The Radavist

… outriding storm clouds at the highest point in the City of Los Angeles and then finding myself on a MTB trail on my ‘cross bike, completely covered in flowering Spanish Broom. Hope yours was filled with lots of riding and your steeds are sated.

Photo by Ryan Wilson

This is one of my favorite photos Ryan has ever taken and if it doesn’t make you want to get out and ride this weekend, then check your pulse!

With all the time I spend away from my new home base of Los Angeles, you’d think I’d want to stay put in between traveling. Well, at least sleep in my bed. This time of year, we’re on the precipice between the cool, early spring days and scorching, on-coming summer days. It’s hit or miss, but when the city of LA spikes to 90º this early in the season, there’s but one refuge from the heat: 5,500′ and up.

Chilao is an all-time campsite in the Angeles National Forest and knowing its popularity, it’s a crap-shoot trying to stay there on the weekends. Especially this time of year where aforementioned weather pushes the outdoorsy city dwellers en masse up Highway 2 and to the campsites surrounding some of our favorite singletrack and fire roads in LA.

Last week I slept outdoors more than in and having the week crescendo into a tent just high enough from Downtown LA to block out the ambient light and noise, yet far away enough to open up the sky to the stars was an unexpected treat. All this from only a 45 minute drive from my comfortable, yet still indoors bed. Check out some more photos below.

Photo by Kyle Kelley

It’s been a busy week over here and it’ll be even busier next week… While I prepare everything, make sure you get out on the bike. Thanks for the photo, Kyle!

In the first of Specialized’s Adventure Dispatch mini-documentary series, our friend Ty Hathaway hits on a theme that we bring up often here at the Radavist: using bikes to seek out the places very few people know about, let alone see – even in a place as densely populated as Los Angeles.

May 8th will bring about the Los Angeles Bicycle Festival, which just launched a Kickstarter page. Here’s a bit of information:

“We believe that Los Angeles is a beautiful, diverse city that has the ability to solve big problems while being a healthy and fun place for all. Yet riding a bike in Los Angeles is still seen as a crazy thing.

People in Southern California love theme parks, so we’ve set out to create a one-day ‘Bicycle Disneyland’ where families can wander through the different ‘Lands’ to explore bikes, resources, ride groups and nonprofits. Like speed dating! Get to know the kind of bikes that excite you and immediately connect to all the knowledge and community needed to get started or get more active no matter where in SoCal you live. Sure, it’s probably the bike enthusiast that will get the tickets, but with awesome food, music and entertainment – everyone will enjoy a great day.

For one day you’ll see all kinds of bicycle lovers – old, young, road, track or dirt, experienced and inexperienced alongside families celebrating Mother’s Day in front of LA City Hall. “

If you can, come out to work on the trail and if you’ve worked on two trail days, you can earn a free Ken Burton shirt. Check out all the information at the Facebook event page.

… hopefully you get dirty!

All good things must come to an end and today, Kyle and I took to our favorite trail for one last Log Lady jam session. The overcast skies spared our brows from sweat and the recent rain left the corners tacky, perfect for ripping down and over our favorite obstacles. There’s more to come, once Kyle gets his thoughts down and I finish my photos. I just thought this shot would get you all stoked to ride.

At the recent World Cycling League, Kyle Kelley from Tracko and Cesar Alvarez documented an afternoon of track racing for Affinity Cycles. Check out more photos at Affinity and enjoy the video above!

Since Golden Saddle Cyclery doesn’t open until noon on Fridays, when I’m in town, I like to get in a good ride with a few of the guys. This morning Mike, Kyle and I took to the local dirt roads and singletrack found in the Verdugo Mountains, just 8 miles from the shop. These climbs will put fire in your legs, without a doubt, but once up at the top, you’ve got nothing but ripping singletrack and dirt roads taking you down. If you’d like to add in a bonus trail, La Tuna Canyon trail is a rutted, steep good time with plenty of scenic vistas – particularly of the gridlock traffic as people commute in their cars to work…. #LASucksForCycling, right?

Check out some more photos below!

There’s no better way to shake jetlag than to take on a big ride. After riding in a relatively flat city for a few days, I was ready to head up into the Angeles National Forest, climb Mt Disappointment and Mt Wilson before taking off down Mt Lowe and back to town. It ended up being around 65 miles with over 8,000′ of elevation (not including the ride up Griffith asterwards) and my legs are feeling it today. As always, I try to take some photos while riding and while there isn’t necessarily enough for a gallery, I posted them up below.

After two weeks on the road, it feels great to be home in Los Angeles. This time of year, traveling really takes it out of me and having just moved into a new apartment, I haven’t even had the chance to settle in yet. It’s kind of an overwhelming sensation, coming back to unpacked boxes, bikes in pieces and enough email to keep anyone busy for days on end. Yet with all this anxiety, there’s nothing better than pedaling on familiar roads… Or even unfamiliar roads.

Also, as a side note, my thoughts are with anyone who was traveling to or out of Belgium today, along with anyone who has been affected by this morning’s events. Be safe and spread love. xoxo

Thanks to everyone that showed up for the Golden Saddle Cyclery and the Radavist All-City Log Lady Launch Party! The official release information is coming tomorrow, along with an initial review of the Log Lady, for now check out a few more photos below.

#PartyBrand!