One of the best rides around. With it's different routes, climbs and distances, I really hold it in high regard. Post up anything and everything about GMR. Photos, ride reports... whatever.
I'll start.
This ride was the type of bad idea that only comes along every so often. Labor Day '07 was forecasted to be one of the hottest days of the summer. Temperatures of 110 were forecasted in certain spots, possibly higher. In our infinite wisdom, we decided to ride to Mt. Baldy. It still goes down as one of my favorite rides ever. Good friends, a big group and a challenging ride. This was only a few days after Team Bearclaw (http://www.teambearclaw.com) was formed and we all had our new kits. Everyone that started finished (I think) and our good friend Fritz (one of the fastest Cyclocross racers in SoCal) met us at the gate with water, gatorade and other good stuff.
Me:
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2156/baldy16gz2.jpg
Rest stop:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/235/baldy15od6.jpg
Jason:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/9954/baldy4zr1.jpg
Brian:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9538/baldy5ti8.jpg
Bill:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/433/baldy6ce4.jpg
Freddie in the back, guy who I can't remember in the front:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5783/baldy7gw9.jpg
Almost to the top:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1082/baldy2po2.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/610/baldy10dp2.jpg
Cole, close to the ski lifts:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3296/baldy13ft0.jpg
Bill:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/253/baldy14jh9.jpg
Enzo Gucci
01-20-08, 09:22 PM
Party at the Ski Lifts. Even up there, it was HOT:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5799/baldy11bh1.jpg
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/3250/baldy12fv5.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/6893/baldy9vy0.jpg
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5720/baldy3ao6.jpg
Baldy Village (where Cole earned some serious man-points by drinking 2 NewCastles before heading back home...):
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4466/baldy8un7.jpg
Such a fun ride. More pictures to come in the very near future. Feel free to contribute.
GMR is one of my favorite rides too (I haven't attempted the lifts yet)... there have been many organized through the SoCal forum, with tons of pics and ride reports. Good stuff!! :) Some of my favorite pics come from GMR rides, I'll have to dig some up.
BikeWNC
01-20-08, 10:05 PM
I'm really looking forward to doing this ride when I come out in April.
Enzo Gucci
01-20-08, 10:12 PM
I'll have to dig some up.
Yes indeed.
Here's another ride my friend Alex (http://www.aboone.blogspot.com) and I did. Alex rides Semi-Pro XC for the Subaru/Fisher/Helens team, and does a lot of training on the road. I know there were more pictures, but I can't find them. This was after the first snow of 2007. It was a beautiful day, and really windy at the gate. We started in Pasadena and turned around at the intersection for E Fork. Awesome ride with clean air and great views.
I had an (awesome) mustache for about 3 weeks. Little photograpic evidence of it exists, which makes this photo incredibly rare:
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2095/gmr3dp1.jpg
Alex, motoring up the climb:
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/8684/gmr4cm4.jpg
Awesome, thanks. It looks like you guys consistently get a good turnout. I need to bring a camera on rides more often.
This was last Friday, the 11th. It was a really hard ride (for me, at least) 3 of us left from Pasadena and motored over to Glendora. We met our friend Mike at the bottom of GMR and Sierra Madre. I think we got there in less than an hour, which is a pretty good pace when you take stopping at lights into consideration. We took off and I went really hard for the first 4 miles, and took it a little easier until we got to the gate. Then we rode in circles trying to figure out if we were going to go back down GMR or go to East Fork.
We decided on East Fork, and we went pretty hard all the way back down to Pasadena. Thats probably the fastest I've ever done the "lap" from Pasadena-GMR-39-Pasadena. Great ride, great weather (a little cold at the top, but not bad) and good training.
