Enzo Gucci

Ride to Mt. Wilson (via the fire road) a few hours before sunset. The plan would be to eat some food, watch the sunset and admire the view at Wilson. Once night has fallen and we've gotten sick of looking at the city lights, we would descend the assorted singletrack (finishing off with El Prieto) and head back home. I would rate this ride moderately difficult pysicaly and very difficult technicaly (I'm a roadie,I suck at descending single track, let alone at night on some of the sketchy sections that this ride includes. My friends race semi-pro XC, so all you fast *******s can keep them company up ahead, I'll hang with all the slow people who are only trying to survive)

We're gonna probably do this within the next 4 or 5 weeks. We're all about to start gearing up for base miles, so the pace will be blisteringly slow and we'll wait at certain parts for riders who have been dropped on the climbs.

Would anyone else be game for this?

merider1

You had me signed up all the way to "single track." I don't do those. However, should you ever want to do this from the ROAD side, I would join in a heartbeat as that sounds awesome. coming down off AC at night could be a little hairy though, but there is always Big T. You'd need great lights too.

Anyway, your ride sounds great, Enzo, and thanks for jumping right in and organizing a ride.

Enzo Gucci

You can always descend back down the fire road. With a good set of lights, it's much less sketchy than the Crest.

I'll let everyone here know when we're actualy gonna do, I just wanted to gauge people's interest.

merider1

But you are climbing up on a trail, yes? I can't do that on my road bike. No, I'm just chiming in, Enzo, but don't give me a thought for the ride you are planning. I meant my suggestions for a future ride.

roadfix

Is the landslide area at Eaton Canyon open to access the toll road?

Enzo Gucci

Me, I see what you were saying now. My friend has done Wilson at night... he said it was fun, but a little bit scary. GMR would probably be a better alternative for a night ride.

RoadFix, not sure. My buddy just rode to Wilson via Milard Canyon... I'll ask him what the latest word is.

efficiency

I keep getting these "hints" that I should by an HID for offroad night riding. This is another one.

jpconrad

I've got a HID and wouldn't buy one for offroad night riding. Take a look at the TriNewt by Niterider, leds should be more stable than a HID.

efficiency

A TriNewt costs $400. The batteryspace trailtech HID setup is $200, which is a 13W HID. Though, you do give me an idea. www.batteryspace.com also sells LED based setups for around $100.

DScott

Dinotte is having a sale on their 200L lights- $99 each (shipped), but you have to supply your own rechargeable AA batteries. A very good price on a sweet light. I'd get two for off-road and/or fast road cycling.

Taillights are on sale for $100 shipped. Very, very nice.

Rechargeable AA batteries are cheap and easy to find.


Headlights: https://store.dinottelighting.com/Product55

Tailights: https://store.dinottelighting.com/Product56


EDITED: Please note that this sale starts Friday at 12:01am, and will run through Sunday. I'm not sure if you order before then if it would give you correct pricing.

efficiency

Thanks DScott! I'll look into it. I have a bunch of Rechargeable AA's. It's just me being green.

Enzo Gucci

I use a Minewt (last years model) and it works fine. A little more light would be nice, but it works. The trinewt is expensive but it's worth it... big time. It's Nightriders brighest light (if I recall correctly)

Riding at night in the mountains is soemethign everyone needs to do

bitingduck

GMR is a nicer night ride than Wilson when GMR is closed, but the fire roads on Wilson are nice, too. As far as I know, the Toll Road is still covered by a huge landslide just above Eaton Canyon, but I think Chaney/Mt. Lowe RR is clear all the way-- I think they cleared the small landslide just before the tunnel.

Chaney/Mt. Lowe is more doable on a road bike than the Toll Road because the really steep part is paved (Chaney) as opposed to the steep part up to Henninger.

MTBMaven

I am down for this ride. I would love to ride Upper and Lower Sam, Sunset, and El P at night. That would be a really sketchy ride. I would want a helmet light for sure. Another nice route would be down Sturtevant Trail and out Chantry. It would require a shuttle though. I have been wanting to do Upper Winter Creek to Lower Winter Creek after work. This would be a cool area to night MTB.

I actually took the Yeti out last weekend on my fav Chantry Zion loop. Man what a fun place.

I am contemplating selling my Yeti and getting a hardtail, geared, 29er. I have a thread going on over on STR discussing the idea. I think it would be fun to do a few 12 and 24 hour races as well as MTB camp touring. The Yeti is no good for either and has taken the challenge out of the trails I ride. 5.75" of travel in the rear and 140mm up front on a really well designed bike make childs play out of the trails.

zzzwillzzz

there was small landslide just before the tunnel last week but it was only about 3 feet high and you could easily ride over it

bitingduck

A couple months ago it was 8-10 ft high and too exposed to ride over-- it was shaped so it was easy to slide off...

Then I think I went later and it was clear, so I think that's maybe a new one.

Enzo Gucci

When it comes to Road biking, GMR would probably be much better than Angeles Crest.

BUT, my friend rode up the Crest to Clear Creak a few nights ago at around 11pm and said there were a total of 3 cars the entire time... so maybe it isn't that bad?

But for a mountain bike ride (which is what we're planning) cars wouldn't even have to be a consideration (Which is a nice change for me)