bam

hello SoCal riders. i'm planning to visit some friends in the LA/Irvine/Laguna Beach area (maybe as far south as San Diego) and will be bringing my road bike. driving down from the bay area. would love to hit some climbs along the way and see what's around while i'm there. from reading a few posts here it seems GMR/GRR and 39 would be a good start. what else is on the must do list? hoping some locals could point me in the right direction

basically...

don't mind driving a bit for a good ride, i am taking a road trip after all.
prefer long climbs with lots of elevation gain (i <3 steep too)
low traffic would be best of course but i can ride weekdays if that helps.
water stops?
where to park?
what to avoid?

GP

Go to Harrah's Rincon casino in Valley Center and climb Palomar Mountain.

From Harrah's go east on Rincon Rd. for 1 1/2 miles.
Right on Highway 76, go 5 miles.
Left on South Grade Rd, go 7 miles. Stop at store at the corner of So. Gr. Rd and Canfield.
Continue another 5 miles on Canfield to the observatory or turn around and go to Harrah's buffet.

Hillbasher

Here are some of the better climbs in SoCal. Be a stud and do them all. https://www.socalvelo.com/sub/socalclimbs.htm

1200cycles

Also might want to check out Angeles Crest, although not sure if it's open. I haven't been there recently:

Big Tujunga Canyon

Little Tujunga Canyon

Sand Canyon

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...eles/629785613

bam

thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Palomar has been on the todo list for a little while.
Mt Baldy looks tasty too.
and Onyx looks like quite the long tempo climb.

i found this site: https://gis.dpw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/main.cfm
doesn't look like Big Tujunga is closed, but it says there is construction / delays. would this be an issue for bikes?
and it does look like Angeles Crest Rd is in fact closed?
https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...an-a-year.html

rallison

Glendora Mountain Road->Glendora Ridge Rd->Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts is a must-do ride. For my ride report on that ride and lots of other ones in California, go here:

ToughAscent Climbs Map

Rumpled

In the Irvine/Laguna area you would also have the Seven Sisters and Newport Coast/Ridge Park.

1200cycles

Crazy if it's still closed but yea, summer fires did a number on those mountains, then the rain...

bam

thanks rallison. i did come across this, and your straight shot up Mt Baldy route. do you prefer Glendora Mountain Road->Glendora Ridge Rd->Mt. Baldy?


do you happen to have a route for this? i saw a reference to it in the "longer climbs in OC/south OC" thread but the biketoaster link didn't work for me, and the geoladders site has such a tiny map i could probably ride it faster than tracing the route on the computer.

rallison

Yes, GMR->GRR->Mt Baldy is the way to go. GRR especially is one of the most incredible and scenic roads in the state. I have an entry for that route as well.

GRR:

GP

Start your stopwatch at the taco shop at 76 and Rincon Rd. and see how you compare.
https://www.celopacific.org/2008/Road...mb_April08.htm

Rumpled

As far as the geoladders site, click on the Route button tpo get the full map. You can also download to a Garmin or a gpx if you have another GPS.
Might have to register, free.
Also search it on mapmyride where it probably is and maybe bikely.
I could maybe put together something for you on Thursday.

Rumpled

This should give you the big map on geoladders
https://www.geoladders.com/gmap_displ...93&walk_thru=1

40.6 miles, 5878 feet all urban

Looks like it started from some guys house.
Here's a general route
A lot of people start from Aliso/Woods Canyon Park area. The park itself is mostly a MTB park and costs $3-5 or so to park. There is some parking on local streets and shopping centers as well.
Major intersection is Aliso Creek and Alicia in either Aliso Viejo or Laguna Niguel (probably the latter)
South on Alicia
Rt on Highland to top (Sister #1)
U turn to Alicia
Rt on Alicia
Rt on Pacific Island Dr to top (Sister #2)
U turn to Alicia
Rt on Alicia
Rt on Crown Valley
Rt on Pacific Island Dr to top (Sister #3 and other side of PID)
U turn to Crown Valley
Rt on Crown Valley
Rt on PCH/Highway 1
Rt on Nyes Place
L on Balboa to top (Sister #4)
U turn to PCH via Balboa/Nyes
Rt on PCH
Rt on Bluebird Canyon
Rt on Summit to top (Sister #5)
U turn to PCH via Summit/Bluebird
Rt on PCH
Rt on Thalia
Rt on Temple Hills to top (Sister #6)
U turn
L on Thalia
Rt on Wendt
Rt on Park Ave to top (Sister #7)
U turn to 3rd st
Rt on 3rd St
Rt on Broadway/Laguna Canyon Rd/133
Rt on El Toro Rd/S-18
Rt on Aliso Creek Rd
Return to your start


Looking on the maps, especially in Laguna Beach; you will see a few possible variations connecting the streets to avoid PCH - such as Glenneyre and Temple Terrace.
Besides the sisters, there is a lot of other climbing; especially the last bit on Aliso Creek from El Toro. (It could almost be an 8th Sister)

rooftest

It is closed from about 2 mi. North of Highway 2 to Mt. WIlson Road. There's still good riding in that area - just not that specific road.

bam

1 more week. tick tock.

thanks again for the tips. looks like i've got some nice options. going to start around Yosemite and head south.

bam

well, it's been about a week of vacation so far. here are some of the highlights


started off in bishop at the everest challenge
https://www.strava.com/rides/191818
https://www.strava.com/rides/191859

next day headed up to mammoth for a quick ride
https://www.strava.com/rides/192018

day after tioga pass
https://www.strava.com/rides/192775

headed home for some sleep & supplies before getting back on the road
https://www.strava.com/rides/193979

then south to 39
https://www.strava.com/rides/194553

next day GMR / GRR / Mt. Baldy
https://www.strava.com/rides/194915

today i'm in laguna beach enjoying a rest day and maybe a quick spin when the rain clears up

bam

video of tioga pass, have a few more i haven't uploaded yet.

theo3000

That was fun! How do you get the onscreen display? Camera? Mount? Tell me everything!

bam

camera is a contourHD (720p@60fps)
mounted on the right side of the head tube with their goggle strap and a homemade cover
telemetry is done with some software and the data from gps

here's some more


and 2-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gVuDtKU628
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTZ_pr1RYOM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=getMoo0l08Q

bam

GMR / GRR / Mt. Baldy was fun. a little windy near the top, especially on the way down. was getting pushed around the road a bit...

heading there:


heading back:

bam

1:16:35

https://www.strava.com/rides/196282#2771618

nice climb.