Southern California - I rode 114 today

114 degrees that is! On SR-39 at 12:30 at ~2k ft of elevation. Check out pics below.

Started in Glendora at 8am at 95F, climbed Mt. Baldy Road in 90-100F heat for most of the way, took GRR to East Fork to 39 and climbed to the point where the road was closed (~3200'). Time from Mt Baldy/Mills to the lifts was ~1:30. Drank 100oz of gatorade, 40oz of water, 24oz of soda and still lost 5lbs on the ride. Total stats were ~9k ft and 75 miles. I couldn't ride to Dawson's Saddle unfortunately. I would have died. I kept hoping the heat would dissipate as I climbed 39 but it stayed stubbornly at 105-115F. No shade. Bah! BTW, it did not appear easy to jump over the "Closed" barrier at ~3200 ft. What's the strategy to get over it?

http://i52.tinypic.com/15y895v.jpg

Me lying dead in the shade:
http://i53.tinypic.com/2vjaqvk.jpg

It's easier to crawl under the gate:cry: Other than the heat did you see any impediment to going on re: sheriffs? Lots of rumors about 39. It would have eventually gotten a little cooler as you went up but probably not enough to matter. I suffered on Mulholland today too. Thank god for the Rustic Cyn store.

How? There was a concrete barrier! See pic:

http://i53.tinypic.com/icl4w9.jpg

Its pretty easy to get around that. Really.
We went up last weekend no cops no problems...

Just curious as I've never ridden up there and not too familiar with the roads, but why the road closures? Also, you are all that is man. Not sure I would bother with that heat.

How did you manage to lay down the bike on it' s drive side?

How did you manage to lay down the bike on it' s drive side?

I was literally dying. I didn't care.

Its pretty easy to get around that. Really.
We went up last weekend no cops no problems...

Not so easy without help and the heat. Is there anyone who patrols up there? If you get into an accident will anyone be there to help you?

Not so easy without help and the heat. Is there anyone who patrols up there? If you get into an accident will anyone be there to help you?Probably not, you are pretty much on your own. That's why I don't like going up 39 alone and if they do have to come up to get you I would suspect you could expect a citation. I will be glad when they open the road as far as Crystal Lake, then all the angst about fines will be gone. Everything I have heard says it should be open by November. After the fire of 2003 the road was closed ,then the winter storms on 05 really did a number on a couple of places where the switchbacks cut close to the mtn. A couple of places were completely washed out in the vicinity of where there is now a gravel tank tower parked at a turnout. You can see the new culverts carrying the stream under the road. Don't think they will ever open the road past CL. A waste of time and money. After all, that part was built in 1960 and closed in 1978. They just gave up trying to keep it passable.

Probably not, you are pretty much on your own. That's why I don't like going up 39 alone and if they do have to come up to get you I would suspect you could expect a citation. I will be glad when they open the road as far as Crystal Lake, then all the angst about fines will be gone. Everything I have heard says it should be open by November. After the fire of 2003 the road was closed ,then the winter storms on 05 really did a number on a couple of places where the switchbacks cut close to the mtn. A couple of places were completely washed out in the vicinity of where there is now a gravel tank tower parked at a turnout. You can see the new culverts carrying the stream under the road. Don't think they will ever open the road past CL. A waste of time and money. After all, that part was built in 1960 and closed in 1978. They just gave up trying to keep it passable.

What are the conditions of the road between Crystal Lake and the 2?

What are the conditions of the road between Crystal Lake and the 2?

the road between crystal lake and the 2 is pretty torn up in sections. lots of loose rocks, some big enough that it can knock you off your bike. lots of jagged edges of shredding pavement. its totally navigable but you do have to be careful, especially when descending and when visibility is poor. i've ridden it many times and punctured a handful of times. but its a nice stretch. not steep and a little bit more scenic as well. but you can catch some gnarly winds up there when the santa anas kick in.

They are working on at least 3 areas on the upper streatch where there was almost no road at all. Been told that is just to save the road from complete destruction in a big storm but that there are no plans to open that part. This road generates more rumors than all the other roads in the Forest combined. Both on these forums and the Wrightwood and San Gabriel forums as well. Who knows what to believe

The road is fine, we ride it all the time.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/rocks-1.jpg

The road is fine, we ride it all the time.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but how was the rest of your ride on Saturday?

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/rocks-1.jpg

That pic was taken earlier in the summer. I went from Wrightwood down 39 to Glendora at the end of July and the road was fine. Being worked on in places above Crystal Lake, but still very ridable.:50:

BTW, it did not appear easy to jump over the "Closed" barrier at ~3200 ft. What's the strategy to get over it?

It can be easy to miss, but there is an 18" gap between the far left gate and the dirt wall where you can wheel your bike right around. I went up to Dawson starting out at 6:30 from Encanto on Saturday. The sun was still behind the mountains for most of the climb. The closed section of the 39 was pretty clear, no big rocks, one 30yd section of dirt. I passed about 8-10 riders on my way down, so even though it feels isolated there are usually people around on weekends. I was just thinking how perfect the weather was right before I dropped below 6000ft and hit this massive wall of heat in the valley. I was suffering just coasting down; forget trying to climb in those conditions. :eek:

That pic was taken earlier in the summer. I went from Wrightwood down 39 to Glendora at the end of July and the road was fine. Being worked on in places above Crystal Lake, but still very ridable.:50:This pic is from the early spring. That's me on the other side of the rocks continuing up to Dawson saddle. If I remember right there was still a wall of snow on AC but the plows had been through so the road was clear. They had cleared this slide off the road by the time I went up there again in a couple of weeks.

Pedaling in 114 is insane! A few years ago I was pedaling in Palm Springs in about 108 degree sun and totally developed tunnel vision and started seeing stars. To this day I don't know if I bonked, had sun stroke, heat exhaustion or what. But I do know that pedaling in that type of heat was no fun.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but how was the rest of your ride on Saturday?


was great. Good to see you.
I will let you know next time we come up.