Gravel Ride Pics
#726
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A friend once shot a video of about 20 of us mountain biking at night. Seeing that snaking line of lights go through the forrest was mesmerizing.
I do love biking in the dark. Quiet and peaceful, I don't overheat, usually no wind, its easy to see what little traffic there is (and vice versa).
And, if I come up on cars too fast they often pull over and let me pass (especially if I'm using "strobe" mode).
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Took a short steep ride up Mt Josephine (San Gabriel Mtns SoCal) on Friday. Last time I rode here it was foggy and I had no view .
This time of year, its a pretty decent dirt road with only a few rockier sections - come the spring many of these dirt roads get pretty rutted and rocky
Last turn before the top
View from the top.
Looking back towards Big Tujunga Canyon and Mt Lukens - another great but longer ride.
Better view of Mt Lukens. I rode up and over there last weekend, starting at Hwy 2. A little over a 20 mile loop descending via Haines Canyon Motorway single track. Really MTB country, but worth the exploration, despite some cuts and bruises i picked up when i made a wrong turn down a very steep MTB course. Thank you Garmin!
Last edited by Bingod; 10-28-18 at 11:38 AM. Reason: adding picture
#731
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Took a short steep ride up Mt Josephine (San Gabriel Mtns SoCal) on Friday. Last time I rode here it was foggy and I had no view .
This time of year, its a pretty decent dirt road with only a few rockier sections - come the spring many of these dirt roads get pretty rutted and rocky
Last turn before the top
Looking back towards Big Tujunga Canyon and Mt Lukens - another great but longer ride.
Better view of Mt Lukens. I rode up and over there last weekend, starting at Hwy 2. A little over a 20 mile loop descending via Haines Canyon Motorway single track. Really MTB country, but worth the exploration, despite some cuts and bruises i picked up when i made a wrong turn down a very steep MTB course. Thank you Garmin!
#732
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Thanks, it was an absurdly clear day. I did myself a favor and put on a 26T chain ring - with a 12-36 cassette - definitely helped me and my middle-aged arse get up there. Certainly would make Lukens less of a slog.
#733
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What is the bike by the way an Anyroad??
Last edited by Witterings; 10-28-18 at 05:17 PM.
#734
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Thanks. Yep, its a basic Anyroad 2 with a bigger front brake. Good idea, I could use some new bar tape, and a second set of wheels - Giant... can you hear me?
#735
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Toolin around the neighborhood....
#736
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Good to see some LA rider pics. Although I don't call our fireroads..."gravelroads" !
We are plagued with hard packed adobe clay soil, hard ruts filled with sand and loose rocks and loose rocks all over the roads.
That pic with the green bike looks like Ridge Motorway, or Cherry Motorway in San Rafael hills. Been there. Also gone up Mt Josephine once or twice and Mt. Lukens about 4 times. Usually ride MTB but I see a few gravel grinders, but I would rather not ride those roads with drop bars.
I need flat bars and 2.25 inch tires.
We are plagued with hard packed adobe clay soil, hard ruts filled with sand and loose rocks and loose rocks all over the roads.
That pic with the green bike looks like Ridge Motorway, or Cherry Motorway in San Rafael hills. Been there. Also gone up Mt Josephine once or twice and Mt. Lukens about 4 times. Usually ride MTB but I see a few gravel grinders, but I would rather not ride those roads with drop bars.
I need flat bars and 2.25 inch tires.
#737
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Good to see some LA rider pics. Although I don't call our fireroads..."gravelroads" !
We are plagued with hard packed adobe clay soil, hard ruts filled with sand and loose rocks and loose rocks all over the roads.
That pic with the green bike looks like Ridge Motorway, or Cherry Motorway in San Rafael hills. Been there. Also gone up Mt Josephine once or twice and Mt. Lukens about 4 times. Usually ride MTB but I see a few gravel grinders, but I would rather not ride those roads with drop bars.
I need flat bars and 2.25 inch tires.
We are plagued with hard packed adobe clay soil, hard ruts filled with sand and loose rocks and loose rocks all over the roads.
That pic with the green bike looks like Ridge Motorway, or Cherry Motorway in San Rafael hills. Been there. Also gone up Mt Josephine once or twice and Mt. Lukens about 4 times. Usually ride MTB but I see a few gravel grinders, but I would rather not ride those roads with drop bars.
I need flat bars and 2.25 inch tires.
#738
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Here are a few pics from my ride up Mt. Lowe Rd (Motorway) from Alta Dena to the observatory at Mt. Wilson. Camera malfunctions and user error meant I only snapped pics of the higher elevations. Its about 10.2 miles uphill with about 4800ft of elevation gained. The first 2.5ish miles are on OK asphalt which quickly picks up in grade to a minimum sustained 12% and as much as 20%. It then levels off to about a 7% dirt road and continues to flatten out the further up you go. There's fantastic views and secluded shaded areas. About a mile before the tunnel the trail gets rocky - Last 1.5 miles are on newly laid asphalt to the top of Mt. Wilson.
About a good as it gets. Mt Lukens in the distance - again.
Pretty smooth and dusty for the most part
Gets rocky near the top
Mueller Tunnel. The mountains drops off sharply to the right, impressive and a little nerve-wracking.
