Biker395 

It's been rainy here on the left coast as of late (thank God), so I've been doing more skiing than riding in the mountains, but last weekend saw our first real ride in the local mountains in quite some time.

I don't know what I miss more. The company? The scenery? The home made cinnamon rolls at the cafe?

Anyway, it was fab. Not really much to say other than that, so here are some pix.

DaveQ24

Great pictures. I'm both envious and a little awed/intimidated by that terrain.

I'll try to remember NOT to complain next time I'm struggling up a "big hill" in my area. You would laugh at what passes for "high terrain" here - our highest point in the county is 1022 ft above sea level, the average elevation slopes from about 650 on the old lake plain that was the lake bed of the primeval Great Lakes thousands of years back when Huron and Erie were all connected as one lake, to about 900 feet in the belt of terminal moraines that traverse the county.

I've been through the Appalachians (KY, TN, SC, GA) and the Rockies (MT, WY, ID) but did not have the opportunity to ride them on a bike.

BobbyG

Very Cool!

Carbonfiberboy 

We won't do our first pass ride until Memorial Day and will probably still have to carry the bikes across a snowfield. We try to ride the heavily traveled and well-plowed major highways as little as possible. Highway 20 probably won't open until June this year.

Biker395 

You know, it's funny. Mountain rides kinda intimidated me too at first. But then you settle into a pace you're comfortable with, and just enjoy the ever-changing view on your way up. Taken with the right gears and at the right pace, it doesn't have to be a sufferfest. The descent is an added bonus. Wheeee.

I've ridden a lot in the West, and there are some long climbs out here with a lot of elevation. But as a rule, they aren't terribly steep ... generally 5-7% or so. That ride to Mt. Baldy village is like that.

I've also done a little riding in the Northeast, and oy ... the climbs are not typically as long, but what they lack in length they more than make up for in gradient.

I enjoy most climbs ... but my least favorite are those loooong alluvial fan desert climbs that go straight up without so much as a turn in 10 miles. They just seem to go on and on, and are a lot less fun to descend.

berner

Great photos. The season has been slow getting started here also but at long last weather is transforming into the sort of days one really wants to get out on the bike. Wednesday this week will be in the 50s F with blue skies.

Rick@OCRR

Sorry I missed this one Vic. Hopefully next time!

Rick / OCRR