Thursday, May 1, 2008

Climbing

(the road in the center is the way down)

This is a photo of the view from about about half way up, to top of the world in Laguna Beach. Its a great climb reaching a summit of just over a 1,000ft. Whats nice though is you can start at main beach at sea level and about 30 minuets later your at the top scoping out the beautiful hillsides and ocean views.

(Looking down from the other side of the hill)

Sometimes when you start climbing its couldy at the bottom, and on your way up you pop up above them. This makes the other hilltops look like little islands in the sky. This alone is worth the climb.


One of the other main characteristics of this climb is just the sheer steepness. While climbing a 1,000 feet is an endeavour that many cyclists habitually avoid, its the steepness of this climb not the hight that really makes it challenging and worthwhile. As you get closer to the top the more steep and challenging it gets, something you may find yourself cursing if you hit it to hard at the bottom. I have made this mistake before on a group ride, pace yourself! or you will blow up at the top. And don't forget to take a few minuets to watch the beautifully orange county sunset after you done ridding for the day.

2 comments:

bikesgonewild said...

...41 years ago, for one fall & winter (i know, hard to comprehend), i lived just up in the beginning of the canyon in a cabana on some stoners property...used to ride around town on a beater bike in an english bowler hat & an army jacket w/ a big peace symbol on the back...18yr old canadian boy in paradise...hah !!!...

...we'd all meet down on the main beach w/ the locals to watch the sun set deep into that ocean...

...nice photos, good memories...

erik k said...

bikes gone wild awesome story, that about how old I was when I moved out here. its an awesome place for ridding and surfing of course. I now work were you used to live just up in the beginning of the canyon. Timothy Leary used to live there around that time to if I'm not mistaken