jsigone

now that you mention it, I haven't seen him on here in a while. Maybe you scared him away after that ride Hope all is well w/ @volosong

psalm

I've been dealing with a nerve injury on my left leg. Don't ask how it happened, not really sure, but I have been in extreme pain. Been laid out since the first of the year. I'm hoping to be able to walk without pain by March 1st!

TrojanHorse

HTFU.



Go find yourself an acupuncturist, or if money's tight, just have your wife stick you in the leg with steak knives. She is a nurse, right? I'm sure it's safe.

PhotoJoe 

FIFY.

Sorry to hear it. Hope you feel better soon.

And @TrojanHorse - I don't recommend that his wife poke him with needles. The needles she has access to have nasty stuff that comes out of them. Makes you sick and all your hair falls out.

TrojanHorse

That's why I said steak knives and not needles. You don't know where those needles have been, it's not safe!

LGHT

Great idea, I think I'm going to do the same thing. I just hope I can at least make it to the shack....

Pamestique 

Again, we are first timers... have no idea what to expect, what happens happens... use it as a guide and learning tool.

About 5 years back I did a week long mountain bike trip in AZ - N Rim of Grand Canyon. It was rated "beginner-intermediate" level. Well I mountain bike all the time; do some pretty long rides and have some technical skills, this should be in my wheel house. I was the last one in every single day...by hours! I joke "me and my bike hiked the Grand Canyon". I wore out the soles of my bike shoes walking. I beat myself up pretty bad after the trip for taking it for granted... that said, since then, I have done some pretty incredible things. This might be the hardest thing I do in the last 10 years or so, but I am just going to get my cadence going and enjoy the experience... if I go 5 miles, well that's 5 miles up a mountain and next time I will try for 8... whatever.

And remember, I walked the frigging Grand Canyon... if you have to, walk to the Shack!

I will be right behind you!

PhotoJoe 

Just out of curiosity, do you know what gearing you have? Maybe you've said, but I've forgotten.

And I love hearing the comments of "I hope I make it to the shack". I was the same way. Every first-timer I've ridden with has said it. I think everyone has made it, too! It's not a race. You can stop as often as necessary. Enjoy the view. Enjoy the company. And enjoy the ride.

jimincalif

On long climbs I need to find the right rhythm. It varies based on the day, the climb, how long I've already been riding, and who knows what else. Some days I can't exactly nail it down but when I do then a climb goes pretty well, the climbing speed will end up whatever it turns out to be.

I've not done GMR or GRR before. I did the OC Wheelmen fall metric from Redlands to Oak Glen, that's about the longest sustained climb for me so far. I'm running a 50/34 compact and 12-30 cassette.

PhotoJoe 

I'm running compact with a 12-28. I may go to a 12-30 before this ride just because I'm out of shape and even when I was a little less out of shape, I still wanted a bit higher cadence when climbing.

TJClay

The one time I did it we started at San Dimas Canyon Park, about 4 miles from the start. After reaching the village and taking a well deserved break we returned on Mt Baldy rd and Foothill. If I recall it about 40 miles round trip and about 4,300ft of climbing.
BTW I'm a definite maybe for the 1st.

jimincalif

I was wondering about returning via Mt Baldy Road. I assume there would be more traffic and it is a bit steeper than GMR/GRR? Maybe more scenic on GMR/GRR? It think the ups and downs add another 1100 feet or so of climbing on the return according to ridewithgps. I've only driven up there a couple of times so I am not real familiar with them.

PhotoJoe 

Inked. I'll add you to the list!

LGHT

I believe the tarmac is a 10-speed, 11-28t with a 52/36 based on the website. I know my Roubaix was not geared for climbs and I was horrible at climbs using that one.

Ursa Minor

I'm also a definite maybe. If I go I'll be riding 22/42 front and 11-42 cassette. Lol most of the time I ride old man speed
(I'm 65) like 3-4 mph uphill in my lowest gears.

Charlie

Beachgrad05

I'm bringing the new Domane with 11 SPD 11-28 cassette. My Madone has a 10 SPD 12-30 cassette. Will see how much I miss those two extra teeth.

TrojanHorse

Really? You've only done it once and I happened to run into you at the shack? Wow. I figured you for a repeat customer.
@jimincalif - you can definitely go back down Baldy Road, and people that live in the area do it. If you are from further away and park at the base of GMR, there's not much point IMO. GRR and GMR are much nicer cycling than Baldy road and then foothill. Returning on GRR does add more climbing to your day but aside from the rather steep climb to get OUT of the village, it's pretty tolerable. If you need to get back to your car sooner, Baldy is the faster route.

tunavic

The only time I've ridden in the area, we parked at the Metrolink in Claremont and rode up 39 to the East Fork to GRR. We came back on Mt. Baldy Rd.

https://www.strava.com/activities/148432611

TrojanHorse

Well, gee whillikers - you beat Freddie Rodriguez. You know, the US Champion Road racer several years. Are you sure you "rode" it? 24 mph up a 4% grade is pretty impressive too. I reckon there's a motor in that Pino frame.

tunavic

Didn't ride a portion where I got a flat and the SAG wagon drove me up a ways

Pamestique 

Charlie... I am 64, so not much more behind you. I will be happy to ride 3 - 4 miles up the hill.

Starting my training. Saturday did a variation of the PV drives ride. Rode the Strand for warmup and then up to Malaga Cove and PV Drive West. I got passed by 10 other cyclists. How discouraging! Stopped at the Lighthouse just to check out the whale watching. Continue through Porteguese Bend which is always interesting. Instead of turning left on Western, we went down towards Pt. Fermin; took surface streets (after doing a little off roading) through San Pedro, pass Ports 'O Call and then climbed up PV Drive North to Rollings Hills RD. down that and then took a lower (and very pleasant; not hilly) route back to the car parked in Torrance. I would like to say piece of cake. I suffered quite a bit in the later climbs. Of course, it started getting warm and heat just zaps away my energy. But no excuse, need to start some serious road riding or I am not going to make it to the Shack! Kathy of course, just sat and waited for me on most of the climbs... busy posting on Facebook. Man, I hate her!

Rick@OCRR

These are some of the twisty bits of Glendora Ridge Road. All kinds of fun.
Sometimes it's all foggy and gloomy in Glendora so you start out in low-light conditions, rather "moist" air too.
But then you climb above the cloud and the whole mountain seems to change as you pop up into the sunshine.
Typical bunch of riders on their way up GMR/GRR.
This is the descent from The Shed on your way back down the mountain.
The Real Goal. Each Saturday and Sunday morning at Mount Baldy Lodge, Missy bakes one pan of the Very Best Cinnamon Rolls on this planet. Great fuel for the way back (or the Ski Lift climb for TrojanHorse).

We rode GMR/GRR last Sunday. We saw Six cars, Eleven motorcycles, countless bicycles!

Rick / OCRR (Too skinny for this group but I thought you'd like to see some photos, esp. if you'd never been there.).

PS: Pam, I'm 64 as well . . . getting older and slower!

Photo Credits: 2nd and 3rd photos by Chuck Bramwell, all the rest by Victor Cooper (Biker395 on bikeforums.net)

Pamestique 

Thanks Rick for the photos... not certain if there make me want to ride... or stand home and watch TV! And as much as those rolls look inviting... not certain I have the legs to take a long break and then try and climb out of the Village... best I wait until after the ride to fuel up!

LGHT

Wow those look like fun!

Pamestique 

up or down????