John Dingler's Craft: Riding Down Mt. Rubidoux on a Bicycle: Movie v1

This is a record of my bicycle ride on Mt. Rubidoux, from the very top at the military cross, down to the entrance gate at the very bottom.

Mt. Rubidoux, a mountain park in Riverside, CA, USA is visually unappealing when viewed from a distance. Its profile against the sky is irregular, bare of most vegetation, with only a few evergreen trees to relieve the dreary, rocky brownness and to provide shade in the extremely hot temperatures in the summer. It's truly a desert mountain. Think about a dinosaurs' spinal protrusion...about the same shape.

Nevertheless, it has an appealing feature: Its winding road. Built in the early 20th C., the mountain's road leads up to one of the two peaks, this peak having a Christian cross and a flag, both erected before they became symbols for war, violence, and militarism. There is also a Peace Tower with an accompanying bridge, a fabulous hewn rock structure, a little below.

Mt. Rubidoux's most striking feature is its geology, the mass of boulders piled up one on top of the other in heaps, making one wonder just how easily it all could collapse, its parts tumbling down, landing on tops of houses below should there be a strong enough shock.

I often ride up and down the mountain on my bicycle, a Mercier Galaxy, usually at dusk in the summer, but earlier in the day when the weather is cooler.

The distance to the top is approx. two miles, with distance markers embedded in the shoulder every quarter mile. When I first tackled this mountain, I needed to stop around five times to let my legs recover, but it's not a physiologically breathless ride at all. Now I sometimes have no need to stop.

On the blacktop path, I see people, walking usually, in all kinds of physical conditions. Boxers use its steep ascent to improve stamina. But most have big butts and appear overweight.

Approx 25% walk their dogs, some allowing their dogs to poo and pee on the trail. This is inconsiderate. They make no apologies for the mess, leaving it on the blacktop, not picking it up as required.

Another instance of discourtesy is when visitors walk on the left, instead of the right, which poses a danger to oncoming bicyclists, so riders need to take care, slowing down as they go around blind corners. Large family groups often use up the width of the street. Sometimes the parent allows the young child to walk directly in front of the bicycle. On these occasions, the rider calls out to ask for safe passage around.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Riding
• Down
• MtRubidoux
• Movie
• v1
• john
• dingler
• artist
• mountain
• riverside
• ca
• california
• video

[LoYaLtYHaZe]

i love going up there

[chevyyyyyyy]

Hello LoYaLtYHaZe,

Yeah, it's a nice place with the path well maintained, the City having just repaved it and installed new curbs about a month ago. The day before yesterday, I noticed that much of the new curb is crushed by heavy vehicle tires. I suspect the private company hired by the city to clear brush for the 4th of July fireworks. Let's hope that the city gets it restored to the new condition and does not have to pay for it from taxpayer funds.

[Bigstooler0]

I noticed you use the whole road. They should not allow bikes up there. Several people have died riding down that mountain.Including a friend of my fathers.

[chevyyyyyyy]

Hi @Bigstooler0,

Thanks for noting Mt. Rubidoux's history, & for showing concern, especially since you mention a death on it. However, you make an aggressive comment and I expect you to back it up.

What makes you think I use "the whole road?" Please explain your purpose for your noticing my alleged use of the "whole road." Who is the "they" who should not allow bikes on the Mt. Rubidoux public park and why? How did the "several" die allegedly riding, how many deaths, and what are their names?



[nopeISdope96]

@chevyyyyyyy I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders, and call themselves tall, they have a right to give a try. You have part of my attention. You have the minimal amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including, and especially, your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. Did I addequately answer your condenscending question?

[chevyyyyyyy]

Hi damienro776,

I wonder if "parting out" a bike's parts is time and cost effective....Sette received excellent reviews on Road Bike Review. If I had the bucks I would get a carbon Evo’ Apex.

[damienro776]

@chevyyyyyyy I would part it out, you could get $100 alone just for the carbon fork and stem used. If I lived anywhere near you I would pay that just to get it from you. but I'm not a big fan of aluminum frames. at least anything I have ever ridden has never felt that good to me. I researched the Sette and Scattante carbon bicycles, they don't really seem like that good of a build. If you don't have to go new and want to get into riding full carbon fiber try out an old trek oclv for $12-1300.

[chevyyyyyyy]

damienro776,

I intend to buy either a Sette carbon or a Scattante carbon, both house bikes of their respective US companies.

[chevyyyyyyy]

Hi damienro776,

I understand about the issue of not taking advantage of what may seem too familiar, hence of little interest.

I rode an 18 speed aluminum frame, carbon fork and stem, road bike that I bought last year which, by the way, I am selling for $200, so that I can make room for a $1200 carbon. it's in very good condition.

My daily route is up and down the mtn., on to Norco where the paved path ends, and back.

[damienro776]

prolly not, people don't really care if you want to put up a crescent moon just do it. Funny thing is I lived there for nearly 16 years and I never went to the top of rubidoux mt. how was the trail? did you do it on a mtn bike/road/track/bmx ??