Baldy questions

[kdogkodiak]

All the basics: elevation, grade, distance, options for routes, best place to start, etc. I would like to get out there and ride, but have no idea where to begin. I have spent the last few weekends on Palomar and am looking for a new/different climb. (By the way, how does Baldy compare to Palomar?) I appreciate any an all info you can provide.

Finally, anyone planning a ride out there on a Saturday in the near future?

THANKS!!!

[socalrider]

Baldy has a little more elevation gain.. You can ride up Baldy from either the Upland or Claremont side and get on Baldy Road.. Once on Baldy road you cannot really get lost.. Just follow signs to Baldy ski lifts.. The Baldy climb has some tougher sections than Palomar, the switchbacks during the last 2.5 miles and final stretch are pretty tough going.. Here is a link

http://www.socalvelo.com/sub/socalclimbs.htm

[merider1]

I'll let the true billy goats answer most of your questions, but if you want to make a ride out of it, the best place to park is Encanto Park and then take 39 up to "little" Glendora Mountain Road to Baldy and then back down "big" Glendora Mountain Road to Sierra Madre and back (full loop). Others will suggest more routes as well as there variations. But if you start from Encanto, you'll get between 56-62 miles out of it. The elevation I don't know as I've heard all sorts of answers on that one, but you're looking at 4,500 ft+. It's my favorite ride and I highly recommend it. (note: big GMR is closed now on Saturdays and only open to cyclists on Sundays. In May, they plan to open it up to traffic, so you might want to get out there before May!) I hope that helps. :)

[OC Roadie]

Baldy has a little more elevation gain.. You can ride up Baldy from either the Upland or Claremont side and get on Baldy Road.. Once on Baldy road you cannot really get lost.. Just follow signs to Baldy ski lifts.. The Baldy climb has some tougher sections than Palomar, the switchbacks during the last 2.5 miles and final stretch are pretty tough going.. Here is a link

http://www.socalvelo.com/sub/socalclimbs.htm
One other option, is start on Glendora Mtn Rd and take Glendora Ridge Rd to Baldy Village, and then take Mt Baldy Rd for the last 4-5 miles to the lifts. This route is 27 miles each way, you catch a couple of short descents on the way up, but it's mostly climbing, the round trip will net you over 7,000'. This is my preferred route, if I have the time. If I take Mt Baldy Rd the whole way, I start at the corner of Mills & Mt Baldy Rd, there's a parking lot there. I think Baldy is tougher than Palomar, especially the home stretch.

[jpconrad]

One other option, is start on Glendora Mtn Rd and take Glendora Ridge Rd to Baldy Village, and then take Mt Baldy Rd for the last 4-5 miles to the lifts. This route is 27 miles each way, you catch a couple of short descents on the way up, but it's mostly climbing, the round trip will net you over 7,000'. This is my preferred route, if I have the time. If I take Mt Baldy Rd the whole way, I start at the corner of Mills & Mt Baldy Rd, there's a parking lot there. I think Baldy is tougher than Palomar, especially the home stretch.

As M.E. said, GMR is now closed to cyclists Monday through Saturday due to contruction and they are supposedly ticketing riders. GMR is scheduled to re-open May 31th to everyone, and I'm sure the aspiring race car drivers and motorcyclists will be testing the road out with vengeance once they realize it's opened again.

[OC Roadie]

As M.E. said, GMR is now closed to cyclists Monday through Saturday due to contruction and they are supposedly ticketing riders. GMR is scheduled to re-open May 31th to everyone, and I'm sure the aspiring race car drivers and motorcyclists will be testing the road out with vengeance once they realize it's opened again.
I guess I'll be happy that I usually ride up there on Sundays :)

[dangerman]

In May, they plan to open it up to traffic, so you might want to get out there before May!

where did you hear that? Sounds like an emergency GMR outing is in order

[socalrider]

Before GMR was closed down, it wasn't the cars it was the motorcycle riders that caused me concern when riding.. I also heard from my LBS that GMR was slated for opening before Summer..

[jpconrad]

where did you hear that? Sounds like an emergency GMR outing is in order

Here's the link to the opening date - http://www.ladpw.org/rmd/roadclosure/results.cfm

[jsigone]

Start at the bottom of GMR, and enjoy the closed gates to cars for the next 8 miles or so. MUCCCHHH better then having to share the road with crouchrockets like on Palomar. Grades are about the same, I think Palomar gets a lil harder near the top. Just pace your self going up the first time so you don't blow up, then next time you make it up there to ride, you will have a better feel for whats coming.

