scvroadie

My report is late too, a few BF members on the Baldy ride this past weekend asked why I hadn't posted a ride report. So here is my ride report.

I was there with my wife, she is a mentor for Team in Training, this was her second century. Since she was not raising funds this time, we had to find our own accomodations. This turned out great we rented a 6 bedroom house on Trout Creek about 2.5 miles from the start with some other TnT mentors & coaches.

Rode to the start from the house we were staying, and as everyone else has said, it was cold. Started with my wife's group at 6:15, then after a few blocks I took off. Her group is a slower group and I needed to ride faster. Besides, I wanted to scout a good location on the switchbacks to take pictures as her group of riders came by. Fingers were very cold, (not as cold as the morning of the Mulholland Challenge), I passed lots of TnT people on the way to the switchbacks. The switchbacks did a great job of warming everyone up. Waited about 45 minutes for her group to get to the last switchback before the top. If you saw a grey haired guy wearing a Death Ride jersey there, that was me.

After taking their pictures I was off again, only stopped at the rest stops long enough to top of the water, and grab a few things to eat. The road was great and the traffic was not all that bad. shortstuff commented about the shoulder, actually the shoulder was wider than a lot of the shoulder's here in so cal. The problem with the shoulder's were usually the Team in Training people would ride single file like they are suppose to, but just inside the white line, while they still had 4-7 feet of shoulder to the right of them. You could say rider on your left, but after passing so many Team in Training people you would lose your voice by the end of the ride.

Other comments about the ride, while this is labeled as a flat ride, and most of it is, the section at the switchbacks and the sections of the climb to summit of Spooner, slowed down a lot of people and put them in distress. Total altitude gain for the ride was approxmiately 4,000 ft. For those of us that ride the canyons and mountains here in So Cal, it won't be a problem. As for the difficulty of the ride, I would rate it more difficult than Cool Breeze and Palm Springs, but easier than Cruisin the Conejo.

As everyone has said the scenery was great, the weather was great, the roads were great, all the people were great. SAG stops were great. I plan on doing this ride many times, the ride experience would be enhanced by starting early, but if you start later, its fun passing all the Team in Training groups, and seeing where they are from and checking out their tokens on top of their helmets.

PS. I went to the Team in Training banquets/meal functions. This really is a great organization, to date since the late 80's, Team in Training has raised almost $750,000,000 for research for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, this ride alone raised in excess of $8,000,000 dollars for the society. It is a great way to introduce someone to cycling, especially one's spouse.

nygirl777

Nice report - Thanks for posting it. Let me know if/when you plan on going back out there. My husband and I are game.

ronjon10

Holy narrow bike path. I hope they don't use that as an out and back route! Nice scenery though.

ronjon10

+1 When I rode Solvang with Tnt this year, our fast group finished in 5:50 total time and our slow group finished in 12:30 total time. There's a pace for everyone.


Thanks for the reports everyone, looks like a great ride. I assumed it would be a harder ride because it's in the mountains.

HAMMER MAN

Outstanding thanks!

We are/were planning to come out somewhere in July to see our new grandson about 4 weeks old now.
If that happens now or in the near future I will find you through b/f.

It would be nice to just ride some of the old routes I use to take.
I did forget Norweigen grade going into T.O that was always a ballbuster.
When I first started riding in 1978-79 I lived off of Kuhener Dr.,and L.A. ave and use to go out with the St Cair Velo club from L.A., they would always meet on my corner.
I always got dropped on Norweigen grade, took me two yrs/seasons to stay with the big guns. but persistence pays off.

I appreciate the invite that would be real nice.
Happy Birthday!

merider1

When is your birthday??

AquaTerror

[QUOTE=scvroadie] <....the Team in Training people would ride single file like they are suppose to, but just inside the white line, while they still had 4-7 feet of shoulder to the right of them. You could say rider on your left, but after passing so many Team in Training people you would lose your voice by the end of the ride..>[QUOTE]

Thanks for your ride report. Great news that they raised $8M! WhooHoo!!!

Good to hear you say that they were riding single file. Unfortunately, I didn't have that experience with them last year. They literally rode in a peloton & packed the lanes and there were many accidents. When I picked up my registration packet on Sat. this year, I was talking to a TnT rider who was going to ride her 1st century. She told me that her coach would yell at her group in training when they didn't do what they were supposed to. Maybe word got out to the coaches and it helped. I hope so, it makes it safer for all. I agree that it's an easy century, however, it is at altitude, 6,000-7,000'. Last year, I was told about riders throwing up on the side of the road. Poor guys!

thomson

Mary, you missed it, it was nearly a year ago....Geeeessssshhhhhh

merider1

Well, just tell me the exact date so I don't miss it a year from now.