This past weekend, Bostic and I were in SoCal, with the ultimate destination of climbing Mt. Baldy. This is the most popular climbing ride in SoCal, attracting riders anywhere from Glendale to San Diego. If I were to compare this to something in the Bay Area, perhaps Mt. Charlie and Skyline (on Sequoia), West Alpine all the way up to Skyline, or Mt. Tam. In other words, it was one tough mother $#@$^.

I didn't drive down, so I didn't have my Seven with me ... but instead, I had my Pink Diamond back, which was heavier, and smaller range of gearing. I knew I was going to suffer this day. Not only this, but it was really hot ... I think that may have done me in.

We also rode with Wolfpack, who was visiting from N. Carolina ... what a hoot she is. A flatlander, climbing arguably one of the toughest hillclimbs in California.

Now some pics:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010067.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010068.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010072.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010074.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010075.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/WP%20Tackles%20Baldy/P8010079.jpg

I go to school between glendale and pasadena- haven't done this ride yet but it will be on my to-do list. Hopefully I'll survive.

Huh? How'd you plan this behind our backs? I'm speechless!

Nah, not really

Where are the rest of the pics? Got pics of the pink Diamond Back?

I go to school between glendale and pasadena- haven't done this ride yet but it will be on my to-do list. Hopefully I'll survive.

You have plenty of hill repeats to practice on. My favorite are the hills on the west side of the rose bowl ... Inverness ... St. Katherine ... St. Augustine ... and venture into La Canada-Flintridge ... Crown .. Starlight Crest. Oooh, I'm salivating now ...

Huh? How'd you plan this behind our backs? I'm speechless!

Nah, not really

Where are the rest of the pics? Got pics of the pink Diamond Back?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/P7190021.jpg

This was a tough ride due to the hot weather. I can deal with 90's but combined with very dry air it was a challenge and I'm glad I had the third water bottle tucked in the jersey pocket. The climb out of the campgrounds had a few steep sections, something like an exposed OLH. The 12 miles of false flats on Glendora Ridge Road was not fun at all. I was chasing a fast group of riders and was not conserving for the last steep climb up to the ski lifts. Most of the group called it a day at Mt. Baldy village but there was no way I would not finish up the climb. The final three miles can be compared to the bad parts of Sierra and Quimby road. There is precious little shade and I had to pull over a few times to cool down and swap bottles around. The final stretch of straight is just like Quimby.

Crazy! :eek:

spring...

Who is that in the Hypoxia jersey?

Twain

hey Ron! those pictures look familiar! :rolleyes:

and whatcha mean im a "hoot"? :D you should've been with us on sunday! :)

Dang! No one told me about this ride!

Nice ride report and photos!

spring...

Who is that in the Hypoxia jersey?

Twain

Lee, scvroadie. Strong strong rider.

Dang! No one told me about this ride!

Nice ride report and photos!

Next time ... would you have brought your fixie?

Lee, scvroadie. Strong strong rider.


Thanks

I know scvroadie form over on BikeJournal.......!

Fun to see.

Twain

Hey Twain, good to hear from ya. :D

sweet......I look in here from time to time. Sure hope to come over and ride with you guys again this winter.

Twain

Yes Ron,

GMR/GRR rocks! I was just up in your neck of the woods riding the Mt. Shasta Double Metric. with 16,500 feet of climbing over 135 miles. Yikes, it was tougher than the Death Ride!

Nicer scenery and friendlier folks running it too! Were you there?

My Mt. Shasta report is on the OCRR website: http://www.ocrebels.com/bits.htm

Didn't see a Mt. Shasta thread here on Norcal . . . but I may be blind too!

Rick / OCRR