Southern California - Chantry Flats

Roadfix recommended I ride up Chantry Flats last night, so once I found out it was opened again I decided to go ahead and check it out. I wasn't sure how it was since the road's been closed for a while, and I knew that the recent rains could have causes some potential issues with debris. However, the road was in pretty good shape. So...

I will probably start doing weekly night rides up to Chantry Flats again, heading up there either Wednesday night or Thursday night. Would anyone be interested in joining me?

A few things to know...

Start time would be between 6:30 and 7:30.
I won't be hammering, particularly if we do it on Wednesday.
It is very, very cold up there on the descent. Last night I froze coming down, thankfully it's a short descent.
Good, strong lights are necessary.
If we are doing just Chantry Flats, figure about 2 hrs from start to finish.
Total climbing is about 2200 ft, with 1400 or so within 4 miles.
Did I mention how cold it is up there?Starting Location (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=34.131884,-118.067249&spn=0.001876,0.004227&t=h&z=19)
Park at the end of the Ralphs (not Vons) parking lot next to Michallinda.

It is cold on parts of that road in the middle of a summer day, so yes I would say it is really cold (by so-cal standards) now. Are there any cars on that road at that time of night?

I've been up there with you when I just about froze my IBTs off, so I KNOW how cold it is. However, I'm still sicky-sorry-ass, so I can't go this week. Next Wednesday night, though, if I can I'd love to join! :D

I've been up there with you when I just about froze my IBTs off, so I KNOW how cold it is. However, I'm still sicky-sorry-ass, so I can't go this week. Next Wednesday night, though, if I can I'd love to join! :D

I'm not going tonight, I'm sore from the gym and then going up Chantry last night. I probably should have said that this was for next week... :o

It is cold on parts of that road in the middle of a summer day, so yes I would say it is really cold (by so-cal standards) now. Are there any cars on that road at that time of night?

Not too many, but the standard party was going on a couple turnouts before the stop sign.

Oh, and it was super cold last night... Near my home is Pasadena it was 47 when I got home, so I figure it was somewhere in the low 30s, upper 20s, in places. I'm going to wear more layers next week.

I'm not going tonight, I'm sore from the gym and then going up Chantry last night. I probably should have said that this was for next week... :o

Oh. Well, in that case, me me me! :D

EDIT: But is there anyway I can meet you closer to Pasadena? :o I'm nervous that traffic will delay me getting there and I can't be out too late.

Oh. Well, in that case, me me me! :D

EDIT: But is there anyway I can meet you closer to Pasadena? :o I'm nervous that traffic will delay me getting there and I can't be out too late.

You can always start somewhere else and I can meet you while riding. However, the traffic usually isn't that bad at 6:30-7 (I was on the freeway last night at that time and it was moving pretty good).

I'm up fot next Thursday. Wednesdays are out due to the traditional rides I do with Mark and sometimes Herb. I'll PM you next week.

i might have seen you going down.. i started up around 8PM....

was 47F -ish at the start, so likely high 30's up top

i carry a camelback, and when finished climbing take off slightly damp layers and change into 2 dry layers plus a goretex wind parka. thinking i need thermal tights- leg warmers not enuff

it hurts motivation when it's this cold out at nite

Yeah, that's when I was up there so I'm sure it was you. I thought there was two bikes following me up, but on the descent saw that there was only one with two lights.

yea- 2 lites = handlebar + helmet + rear . i run all dinotte; their lights are garden-variety good, but their rear/ red is a nuclear burn red. brightest rear lite on the market. i like knowin i can be seen from behind

i'd join you some eve but my sched varies. plus i am older, heavier and slower than you i am sure :

Is this still happening?
Details?

Yup, I'll be going up Wednesday or Thursday night again. Not sure what time, probably 6:30 or so. This week is probably going to be Thursday if the weather forecast holds for rain on Wednesday.

Meeting place?

I won't be able to make Thursday. I'm coordinating our first joint Finance Offsite and am completely responsible for every aspect of the meeting. I will be up at 4am on Thursday and not to be until 11pm. No Chantry for me. :(

I won't be able to make Thursday. I'm coordinating our first joint Finance Offsite and am completely responsible for every aspect of the meeting. I will be up at 4am on Thursday and not to be until 11pm. No Chantry for me. :(

So where are you guys going? Or is that completely confidential, and you'd have to shoot me for that info??? :roflmao:

So where are you guys going? Or is that completely confidential, and you'd have to shoot me for that info??? :roflmao:

Why would you want to know that. :rolleyes: It's at a hotel (local) where most offsites are conducted. Which means hotel food for two days. Ugh.

I won't be able to make Thursday. I'm coordinating our first joint Finance Offsite and am completely responsible for every aspect of the meeting. I will be up at 4am on Thursday and not to be until 11pm. No Chantry for me. :(


I have to see what the weather's like, right now it looks like the storm would be coming through on Tuesday so Wednesday may be ok, too.

Meeting place?

I think Michillinda Park (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.130985,-118.070599&spn=0.003752,0.008454&z=18&om=1) might be a good place to meet.

So where are you guys going? Or is that completely confidential, and you'd have to shoot me for that info??? :roflmao:

Creepy, Ron, creepy. ;)

I have to see what the weather's like, right now it looks like the storm would be coming through on Tuesday so Wednesday may be ok, too.

If it's dry Wednesday, I may come join. One caveat, you WILL have to do repeats. I haven't done crap for a week and no climbing at all, so I'm just pure blechk. I'll be snailing up Chantry. I'm going to try later today to go for a spin. I feel like my mucscle are atrophying (sp?).

