> Join an intrepid group of climbers on their vintage steeds
> for a ride up to Baldy Village, nestled in the
> Angeles National Forest, in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Speaking of the Baldy Ride, or environs thereabouts, it was 1900 and 73 or 74 when a couple of buds and I decided to ride up Azusa Canyon to Wrightwood (?-been a while). 2 Paramounts and a chrome Stella. From there we would ride to the Devore Cutoff on Cajon Pass, down to Cucamonga, then home to Everything from A to Z in the USA. As we reached the top a fella drove up to us and started to make cycling conversation. He was probably in his late 50's/early 60's. I had had a flat, was down to zero spares, so he offered me one of his silks (all I could afford were cottons). The next thing you know we're at his place in Wrightwood munching on homemade muffins, swizzling caffeine, and staring at a wonderful poster-sized photo of him and his buds, clad in wool and sportin' corncobs, at the end of the Baldy road, some 20 years earlier (that would make it mid to late 50's). In this case youth was really wasted on the young. Why didn't I sit down with this guy and grill him? Who was he? Why didn't I pay attention, instead of being socially inept and anxious to go? I don't even remember his name or the bikes sitting in the corner. Disappointment of Youth #431. A lost opportunity for some great stories I'm sure. Just another one of those things I wish I'd done when I had the chance.
Craig Montgomery lamenting in Tucson