Posing = Good training:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7605/gmr2pr0.jpg
Jason, Chepe and I:
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3282/gmr6mg2.jpg
Riding in circles while we tried to figure out where we were gonna go:
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2527/gmr7be7.jpg
Thats all the pictures I have on my HD from GMR rides. I'll post more when I can. :)
Enzo Gucci
01-20-08, 10:37 PM
Somewhere near the top of GMR looking over 39 and the lake. - From the bloat ride in 06
I love seeing that view on the way down, especialy when the hits the water right.
merider1
01-20-08, 11:02 PM
Enzo, did you just now discover GMR? I mean this with all due respect, by the way, and am just curious. It seems from this thread that you have (forgive me, I'm tired, and I may have misread). If so, I understand your joy and excitment to share (thanks for the additional pics too - you young men are awfully good looking!) When I first discovered GMR in 2005, I giggled all the way down it. It was still closed to traffic then, and I was immediately smitten with the views and such. It is beautiful up there and up Baldy - my favorite ride of all time.
I can't wait to heal and head up to Baldy again via big or little GMR. Hopefully, in the next two weeks...
Enzo Gucci
01-20-08, 11:08 PM
Enzo, did you just now discover GMR? I mean this with all due respect, by the way, and am just curious. It seems from this thread that you have (forgive me, I'm tired, and I may have misread). If so, I understand your joy and excitment to share (thanks for the additional pics too - you young men are awfully good looking!) When I first discovered GMR in 2005, I giggled all the way down it. It was still closed to traffic then, and I was immediately smitten with the views and such. It is beautiful up there and up Baldy - my favorite ride of all time.
I can't wait to heal and head up to Baldy again via big or little GMR. Hopefully, in the next two weeks...
Nah, been riding it for as long as I've been riding (which still isn't very long) I was just looking through all my cycling pictures and realized I've got a lot of good GMR pictures, and a ton of fun ride memories with my friends, so I figured I'd start a thread. :) Don't worry about it, I know my OP made it sound like I just started riding it yesterday... I figured people would think that was the case.
I remember the first time I rode it, also. I saw 5 people towing street-luge boards up the hill by foot... about 5 miles from the bottom. That was pretty damn cool. There was nothin better than having an entire road to yourself. I still love the climb and always look forward to doing it.
OC Roadie
01-21-08, 10:33 AM
Nice thread :D
I don't have too many pictures from GMR/Baldy, I usually don't carry a camera. These are from Jan 2006, Pico and I did GMR to the lifts on a freezing cold day. We encountered ice patches on GRR, and Baldy Rd was frosted over much of the way from the village to the lifts. That final 15% stretch from the snack shack to the parking lot was brutal. You had to stay seated, or your rear wheel would slip on the frost. The way down on the switchbacks was a nail biter. This was the day I learned where Icehouse Canyon got it's name.
My old bike at Cow Canyon Saddle
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8462/baldyridemebike0zn.jpg
Road conditions near the top
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/3971/baldyridefrostyroad2yn.jpg
Nice view from the parking lot
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8804/baldysi2.jpg
Me and Pico ready to go back down
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/4596/baldyridemeandpico4vb.jpg
Brandy
01-21-08, 10:52 AM
I think this is one of the only pics of me from GMR/Baldy. There was a BF ride from Encanto up Hwy 39 that day, but I started alone on GMR...actually...I ran into several BF'ers who were riding up GMR instead of Hwy 39! Ran into the main group and ended up posing with Asia at the Village.
Edited to add...great pics Enzo. I love the B&W one!!
Psydotek
01-21-08, 12:56 PM
Well i was perusing my friends collection of pics and found one of us at the top gate on GMR when i finally dragged him out there to climb GMR last summer. :) This was right before it opened to cars again...
George, I've never seen you being that serious going up GMR.
As I remembered... you zoom pass me up GMR on your fixie, pulled over and start taking pics of everyone on their way up, zoom pass me again, take pics, and repeat. :lol:
alicestrong
01-21-08, 02:58 PM
This thread has some great eye candy....:)
redal
01-21-08, 04:50 PM
Enzo,
I can't say enough good things about the roads up there. Fortunately, I live close so I am up there at least once a week and sometimes 4 times in a week. This weekend I rode Azusa Cyn. to GMR both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I went down GMR and home and Sunday I went across to Baldy. Funny thing is the only pictures I have are from when I did the GMR road race as a junior. They are not digital and I don't have a scanner.
alicestrong
01-21-08, 05:01 PM
Hey do you have a macro setting on your digital camera, redal? I discovered that I could "take digital pictures" of my old pictures instead of scanning them.
redal
01-21-08, 05:39 PM
Hey do you have a macro setting on your digital camera, redal? I discovered that I could "take digital pictures" of my old pictures instead of scanning them.
