Southern California - Jan 1, 2007 Rides?

Hi All,

I can't make the Dec 17, 2006, ride because my wife has a concert that day. I can't make the Dec 30, 2006, ride because my brother-in-law and his family are visiting that day. (And I can't ride the Burrito Century because I don't do centuries in December or January. :) )

I generally try to avoid the New Year's Day PCH ride that starts 2 miles from my house in Long Beach because IMHO it's a front page disaster waiting to happen. So...

What's up on New Year's Day?

A couple of my clubmates do the GMR thing to Baldy Village. I may do that if there isn't ice or rain. Anyone doing anything else of interest? I looked at the ride sticky and didn't see anything.

Cleave, are any of your clubmates slow enough that I could keep up?

I'm not sure what I'm doing on Jan 1. Probably either bumming around watching TV or riding some ride somewhere.

RBC usually rides to the rose parade from Riverside

Hi All,

I can't make the Dec 17, 2006, ride because my wife has a concert that day. I can't make the Dec 30, 2006, ride because my brother-in-law and his family are visiting that day. (And I can't ride the Burrito Century because I don't do centuries in December or January. :) )

I generally try to avoid the New Year's Day PCH ride that starts 2 miles from my house in Long Beach because IMHO it's a front page disaster waiting to happen. So...

What's up on New Year's Day?

A couple of my clubmates do the GMR thing to Baldy Village. I may do that if there isn't ice or rain. Anyone doing anything else of interest? I looked at the ride sticky and didn't see anything.

Cleave...there is a Dec 16th San Gabriel River Trail ride...

or go upto mount wilson. there's a pretty big group that goes up every year

I've done the Mount Wilson ride about 6 years in a row. I start from home and reach the bottom of Oro Vista around 9:00. Most of the racers get there around 10:00, so I get a good head start to stay out of any skirmishes. Some of my clubmates will join me. It's always cold so I bring a ton of clothes for the descent, and I will go to the summit of Mt Wilson if there is no snow or ice on the road. Last year it rained on those who went to the summit, I turned back at Red Box. Some years 200 people will show up.

There's a HUGE ride that starts in Long Beach and runs down the PCH to Dana Point. Most people make it an out and back while another group heads inland to add mileage (I think it goes over 100 if you go inland). I did it last year and it was a blast. Just waited on the PCH in Seal Beach until the group of several 100 came by and swept me up in the peleton. It was stinkin' fast and I ended up turning around in Newport Beach. On the SoCalCycling web site here (http://www.socalvelo.com/sub/rides/newyears.htm) they call it a Critical Mass ride but I wasn't aware of any association to the activist rides that take place throughout the year.

There's a HUGE ride that starts in Long Beach and runs down the PCH to Dana Point. Most people make it an out and back while another group heads inland to add mileage (I think it goes over 100 if you go inland). I did it last year and it was a blast. Just waited on the PCH in Seal Beach until the group of several 100 came by and swept me up in the peleton. It was stinkin' fast and I ended up turning around in Newport Beach. On the SoCalCycling web site here (http://www.socalvelo.com/sub/rides/newyears.htm) they call it a Critical Mass ride but I wasn't aware of any association to the activist rides that take place throughout the year.
That's the ride he says he generally tries to avoid.

That's the ride he says he generally tries to avoid.

Oops...I guess that's why I should read, instead of skim, posts!

Melissa and I are notoriously boring on new year's eve.

So, we may be up for a ride on the 1st...

Hi All,

Thanks for the tips.

Jason, if I go to GMR with my clubmates I will definitely post here to see if you or anyone else is interested.

my58vw, I've never heard of that ride. It sounds interesting. Does it actually go to the parade route? Does it get messy in Pasadena (traffic-wise)?

Herb, thanks for the info on the SART ride. I do ride that trail on occasion but I'm not a big river trail fan.

zzzwillzzz and John, Mt. Wilson sounds like the best alternative so far. Of course, right now I have a bit of a psychological problem with Hwy 2 due to my auto accident. Also, I'm not sure how my wife would react if I told her I was going to ride up that road again. :eek:

dstrong, I've done that ride 3 or 4 times as I live very close to the "official" start. It always scares the crap out of me because it's more of an outlaw ride than a critical mass ride. Typically there's a police officer in Newport Beach who hates the ride and tries to "herd" the riders out of the traffic lane into the bike lane with his police car -- not good. Also, it gripes me that the group essentially blocks both southbound lanes heading south on PCH while running red lights. :(

mateo44, let me know what you are thinking about. I'm looking for something with a degree of difficulty to start the year. Was thinking that it would be nice to have a group of the SoCal BF folks and some of my clubmates.

Cleave, you could go back down Big Tujunga, (I actually prefer that), and avoid the lower section of Angeles Crest. Or, turn back at Clear Creek and don't ride AC at all.

Hi All,
dstrong, I've done that ride 3 or 4 times as I live very close to the "official" start. It always scares the crap out of me because it's more of an outlaw ride than a critical mass ride. Typically there's a police officer in Newport Beach who hates the ride and tries to "herd" the riders out of the traffic lane into the bike lane with his police car -- not good. Also, it gripes me that the group essentially blocks both southbound lanes heading south on PCH while running red lights. :(


OC and I did that ride this year. The group is out of control all the way down PCH, but it did mellow out a bit once we headed inland. The pace is crazy fast, if you have been chance to do a 4:30 century this is it.:eek: