According to http://www.ladpw.org/rmd/roadclosure/results.cfm, GMR is due open on the 31st. And from what i saw on the GMR ride last sunday, the road is fully repaired from gate to gate.
I'd like to get in one last climb before the 31st and drag along two of my friends. I know Sunday is the safe day but that's just not going to work for us unfortunately (the three of us will be installing sprinklers)... Saturday afternoon would be the best time but i'm not sure if we really should chance heading out there only to be turned back at the gate or halfway up. I'm pretty sure Monday would be a good day too but there's always a chance we'll be finishing up the sprinkler project in the morning and the afternoon is BBQ time.
So... Should we try Saturday afternoon or not bother because of potential road work?
(another way to ask is "Did anybody ride GMR last Saturday?" which could potentially tell me the status of this coming Saturday...)
Ti-tillIdie
05-25-07, 07:20 PM
I can do one better, I was just there today...(snuck out of work) and it's closed to cars for now. There was road crew out there putting some fresh paint down (they were working on a new double yellow stripe down the middle and finishing up some fun new white shoulder markers). They didn't stop me as they were painting and waved to me as I went by. On my way down I had a brief talk with a ranger and a hiker. The ranger said it was scheduled to open to cars on the first.. and It definitely looked ready, the painting crew was more than 75% done putting down the lines up the road. So get out there and enjoy it while you can!
Happytime
05-25-07, 07:23 PM
Excellent, Mike. Thanks for the scouting report. I'll try to make it up there on Sunday or Monday.
roadfix
05-25-07, 07:40 PM
I might ride up late Sat afternoon.
Scootcore
05-25-07, 07:43 PM
i may do the climb on sunday, still trying to decide...if i do itll probably be late morning as ill just ride from van nuys....
thomson
05-25-07, 07:47 PM
I think I am going Monday
Happytime
05-25-07, 08:22 PM
I think I am going Monday
Hey Jim.. Feel like pushing a gal up the mountain? I'm game for early Monday, as I have a wedding to attend in the afternoon (fortunately not my own).
thomson
05-25-07, 08:25 PM
Hey Jim.. Feel like pushing a gal up the mountain? I'm game for early Monday, as I have a wedding to attend in the afternoon (fortunately not my own).
Cool. 6:00?
Happytime
05-25-07, 08:27 PM
Perfect! :D
thomson
05-25-07, 08:32 PM
Where do we meet? I have not been there before..on East Sierra Madre?
roadfix
05-25-07, 08:35 PM
GMR climbers usually park at the corner of Glendora Mt Rd and Boulder Springs.......just a block north of Sierra Madre Ave. on GMR....before you hit the gate.
Happytime
05-25-07, 08:36 PM
Sure, there or Encanto. We'll figure something out on Sunday.
I'm sleepy **yawn**
Have a good H100 ride, Jim.
Anyone else up for a Monday ride? George? Henry? Bill?
thomson
05-25-07, 08:37 PM
Ok, and then we go up Glendora Mountain to Glendora Ridge and down Baldy or something?
thomson
05-25-07, 08:38 PM
Sure, there or Encanto. We'll figure something out on Sunday.
I'm sleepy **yawn**
Have a good H100 ride, Jim.
Anyone else up for a Monday ride? George? Henry? Bill?
k, bye Joy
Luwin1026
05-25-07, 09:32 PM
Sure, there or Encanto. We'll figure something out on Sunday.
I'm sleepy **yawn**
Have a good H100 ride, Jim.
Anyone else up for a Monday ride? George? Henry? Bill?
If it's early, I might be able to make it!
thomson
05-25-07, 09:37 PM
If it's early, I might be able to make it!
Outstanding. I think we are talking 6:00am.
jschen
05-25-07, 09:50 PM
Anyone else up for a Monday ride? George? Henry? Bill?
