Southern California - Post Holiday Bloat Ride on 12/30 - Last ride of 2006

Date: December 30th, 2006
Meet: 8:30-8:45am
Location: Encanto Park, 751 Encanto Pkwy, Duarte
Roll: 9:00am
Distance: 60+
Climb: 6,500+
Lunch: Green Onion Restaurant, 1355 Huntington Dr, Duarte, CA 91010, (626) 301-0115 (after ride is completed - so bring snacks/fuel/gels! You know your fuel needs on climbs, so please be prepared. There will be a water stop on East Fork at which you can buy food - they take cash only - and food can be purchased in the village)

Please bring layers as the descent could be frickin' freezing (but fun, fun, fun). Note: this ride is climb-heavy for the first half. Second half is mostly downhill. Everyone should climb at his/her own pace and only do what he/she is comfortable with. Some of us are going to try and head up to the ski lifts, but if you don't want to do that for any reason, you can hang in Baldy to descend with the group. I may not even climb that day if I'm not up to it. So, NO egos on this ride. Just happy riders! If you ain't happy, don't come.

Some guys on BF have been sweet enough to map this for me (thank you, MadMike!), but I will put together a route slip with directions and my cell number on it. This is a non-supported ride (i.e. no SAG), but there will be at least two water stops. NO ONE will be left behind alone.

WEATHER LINK: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/USCA0737?dayNum=1

ROUTE SLIP: http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=3577569&postcount=302

WORKING OFF THE HOLIDAY FAT, AND WILL BE THERE:
Extort
merider1
scootcore
scvroadie
The Fixer
Dana60Axles
Ronjon10
Nosra451
Brandy
Socalcyclist
Tiffanie
Vireo
Mr. Beanz
Markaj
Herbm
MadMike
Big John
Matt
Melissa
LABaby
JPConrad
Guest of Scvroadie
KAR3368 + Tony
Oleanshoebox
Grumpypig
Magicant
IaninSD
32:17

MAY BE WORKING OFF THE FAT, BUT MAY JUST LIE AROUND INSTEAD:
Octico
My58vw
Cleave
Chimivee
Tak962

NOT COMING BECAUSE OF LOVE (BAH HUMBUG):
Jschen

you are a riding animal!

you are a riding animal!
Not really. I'll be off my bike for, gulp, a week and a half prior to this ride! :eek: :( I suppose I can ride a cow when I'm back in fried-chickenville. :p

oh yeah...back down to the southern fried land, I forgot

I'm in. :D

Geez, why are all the fun rides on Saturday? I work every Saturday. I will try to switch my shift, if I can count me in. Will notify as the date get closer

I'll put it on the calendar....

I did that route on my MTB........maybe I should try it on the roadie or even better on the SS MTB:eek:

No TNT training rides that weekend. I'll make this if we get some other 'casual' climbers joining. I'm not kidding when I say 'casual'. I have my touring gears, and I like to use them all except for the 30-34, which is just embarassing without a loaded bike. :) I need to make my BF ride debut anyway, sounds like a classic route to start with.

What is the climb like on est fork anyway? Looks steep from the gates, but never been on it. How long, steep?:)

I'll make this if we get some other 'casual' climbers joining.
I'm casually interested in the ride.

Too many miles (maybe) but I might do the climb up to Baldy...

Tenative

yeah I'm down for some GMR antics

sounds like fun... put me down as a maybe cause I might be going home for the holidays

I'll be busy finishing up this ride: San Diego Christmas Bike Ride (http://www.sandiegohostels.org/bike.shtml)

What is the climb like on est fork anyway? Looks steep from the gates, but never been on it. How long, steep?:)
Mr. Beanz, there is next to zero climbing on est fork (okay, one small hill). Most of the climbing is little GMR, GRR and up to Baldy. I promise to provide more details later this week or weekend so that you know exactly what it looks like, but I don't think the elevation gain is over 5,000 (if that, more like 4,000). And we won't be hammering this. Remember, I'll be full of fried food and grits and smelling like biscuits and gravy as it will be oozing from my pores. I'll be lucky to make it up GMR let alone to Baldy or the lift. It will be a fun, fun, fun ride. :D

What is the climb like on est fork anyway? Looks steep from the gates, but never been on it. How long, steep?:) Yes, it is steep below the gate. From 39 East fork is uphill with some rolling until you make the turn to go up to the gate. I think this is the part people call little GMR. It's not real long, maybe 2 miles, but it will be the steepest part of this route, unless you go to the ski area.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 30th, for a Post Holiday Bloat ride.
Hi merider1,

When is this ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=234447) going to occur? I thought that you were talking about Jan. 1, 2007? Or was that just me? ;)

If you aren't doing a New Year's Day ride then I'm probably up for Dec. 30th.

Hi merider1,

When is this ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=234447) going to occur? I thought that you were talking about Jan. 1, 2007? Or was that just me? ;)

If you aren't doing a New Year's Day ride then I'm probably up for Dec. 30th.
Hi Cleave, I'm attempting the Crystal Lake ride on December 17th (if not too cold or raining). This Baldy ride is on the Saturday after I return from Tenn. Jason and I talked about it in a thread and he suggested I get it up and running. It really will be a fun ride (no HAMMERING), and we can all have lunch after (I'll pick a yummy spot). I hope you do join! :D As for New Year's Day - I may join on the Angeles Crest Ride, but only part of it, and I'll be joining Vertical Bob on whatever variation of the route he cooks up for that day.

Yes, it is steep below the gate. From 39 East fork is uphill with some rolling until you make the turn to go up to the gate. I think this is the part people call little GMR. It's not real long, maybe 2 miles, but it will be the steepest part of this route, unless you go to the ski area.
Thanks, John. You are correct, and I do call it Little GMR. Mea Culpa. But it's not that steep (certainly NOT like the ski lift) and personally, I think it's easier than coming up Big GMR which is longer. Regardless, this will be a no-drop ride, so everyone can go at their own pace without fear of being left to the wild cats. ;)

Ride mileage will max around 70 round trip (a lot of downhill!).
A lot of downhill usually means a lot of uphill, unless we're using a ski lift or someone is driving us up to the top. Eh, we'll see if I'm up to 70 milers by then. I might be trying to keep my rides under 50 for life, but I know it's addictive so we'll see.

What is the climb like on est fork anyway? Looks steep from the gates, but never been on it. How long, steep?:)

east fork is mild rollers following the creek bed for about 4 miles or so, I can't remember. But it was a good recovery road for getting to little GMR. That section is prolly a lil steeper then the main GMR. I remember it was about 18 miles from the base of 39 to the GMR GRR gates.

Thanx for the info. Sounds like a good ride!:D

This is a great, classic loop. I've done it many times (less ski-lifts). The roller on East Fork along the river is quite nice. :)

mark me down as coming sounds like a goodie!

I'll be lucky to make it up GMR let alone to Baldy or the lift.
And so the sandbagging begins.

And so the sandbagging begins.
:roflmao::mad:
Be careful, Jason, or it may just be you and me up that mountain. I'm meaner than the mountain lions when I want to be. :p

And so the sandbagging begins.


http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n188/hmeyerowitz/sandbag.jpg

Be careful, Jason, or it may just be you and me up that mountain.
You make it sound as if that would be a bad thing. :p

You make it sound as if that would be a bad thing. :p
Depends on if I'm hungry and if my claws are sharpened.:rolleyes:

I'll take my chances. There's far worse ways to go than to get attacked by a cute feline. And I could always feed you an EMM first just to be on the safe side.

I'm editing this post to say I'm in. My wife seemed cool with it when I brought it up yesterday-plus I'm hoping to save enough for a better roadie by x-mas (we'll see). weehoo!

I almost forgot about this ride and it's on a Saturday, therefore I'm definitely in! I think the turnout will be big. :D

It appears I lost my "Holiday in So Cal...Let's Ride" thread but I think it accomplished the goal of getting hooked up for a ride. So, add my name to the list...I'm lookin' forward to it!

add me to the list as a maybe please :rolleyes:

As much as I can be sure about anything, I'm sure I'm going to make this ride, so count me in as a confirmed...

