Southern California - Today's GMR/GRR Pictures

A bit snowier than just a day previous..

GMR:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3IoOlru7cI/AAAAAAAAgOs/NS5VcnXF1bo/s800/CIMG9365.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3IoPc9ViSI/AAAAAAAAgO8/L6JHGk1VwK8/s800/CIMG9367.JPG

GRR:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3IoNk3ur3I/AAAAAAAAgOU/ri1XGtK7Ps4/s800/CIMG9362.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3IoMG_CCVI/AAAAAAAAgN8/K0ElNYSkSDc/s800/CIMG9359.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3IoLZTjIgI/AAAAAAAAgNs/mP9Oxdb6GWs/s800/CIMG9357.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3In2e1SzJI/AAAAAAAAgM4/CnSGA0RLAZk/s800/CIMG9352.JPG

Crazy!:eek:...but COOL!:thumb:

Oh, I should note that I did not actually ride today. Skied at Baldy and drove back down via GRR/GMR. Was surprised to see the entirety of GRR covered with snow. Snow was collecting as low as about 3000 feet. Very wet snow at those elevations though of course. Baldy itself was getting a fair dumping:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3In193DGkI/AAAAAAAAgMw/1Sf5UrqJmRg/s800/CIMG9351.JPG

At first I thought you meant riding then I thought nah, he had to be in his car!:D

Lots of skiing recently...but I'll be back on the bike this weekend to conquer this again:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/SnpjlB_9XBI/AAAAAAAALuc/pGPYruLy49M/s800/CIMG4342.JPG

Should be a bit greener than last time.

Ok, I will bite. Where is that shot from?

Ok, I will bite. Where is that shot from?

Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara. Connects with East Camino Cielo:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/Snpj0xUjJcI/AAAAAAAALwM/LWWbsg24-MI/s800/CIMG4368.JPG

then Painted Cave:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/SnpkoKEr-0I/AAAAAAAALzQ/ypwQuOHB-jY/s800/CIMG4413.JPG

then Old San Marcos:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/ScCWuTkZ1nI/AAAAAAAABvo/MDgGm7-YjzU/s800/CIMG2860.JPG

That last one looks like death.

That last one looks like death.

Going up it is no fun at all. I go as hard as I can to try to make it up the curve, but usually abort mid-way to avoid toppling over from slowing down too much. There is little visibility, so you can't really do switchbacks up that corner. (unless you have a spotter up the road)

Thanks for those GMR/GRR shots! I'm surprised it's so icy as low as the maintenance station.

Going up it is no fun at all. I go as hard as I can to try to make it up the curve, but usually abort mid-way to avoid toppling over from slowing down too much. There is little visibility, so you can't really do switchbacks up that corner. (unless you have a spotter up the road)

A triple helps.

I tried sitting the whole way through it to take a handheld video going up the switchbacks:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6od7fymRDvugEywl2Un0zw?feat=directlink

I found out that I couldn't do it without standing for the steepest part. This is easy to see in the video - it is the part where the video is simply a shot of my front wheel. Handheld video is apparently tough to do when standing on the pedals going up a 20% switchback.

Thanks for those GMR/GRR shots! I'm surprised it's so icy as low as the maintenance station.

Sure thing. It actually wasn't icy at all, just slushy. Although tomorrow morning I am sure it will be icy like crazy.

A triple helps.

I tried sitting the whole way through it to take a handheld video going up the switchbacks:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6od7fymRDvugEywl2Un0zw?feat=directlink

I found out that I couldn't do it without standing for the steepest part. This is easy to see in the video - it is the part where the video is simply a shot of my front wheel. Handheld video is apparently tough to do when standing on the pedals going up a 20% switchback.

*sigh* whenever I stand up my HR goes through the roof.
I get to about 0:48 when I need to stop. Well, it's still early in the season.

If you can get to about 48 seconds in, you've made it through the steepest section. Not bad, considering that the switchbacks on Old San Marcos are some of the steepest around.

You'd make one heck of a heavy breathing crank caller on the phone!:D

Looks like fun to me!

Rick / OCRR

Oh, I should note that I did not actually ride today. Skied at Baldy and drove back down via GRR/GMR. Was surprised to see the entirety of GRR covered with snow. Snow was collecting as low as about 3000 feet. Very wet snow at those elevations though of course. Baldy itself was getting a fair dumping:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/S3In193DGkI/AAAAAAAAgMw/1Sf5UrqJmRg/s800/CIMG9351.JPG

what kinda tires?? stock RE92s?

I want to do that ride. Calling Mr, Beanz. What do you say Fred? Look steep enough for ya? Need some stats, length, gain, stupidity factor?

I want to do that ride. Calling Mr, Beanz. What do you say Fred? Look steep enough for ya? Need some stats, length, gain, stupidity factor?