My stepdaughter has done that also. I don't really mess with the digital camera.
Enzo Gucci
01-21-08, 07:43 PM
This thread has some great eye candy....:)
Yep, lots of nice bikes and scenery ;)
jamlo21
01-21-08, 08:39 PM
speaking of group ride up GMR, OC Rebels are having one on 2/23.
Enzo--I love the Bearclaw kits. One of the nicest ones around and I'm including the pro tour teams
gobes
01-21-08, 10:52 PM
What I want to see are the pictures of Chet and all the ladies/groupies who follow him.
Mr. Beanz
01-21-08, 11:19 PM
On my way down! Photo taken by the camera dude that sits up there. I'll have to buy this pic. I'm the kind of person that loves a smooth running machine and this pic clearly shows the wheels and tires on the road. I look at the pic and think to myself," Dam, I built those MOFO'S!":D
I was on the way down to get the truck after JPC's diving accident!:eek:
speaking of group ride up GMR, OC Rebels are having one on 2/23.
Enzo--I love the Bearclaw kits. One of the nicest ones around and I'm including the pro tour teams
I'll try and make that ride.
Thanks for the Compliments on the kit! As for pro team kits, you can see the look of jealousy in my training partners eyes (my last post with pictures) I'll be he's hoping Toyota-United comes out with an updated all white and black kit for the '08 season. He can keep dreaming ;)
What I want to see are the pictures of Chet and all the ladies/groupies who follow him.
Chet has been racing helicopters in South Africa lately, it's his latest kick. Word is out that he's going to be competing in a "triathlon" soon; 1,000k Speedboat, 500k helicopter, 600k racecar. Pretty impressive.
Ultra-Rare photographs of Chet Bearclaw at the Cross Nationals:
Chet Bearclaw (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/dec07/UScrossnats07/index.php?id=/photos/2007/dec07/UScrossnats07/UScrossnats0714/JD_07mnXnats04)
Chet Bearclaw (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2007/dec07/UScrossnats07/index.php?id=/photos/2007/dec07/UScrossnats07/UScrossnats0714/men108)
Here's an explanation as to why Chet raced, from the Team Bearclaw (http://www.teambearclaw.com/cx/)CX page...
~Chet fires Jason Lowetz and races in his place!~
Unsatisfied with Jason's failed attempt at lapping the entire field, team owner Chet Bearclaw fired the elite rider until further notice. "I didn't put millions of dollars into this team only to have my boys look like a bunch of asses out there. I told that idiot-jerkface to lap the field or else take a hike", Chet explained in a press conference. To teach everyone a little lesson, Chet raced in place of Jason in Sunday's elite race - He finished 74th. After the race Chet immediately fired the team mechanic after claiming to have experienced "unexplainable mechanical disasters" throughout the race. Chet will be finishing the 2007 cyclocross season in Jason's place. He said Jason will be allowed to compete in the first race of the road season, but will be fired if he does not win.
There are rumors that Chet Bearclaw will be at the Dominguez Hills Criterium this Sunday. I've heard he's going to be at a kickboxing match in Colombia Saturday night, and driving the team Bus from Colombia to the race. Anyone interested should be there to witness the spectacular event.
This thread is going off topic, I'll make a seperate Team Bearclaw thead in the near future, as to not further derail this one.
Rick@OCRR
01-22-08, 09:32 AM
speaking of group ride up GMR, OC Rebels are having one on 2/23.
RE:Rebel ride on 2/23/2008 Yes, it is open to all bikeforums.net members, I just haven't gotten around to posting it on the SoCal bikeforums site yet. I will send info to Joy via PM so it can get posted/listed.
We're going to try to have three groups this time, with Steve Jones (from the U.K.) leading the fast group. This is for anyone (racer, hammer-head, mountain goat . . . you know who you are! :) ) who like a fast group of experienced riders. Estimated time from Glendora to The Village 1hr. 30 min. . . . maybe less.
