jmX

Rode up to Dawson Saddle today and the closed off portion of the 39 was freshly swept. Really clean, so clean I managed nearly 28mph average for the whole way down, almost 13mph faster than I went when it hadn't been swept.

So, go, enjoy it while you can!

Also Angels Crest was freshly chip-sealed between 39 and the Saddle. Be prepared for a shaky ride down (unless of course you're on a nice Roubaix ). The extra grip in the corners was appreciated.

sleepy

I take it you were coming from the 2?

This is good news! I'm planning on going up the 39 later this month.

John R

We rode up to Crystal lake on Saturday from San Dimas. What a Great Climb!! The store owner at Crystal lake needs our support. It's great knowing you can get water and supplies on a hot day. Please give him your business, he cooks really good food and has great brownies.

jmX

I did GMR->EastFork->39->Crystal Lake->Angels Crest->Dawson Saddle and back.

The Frito Pie is what everybody should be buying up there. Loaded with salt and fat, and delicious. It's half the reason I even do this bike ride

Anyway, yeah, that guy's cafe is the only thing that makes the ride doable IMO. Glad he's up there.

Mansram01

Yeah, I was amazed and grateful that it was clean when I rode down there yesterday afternoon. I also got about a mile lift from a pilot car as Caltrans was laying out new chip-seal from Upper Big Tujunga on down. Not exactly smooth. Apparently they started from Wrightwood and are going to complete all of Hwy 2.

sleepy

Nice!
Ugh, I forgot. Where is Dawson's Saddlle? Is that near Newcomb's Ranch or Redbox? Or is that the other way?

diphthong

was planning on coming up from san diego really early on friday to hit the santa monica mountains and the multiplicity of climbs there but now i'm reconsidering doing 39/2

Rick@OCRR

It's the "other way" which is to say yes, above Newcombs, above Cloudburst Summit, beyond the tunnels, past the entrance to Hwy 39 . . . I think 5 or 6 miles from the Hwy 39 barricade to Dawson Saddle summit.

Rick / OCRR

vertical bob

Cal Trans has ruined Angeles Crest with the chip seal. Just when you think the state can't do any worse they pull this. Shoulder un rideable, and pity the poor cyclist who goes down on that pavement. Scared for life.

Mansram01

Yeah, I can't stand chip seal. I was riding in Utah two days prior and they were doing the same exact thing with chip seal and pilot cars. Nearly ruined my wheels on one descent. Although they seemed to smooth it out much better than we do here. And you're absolutely right about the "rough" shoulder now.

jmX

Indeed the shoulder of the 2 seemed unridable at times due to debris, but that'll clear out eventually. The chipseal really wasn't that bad on my Roubaix. There's a buzz to it, but not much more.

vertical bob

Maybe so but did you notice while climbing that when you pulled on to the smooth pavement on the turn outs your speed went up .7mph with the same effort?

jmX

No, but Strava says I was 40 seconds faster than in June,pre-chip seal, and I only put out 3 watts more (I have a power meter). I've weighed 162lbs all summer, so I'd say the chipseal didn't do much harm to my climbing speed. Rolling resistance at 9mph is a pretty small piece of the pie when you're hauling up 180lbs of meat and carbon fiber up a 6% incline.

Mansram01

This I did notice and I took advantage of it whenever I could.

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Think I want to try this next. GMR->EastFork->39->Crystal Lake->Angels Crest->Dawson Saddle and back. My ride earlier this week was from La Canada->Angeles Crest->Cloudburst->Crystal Lake->39->Encanto

How much elevation is it from GMR to Dawson & back? 7k?

Rick@OCRR

Here is a ride I did to Dawson Saddle, so hopefully a look at the elevation chart will tell you what you want to know.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/304214731

This one had an East Fork, Little GMR/Big GMR finish but it sounds like you want to leave that off . . .

Rick / OCRR

jmX

Sounds like the ride I described earlier in this thread, the one I did this Sunday. Here's the full stats on it:
https://www.strava.com/activities/74010115

Mansram01

Dang, now that's a lot of climbing! Gonna have to give it a shot. Definitely will need to refuel at Crystal Lake.

sleepy

Great climbs!
How do you prepare for this? Two bottles+1 on the jersey? Front rack with provisions? Camelbak?
I'm used to taking three bottles to Wilson but there are water faucets at Redbox and Tujunga/ACH junction, beyond that, and it looks like the boondoggies.
Considering getting a Camelbak for 39/2 adventures, roadie aesthetics be damned.