If it's dry Wednesday, I may come join. One caveat, you WILL have to do repeats. I haven't done crap for a week and no climbing at all, so I'm just pure blechk. I'll be snailing up Chantry. I'm going to try later today to go for a spin. I feel like my mucscle are atrophying (sp?).

No repeats, but I will have done a number on my legs either that morning or the morning before at the gym.

I was pretty slow last week.

No repeats, but I will have done a number on my legs either that morning or the morning before at the gym.

I was pretty slow last week.

No way, no how you'll be as slow as me. :( But that's okay. Only way to get it back, is to move it.

What's the total mileage from Michillinda Park & back?
I'm figuring out whether I can make it at all, first - but secondly, whether I'll bike to the start or take the Gold(en)Line... or drive (worst case scenario).

I think Michillinda Park (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.130985,-118.070599&spn=0.003752,0.008454&z=18&om=1) might be a good place to meet.

That's creepy! Everytime I've stopped there on my way to meet the Montrose ride, the same camper truck has been parked there and one or two people in one of the bathroom stalls.

That's creepy! Everytime I've stopped there on my way to meet the Montrose ride, the same camper truck has been parked there and one or two people in one of the bathroom stalls.

I used to live down the street from that park circa 84-87 (I think, at a guess and not looking at old records)... last I passed that park about a year ago, the same camper since when I lived there. If it's the same camper you're referring to, well then, it's been around for a long, long time.

That's creepy! Everytime I've stopped there on my way to meet the Montrose ride, the same camper truck has been parked there and one or two people in one of the bathroom stalls.

It's always there. We can always meet at the Ralphs on Michillinda/Huntington, instead.

What's the total mileage from Michillinda Park & back?
I'm figuring out whether I can make it at all, first - but secondly, whether I'll bike to the start or take the Gold(en)Line... or drive (worst case scenario).

It's about 16-17 miles from the park to the top and back.

I think we might move the start to the Ralph's parking lot on Michallinda/Huntington, instead, though.

It's about 16-17 miles from the park to the top and back.

I think we might move the start to the Ralph's parking lot on Michallinda/Huntington, instead, though.

I didn't mean you have to move. I've never had any issues, just kind of eerie. Have fun!

It's about 16-17 miles from the park to the top and back.

I think we might move the start to the Ralph's parking lot on Michallinda/Huntington, instead, though.

Okay then, I may end up biking to the start :D

I didn't mean you have to move. I've never had any issues, just kind of eerie. Have fun!

Nah, you reminded me that I had originally planned to do it from the Ralph's parking lot by reminding me why I didn't want to use the park.

I've added a link in the OP to the Ralphs Parking Lot.

Won't be making it out there this time, my week's schedule just filled up. :(
I'd like to join in on the ride another time or the next time it happens. Thanks jpconrad.

I'd like to do Chantry Flats tomorrow night at 6:30. However, as of today (Tuesday) the road is closed, again, due to fire danger. I'm going to check it again tomorrow and post whether it's opened or not and if it is opened I'll head up there at 6:30 in case anyone is interested.

I'm interested, John, but I'm thinking the weather may not permit it. Showers are expected as early as tomorrow night. I know that the forecasters are often wrong, but it is pretty overcast out there right now!

Weather.com isn't showing any chance of rain until Thursday morning.

Weather.com isn't showing any chance of rain until Thursday morning.

I was watching the morning news, and they said otherwise (showers expected as early as Wednesday night). so....????

I was watching the morning news, and they said otherwise (showers expected as early as Wednesday night). so....????

Perhaps they've changed their mind since the morning as all the local channel websites I visited say the rain starts Thursday and goes on forever.

How about next week?

Probably.

I'm still going tomorrow night unless it's closed, though, especially since it looks like the rest of the week is going to be wet.

Chantry Flats is open and the weather is looking pretty good right now... If anyone is interested, pm me before 6 pm.

I didn't bring my bike, John. I figured it would still be closed. :( I'm hitting the weights tonight.

I didn't bring my bike, John. I figured it would still be closed. :( I'm hitting the weights tonight.

I figured that would be the case. Have fun at the gym.

I figured that would be the case. Have fun at the gym.

:mad: :cry: Look it, you're the one who posted that it was closed and that you were going to scout it out. I hate dragging my bike to work and then not riding. Besides, I desperately need to work my upper body.

Ya know that even if it's closed I'm going to be riding somewhere anyway. :rolleyes: As long as it's not raining, and sometimes even when it rains, I'm out Tuesday through Thursday nights riding.

Ya know that even if it's closed I'm going to be riding somewhere anyway. :rolleyes: As long as it's not raining, and sometimes even when it rains, I'm out Tuesday through Thursday nights riding.

Yeah, but you're not the attraction...Chantry is. :p

J/K - I just decided to do the gym thing, John. I'll be back out next week (if you don't want to ride with me, I'll do loop-de-loops around the rose bowl!) In the meantime, be safe out there.

Yeah, but you're not the attraction...Chantry is. :p

J/K - I just decided to do the gym thing, John. I'll be back out next week (if you don't want to ride with me, I'll do loop-de-loops around the rose bowl!) In the meantime, be safe out there.

You're always welcome to join me, just pm me first so that I know to look for you.

Tomorrow night I'll be out mucking around, too, I think, I haven't spent enough time riding in the rain lately.

Since it looks like I'll be alone tonight I think I'll go up at 2 pm instead of this evening.

Since it looks like I'll be alone tonight I think I'll go up at 2 pm instead of this evening.

Lucky.

I'm bringing my mtbike in tomorrow for a full tune up, new saddle and putting spds on in it. If it's done in time, I "may" go ride at the Rose Bowl even if it's raining, but I'm not sure yet (they may need more than a day to spruce the Red Baron up). If I do ride, maybe I'll see you over there on your fixie. :D