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Post Your Favorite Climbing Route

Old 08-24-07, 08:43 PM
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Post Your Favorite Climbing Route

In total self-interest (well...it is a public message board, so I suppose anyone else might find this info interesting and/or useful), I was hoping to see some nice hard climbing routes. This of course, is based off the Planet Ultra KOM thread and my goal of completing it in 2008 and MrBeanz' Getting Fit thread.. In prepping for the KOM, I definitely can use this info, and perhaps Beanz can as well. Of course, I don't plan on riding them until after January, but, I thought I'd start planning now.

So, could you post some of your favorite climbing routes? I'd like to put these into Bike Route Toaster for uploading to my Garmin. Is there any way to post them in kmz (Google Earth) or gpx (GPS/Garmin Training Center) format? I suppose they'll have to be hosted by an online server and linked to the file.

So I'll start: here's a kmz route called "Tour of the Tujungas" that was posted by some fellows from my local club (Santa Clarita Velo). Looks tough to me (here's a text version of the directions).

EDIT
Okay here is a list of what we have so far:
  1. Tour of the Tujungas
  2. Rte 39-Little GMR-GRR-Baldy-Lifts & Back
  3. Oak Glen/Forest Falls Ride
  4. Old Topanga, Piuma, Latigo, Stunt Loop
  5. Big T to Newcomb's Ranch
  6. Yerba Buena and Decker from Westlake
  7. Las Flores loop
  8. Palomar and Mesa Grande to Santa Ysabel & back
  9. Big GMR to GRR to Baldy to the Lifts & Back
  10. Sylvan Park to Onyx Summit
  11. Base of Angeles Crest to Dawson Saddle
  12. Newport Blvd.
  13. Breckenridge Rd (Bakersfield)
  14. Cedar Grove & Hwy 180 to Grant's Grove
  15. Newport Coast Drive to Bonita Canyon Drive to MacArthur & back to PCH

Last edited by mkadam68; 08-25-07 at 07:11 AM.
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Old 08-24-07, 08:53 PM
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GMR. That's pretty much it for me really.
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Old 08-24-07, 08:59 PM
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I don't have the fancy 'puter stuff but somebody's gotta put up the Oakglen/Forest falls ride. FF is one steep muthah at the top! I did it on my 39/25 and thought I was going to fall over!

I can't say this is one of my usual rides, but hopefully I'll get out there and do some training for the new year!
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Old 08-24-07, 09:03 PM
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palomar and mesa grande to santa ysabel and back. i think we had 11k' of climbing in just over 80 miles that day. extend that route to julian and you end up with a century and somewhere near 14k'.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:20 PM
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Old Topanga, Piuma, Latigo, Stunt loop. 8100 feet in 65 miles. Enjoy!

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/23818

You can download the gpx from bikely.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:24 PM
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Palomar South Grade for me and the DH is even better
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Old 08-24-07, 09:27 PM
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I've heared the M-Challenge is steep. What kind of grades we talking hear?
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Old 08-24-07, 09:28 PM
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Mark, I don't have downloads or route slips for you, but I've been doing climbing rides in our area for around 20 years, and I can tell you some nice routes. What we're doing tomorrow is one of my favorites, Angeles Crest from Red Box to Wrightwood and back, with options for more or less.
The way I do the 2 Tujungas is to start on Little T to Acton to Aliso to Angeles Forest to Big T back to Foothill.
Another good one is Encanto Park to the bottom of Angeles Crest to HWY 39 and back.
Out in Santa Clarita go up Bouquet Canyon to the end and come down Lake Hughes road, or any number of variations out there.
Take Muholland Hwy from end to end and back, that's a good ride, tons of roads out there.
Most of these rides are at least 100 feet of climbing per mile.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
I don't have the fancy 'puter stuff but somebody's gotta put up the Oakglen/Forest falls ride. FF is one steep muthah at the top! I did it on my 39/25 and thought I was going to fall over!

I can't say this is one of my usual rides, but
hopefully I'll get out there and do some training for the new year!
I'm hoping you and I can get out together & train for 2008. Err..and anyone else who wants to come along, of course
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Old 08-24-07, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by mkadam68
I'm hoping you and I can get out together & train for 2008. Err..and anyone else who wants to come along, of course

That sounds good!
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Old 08-24-07, 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Beanz
I've heared the M-Challenge is steep. What kind of grades we talking hear?
Fred, there is some 14-15% on Decker Canyon, and some stuff like that on Cotharain, but what gets you is you are climbing all day. As soon as you finish a climb and enjoy the descent, you start climbing again. I actually like the MC better than the BA.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:33 PM
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Alright, you So-Calers are reverting back to abbreviations and fancy-dancy words this east-coaster doesn't know yet (even though I been here 5 whole years! )

Oakglen/Forest Falls? M-Challenge? Palomar? DH? Mesa Grande? Where are these places, people? (I know Stunt, Piuma, Mulholland, Latigo and Old Topanga are in the Santa Monica Mtns.)

Edit: Okay, M-Challenge is Mulholland Challenge. Got that one.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:36 PM
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Not sure if any of these will help, but here are a couple random routes I've put into bikely. I have a lot of the SFVBC routes in routeslip.com, but Shai's site is place to go for those.

Big T to Newcomb's Ranch:
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...ewcomb-s-Ranch

Yerba Buena and Decker from Westlake:
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...na-Decker-Loop

Las Flores loop:
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Las-Flores
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Old 08-24-07, 09:37 PM
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Oakglen is one of the climbs on Breathless Agony. Not sure but may be the steepest grade of BA. Redlands/Calimesa area before you make your way up to Onyx Summit and Big Bear.

