k-wallblog

Monday, May 5, 2008

Bike Shop: Laguna Cyclery

One of the first things you'll notice when you walk into this shop, is that it is densely saturated with high end bikes and gear. Not a Trek, Specialized or Giant in sight. Due to its location in Laguna Beach, the shop can focus on only selling the best gear or as the owner of the shop Patrick puts it, "We sell the stuff I would want to be out ridding".

The next thing you will likely notice about this shop is it's apparent split personality. Underneath a rack of Colnagos, Times, and Cervelos is a rack of equally tricked out downhill Yetis, Marins, Turners. This can be attributed to the thriving local road and downhill scenes. Laguna Beach provides endless possibilities for both.

And on top of that sprinkle in a few swobo fixed gear's and the odd custom built cyclocross bike and you've got a pretty good picture of the shop. It's an inventory that would make just about any avid cyclist stocked, and possibly drool.

So stylish

The shops owner grew up bmx racing,
which lead him to road and cyclocross.

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.