JimmyNH

It's less than a month away. I think this will be my 14-th or 15-th 4-th of July GMR ride. I was a young and handsome man when I did my first one. Now I'm just an "and", but I still love riding on a road with no cars. Planning to start 8-ish from the Glendora high school. Anybody else doing it?

DrIsotope

I have the best worst excuse ever to skip it this year-- I have to accompany my daughter to Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but if ever I were to be thrust into a "scene that ain't my scene," this will likely be it.

Might do Forest Falls on the 3rd or the 6th, though.

calamarichris

I'm in, but hopefully it won't be 113 like it was yesterday at l'Etape. I DNFed. Was being careful to eat and drink plenty of electrolytes, but hamstring cramped a few times and became a pulled muscle--became impossible to pedal fluidly and felt like I was doing more damage. Still hurts like a mutha.
Been such a cold spring, I wasn't ready for this kind of heat.

diphthong

it's on a thursday. game and willing but will need to start at 6:30am or before from
glendora high or the base of gmr as i gotta work and be back to the car by 11am at the latest.
no lifts for me.

CAT7RDR

This will be my first on July 4. Had to get in shape first, but have rode from the Equestrian Center to Mt Baldy Village thrice in May while the road was still closed.

I can see why riders fall in love with this ride - scenic and challenging.

It will be an added bonus to see others from this forum up on the ridge.

I'm in for an early start at 0630. I do not do well in extreme heat.

TrojanHorse

Wait, how does a cramp turn into a pulled muscle! I hear you though, I spent the weekend on various pool decks in the SGV watching my son play water polo. I think I cramped just sitting still it was so bloody hot. Heading up a hill would have been challenging

michael.anger

Is this an organized ride or just a road closure for the holiday? I definitely like the sound of 'no cars'...

CAT7RDR

AFAIK this is only a planned road closure.

This linky will confirm the closure.

https://dpw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/

Just remember that no cars does not mean no traffic.

When I rode a few times in May on Fridays, there was a lot of heavy duty truck traffic and public works pickups on GMR and GRR. I suspect law enforcement and fire lookouts will be on the roads.

furiousferret

I hope to do it, last year I got yelled at (a lot) for going to fast up the mountain The amount of bike traffic is crazy.

I'm hoping to get some other teammates to go along, we'll see.

DrIsotope

The bike traffic on the 4th I went up (last year?) was unbelievable. More bikes than I think I've ever seen in one day. A big chunk of the descending riders are far more terrifying than cars on the road. There are a lot of guys bombing that descent like there's no one on it, and there are so many people going up in some places it's bike four-wide.

Do what I did and ride it in December. Road was closed all the way up, and i think I saw three bikes total.

jimincalif

I might do it on the 4th again this year. Depends if I can gin up enough interest with some other club members. And will play a bit by ear on the weather. Last year we got fortunate on the 4th, weather was pretty mild, no real heat felt until the final descent.

And what the Doc says is true about the bike traffic, quite a bit. I didn't see anything too crazy, but you do need to stay to the right half of the road whether going up or down.

JimmyNH

According to this web site, GMR will be closed from 4:00 PM on 07/03 to 10:00 AM on 07/05.

https://dpw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/

So, 07/04 it is! The forecast is for cold-ish weather - mid 70s for a high, thus there will be no heat to beat, thus there is no way in hell I'll start earlier than 8:00 AM.
Signor Calamari, you still in? And are you bringing the hound of Baskerville with you?

jimincalif

I have at least a few from my club, we plan to roll at 0800 from Glendora High School.

Someone said there be brushfires up there around Hwy 39, will have to keep an eye on that.

TakingMyTime

I will be with you all in spirit. I am in no shape to try something like that let alone even think about it. I started riding way too late this season and have next to no miles under my belt so far this year.

I do look forward to the stories.

CAT7RDR

Rode up to the Village from the Equestrian Center on the 29er this past Thursday morning. Very little traffic.

Felt was doing a promo shoot with several cyclists up on GRR.

Perfect day. Next time I will spray my legs with deet, a lot of biting flies on GRR.

calamarichris

Si Paisano! And so relieved we've got a cooler forecast! Terah, Greg and I will be there at the school parking lot, but alas, Terah says no on the dog. I'll be in touch via text about meeting up.

I'll be riding my beloved white Schwinn Peloton and this vintage Schwinn-Icy Hot Jersey. And unless it gets too hot, we're going to try for the skilifts, since it's Greg's first time up there.

Princess_Allez

What gearing are you guys using to climb frontside GMR? Does a 50/34, 11-28 sound reasonable? Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question, but I'm new to riding and have hopes of being able to climb GMR/ACH one of these days.

diphthong

that's the setup i've got and i do just fine. no world-beater here at 180 lbs (on a good day) but that combo will cover gmr/grr and/or ach.

gmr is steepest in the beginning 2-3 miles from the equestrian park or sierra madre blvd but it's nothing crazy steep like what you'll find in the hollywood hills or
santa monica mtns west of the 405. gmr/grr's difficulty lies with the heat if you get a late start (late spring-late fall) and its' length (22 mostly uphill miles till cow saddle/mt. baldy village).
super scenic but it's seems like forever if you haven't hydrated/fueled up properly. the good news is that you can always turn around and enjoy the (mostly) descent if
the legs decide to go on strike.

as for doing the road up to the mt. baldy ski lifts from mt. baldy village (end of gmr/grr), not sure there is a mainstream gearing combo outside of a triple ring that's
semi-reasonable. it's a total grindfest and feared for good reason.

CAT7RDR

I use a 50/34, 11-28 on my road bike and at 220# I am able to grind my way up w/o too much strain. For me I just had to find the right balance in the 34-25 combo to keep a steady pace without burning out quickly.
,
Focus on the scenery, get an early start and enjoy.

I have not yet attempted the ski lifts ascent. I will likely need an 11-34 cassette for this part of the climb, I really fade with 10%+ ramps.

big john

Just plan on going part way, like to the shack, then you can turn around and cruise back down.

I haven't done it in a while but this time I'm going.

DrIsotope

As I mentioned early in June, I was planning on doing Forest Falls at the beginning of this month in lieu of GMR, and wouldn't you know it, I did. Rolled out at 6am, on a beautiful morning, rode without stops or breaks to the General Store, drank a chocolate milk, and stretched the ride home out to finish my Gran Fondo challenge for the month. 5,000ft of vertical in the first 26 miles.

Forest Falls, July 2, 64.5mi, 5,522ft^

I didn't see a single bike on the way up, or down.

diphthong

^solid. the descent still scares me but the climb is amongst the top twenty for socal. at least by my reckoning.

JimmyNH

OK... no dog, real racing bike and Terah and Greg Lemond for teammates, i.e. you're coming to kick A55!

calamarichris

has nice solar-panel shades where we'll be parking. Shooting for 7:30 arrival, and an 8:00 embarkation.
Ski lifts or bust!

jimincalif

It was a great day on GMR! Met @calamarichris at GHS and again at the ski lift sign. Weather was excellent, cloudy til the shack, then sunny with slightly cool air temp. I felt good enough at the lodge to get talked into my first attempt to climb up to the ski lifts, and I made it! That’s a tough climb. Didn’t set any records, that’s for sure! Bombed straight down thru the tunnels and back to Glendora via Baseline.