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 constructionOriginally Posted by Lesper4
LOLwhen 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...LOL
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!
Last edited by Rick@OCRR; 04-29-12 at 02:59 PM.
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@!
How I ride inside: http://jmtc.ls1howto.com/
Cool Rick thanks a lot!
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.
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
Clear. High of 68F. Winds from the SW at 5 to 15
mph.
Friday Night
Clear. Low of 52F. Winds from the WSW at 5 to 10
mph.
Saturday
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...
Also with more people riding that day the conditions may be better (packed) or worse (rutted)?
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