Southern California - November 16 -- B2B SGRT Ride

I'll be putting on this ride, a repeat of Herb's famous March 2008 SGRT ride, as I taper for a century the following weekend. Hopefully, we'll miss out on rainfall and the occasional hike-a-bike.

San Gabriel River Trail B2B Fall Ride
Sunday, November 16, 2008

Start/Finish: Encanto Park, Duarte (http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=34.14296&lon=-117.937607&zoom=16&q1=encanto%20park%2C%20duarte%2C%20ca)
Start Time: 8:15am but will wait for the Pasadena group to arrive
Distance: 72-miles.
Climbing: Almost none. The course overall goes downhill to the beach, and uphill on the return. However, it's pretty much a 1% or less grade. At mile 65-ish, there is a 6% climb going up the Santa Fe Dam for a few hundred yards that will stretch your legs if you want to push it
Course: Can't get much easier. We'll head south on the San Gabriel River Trail to it's terminus at the beach. Then, we'll turn-around and head back to Encanto. There are a couple turns and road-crossings on the trail, but it is pretty easy nonetheless.
Food/Drinks: There will not be someone providing support. But this is a good course. At Encanto park and another park about half-way to the beach, there are bathrooms and water fountains. At the beach--the halfway point--there is a restaurant/deli as well.
Pace: This will depend on the individual. As more riders come out, there will be more abilities and corresponding paces. There are several natural re-group points along the way, dividing the course into thirds each way.

100-Mile Option
Start/Finish: La Canada High School, Pasadena (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4463+Oak+Grove+Drive+++La+Ca%C3%B1ada+Flintridge,+California&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.898798,69.609375&ie=UTF8&z=16&g=4463+Oak+Grove+Drive+++La+Ca%C3%B1ada+Flintridge,+California&iwloc=addr). (On-street parking available. Parking in HS lot is at your own risk.)
Start Time: 7am
Distance: About 17-miles to Encanto Park.
Course: Mostly following Sierra Madre / Foothill Blvd to Encanto Park. There are a few rolling hills along the way, but nothing overly serious.

Who's In?
Encanto Start

Albundy
JanB
LewisAClark
MarkAJ (maybe La Canada HS start instead)
Slow Poke


Rose Bowl Start
Black&White
ClanLee
DaveSANYYZ (maybe)
hanSolo3
magicant
mkadam68
NYGIRL777
PLeia
TJKnight
UrbanKnight

Herb & Mark are in (and a few others I know).

Come on...where is everyone????

Count me in for the Rose Bowl start. You picked the one Sunday I don't have obligations up the wazoo.

Mark, I just got a notice in the mail that the Pasadena Marathon (http://www.pasadenamarathon.org/) is on Sunday, Nov 16. The route, which includes the Rose Bowl and Sierra Madre (seemingly up to New York Ave), will be closed from 5:00am on. A different starting location might be a good idea. Suggestions:

1) Park at Oak Grove Park (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=La+Canada&state=CA&address=4550+Oak+Grove+Dr) (big park so I assume ample and legal parking is available) and take Woodbury and New York to Sierra Madre. That should keep the mileage about the same.

2) Park on the street at Descanso Gardens and take Berkshire and Highland to the above route. That will probably add 4-5 miles.

3) There is street parking at and near my house (after 6:00am), and we could take Lake to New York to Sierra Madre. That would take about 8 miles off.

Let me know what you want to do. My personal plan for the Rose Bowl start (and for options 1 and 2) was to ride from home to the start, then peel off near my house on the way back.

1) Park at Oak Grove Park (big park so I assume ample and legal parking is available) and take Woodbury and New York to Sierra Madre. That should keep the mileage about the same.

2) Park on the street at Descanso Gardens and take Berkshire and Highland to the above route. That will probably add 4-5 miles.

3) There is street parking at and near my house (after 6:00am), and we could take Lake to New York to Sierra Madre. That would take about 8 miles off.

#1 looks like a good alternative. Although I'm fine with meeting at your house (you could send a PM to all signed-up riders beforehand). But, I'll wait to hear from some of the other committed. Riders that is.

OK after Gene telling us it's only 2 hour parking at the park, what does everyone else want to do? I'm thinking I'll just ride to Encanto from my house and if anyone wants to park on my street, PM me for an address. If I get back home and need 5 more miles to make it a century, I'll cruise around the block a few times.

there's parking for the trail a half a mile from the bridge. entrance is on the east side of the river on huntington drive.

BUMP.

I also updated the start location for the 100-Mile option.

Where is everyone who used to do this ride?

I'm unable to join as I work Sundays.

I haven't heard from Beanz.
Herb's afraid of it being too hot.
Mary was only a maybe, but is now out.
A bunch others are up in Solvang & can't make it.

Other than that, we've got everybody :D

Have I left anyone out?

Herb's afraid of it being too hot.

What does he do in the Summer?

He'll be riding up in Ventura--milder climate.

What does he do in the Summer?

Not ride this....I avoid this ride most of the summer

I did it a couple of months ago in the heat...it was not fun...you are very exposed on the path...

We spent most of July and August riding in Ventura...

Dont get me wrong...I love this ride and would love to see everyone...but I am not into suffering in the
heat..especially on a Sunday...no time to recover before work monday...

I plan on doing this ride again..soon......but on a cooler day...

Come on...where is everyone????

SoCal Bike Forums.:D

I hadn't thought of the lack of shade. I was just figuring flat can't be that difficult.

I hadn't thought of the lack of shade. I was just figuring flat can't be that difficult.

Yeah..it was the heat....that last 20 miles were brutal....

Last chance...

Yeah..it was the heat....that last 20 miles were brutal....

Alright Herbie, you know you're one of my favorite peoples but you buy a new bike, a 'Habanero', then say it's too hot to ride?:roflmao2:

Well, I had a root canal scheduled for yesterday so I was undecided. I gots my partial bridge (looks goofy)and my root canal done. Wasn't sure how I would be feeling so no committing, but no problem at all, I feel great. I usually feel a lil funny form the anitbiotics during physical activities (not all of 'em:p), but we are in for tomorrow if the fires don't spread more.

If I have any problems, I'll turn around and have Gina pull me back!:thumb:

I think they gave me Matt Dillon's left over Chicklets form the 'Something About Mary' wardrobe set!:D


http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/dental.jpg

Alright Herbie, you know you're one of my favorite peoples but you buy a new bike, a 'Habanero', then say it's too hot to ride?



:roflmao:

Best laugh I've had all week!!

This ride has been called off due to smoke.