it’s better with the lights on

so i’m slowly ramping up my brain for what is appearing to be the sure thing of me riding to calabassas for work every day for a millennia.

last time i had to be out there sooper dooper early so i hit the road pre-predawn and shot straight through. it was nice and quiet and i made good time but it was so dark that i not only didn’t get to see anything but i missed out on the best part of the stupid steep hills cuz i didn’t want to hit a pothole or stick and eat it before a nice long day of back breaking.

so this time i still left early but by the time i made it over the pass the lights were on and it was “cruise or lose” time. i like to leave way earlier than i need to and then not take my time. there’s a couple really good steep hills and one or two that aren’t so steep but they go for days on end. at 630 or so its just impossible not to take advantage of the fact that the road is 3 lanes wide and there are no cars. i swerve like it’s 1am friday night.

i was gonna take malibu canyon but i poosed. i thought i’d be out in the day time but when the sun set i was just barely leaving and i didn’t want to be the guy that caused someone to go over the edge. plus it looks as though there will be many more opportunities in the future.

anyway, ventura is downhill-ish for most of the way coming back. it runs into some sketchiness around studio city with this weird wave in the pavement that makes you choose parked car’s side view mirrors or the middle of the lane. i choose riverside with it’s nice long bike lane.

after i got around to los feliz blvd i decided it was easier to just buck up and go over the hill instead of taking the long way and going through silverlake. it really came down to the road conditions. i’d rather ride up a super steep, long hill with smooth pavement than ride over a few little rollers of asphalt that looks like a meth addict’s teeth.

all told my ride was 4 hours 38 minutes of fun and happiness. thank you work.

chirp,

hillary