This is the area, correct?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=751+Encanto+Pkwy+Duarte,+CA+91010&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=34.190222,-117.842445&spn=0.10181,0.21698&t=h&om=1

ronjon...I believe that's correct. My question to the locals is this: I'll be coming to the park from Azusa (Sierra Madre and San Gabriel Canyon Road). I realize that I could just meet the pack on Sierra Madre (assuming that's how you get to 39) but I'd like to meet everyone before the ride starts and hang with everyone as we prepare for the ride. So...is there a cut-through from Encato Park to Sierra Madre so that I don't have to go down to Foothill and over to Encato Pkwy? On the satellite view it looks like there's a way to cut through the industrial complex on N. Todd (cement factory?) but it's tough to tell.

I've just been super swamped so I haven't put directions in post 1, but we will be starting from Encanto park, which is very easy to get to. I'll provide those directions once I have a chance to breath! I'm very happy you can join dstrong. :D

ronjon...I believe that's correct. My question to the locals is this: I'll be coming to the park from Azusa (Sierra Madre and San Gabriel Canyon Road). I realize that I could just meet the pack on Sierra Madre (assuming that's how you get to 39) but I'd like to meet everyone before the ride starts and hang with everyone as we prepare for the ride. So...is there a cut-through from Encato Park to Sierra Madre so that I don't have to go down to Foothill and over to Encato Pkwy? On the satellite view it looks like there's a way to cut through the industrial complex on N. Todd (cement factory?) but it's tough to tell.

There is a bridge that connects the bike path (San Gabriel River Trail) to the otherside where Encanto Park is! That is the only way I know of to do that...

So...is there a cut-through from Encato Park to Sierra Madre so that I don't have to go down to Foothill and over to Encato Pkwy? On the satellite view it looks like there's a way to cut through the industrial complex on N. Todd (cement factory?) but it's tough to tell.
Oh, and yes, there is a cut through on the bike path to Sierre Madre. I'll lead you there. ;) If you just drive and meet us at the park, I will also have route slips.

I should prolly lay off on the BBQ ribs, Newcastles, and tiramisu if I hope to be in satisfactory shape for this one :o

never lay off the rib and Newcastles!!!!

I should prolly lay off on the BBQ ribs, Newcastles, and tiramisu if I hope to be in satisfactory shape for this one :o
How do you boys do it? :rolleyes: I'd be twelve feet wide with three chins and eight butt cheeks if I ate like some of you do!

But I'm sure you'll be just fine for this ride since it is the Post Holiday BLOAT ride - or as Mateo pointed out - "un"Bloat ride. :D

How do you boys do it? :rolleyes: I'd be twelve feet wide with three chins and eight butt cheeks if I ate like some of you do!

But I'm sure you'll be just fine for this ride since it is the Post Holiday BLOAT ride - or as Mateo pointed out - "un"Bloat ride. :D

shhhhh. The more beer everyone has, the more chance I have of keeping someone in sight on the climbs.

shhhhh. The more beer everyone has, the more chance I have of keeping someone in sight on the climbs.


+1 I agree!!!!

*sigh* No one will be back farther than me, the rear...or in the case of this ride...the "rump roast." :D

*sigh* No one will be back farther than me, the rear...or in the case of this ride...the "rump roast." :D


Oh pulease....even with your hangover you smoked me at JT and that was also with me having at least a 20 minute headstart....
Don't make me break out the sandbag pictures!

Oh pulease....even with your hangover you smoked me at JT and that was also with me having at least a 20 minute headstart....
Don't make me break out the sandbag pictures!

The problem was she had time to sleep it off, I'll bring pre-ride beers for everyone.

Oh pulease....even with your hangover you smoked me at JT and that was also with me having at least a 20 minute headstart....
Don't make me break out the sandbag pictures!

:lol: What part about http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/rump.jpg

did you not understand? :p

The problem was she had time to sleep it off

I'm not so sure about that....:p