More rewarding: Baldy RD to Ski Lifts, or GMR-GRR-Ski Lifts?
 

I have never gone up to the Ski Lifts. I've taken GMR through GRR to Baldy Lodge, and found the GRR rollers painful. I've taken Baldy RD to the Lodge, and although kind of dull, steady in a ACH sort of way. I want to go up there, via Baldy RD, and take GMR back down. Starting point is Encanto Park. I hate the idea of just going back on Baseline. But a friend insist it's better that way. What are your opinions on this? I'd like to hear if you like to go flat and steady climb to the icing on the cake, or climb and go back on the flat for a good recovery.

I personally like the GMR-GRR-Ski Lifts combo more. GRR is probably one of my favorite roads to ride on. Baldy Rd, is usually a bit busier as well.
I don't really like riding on Baseline because of traffic and I'm a fan of gradual climbs so the GMR-GRR way suits me more. That is why i would rather just go up to Crystal Lake instead of the ski lifts.

What's painful about the GRR rollers? I'm pretty fond of the GMR-GRR route (never done the lifts either) to the point where I have never bothered trying the baldy road route.

It feel similar to me to Redbox-Cloudburst. Steep climb, steady climb, always found them more preferable to rollers. Personally not too quick on flats.

-Rarely go up GRR, mind you. That has been my impression of them. May yet just go to and back on GMR-GRR to Baldy, if I succeed in puffing myself up.

from the park, how about up Azusa (39), east fork, lil GMR, GRR, Baldy lifts? Then down GRR, down big GMR, and whatever that street is on the bottom to go back to the Park...I think Sierra Madre?

My philosophy is save the best for the end. I prefer the GMR twisting descent over the 100 mph Baldy Rd descent. A GMR descent is more enjoyable to me because it's longer and less traffic. Suffering the indignation of baseline at the beginning is better, to get it over with, than doing it at the end. Also, it sounds like you prefer the Baldy Rd climb over GMR anyway.

Is it humid as hell over there by Glendora/Baldy this weeknd?

Maybe.
Think I'm gonna do gmr-grr-lifts, .maybe take little gmr-east fork back. Pretend I'm Colombian.

our little sufferfest is from Encanto - up 39 to AC - back down (and up) to Crystal lake - down to east fork and camp Williams - up little GMR and then down GMR and back -
additional suffer additions - GRR to the village - adding in the lifts if your in the mood for bonus suffering
going back down 39 in the afternoon is just a cluster !!
I actually enjoy the ride back from GMR to Encanto as it lets me do a bit of hammering/spinning to work out the legs from all the climbing

Somebody's got to flatten that hill by St Mary's though, even though it's pretty short. The first time I rode back that way it came as an unpleasant shock. :)

The first Colombian that comes to my mind is Nairo Quintana who stands at 5'-5" and weighs 126 lbs. For me, that's a lot of pretending. I'll pretend I just had a heart attack halfway up the ski lifts and then turn back.