Southern California - Any info on Oak Glen road resurfacing

I've just heard that Oak Glen is being resurfased near the top, does any body know what are the conditions and if it will be completed before Breatheless Agony?

Here is what I was told in the email from them.

"The climb on Oak Glen Road from the Yucaipa city limits to the top of Oak Glen is under construction. Currently, the pavement is gone for about two miles so it is rough hard pack and has some loose dirt. We have over two weeks before the 2012 Breathless Agony Ride goes up that climb and we are hopeful that some of the construction will be complete by that time. But the reality is that this will be part of the challenge of the course this year so we wanted to give everyone a heads up on it. We are calling it "Jackrabbit Junior". We have many reports that the road is rideable by bike and we will confirm that in our upcoming test rides of the course next week."

Jackrabbit is at least paved, albeit no longer maintained. I think it is very irresponsible and down right dangerous to send riders through ongoing road construction. If the road is closed or even closed to through traffic, then the organizers are asking the riders to violate the law. That is also the steepest part of the climb. Think traction might be an issue?

There is no word about the road being closed and considering it is up hill not that dangerous. It does make it more dificult though.

There is no word about the road being closed and considering it is up hill not that dangerous. It does make it more dificult though.

Do we not come down that same road? I dont know the route.

Wow, that isn't good news :( I don't think is the organizers fault at all, I know they always place the participants safety first. On the other hand we are going for time and 2 miles of dirt on the step part of Oak Glen won't allow us to accomplish our goal. Unless the road gets fixed before the event we may just have to roll our registration for next year. :)

Do we not come down that same road? I dont know the route.

We go through Oak Glen and branch off to hwy 38 so I don't think there will be any downhill unpaved road. Only thing would be based on city limit map and description, the section of climb would be 7%-8% if I remember it right. If it is just packed dirt... it will probably be a little better than Jack rabbit. To me... jack rabbit's "paved" status is joke. Only saving grace on jack rabbit from what I see is there is no real descent in that thing... you jump straight to hwy 60 after you are done with climb. Looks like Oak Glen will be the real crucial part of ride on this century even more... (steepest incline... now with uncertain road condition) At least, I hope they have fresh Apple Cider on the stand... than I am game :)

It's probably a good excuse for me to buy a cyclcross bike...

I'll be riding the Breathless Agony worker's ride this Sat. (April 28) so will report back on this forum after I do that ride regarding the condition of the Oak Glenn climb.

Also, I'll be driving SAG on the day of the event (May 5), fixing flats, pumping up tires and whatever else needs to be done (transporting back DNF's?) so say "Hi!" if you see me out there.

I'll be driving my wife's Subaru Forester, dark blue with "BIKE 1" license plates.

Rick / OCRR

I heard from someone that rode it last weekend. It is not signed as closed or closed to through traffic. It is passable when dry, but any wetness would render it unrideable on a road bike.

Passable when dry? Can you elaborate?
And thanks for checking it out for us Rick! I'm really looking forward to your report.
Was thinking about launching the new Look Badger bike in this event, but if it's ugly, I'd rather ride my rainy day bike.

Accuweather reports 5/5 as Warm with occasional rain... Oh lord...

I have no interest in subjecting even my rain bike to a cyclocross mud fest. I'm skipping if it rains.

http://www.weather.com/weather/extended/USCA0387?par=yahoo&site=www.yahoo.com&promo=extendedforecast&cm_ven=Yahoo&cm_cat=www.yahoo.com&cm_pla=forecastpage&cm_ite=CityPage
Rain? This is a hard route to predict the weather since there are number of different climates.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/yucaipa-ca/92399/daily-weather-forecast/337309?day=6

This is what worries me...247048

humm, I am sure we will know more by next week
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Angelus+Oaks+CA+USCA0030?onloadedmetadata=null&oninput=null&onabort=null&oncanplay=null&onsuspend=null&onpause=null&onratechange=null&onstalled=null&onerror=null&onload=null&onchange=null&onloadeddata=null&onseeking=null&onseeked=null&oncanplaythrough=null&role=&onreset=null&onplay=null&onvolumechange=null&onplaying=null&ontimeupdate=null&onloadstart=null&ondurationchange=null&onwaiting=null&onselect=null&onended=null&onemptied=null&onprogress=null

Passable when dry? Can you elaborate?



I'm riding 38 from Mill Creek to Onyx tomorrow; I plan on heading over to Oak Glen after to look at the road. Sorry I can't elaborate, that's all I was told by someone who was out there last weekend.

Skipping isn't really an option for me because I have worked too hard to do the KOM this year. There is a road (something canyon) that cuts across from Oak Glen Rd. to Bryant St. before the construction starts. This would give access to the other side of Oak Glen; the promoters could then make the climb an out and back. I looked at it on a map last week. It might add a few miles and some additional climbing, but at least it would be paved and rideable in the wet.

^ Wildwood Canyon, I think and I an planning on riding the regular route, it can't be worse the Jack Rabbit or that top section of Little Secymore on MC. And like you said I plan on finishing KOM this year so I am a go rain or shine.

Here is a pic of the construction area.

247052

THanks cdp8! Any idea how long (miles) it's like that?

According to Chuck's BA email, it's two miles.

Weather 8 days out means almost nothing. I wouldn't worry too much about it. What *would* worry me is a week of rain up until next saturday - leaving that stretch muddy. That doesn't look like its gonna happen fortunately.

That pic doesn't seem too bad. I'll be on a comfy shock absorbing roubaix, so as long as my tires don't sink in I'm hopefully good to go. I'll pretend its a stretch of cobbles. :D

Anybody thinking of throwing on some wider rubber? I ride 23's, but I'm contemplating 25's or 28's because of Jackrabbit and Oak Glen.

I used brand new 23 last year and this year I have a new rear 23 from MC.
That section does not look too bad except for it is the hardest section before the tiny downhill and then one last push on pavement.

I'll be riding the Breathless Agony worker's ride this Sat. (April 28) so will report back on this forum after I do that ride regarding the condition of the Oak Glenn climb.

Also, I'll be driving SAG on the day of the event (May 5), fixing flats, pumping up tires and whatever else needs to be done (transporting back DNF's?) so say "Hi!" if you see me out there.

I'll be driving my wife's Subaru Forester, dark blue with "BIKE 1" license plates.

Rick / OCRR

Rick, we'll be looking forward to your report.

I used brand new 23 last year and this year I have a new rear 23 from MC.
That section does not look too bad except for it is the hardest section before the tiny downhill and then one last push on pavement. I recognize that streatch of Oak Glen. At the bottom of that little drop there is a retaining wall with some flimsy reflectors on the top. It's on the right in the pic. There is about a 15 + drop off below the wall. I wonder how many have gone over that side to at least a very bad crash. Hope they put some kind of guard rail there as part of this construction

LOL :) when riding that section there does not feel like a drop, maybe flat or .5%

I recognize that streatch of Oak Glen. At the bottom of that little drop

LOL :) when riding that section there does not feel like a drop, maybe flat or .5%

Think that is the only section of drop I remember up till firestation... :P

I rode the BA workers ride on Sat. April 28th, a beautiful day in the mountains really. Regarding the dirt section of Oak Glenn, it is hard-packed dirt, very rideable (I was on 700x23 Gatorskins) with lots of small rocks mixed into the dirt.

The problem is, they have plastic bollards (flexible poles) right down the center, so it's very difficult for cars to get past. No shoulder, of course, and even if you're riding as far to the right as possible, there's precious little room for a full-sized car (or pickup, for example) to get through.

Some of the cars passed me with inches (millimeters?) to spare, while others moved around the bollards and into the opposing traffic lane to pass. So that's the issue, i.e. a bold driver could accidently scrape your handlebars, a timid driver will not pass and back up traffic for miles . . . making it difficult for riders to get though.

One of the riders (Bruce) said he moved into and rode the opposing traffic lane to let the cars pass, so that's another option, but obviously check carefully for opposing traffic before attempting this!

Hopefully it will be either paved, or the bollards removed by BA event day . . . but don't count on it. Chuck Bramwell measured it yesterday and said it was .9 mi. of total hard pack dirt/small rocks. Location noted is as above, just before the short descent.

I'll check with Chuck, but as a SAG driver I think I should skip Oak Glenn anyway, since I would just put another car into the mess, plus I couldn't stop to help anyone anyway, since there's nowhere to pull off and park.

Also, I will not be SAG-ing Jack Rabbit Trail since it's too dangerous to safely pass riders on that stretch. Apparently I'll be the mid-field SAG with someone else driving with the front riders and Paul taking the very back. Since he is a the very back (behind the last rider), Paul will SAG Jack Rabbit.

Here's my strava link from the ride: http://app.strava.com/rides/7579848

We started from the Ranger Station on Hwy 38 (which was also water/food stop after our Oak Glenn descent) and rode down to Sylvan Park to start the Garmins. Our worker's ride was unsupported but you all will have plenty of support!

Any questions?

Rick / OCRR
I will SAG in a Dark Blue Subaru Forester, license plates: "Bike 1" See you on Breathless Agony!

You're a saint, Rick!
Thank you. I won't be riding my new Badger bike then, but as long as it doesn't rain, I'm looking forward to completing the ride and shaking your hand! (I hope Lauretta can make it too. <3)
Thanks again and see you Saturday. Peace & safe riding!

Thanks for the report Rick. I hope I won't need any help but thanks for driving SAG.

I have not done the ride for a couple years. Is there still a check-in before Jack Rabbit?

Thanks Rick, sounds fine. How early is this stretch into the ride? If its near the start maybe traffic won't be much of an issue.

Either way I may end up bailing outta this one. Hurt my back in the bouncy house at my 2 year olds birthday party yesterday. #$@# IM GETTING OLD@! :cry:

Cool Rick thanks a lot!

Is there still a check-in before Jack Rabbit?

No, no check in before Jack Rabbit, just when you leave Sylvan Park at the start, or at least not that I know of. I've ridden BA several times (5 or 6) and one time there was a volunteer posted there so you didn't miss the left onto Jack Rabbit, but most of the time not.

Regarding how far into the ride the dirt section is, the Oak Glenn climb starts at mile 26 so I'm guessing the dirt is approx. mile 28 or 29. But that's just a guess. Probably pretty close though.

Hope to see you all out there!

Rick / OCRR

Thanks for the information, Rick.

Paul, the sag driver you mentioned, sagged for a group that rode Oak Glen a week ago. I was with him and his group this week for the ride from Mill Creek RS to Onyx. He and his wife told me that a water truck came by before noon while some of them were still going up Oak Glen and it made the road unrideable. (A water truck sprays water on the dirt roadbed to keep the dust down for the benefit of the neighbors.) The Wildwood Canyon detour is too long to be feasible. It adds almost ten miles to the top of Oak Glen according to Google maps. And it likely adds a bit of climbing too, since it turns off Oak Glen long after the start of the climb.

I plan on starting the ride at 6am. That should put me at RS1 when it opens at 8am and over the top of Oak Glenn shortly after 9. Hopefully, that will be earlier enough to beat the water truck and traffic. I like the idea of moving over to the left if the bollards are still there. There should be very little traffic coming down the hill at that time on a Saturday morning.

I feel bad for Chuck and Robert. They work hard to put on this event and this construction puts them in a tough spot. The road isn't closed, so you can't blame them for going ahead with the same route. However, it does increase the risk the we riders are asked to assume. And heaven help who ever tries to get up that climb after the water truck goes through.

Also EricM979, last year there was a checkpoint somewhere before Jack Rabbit. From the BA website, 2011 rider instructions: "We will have a mandatory Check Point at Mile 12 at the Left Turn on Alessandro in order to eliminate riders cheating the course. There are No Services at that location."

Oh lord, it is raining in Yucaipa now... and weather forecast were all saying cloud/sunshine yesterday for today... I am figuring I need to prepare myself for cyclocross on road bike. Now... would they offer bike washing water after the mud section?

It is probabley just a heavy drizzle?
I road BS last year sms the only person between the start and the beaumont was aperson making sure we don't miss ghe jack rabbit turn.

Sounds like cleat covers for hiking along a muddy road and a wind breaker for the descents will be coming along for the ride.

Sounds like cleat covers for hiking along a muddy road and a wind breaker for the descents will be coming along for the ride.

If this June gloom drizzle is forecast for Saturday, I may hide an old pair of shoes in the brush near the start of the mud section and just toss them when I get back to pavement. Even with cleat covers, walking a muddy mile in cycling shoes doesn't sound like fun.

Hopefully, we won't have to worry about that. Here is the forecast for Yucaipa from Weather Underground:
Friday





http://icons-ak.wxug.com/i/c/k/partlycloudy.gif

Clear. High of 68F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 15
mph.




Friday Night





http://icons-ak.wxug.com/i/c/k/nt_clear.gif

Clear. Low of 52F. Winds from the WSW at 5 to 10
mph.




Saturday





http://icons-ak.wxug.com/i/c/k/clear.gif

Clear. High of 79F. Winds from the WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Also, kind of OT since it's not about Oak Glenn, but road conditions wise, there was big mud puddle on the final bit of Jack Rabbit Trail. There is a narrow cyclo-cross-ish trail on the left side of the puddle (which is what I tried) or you can just ride right through it, which is what Chuck Bramwell did. His estimate was 3-4" inches of water.

My attempt at cyclo-cross was less successful! My front wheel slid out on an incline and I fell over. No damage, about 2 mph into soft grass. So . . . if you don't know your way around cyclo-cross single-track, you might want to ride right through it.

Plus, that was then (Sat.) and by the day of BA that could be mostly dried up (hopefully). Just telling you all this as a helpful FYI.

Rick / OCRR

Maybe it's time I go to Performance bike and get a cheap frame... :P

Also with more people riding that day the conditions may be better (packed) or worse (rutted)?