If I'm not working on Monday (I think I am, but I'll know better after tomorrow) then I'd love to ride with a Cutie Roadie. :)
jschen
05-25-07, 09:50 PM
By the way, for a bit of warmup, may I propose an alternative? Start at the bottom of Baldy Rd (plenty of parking at the parking lot there). Cruise out to the base of GMR. Then hit GMR and GRR with warmed up legs.
jschen
05-25-07, 09:52 PM
But anyway, don't plan around me. There's a really good chance I can't make it.
Scootcore
05-25-07, 10:33 PM
i may be game! ill check with home and let you know soon
redal
05-25-07, 10:33 PM
GMR climbers usually park at the corner of Glendora Mt Rd and Boulder Springs.......just a block north of Sierra Madre Ave. on GMR....before you hit the gate.
Doesn't that make it tough, hitting the climb with cold legs?
Mr. Beanz
05-25-07, 10:50 PM
Doesn't that make it tough, hitting the climb with cold legs?
Makes it tough for me. Takes me 4 miles to warm up from that start point!:o
Psydotek
05-25-07, 10:53 PM
Yeah, we'll be starting @ Encanto park for a nice warm up. Instead of doing the whole loop down little GMR and around East Fork, we're just doing an out-n-back route to the top gate. I need to go down that road at least once instead of having only climbed it. :D
redal
05-25-07, 11:57 PM
Makes it tough for me. Takes me 4 miles to warm up from that start point!:o
Lucky for me, I live 20 min. riding time from the bottom. That usually works out to be adequate warm-up. I really only go up that side when I am pressed for time or getting ready for San Dimas Stage race. I prefer climbing up through Azusa Canyon and up the backside of GMR.
redal
05-26-07, 12:06 AM
Yeah, we'll be starting @ Encanto park for a nice warm up. Instead of doing the whole loop down little GMR and around East Fork, we're just doing an out-n-back route to the top gate. I need to go down that road at least once instead of having only climbed it. :D
I really prefer the road closed, but in my experience, even when it is open there is not a ton of traffic. The area (Azusa Canyon, East Fork, backside of GMR) has become more popular with the sport bikes and Initial D wannabes but if I am reading the ride reports from last week correctly, the ride went out Azusa Canyon. Azusa Canyon has way more traffic on a Sunday than I have ever seen on GMR and in my opinion you have to be pretty brave to ride south on Hwy 39. The impression I am getting from posters on here is that they aren't going to be able to ride GMR once it opens to traffic, but I don't think it will be as bad as people expect. The sport bikes will be there, but most of the import kids come up at night because that proves you're a better driver.
roadfix
05-26-07, 09:09 AM
Doesn't that make it tough, hitting the climb with cold legs?Most definitely! :)
Mr. Beanz
05-26-07, 09:13 AM
I remember when GMR was open to traffic. Not bad at all. I don't think most people want to drive a road like that when they can easily get to their destination via Hwy 39 or Baldy Rd. The only traffic up there was usually very very few cars out sight seeing.
While descending GMR, you only need to worry about the straight sections of road, which isn't many. I have had cars pull over to let me pass as a rider can take the switchbacks at a higher speed than the cars. I really don't think it will be open very long though.
roadfix
05-26-07, 09:17 AM
I really don't think it will be open very long though.What, are we expecting another nasty winter season like the one that originally shut down GMR? :D
Psydotek
05-26-07, 02:00 PM
Worse, fire season. :)
roadfix
05-26-07, 02:21 PM
Worse, fire season. :)
Well, then perhaps I better get up there this afternoon before some punk loses control and slides his rice rocket into some brush, burning the whole mountain.
Raiderdave
05-26-07, 06:55 PM
For me it will be the mental challenge of remembering "there are cars here now" vs now just riding up and not having to worry about them.
Coming down EF and 39 has been an awaking after climbing GMR in peace.
My buddy and I are meeting at Encanto Park at 7:00am on Sunday (tomorrow)for the same loop you all did last Sunday. We did that loop as well, we just started at 7am...too many honey do's for an 8:30am start. We may add the ride to the village and back we are up for it. Any interest?