Need? Gas!:D.............That's a 2+ hour drive. Something steep, we can go OakGlen, Damnation Alley then Up to the top of Forest Falls (22%). I barely made the 22 when I was in good shape, but I'd take my triple this time!:D ...It's only a 40 minute drive.:p

Heck, we could even throw in the climb to Onyx if you want some distance.:D

You'd make one heck of a heavy breathing crank caller on the phone!:D
:twitchy:

Can you recommend a decent hotel and restaurants near the base of GMR? I'll definitely be riding up to Baldy a few times this Spring & Summer. (That was my happy-place when I was a scabby-legged USCF-junior and living in Diamond Bar.)

I don't know the immediate area that well but a few miles down the road is a nice big hotel called The Shilo Inn. Sits above CalPoly Pomona on the 57 between the 10 and 60 fwys. They have a Wendy's next door..............Maybe Pinnacle Peak steak place down the road from GMR.;)

As an addd bonus, if you are a Neil Diamond fan, you can sing "Shilo" as you approach the hotel:D

Wendy's?! Mannnn.... :rolleyes:
Does anyone have any real suggestions on the restaurant? I was hoping for something akin to or better than Pomona Valley Mining Co. No steak places either, please; I'm a PITAtarian.

Better than Pomona Mining Company? Yeah.....Wendy's!:D

Lot's of good restaurants in downtown Claremont area... any particular type of food??

Huh... Well, I guess it's been at least 20 years since I've been to Pomona Mining. Thanks for saving me the trip there, Beanz.

And thanks Socal; I really appreciate places that aren't corporate franchises. Being a softcore vegetarian/rare pepperonitarian, I usually enjoy Thai or Indian after a good stiff ride, but any place with a separate folder for the wine list, is usually decent.

A place in Pomona next to Los Jarritos (same center), across fom Casa Jimenez. Thai I believe, looks cool from the outside. Anybody know this place?

I don't eat Thai or Indian so wouldn't know about food. Just south of the corner of Garey and Foothill.

hear is a breakfast style place at the base of gmr.

http://www.flappyjacks.com/

and or check out the list from yelp

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=Glendora%2C+CA&cflt=restaurants

what kinda tires?? stock RE92s?

Yup, good ol sucky RE92s. Despite that, I had no trouble driving down without chains/cables (I did have cables in the car though). Other people, however, had some issues. Will be getting some Continental ExtremeContact tires soon though.

If you are going to stay closer to Glendora, there is a Vince's Spaghetti on Route 66, this is owned by the brother of the original Vince's in Ontario.. Good Food, price is right to get you loaded up for a long ride.. I know a great Thai place in Pomona but may be out of your area if you stay closer to GMR..

Vince's Glendora: http://www.insiderpages.com/b/15242163476

Sanam Luang Thai: http://findlocal.latimes.com/pomona/restaurants/thai/sanamluang-cafe-pomona-restaurant

I'd swear that last time I drove by that Vince's it was something else. I heard a story that the father bought it for the son but he was killed so the father sold it. That's the Vince' near the underpass? I could be wrong or maybe the directory is out of date.

That is possible, been years since I have been there, since I have one near me in Rancho..

Thanks for the tips!! (And sorry for the temporary thread derail.) Maybe I can join you fellows on one of your GMR assaults this Spring.

That is possible, been years since I have been there, since I have one near me in Rancho..

Just ate there this afternoon! Gina had a Big ol antipasta salad!:eek:... I was thinking about it while there, I believe the Vince's you mention is now a (EL?) Ranchero. Just as the (EL?)Ranchero that was once Domenico's nextdoor to the MongolianBBQ on Foothill in Claremont. Pretty sure it's not the same as El Ranchero fast food on 19th and Vineyard.

Just ate there this afternoon! Gina had a Big ol antipasta salad!:eek:... I was thinking about it while there, I believe the Vince's you mention is now a (EL?) Ranchero. Just as the (EL?)Ranchero that was once Domenico's nextdoor to the MongolianBBQ on Foothill in Claremont. Pretty sure it's not the same as El Ranchero fast food on 19th and Vineyard.

Dang, Mr. Mayor. Seems you know as much about places to eat as you do about riding. Impressive.

Does anyone know if GMR is passable? I want to ride it Monday the 15th.

Was at the top of GMR on Wednesday evening. Snow on side of road but think it is gone by now, especially after todays temps.

It should be. I think hillbasher did it a day or two ago and it was fine.

Edit: hillbasher beat me to it.

Also, afternoons may be preferable. Snow melt could ice up spots (although probably not until parts of GRR).

Dang, Mr. Mayor. Seems you know as much about places to eat as you do about riding. Impressive.

My knowledge of eating has the edge over riding!:D

Forecast lows for Baldy Village are about 36 degrees. GRR is a little bit higher near CC Saddle, but once the sun is up, I doubt ice will be a problem.

My knowledge of eating has the edge over riding!:D
Why do I not find this hard to believe? Must be those PBJ sandwiches you always bring along.:innocent:

My knowledge of eating has the edge over riding!:DRiding tomorrow?

Riding tomorrow?

EZ trail ride, hopefully. MY legs are rubber. Helped my daughter and SIL move for their 2 story Condo into their new house!:thumb: Happy, but the legs aren't!:mad:
Spinnig the legs up tomorrow for a lil recovery. Have a feeling you'll be waiting on me Monday.:cry: