Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - After work GMR Cruise w/Hillbasher

Well I somehow got talked into riding up GMR after work. Not sure how Hillbasher got me up there but we were there ha ha! I didn't take the recorder figuring we wouldn't see many others, wrong! Heck, I think we saw more familiar faces than on the weekends. Well, Matt and his crew of coworkers. Ended up riding part of the way with the crew as they turned off at Newman's Point while Hillbasher and I rolled on up to the landing above the shack. Matt and one of his buddies had already been to the shack but found it in their legs to head up once again with his crew. Now I know, always be prepared with the recorder ha ha!

I must say, after seeming to end up on night shifts at work over several years, this had to be my first after work evening ride since way back in about 2006 'ish. Felt good. Body is much warmer and looser than after waking from a deep sleep for a ride after a night at work. Even after a few injuries from battling giant spiders, I felt pretty good! ;-)

More pics in blog if interested


Warm at the start

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/IMG_1682.jpg

Riding with Matt and his crew

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/IMG_1693.jpg

Classic Hillbasher, having to catch a peek of Baldy

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/IMG_1699.jpg

I was ready for the dark, just in case

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/IMG_1702.jpg

Hillbasher descending into the sunset

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/IMG_1708.jpg

Say, how is GMR on Saturday afternoons/evenings? I'm thinking of heading up Saturday after my kids finish their swim meet, so probably a 3 or 4 pm start. You're welcome to come if your toe has healed. :D

I assume there will be a higher proportion of crazies than the last time I went up GMR on a Friday morning but is that a reasonable time?

Say, how is GMR on Saturday afternoons/evenings? I'm thinking of heading up Saturday after my kids finish their swim meet, so probably a 3 or 4 pm start. You're welcome to come if your toe has healed. :D

I assume there will be a higher proportion of crazies than the last time I went up GMR on a Friday morning but is that a reasonable time?

Not bad at all at 4 or so. Most of the motorcycles are done early for soem reason. The times I've been up late the dudes are gone. Maybe 2 or 3 sight seeing cars but not much. I think they all go early morns for some reason.

Let me get into shape first, then I'll ride with you. You're too fast for me right now!:D Plus Gina will ride this weekend so we'll be on the trail. She doesn't enjoy GMR after too much time off the bike, or not enough on the bike.:p

please ride a few miles for me mr. B. The damn kidney stones are killing me!!!!!!!!

Your ride sounds great. Nothing beats a ride after work.

Maybe we should start a tradition of doing the after work GMR ride on the longest day of the year.

Then again, maybe I should get a bike and actually ride GMR before suggesting a standing tradition! :innocent:

please ride a few miles for me mr. B. The damn kidney stones are killing me!!!!!!!!

Your ride sounds great. Nothing beats a ride after work.

Oooo!H OWW! I've heard those are VERY painful! :eek:

Maybe we should start a tradition of doing the after work GMR ride on the longest day of the year.

Then again, maybe I should get a bike and actually ride GMR before suggesting a standing tradition! :innocent:

:roflmao2:....Heck, Photo Joe on GMR, I'm there! After a Hillbasher attack last night, I'm ready for a more mellow ride, a PJ comeback ride where I "might" be able to keep up. :D

I want to ride GMR at some point...

I want to ride GMR at some point...

Let me know! I always have Gina to tag along on friendly easier paced first timer feeling out GMR for the first time rider rides.:D

It's really not hard at all, just a bit of patience and remaining calm. Many panic on the first 2-3 miles leading to thoughts of failure, then it's over (in the mind).

I will say doing it once makes you that much better at riding, confidence wise. Like everything is sugar and spice after the accomplishment ;)

Let me know! I always have Gina to tag along on friendly easier paced first timer feeling out GMR for the first time rider rides.:D

It's really not hard at all, just a bit of patience and remaining calm. Many panic on the first 2-3 miles leading to thoughts of failure, then it's over (in the mind).

I will say doing it once makes you that much better at riding, confidence wise. Like everything is sugar and spice after the accomplishment ;)

+1 What he said. Hard to imagine a nicer mountain ride so close to so many riders, but then I live 3 miles from the first gate on GMR and can ride it any time on any day that works for me. If you have never been up it, try it, and I guarentee you will come back. It is not as bad as most first timers have it built up in their minds. Like Mr Beanz always says, just start off slow and take your time. Best thing about it is, on the way back , the best downhill in Southern Cal in my opinion.:50:

Maybe we should start a tradition of doing the after work GMR ride on the longest day of the year.

Then again, maybe I should get a bike and actually ride GMR before suggesting a standing tradition! :innocent:

Excellant idea.Summer solstice ride is a fantastic thought. Late afternoon/early evening rides on GMR give you a different perspective on the mountain. And I can honestly say it is an other world experience to head up GMR after dark on or around the full moon of the month. Incredible.:50:

:roflmao2:....Heck, Photo Joe on GMR, I'm there! After a Hillbasher attack last night, I'm ready for a more mellow ride, a PJ comeback ride where I might be able to take a nap waiting for him to catch up. :D

FIFY! :thumb:

Let me get into shape first, then I'll ride with you. You're too fast for me right now!:D

Bah! Too fast my eye! I was trying to keep up with the two skinny guys I rode with.

Let's orchestrate a clyde ride to the village one of these weekend mornings - it'll probably have to be early for heat reasons but it would be a fun ride. Sez the guy who's never been to the village. Whatever PhotoJoe is drinking must be in the water over here too. :D

FIFY! :thumb:

:roflmao2: :D :p :roflmao:

Bah! Too fast my eye! I was trying to keep up with the two skinny guys I rode with.

Let's orchestrate a clyde ride to the village one of these weekend mornings - it'll probably have to be early for heat reasons but it would be a fun ride. Sez the guy who's never been to the village. Whatever PhotoJoe is drinking must be in the water over here too. :D


You should organize one, I'll do the ride if it's to the village! :thumb:

You should organize one, I'll do the ride if it's to the village! :thumb:

Sounds good - we should wait until PhotoJoe has a chance to figure out how to pedal his new bike and then git 'er done.

umm, what is GMR? I know it's in Southern California.

Beanz, what do you do that gets you on night shifts?

Glendora Mountain Road. It's about 5,000 feet of climbing in 20 miles or so on a very nice road. Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour went up this road and finished near the area we call "the ski lifts" which is a nasty, switchback laden collection of 15% grades for about 3 miles. Blech.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=N+Valley+Center+Ave&daddr=34.15722,-117.83712+to:34.18752,-117.84172+to:34.2081317,-117.7803809+to:Mt+Baldy,+CA&hl=en&sll=34.179856,-117.744598&sspn=0.12284,0.222988&geocode=Fe7nCAIdvfH5-A%3BFaQyCQIdwPL5-Ck3fwQzdybDgDHx4TPBHLG6FA%3BFQCpCQIdyOD5-Cn9NVbzlybDgDHS2VxVjy0DsQ%3BFYP5CQIdZND6-CnZeBQSZCTDgDH3-kXSw3Da-A%3BFftoCgIdoKb8-Cl9X2MFlzvDgDF79VSvSEhAOQ&oq=Mt+Baldy&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=13&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=13&lci=bike

oh, OK, the Mt. Baldy climb. I recognize that from the ATOC.

I'd like to go with you guys. I used to do the mtn bike GMR trail when I was younger. Is the road version easier?

I've never done the mountain bike version so I couldn't say, maybe Beanz knows. The road version isn't bad though - it's just long and uninterrupted and mostly about 6%. As long as you have the gearing to keep a comfortable pace on that grade its eminently doable.

Here's what Strava has to say about the lower segment - http://app.strava.com/segments/830079

I'd like to go with you guys. I used to do the mtn bike GMR trail when I was younger. Is the road version easier?

I've heard the mtb trail up Monroe Truck Trail aint all that bad according to my mtb friend and member "Eyemage". I haven't done it myself but have done Sunset up to the Potato MTn overlook which is a muthuh of an mtb ride. Eyemage has done Sunset to Baldy Village, like an mtb version of the GMR ride to the village. This makes the Monroe Truck trail to the shack a "not so bad" ride IHO.:D

As far as tougher than the road ride, not sure. But one time we left the bottom of GMR the same time an mtb'er headed up Monroe. We got to the top at the same. He said,"wow you guys must have been moving to get up here at the same time as I". Not sure what that meant, either he thought the road was tougher or longer, not sure.:D