Mt. Wilson Bicycling Association

For those of you who are new to what is known around these parts as “The Best Event in the Universe to Get Cool Schwag” event, welcome to the Land of Pancake Breakfast-ia. My first time was in 2011 and it was staggering the amount of free items that was stuffed in bags and handed out. I mean it, it was literally staggering. Some people were wobbling as they slowly ventured back down the hill with the weight of the loot they had won. And the schwag was nothing to sneeze at. The quality of stuff was amazing. At one point, the assembly room looked like a local bike shop vomited all over the top of Henninger Flats.

So. much. good. stuff.

It’s no accident that we can get such awesome items. The Pancake Breakfast is a nationally known event. Vendors from all over the country know this is THE event that convenes mountain bikers from all over southern California. The local shops support us because trail maintenance and advocacy help keep bikers on the trails and in their shops.

This year proves to be no different. We’ve already got a few bike shops donating some cool stuff. Thanks to Pasadena Cyclery,  Montrose Bike Shop and Steve’s Bike Shop for starting us out the gate early!  We  have Bell Sports, Fox Racing, Kali Helmets, Quality Bike Products and Serfas so far for vendor schwag.

Tired and hungry after the hike up? After you feast on some pancakes, head over to Massage By Missy and get a 10 minute rub down that will  make you feel new again. She is generously donating her skills for a $5 minimum donation to MWBA. If the line is too long, don’t fret just yet, you may be a lucky winner of a one hour Trigger Point/Myofascial Release/Thai/Tui Na Combo Massage by Flawless Fitness. If you have no idea what that is, check it out here. (It’s ok, we had to look too)

Check back here or go hang out on our Facebook page for an updated list vendors, shops and local businesses. As they roll in, we will post them up.

Don’t forget to join our event on Facebook! We want to make sure you get your pancakes! https://www.facebook.com/events/398426696931937/

Everyone knows about Poison Oak and Poodle Dog but not too many people are familiar with Queen Anne’s Lace. For those of you who are familiar with Queen Anne’s Lace, you may be wondering what the big deal is. And honestly, for most of you, coming in contact with Queen Anne’s Lace will not affect you in the least. However, for others, this beautiful, lacy weed will make you wish you only had Poison Oak and Poodle Dog at the same time.

I came in contact with it a while back in an unfortunate accident. I was lucky, I only got a small patch of it on my right arm, but it was very uncomfortable. It was bubbly and it itched like crazy. The rash stuck around for about a month before my arm finally started to look normal. I was very thankful it was only a small  patch.

Fast forward a year and half later… somehow I ended up in a huge field of Queen Anne’s Lace while tumbling down a mountainside with my bike. Fortunately, my bike was not damaged and I was ok too…or so I thought. Four days later, I noticed some itchy bumps on my legs. I knew immediately it was not Poodle Dog or Poison Oak. I was afraid it was the dreaded Queen Anne’s Lace and I was unfortunately correct.

The itch is depressingly unbearable and gross. You don’t just feel itchy, your skin starts to blister and ooze. You’re left with a rash that looks like you were a burn victim. And it spreads. Everywhere. And it lasts. Forever.

Ok- enough with the drama, it did spread to a lot of different body parts so I suspect scratching is not a good idea. Also it lasted for approx 6 weeks (which felt like forever). The core of the blisters and itch lasted about 4 weeks (which felt even longer than forever). There’s not a lot of literature on the toxic nature of Queen Anne’s Lace. It’s even touted as a beneficial weed on some websites. It was once used as a form of birth control. I can totally believe that; who in their right mind would want to touch you with blisters erupting and oozing all over your body? It’s also known as the Wild Carrot and the roots are edible while young. However, caution is advised against eating the root. Apparently many people have died from eating what they thought was a wild carrot, but in fact, was poison Hemlock. In academic circles, they call that “Pulling a Socrates’s Brother.” (He wasn’t as philosophical, smart or well-known, but he was hungry)

Again, for most, contact with the dastardly weed will produce no ill-effects, but for those in the minority, this little gem of a weed will knock you on your butt for weeks. For those of us who are allergic to the plant, we’re allergic to the compounds in the leaves. Add a dash of sunshine and some fingernails, and voila! Instant recipe for misery (and as noted above, celibacy). Phytophotodermatitis. Google it.

In the meantime, let’s browse the family photo album. Take a gander at my Queen Anne’s Leg.

Queen Annes Lace Rash

Not so bad you say. You’re right. This was 2 weeks in and I thought I had weathered the storm nicely and the worst was over. Oh little did I know that Queen Anne is a bitch, an angry, bitter bitch. Look at the picture again, but now imagine my entire leg covered in a red, festering, blister. One large oozing blister. I couldn’t take a picture of it at the worst because it was too graphic. I looked like a burned corpse.

How does one avoid Queen Anne’s Lace? Stay inside and don’t accept gifts with little white flowers in the arrangement. Or you could just study the leaves below and avoid them on your hikes or bike rides.

The leaves look a little like cilantro or parsley.

Here is what they look like in their natural habitat, in full bloom.

Here is how I like them best.