Fire road along the Verdugo ridge.

I set aside some time each Friday after work to ride Mt. Verdugo. It's not my idea to ride on Friday really (or Mt Verdugo for that matter). It's a decades old tradition among my riding friends that I love to partake.

For me the Friday ride has many benefits wrapped into one activity. Catching up with friends at the top. A few beers with a glorious sunset from 3100 ft. Not to mention time on the bike that works the body hard with maximum sweat and heart rate. But lately, there is a perk that I find myself enjoying too: The 60 minute mind-clearing climb to the summit.

I've discovered that I like getting into the Zen state that's only possible from slowly progressing up a fire road that takes you to the top (Beaudry is my favorite). Of course, the beginning of the ride is somewhat of a struggle to get settled and comfortable. But eventually your mind enters "the zone" and usually happens without you being totally aware of it.

Often, I won’t see another person on foot or bike the entire climb. I have the mountain to myself for an hour of meditation. It's nice to flush out the thoughts from the work week to clear your mind for the upcoming weekend. Eventually, the mind and body seem to become separated. In deep in thought, I'm hardly aware of the progress I’ve made towards the summit. Of course the spell is broken occasionally. There are a few switchbacks that transition you to the spine of the Verdugo range. Each turn has marvelous views that will snap you back to the present – made even more special if your timing allows for some afternoon mountain light.

It's inevitable: No matter how stressed or preoccupied you may be at the bottom, you'll be sure to have it eased significantly by the time you've worked your way to the top. Inevitably, when I get back to the house later in the night, I always feel great. Sure, the buddies, beer and race down are easy to site as the most obvious reasons, but putting in the work to get a clear mind is just as important.

So for you bikers out there (mountain or roadies), don’t dread the climb. Get comfortable with it and let your mind go adrift. You’ll be at the top before you know it.