I will lead the 2nd (or "B") group of "Medium Paced" riders, i.e. you can climb okay, but are not going to set any record (or try to). Estimated actual riding time from Glendora to The Village 2 hr. 15 min.
Finally, there will be a "C" Beginners group, for anyone who has always wanted to climb GMR, but for whatever reasons, hasn't actually tried it until this ride. Maria (from Poland, originally) will lead this group.
Maria is a bikeforums,net member, and many of you met her on the Malibu - Santa Monica Mtns. ride. This will also be the group for those who see themselves as "slow" climbers. Estimated time from Glendora to The Village 3 hours - 3-1/2 hours.
For my group, I will have a re-group at The Shed, plus perhaps another in the middle of that last 3-1/2 mile climb between miles 14 and 17.5. Maria may re-group more often, and Steve Jones' group, probably will not regroup (until the Village).
Any questions? If so, pls. PM me!
Rick / OCRR
Enzo Gucci
01-23-08, 01:53 AM
RE:Rebel ride on 2/23/2008 Yes, it is open to all bikeforums.net members, I just haven't gotten around to posting it on the SoCal bikeforums site yet. I will send info to Joy via PM so it can get posted/listed.
We're going to try to have three groups this time, with Steve Jones (from the U.K.) leading the fast group. This is for anyone (racer, hammer-head, mountain goat . . . you know who you are! :) ) who like a fast group of experienced riders. Estimated time from Glendora to The Village 1hr. 30 min. . . . maybe less.
I will lead the 2nd (or "B") group of "Medium Paced" riders, i.e. you can climb okay, but are not going to set any record (or try to). Estimated actual riding time from Glendora to The Village 2 hr. 15 min.
Finally, there will be a "C" Beginners group, for anyone who has always wanted to climb GMR, but for whatever reasons, hasn't actually tried it until this ride. Maria (from Poland, originally) will lead this group.
Maria is a bikeforums,net member, and many of you met her on the Malibu - Santa Monica Mtns. ride. This will also be the group for those who see themselves as "slow" climbers. Estimated time from Glendora to The Village 3 hours - 3-1/2 hours.
For my group, I will have a re-group at The Shed, plus perhaps another in the middle of that last 3-1/2 mile climb between miles 14 and 17.5. Maria may re-group more often, and Steve Jones' group, probably will not regroup (until the Village).
Any questions? If so, pls. PM me!
Rick / OCRR
How many miles is it from the base of the climb to the Village? I may be the worst climber known to man, If I can make it I'll stick with a slow group.
alicestrong
01-23-08, 07:59 AM
Yep, lots of nice bikes and scenery ;)
...and the faces of the bright and shiny peeps...;):)
merider1
01-23-08, 08:22 AM
I really like this thread and love riding GMR in general. GMR leads to Baldy (and combined that makes up my favorite ride - one I can't do at present, which just pisses me the hell off and makes me want to get up there as soon as possible!)
Stopping for a brief adjustment with friends on GMR:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/28.jpg
The skies above the intersection at GMR/GRR
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/airplane.jpg
Heading up GRR on the way to Baldy:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/30.jpg
The very tippy top of Baldy:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/38.jpg
I can't wait to be here again:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/36.jpg
jsigone
01-23-08, 08:52 AM
here's some pics of my FIRST time up Baldy Mt. Missed a MTB XC race on Big Bear beacuse the main road was closed and didn't have time to make it up the backway, so instead of waste my gas from San Diego, I tackled the other mt...on my MTB BIKE!!! Big loop from base of Azusa, 39, east fork, GRR Village and returned down Big GMR. I didn't know where I was going, asked directions a few times. Ran out of water halfway on GRR and was quite hot that day.
How many miles is it from the base of the climb to the Village? I may be the worst climber known to man, If I can make it I'll stick with a slow group.
<rough estimates follow>
Base of GMR to Baldy Village--22 miles
About 5,500+ feet of climbing round trip.
Go to the lifts? Another 2,000 feet and 5 miles or so.
