chas58

Thanks Y'all

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).

Witterings

Ohhhh .. that making me droooollll :-) ...what is it, I'm guessing 650b's ??

pbass

WTB Byways, 650B. Coming from a MTB background, I'm constantly surprised by the grip of these tires.

wsteve464

Hansen Damn Rec area.

Bingod

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!

pbass

Great shots. This is my turf as well. Haven't done Mt Josephine though. Lukens is a workout for sure. Pretty much the limit for my middle-aged arse!

Bingod

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.

Witterings

Great pics ... especially the one with the bike in ... would make a great promo pic for them ... sell it them .... or at least ask for some goodies in return

What is the bike by the way an Anyroad??

Bingod

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?

Wilmingtech

Toolin around the neighborhood....

trailangel

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.

pbass

Yep, that's Cherry Canyon. I agree with your assessment--our fire roads in SoCal are not "gravel"! However, I really love riding this style of bike here. I ride it pretty much everywhere I used to mountain bike, I just ride differently. Admittedly, prior to getting my first "gravel bike" a couple years ago, I was solely riding a rigid singlespeed mtb around here, so I guess I just traded one manner of "underbiking" for another

Bingod

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.

Elvo

The 12-20% portions are on asphalt or "gravel"? Did you go down the same way?

Bingod

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.

gus6464

Man I really dig that crazy sloping top tube seat tube collar situation on the Anyroad.

TimothyH

trailangel

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.

Bingod

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.

Elvo

Caught the sunset behind Mt. Lee (hollywood sign)

Marcus_Ti

Time to play in the snow and ice! Bigfoot grew its seasonal fangs

pbass

Happy to hear I'm not the only one who drives up Chaney

thehammerdog

jono_

Out riding a few trails until there's enough snow to ski them. Not gravel, but close enough.

TimothyH

That's a shame. Someone needs to clean up all that white stuff.