was getting the braze-ons for a third bottle cage....

:thumbsup:

Well, that PLUS posting here!

 

[JohnnyTooBad]

Fantabulous, DocR! That looks like some nice climbing. Not too steep, but a good workout and can keep a reasonable pace.

Um, about that 3rd bottle/cage. It looks like you have to stop to get the bottle in and out of that, which seems fine for a 3rd bottle, but doesn't it get a bit nasty from being pelted by crap coming off the front tire? Or do you clean it off good before you move that bottle up into one of the other cages and put an empty underneath?

 

[DrRoebuck]

Only if someone asks me to bring one or has a 59 c-c I can borrow.

Bring your bike ... I've never been to Solvang. I'm sure I could wrangle a few L.A. RBRers for a road trip.

Well, that PLUS posting here!

Goes without saying.

Fantabulous, DocR! That looks like some nice climbing. Not too steep, but a good workout and can keep a reasonable pace.

Um, about that 3rd bottle/cage. It looks like you have to stop to get the bottle in and out of that, which seems fine for a 3rd bottle, but doesn't it get a bit nasty from being pelted by crap coming off the front tire? Or do you clean it off good before you move that bottle up into one of the other cages and put an empty underneath?

Thanks, JTB. The climb averages 5.5% over 9 miles, so it's not a killer. It feels endless, though, and has some steep pitches. This is actually the second week in a row I did it.

As for the third bottle, I haven't noticed any road-crap on it. Maybe I've just gotten lucky.

 

[thinkcooper]

Awesome ride. If you keep this up, you're gonna be leading the charge up Eureka Canyon next year.

 

[il sogno]

Awesome ride and pics! I haven't been to Neptune's Net in a while. Is the service as grumpy as ever?

 

[DrRoebuck]

Awesome ride. If you keep this up, you're gonna be leading the charge up Eureka Canyon next year.

Not bloody likely.

Awesome ride and pics! I haven't been to Neptune's Net in a while. Is the service as grumpy as ever?

Oh, indeed. "Please bring your number when you pick up your food! No number, no food!"

 

[mohair_chair]

Did you have permits to take those pictures?

 

[DrRoebuck]

Did you have permits to take those pictures?

Are you shoulder-tapping me?

Let's see, where did I put that manifesto of photographers' rights?

 

[brujenn]

Great report - entertaining, as they should be. What the hezz you drinkin there son?

 

[Mapei]

You've gone from effete fixie hipster to macho epic roadie. Awesome. I wish I had your energy. Next you'll be posting your solo rides across Baffin Island. BTW, have you been to the brass.cap? "B" level food. "A" level attitude.

 

[DrRoebuck]

Great report - entertaining, as they should be. What the hezz you drinkin there son?

Thanks a lot. If that's a serious question (can't quite tell), the drink is called Revenge Sport from Champion Nutrition. I'm eventually going to start a post about it because it's hands down the BEST DRINK ON THE MARKET. I've always suffered from cramps but, with all these rides I've been doing, I haven't cramped once. Blows Cytomax and Accelerade and GU and Hammer all out of the water (so to speak).

<img src="https://www.champion-nutrition.com/champion/images/products/product_rs.jpg" border="1">

You've gone from effete fixie hipster to macho epic roadie. Awesome. I wish I had your energy. Next you'll be posting your solo rides across Baffin Island. BTW, have you been to the brass.cap? "B" level food. "A" level attitude.

Never been there but it sounds utlra-familiar. Where is it?

I've always had ups and downs with doing the hard rides, but this is the most consistent "up" swing I've had in years. Feels good. It's also the first "up" swing since I got the IF last November. All I can say is that baby has paid off, and it's no coincidence that I'm doing these rides week after week.

 

[Ridgetop]

Very nice. I would have loved every moment except the temps. I've got to get my tail down there now that my brother lives in Huntington Beach.

 

[SilasCL]

Nice work Josh. That's a long hard ride in any conditions, but in 95 degree heat!

What did you get at Neptunes? And what's the basic gist of the climbing, just a few long climbs?

 

[undies]

Nice ride!

That farmland near Oxnard is probably strawberries, which they fertilize with chicken manure. I spent four year stationed at NAS Point Mugu and worked many hours out on the flight lines totally engulfed by the smell of decomposing chicken poo.

Worst. Smell. Evar.

You never get used to it. Not ever.

 

[DrRoebuck]

Very nice. I would have loved every moment except the temps. I've got to get my tail down there now that my brother lives in Huntington Beach.

C'mon down. I'd be more than happy to start a ride with you and then meet you again when I finish (and you've been done for hours).

Nice work Josh. That's a long hard ride in any conditions, but in 95 degree heat!

What did you get at Neptunes? And what's the basic gist of the climbing, just a few long climbs?

Thanks, Silas. To be fair, it was only 90+ for climb and descent (about 20 miles' worth).

The one climb, Latigo, is about 9.5 miles at 5.5% avg grade, with a couple false summits and some steeper pitches. After that, it was about 40 miles of rolling terrain along PCH.

Nice ride!

That farmland near Oxnard is probably strawberries, which they fertilize with chicken manure. I spent four year stationed at NAS Point Mugu and worked many hours out on the flight lines totally engulfed by the smell of decomposing chicken poo.

Worst. Smell. Evar.

You never get used to it. Not ever.

I've smelled some pretty raunchy stuff out there, but nothing offensive on Saturday (unless you count me).