Murky picture of the trail beneath Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak leading from Mueller Tunnel. Its downhill briefly to the Mt Wilson Rd
Top of Mt Wilson. Yep, that is The Pacific in the distance.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
About a good as it gets. Mt Lukens in the distance - again.
Pretty smooth and dusty for the most part
Gets rocky near the top
Mueller Tunnel. The mountains drops off sharply to the right, impressive and a little nerve-wracking.
Murky picture of the trail beneath Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak leading from Mueller Tunnel. Its downhill briefly to the Mt Wilson Rd
Top of Mt Wilson. Yep, that is The Pacific in the distance.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
Last edited by Bingod; 11-07-18 at 08:36 PM.
#739
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Here are a few pics from my ride up Mt. Lowe Rd (Motorway) from Alta Dena to the observatory at Mt. Wilson. Camera malfunctions and user error meant I only snapped pics of the higher elevations. Its about 10.2 miles uphill with about 4800ft of elevation gained. The first 2.5ish miles are on OK asphalt which quickly picks up in grade to a minimum sustained 12% and as much as 20%. It then levels off to about a 7% dirt road and continues to flatten out the further up you go. There's fantastic views and secluded shaded areas. About a mile before the tunnel the trail gets rocky - Last 1.5 miles are on newly laid asphalt to the top of Mt. Wilson.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
#740
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Yes, those steep grades are on asphalt - the grade picks up steeply after 1/3 mile of moderate climbing. Its then a steady steep grade with a few short super steep sections to question your sanity. and yes, i came down the same way.
Last edited by Bingod; 11-05-18 at 05:04 PM.
#741
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Here are a few pics from my ride up Mt. Lowe Rd (Motorway) from Alta Dena to the observatory at Mt. Wilson. Camera malfunctions and user error meant I only snapped pics of the higher elevations. Its about 10.2 miles uphill with about 4800ft of elevation gained. The first 2.5ish miles are on OK asphalt which quickly picks up in grade to a minimum sustained 12% and as much as 20%. It then levels off to about a 7% dirt road and continues to flatten out the further up you go. There's fantastic views and secluded shaded areas. About a mile before the tunnel the trail gets rocky - Last 1.5 miles are on newly laid asphalt to the top of Mt. Wilson.
About a good as it gets. Mt Lukens in the distance - again.
Pretty smooth and dusty for the most part
Gets rocky near the top
Mueller Tunnel. The mountains drops off sharply to the right, impressive and a little nerve-wracking.
Murky picture of the trail beneath Mt. Lowe leading from Mueller Tunnel. ts downhill briefly to the Mt Wilson Rd
Top of Mt Wilson. Yep, that is The Pacific in the distance.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
About a good as it gets. Mt Lukens in the distance - again.
Pretty smooth and dusty for the most part
Gets rocky near the top
Mueller Tunnel. The mountains drops off sharply to the right, impressive and a little nerve-wracking.
Murky picture of the trail beneath Mt. Lowe leading from Mueller Tunnel. ts downhill briefly to the Mt Wilson Rd
Top of Mt Wilson. Yep, that is The Pacific in the distance.
Picked up a slow rear pinch flat somewhere before I hit the asphalt section on my way back to the car. Pumped it up and made it without a repair.
#743
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Chaney Trail..... my Strava says that asphalt beginning part is 25% and some of the "gravel" part is close to the same. It's a biache. Most people put the bike in their car and drive past that asphalt part to the trailhead.
I made it to Inspiration Point. Had lunch and returned.....on MTB from South Pasadena and back. Good to show what our "gravel roads" look like here. I don't think I could do it on a drop bar bike.
BTW, I ripped up my disc brake pads on the way down......with some brake fade as well.
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Chaney Trail..... my Strava says that asphalt beginning part is 25% and some of the "gravel" part is close to the same. It's a biache. Most people put the bike in their car and drive past that asphalt part to the trailhead.
I made it to Inspiration Point. Had lunch and returned.....on MTB from South Pasadena and back. Good to show what our "gravel roads" look like here. I don't think I could do it on a drop bar bike.
BTW, I ripped up my disc brake pads on the way down......with some brake fade as well.
I made it to Inspiration Point. Had lunch and returned.....on MTB from South Pasadena and back. Good to show what our "gravel roads" look like here. I don't think I could do it on a drop bar bike.
BTW, I ripped up my disc brake pads on the way down......with some brake fade as well.
Btw i just edited the name of the peaks above the trail. Its Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak, not Mount Lowe, which is actually below the trail.
Last edited by Bingod; 11-07-18 at 08:48 PM.
#747
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Thats how I did it. I drove up Chaney Trail and parked at the gate. Chaney Trail is pretty intense - not sure I'd have made it all the way up to Mt Wilson if I'd added that climb. I just put cheap sintered pads on my rear brake- not sure how long they will last but they didn't fade - but then again there's not much braking power there to fade.
Btw i just edited the name of the peaks above the trail. Its Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak, not Mount Lowe, which is actually below the trail.
Btw i just edited the name of the peaks above the trail. Its Mount Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak, not Mount Lowe, which is actually below the trail.
#748
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Nyc graveler
Nyc Intrepid
#750
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That's a shame. Someone needs to clean up all that white stuff.