This message goes out to all of you who have ridden Mount Laguna. In terms of difficulty, how does it stack up to GMR? I think GMR is not as high as Mt. Laguna.

Mount Laguna will be my first century and I'm looking for some good training ground in the LA/OC regions. GMR is a 1/2 hour drive away from where I live. I'm thinking of using GMR to Mt. Baldy as a training ground as well as some local climbs such as Santiago/Silverado/Maple Trail.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Best Wishes,
Darren

If you are accustomed to riding all the way up to Baldy's ski resort, Mount Laguna will be a piece of cake by comparison. It may be a higher elevation, but I'm pretty sure the start point is at a higher elevation too. I just did the Pine Valley-Cuyamaca-Sunrise Highway loop a few months ago and it seemed much easier than my memory of GMR-GRR-Baldy. (And the Santa Anas were blowing on the day I rode up Laguna, but it still wasn't miserably hard.

I've only ridden Mount Laguna from one side, and while it was on a rather warm day, the ride/climb difficulty seemed to be about the same as GMR/GRR. Almost no shade in the bottom, but lots more trees/shade as you get closer to the summit.

Good store at the top too, but don't park your bike on the porch (they don't like that at all!).

Rick / OCRR

I've pre-ridden the MLBC course and I wouldn't underestimate the pain factor. The climb up Mt. Laguna from Lake Cuyamaca isn't bad. It rolls, so you get some breaks along the way. The approach to the Kitchen Creek closed portion caught me off guard, there are some pretty steep pitches. Pine Creek? It's a little slice of evil that late in the game! I actually had to get off and walk a small section. I have asthma and I couldn't reach for my inhaler without the risk of falling over. Once I was off the bike, it was too steep to remount. The last loop in only 25 miles, but it's painful!

I will say that I was not in shape and had been off of the bike for several months before the pre-ride. It was do-able, but only because I'm stubborn. I'm looking forward to getting out there and doing it with some fitness...lol.

As for training rides around here, I'd personally choose the Baldy (from Mills and Baldy Rd.) to the lifts over GMR. You need to be prepared to climb some sustained steep sections. Santiago/Silverado and especially Maple Springs are also good if you want to keep it local. The only thing around here that would compare to Pine Creek would be some of the steeper roads in Laguna Beach off of PCH.

I really can't wait for this ride. With all of this rain, the wildflowers should be gorgeous this year!

Thanks Brandy,
I'm actually planning to do Santiago/Silverado/Maple Springs on Sunday morning if conditions allow. I would imaging that the water crossings are going to keep me from getting to the gravel road (if Maple Springs is even open on Sunday). Another option this weekend is to give Baldy (from Mills and Baldy Rd) a try. I'd like to ride as a far up the mountain as I can until I see snow. But I am worried that resort traffic is going to make that route pretty hazardous.

-Darren

Good tip on some of steep roads in Laguna Beach. I'll try for some of those in the coming weeks.

Baldy 1-22-10Baldy 1-22-10 001.jpgBaldy this weekend should not be considered an option. Was up there today to go skiing and you will not want to ge anywhere near that place on a bike this weekend, trust me. On top of the traffic, the snow started below the tunnels on the way up, with driving conditions more like Alaska then anything most people from Southern California are used to. Do yourself a favor and find some other hill to go up.

Man, you are one BAD DUDE!

LOL Good one Mr. Beanz. If you only knew half the story. What a day.

As Brandy wrote, the easy part is the first Cuyamca Laguna loop. The second part Kitchen creek climb is about 12 miles long the first part of the climb is short but step and should be a bit harder than the first loop, Pine Creek is a different animal, it is very step with sustained grades above 14% and can reach over 20% and if you factor in that you are on the 80th mile and have already climbed quite a bit at this point then it becomes a real hard climb. Of the other hard centuries I’ve done this ride reminds me of Mulholland Challenge, shorter but very challenging.

Thanks Elciclista! I'm actually in Boulder, CO this weekend. Today, I plan to do some riding in the local mountains (before the snow comes tomorrow). Grades are very steep here, starting from 6-8% and reaching 18-20% on the steepest roads. Not only that, but the high elevation here will be a great challenge for me today.

Wow that is the way to get ready! Have a great weekend