Forest Falls is close but heads up the opposite direction once you hit the Onyx climb. Way shorter climb but a steep muthah!

M-Challenge is cause I wasn't sure if I could spell Mulholland!
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Old 08-24-07, 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by big john
Fred, there is some 14-15% on Decker Canyon, and some stuff like that on Cotharain, but what gets you is you are climbing all day. As soon as you finish a climb and enjoy the descent, you start climbing again. I actually like the MC better than the BA.
Thanx BigJ! I heard MC was steep but shorter climbs. If I get in shape, I'm sure I can do 'em all. I guess that's what it all boils down to!
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Old 08-24-07, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by big john
Mark, I don't have downloads or route slips for you, but I've been doing climbing rides in our area for around 20 years, and I can tell you some nice routes. What we're doing tomorrow is one of my favorites, Angeles Crest from Red Box to Wrightwood and back, with options for more or less.
The way I do the 2 Tujungas is to start on Little T to Acton to Aliso to Angeles Forest to Big T back to Foothill.
Another good one is Encanto Park to the bottom of Angeles Crest to HWY 39 and back.
Out in Santa Clarita go up Bouquet Canyon to the end and come down Lake Hughes road, or any number of variations out there.
Take Muholland Hwy from end to end and back, that's a good ride, tons of roads out there.
Most of these rides are at least 100 feet of climbing per mile.
I wish I could go with you all. Never done Angeles Crest before--heard good things about it. But, scheduling conflict (eldest son graduating high school ).
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Old 08-24-07, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by mkadam68
Palomar? DH? Mesa Grande? Where are these places, people? (I know Stunt, Piuma, Mulholland, Latigo and Old Topanga are in the Santa Monica Mtns.)
Palomar and Mesa Grande are in North San Diego County off of Highway 76. Some of the community borders are unclear but Mesa Grande might be in Santa Ysabel.

I think DH is downhill.
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Old 08-24-07, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Grumpy Pig
I think DH is downhill.

Dame, and I thought it was 'don't hold your breath'!
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Old 08-24-07, 10:06 PM
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It's a route called Mescalito on El Captian in Yosemite Natl. Park. It took us six days to get up the thing. This is looking down with about 3K feet of air beneath my feet


LOL oh you meant bike climbing, oh, too many to name here, but Tioga Pass comes to mind
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Old 08-24-07, 11:05 PM
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Go up Page Mill road to Skyline, down on 84, then up Kings mountain, down 84 the other side, up the Old La Honda and back down on 84 towards Los Altos. Oh, did you mean in SoCal? Up and down elfing Newport blvd.
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Old 08-24-07, 11:23 PM
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Breckenridge Road east of Bakersfield 6,400' in 30 miles (part of the Spooktacluar). Or Hwy 180 out of Cedar Grove to Grant's Grove, 4,100' in 28 miles with most of it in the last 12 miles.
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Old 08-25-07, 01:07 AM
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Originally Posted by mkadam68
Of course, I don't plan on riding them until after January, but, I thought I'd start planning now.
Why wait? If you start now those climbs won't be so hard in January and then you will be that much stronger for KOM.

Just a thought.
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Old 08-25-07, 01:22 AM
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My top 3 favorite SoCal climbs

1. Big GMR to GRR to Baldy to the Lifts 5900ft in 26 miles
2. Sylvan Park to Onyx Summit 7000ft in 38 miles
3. Base of Angeles Crest to Dawson Saddle 7500ft in 44 miles
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Old 08-25-07, 02:57 AM
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If you live in OC, Newport Coast Drive off the PCH at the South end of Crystal Cove State Park is a good climb. I do it on an MTB so I can come back down the El Moro Canyon ridge pathways. Nice doubletrack dirt road on the descent if you don't mind the stupid rattlesnakes It's not hugely long, but it is a steep grade so you can make multiple circuits. If you want to circuit on a road bike I'm not sure how the car traffic is if you ride farther along to Bonita Canyon Drive to MacArthur and back to the PCH to ride South and do it again but it should be doable for the skinny tires. Of course you could always just wheel back down Newport Coast Drive.

I'm from Western Canada so there really is no substitute for the Banff area here in this urban sprawl, but this is the closest thing to a real climb within biking distance from my house in Costa Mesa.
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Old 08-25-07, 07:15 AM
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Either direction on Newport Coast (NC) is great but heres a route from my climbing class:

We start at Turtle Rock Park but you can extend it from anywhere - take Shady Hill to Summit Park turn right. Go up and over down to Turtle Ridge. Turn Left and then left again on NC. Tale NC to San Joaquin, turn right. Take SJ down to San Miguel turn right. Take it to Spyglass turn right. Take Spyglass to San Joaquin, turn left. SJ to Ridge Park turn right. Continue on RP past NC to the top and turn right on Vista Ridge. Take VR to NC turn left. Cruise down NC to Pelica Hills turn right. Up Pelican to NC turn left and then right back onto Vista Ridge. VR to Ridge Park to NC turn right. Take that to Turtle Ridge then Summit Park. Climb back up Summit Park and then turn right at Shady Hill and finish.

It's alittle over 20 miles and 4200' of climbing. An intense little ride in a short period of time. It's usually cooler near the beach and the views are spectacular!
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