Today featured both in abundance. From Soledad Canyon road where I stealth camped on a hill above a ranch, 84 total miles thru LA's far exurbia and wide open Mohave. I was actually in LA county this morning, pedaled right past a metrolink park and ride rail station that could have taken me right into the belly of the beast. But greater Palmdale/Lancaster is beast enough, I don't know what the local industry is but a lot of people sure live in the endless sprawl of the western high Mohave. Finally did escape it though to the real desert landscape, which here means Joshua trees, which are basically yucca as designed by Dr. Suess. Fearsome but fascinating looking things. Two nice surprises to mitigate the relentless sun, the San Gabriel Mountains rose in full view to the south to snow plastered heights, which I did not expect, and the desert is abloom in a sea of yellow and purple flowers. Plus at one point there were whole mountainsides of California Poppy blooming.
This desert riding takes some getting used to. Just a very different experience from the coast, I know that sounds trite but it is like having landed on another planet. Like Dune for example.
In Victorville on my way down to Mohave Narrows campground I met a very nice fellow named Tom Wilder, he was out walking his dog and invited me in for tea and to show me the amazing collection of ten recumbent bicycles that he and his wife own. They have toured extensively on them and own several makes, and he let me test ride them. I was sold immediately on each of them. Overall I was most impressed with the "Saturday" recumbent made by Bike Friday of Eugene. Like all their models it folds up into a tote bag the size of a suitcase. Tom has a hard-shell case for it that converts to a cargo trailer. The versatility of such a setup boggles my mind. Pop it onto any bus, train, plane, do a multi-modal tour. Can you see the wheels spinning in my head?
Anyway, for now its back to the old fashioned upright with the Brooks saddle.
Posted by danreedmiller at May 12, 2003 08:08 AMViva La Road Bike...OLE!