There's a sight I wished we could still see every weekend. :(
Nice pics. Mary's too.
jsigone
01-23-08, 05:24 PM
yah the closed gates were AWESOME, main reason I'd drive up from San Diego to ride that area.
Double D
01-24-08, 03:30 AM
I may be the worst climber known to man...
"Cyclists are the biggest sandbaggers and secret trainers around. They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this happen to you. Study this handy rider's phrasebook to find out what they really mean when they say:
"I'm out of shape."
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.
"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape."
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the sprint if I have to force you into a pine tree. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.
"I'm on my beater bike."
Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using Titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.
"It's not that hilly."
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. You have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.
"This is a no-drop ride."
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.
"It's not that far."
Translation: Bring your passport."
Sadly, I don't know who I'm quoting. Enzo might know, he's the one who pointed it out to me, but it's been a long time.
Allez Oops
01-24-08, 03:39 AM
Enzo, did you just now discover GMR? I mean this with all due respect, by the way, and am just curious. It seems from this thread that you have (forgive me, I'm tired, and I may have misread).
What the heck are you on about?
The guy posts an enthusiastic thread about a route he loves. What gives with your question?
vertical bob
01-24-08, 07:26 AM
Here's a link to this weeks Roadbike Rider, a national road newsletter written by Ed and Fred. There is a story on GMR in Cycling Shorts. This is a great weekly letter, I've learned a lot from it. http://www.roadbikerider.com/currentissue.htm#shortsr
bitingduck
01-24-08, 08:28 AM
"Cyclists are the biggest sandbaggers and secret trainers around. They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this happen to you. Study this handy rider's phrasebook to find out what they really mean when they say:
"I'm out of shape."
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.
"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape."
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the sprint if I have to force you into a pine tree. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.
"I'm on my beater bike."
Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using Titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.
"It's not that hilly."
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. You have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.
"This is a no-drop ride."
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.
"It's not that far."
Translation: Bring your passport."
Sadly, I don't know who I'm quoting. Enzo might know, he's the one who pointed it out to me, but it's been a long time.
It's been kicking around on the net for years-- I think I saw it on rec.bicycles.racing million years ago.
^^^^ Devil's Backbone? (favourite SoCal trail. I do it more than once a year!)
alicestrong
01-30-08, 06:53 PM
^^^^ Devil's Backbone? (favourite SoCal trail. I do it more than once a year!)
That's it...:)
mtnmn
02-04-08, 07:16 AM
How many miles is it from the base of the climb to the Village? I may be the worst climber known to man, If I can make it I'll stick with a slow group.
I accept your challenge, may the last man win:beer:
He's an amazing rider. Any ideas what that is on his drops?
Brandy
02-04-08, 08:04 AM
He's an amazing rider. Any ideas what that is on his drops?
It's a mirror. We were coming down in the car (we had parked at the top) and saw him coming up. I made George turn the car around JUST so we could see if he was in his big ring (since it's been said that when he did RAAM he didn't get out of his big chain ring until after Colorado :eek:) and HE WAS!
Indolent58
02-04-08, 08:57 AM
It's a mirror. We were coming down in the car (we had parked at the top) and saw him coming up. I made George turn the car around JUST so we could see if he was in his big ring (since it's been said that when he did RAAM he didn't get out of his big chain ring until after Colorado :eek:) and HE WAS!
Well then I have to hate him. A shame really, he seemed like an OK guy otherwise.
alicestrong
02-04-08, 09:07 AM
I like the bell on top...
But why is he flipping you guys off?? :D
/joke/
alicestrong
02-04-08, 09:16 AM
I really like this thread and love riding GMR in general. GMR leads to Baldy (and combined that makes up my favorite ride - one I can't do at present, which just pisses me the hell off and makes me want to get up there as soon as possible!)
I can't wait to be here again:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/Baldyagain/36.jpg
I think this is probably one of my favortist (if not THE favorite) merider1 pix I've seen. I am VERY jealous though that you are sportin' one of the rare BF Girl Power jerseys. Those things are now sky high on eBay. I want one bad...:)
Hey you are being called out by the way on that "secret forum"...wink wink