Southern California - GMR and Angleles Crest - First Impressions

I don't know if this warrants a new thread, but here goes anyway: Today my wife and I drove much of the GMR and AC from the bottom of both climbs, after much reading on this forum about both. One day I will ride up there, but I wanted to see it first. I like climbing, am just getting back into cycling after a ten year layoff, am 58 years old and like to ride in Palos Verdes and looking forward to a few rides in Yosemite this month. My hat is off to all of you who post here regularly about riding from the base to Baldy, Hwy 39 to East Fork to GMR to GRR (today there were hordes of motorcyclists roaring up and down this route at high speed around blind corners - I don't know how they avoid rear-ending bicycles - such that they unnerved me in a Toyota Tundra. There were many corners so tight on the climb from East Fork to GRR that I couldn't safely pass bicyclists until they waved me by to indicate there was no oncoming traffic.
We also drove AC from the base to Red Box. More auto traffic, but the road was wider and the turns not so tight. The ride from Red Box on up looked really nice, but we didn't drive it. We watched a guy descending down GMR/GRR to the base. After he passed us, I couldn't even safely keep up with him to watch his technique. Impressive. Anyway, I just wanted to say you are at a level of climbing I would like to be someday, with enough miles. It was fun seeing what I had been reading so much about. Hope to see some of you one day. Gary

LongBeachGary from the LF?:eek:....Lots of riders start on GMR from LoneHill/210 in Glendora. There is an 8 mile section that several use as a gauge. It's not as secluded as the remaining section of GMR/GRR. Plus there are always several cyclist around to aid others in need.

GMR is great, don't worry about the traffic too much, you can see them coming up with all the switchbacks and if someone is driving recklessly I'll time it where I dont meet him on a corner or area they may spill.

Its a great ride, we'll see you up there.

Not sure how much the 10 year lay-off would hurt, but I'm 58 and I ride GMR/GRR a lot, and AC (with a lot, but not all of it's variations) several times in the last year.

When you try it on your bike, you will find it's a lot easier than it looks from your truck. In both locations, there are quite a few motorcyclists out, most of the time. Also, most of the time they are quite considerate of the bicyclists. Yes, there's the occasional idiot (or dangerously inexperienced new rider), but less than 1% in my experience.

Anyway, I've ridden both lots of times, lots of great climbs, but honestly . . . I've never driven either one. Well, wait . . . one time we started A/C at Red Box, so I've driven the 210 - Red Box bit! Quite fun in my Miata, not sure how it would be in a Tundra.

Anyway, the point is, just get out and ride them and then you'll realize that you don't have to be a super-climber to enjoy them! Join one of the bikeforum rides, or ride them by yourself; either way great experiences.

Rick / OCRR

If you want to practice in the area, go up 39 till you hit a gate and park. Practice going up to Crystal Lake. No cars and wide roads.

Hi lbgary. I rode up to Red Box this morning, about 11:00. A/C is great! See ya up there.

If you want to practice in the area, go up 39 till you hit a gate and park. Practice going up to Crystal Lake. No cars and wide roads.

This is a good option. Riding a car-free road is always a treat. However, this is not as pretty a ride as GMR or ACH.

Another reduced car/ motorcycle option I often do is drive a ways up ACH. I often park/ start my ride to up to the pine trees where it is nicer/ cooler (i.e. Charleton or Chilao Flats) and ride from there. Bad on the carbon footprint, but nice on the aesthetics. Weekdays are great up there, but even weekend late afternoons have much less traffic than earlier in the day.