[OC Roadie]

I think Palomar gets a lil harder near the top.
If you're just comparing Palomar to GMR, then yes, I agree. If you mean to say that Palomar is tougher than Baldy, near the top, then you've been smoking some good stuff :D

[Mr. Beanz]

Aint thatta !!!!!! Everytime I'm signed up to do a mtn ride, they close GMR. Guess I'll have to drive all the way down to Duarte to get in a long one up GMR.:D

[jschen]

Comparing Baldy (Claremont terminus of Baldy Rd to the ski lift) and Palomar (taco shop to general store), the gross statistics are similar. Similar length, with Baldly about 10% steeper. Not that 10% extra elevation in the same distance is anything to scoff at, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Baldy is far nastier. You subtract the first 1.5 miles or so of what's essentially a false flat, and you get a rather steep climb. With some really really steep sections thrown in. Those really steep sections are in my opinion what makes Baldy a much tougher climb. If the winds aren't too bad, one can cruise up Palomar at a pretty consistent effort and do just fine. But unless one is fast enough to cruise up a 15% grade (that sure wouldn't be me), Baldy forces your hand in sections. Including at the very top.

[Psydotek]

As M.E. said, GMR is now closed to cyclists Monday through Saturday due to contruction and they are supposedly ticketing riders. GMR is scheduled to re-open May 31th to everyone, and I'm sure the aspiring race car drivers and motorcyclists will be testing the road out with vengeance once they realize it's opened again.

So it's "open" sundays for sure? I'd love to get out there and ride it sometime before it's open to traffic again but i really don't want to bother with a ticket...

[Pico]

If you're just comparing Palomar to GMR, then yes, I agree. If you mean to say that Palomar is tougher than Baldy, near the top, then you've been smoking some good stuff :D

+1, Palomar has a nice steady grade that you can cruise up. Baldy has three nasty sections that will make just about anyone suffer.:D

[merider1]

Well, unless you go to the ski lifts, Baldy isn't bad at all. The climb from Hwy 39, up little GMR to Baldy Village isn't difficult IMHO. Of course, I'm a slow climber (am NOT sandbagging, just stating a fact), so I just pedal up it. I suppose if you do what the boys did recently (Vireo, Extort, Lombardi) and climb up and down and up and down and all the hell over the place, it would be painful! :p But I don't do that (can't do it, I'd pass out). :D

[jschen]

Or if you climb from Claremont or Upland. Then the stretch after the tunnels is pretty steep, comparable with what you find going up to the ski lifts.

[Vireo]

Well, unless you go to the ski lifts, Baldy isn't bad at all. The climb from Hwy 39, up little GMR to Baldy Village isn't difficult IMHO. Of course, I'm a slow climber (am NOT sandbagging, just stating a fact), so I just pedal up it. I suppose if you do what the boys did recently (Vireo, Extort, Lombardi) and climb up and down and up and down and all the hell over the place, it would be painful! :p But I don't do that (can't do it, I'd pass out). :D


Actually I was the only one that completed the Tour de Baldy as planned.

39, East Fork, Little GMR, down GMR, Up GMR, GRR to the Village, Down Baldy Road, Up Baldy Road, GRR, GMR to Duarte. 95 miles 10,800 feet of gain

40712


Lombardi--39, East Fork, Little GMR, GRR to the Village and then the lifts (skipped Down and up GMR and down and up Baldy Rd).

Ian ----- 39, East Fork, Little GMR, GRR to the Village and then back to the car Duarte (skipped Down and up GMR, down Baldy and up Baldy Rd).

Extort-- 39, East Fork, Little GMR, Big GMR, GRR to the Village then down GMR to the Duarte (skipped down and up Baldy Rd).

jason--Baldy Rd (nice lunch at the village I hear) back down Baldy Rd

[Blastinbob]

I don't see GMR opening up to traffic the end of May. I was up there today and they tore up the road just above where they repaired it. Looks like they found another potential problem and decided to fix it before it fell over the side too. It now looks like it did last summer in that area, 1 lane with a bunch of dirt in it and a hole in the other.