KiddSisko

I'm just heading up the 38 from the start area. Hopefully begin around 8am at the latest. That should put me at Angeles Oaks by 11am at the latest, where I'll rest and refuel at one of the stores, then continue on up, reaching Onyx by 2ish.

What bike/clothes will you be riding/wearing? When are you starting?

GP

0630. Grey Litespeed, NC3 jersey and black shorts. Like this except my helmet is all silver. https://northcountycycleclub.com/phot...nkAtStart2.htm

jschen

Maybe next year I'll think about doing this ride again. To everyone doing the ride this year, ride safe, and hope you have a great time.

KiddSisko

We're more or less on schedule to reach Angeles Oaks at the same time. I'll look out for you.

ericm979

I meant sign up and do the ride officially, so you get a time. Anyhow, if you see me, say something. I'll be the very thin kinda old guy in green Webcor kit. Hopefully I will be going relatively fast.

KiddSisko

Unfortunately for me, the registration limit was met months ago.

I'll be wearing this:

ericm979

That is why I suggested the Heartbreak Hundred. It is still open.

big john

Do you really think it's going to take you 6 hours to do that 35 miles?

VanceMac

Weather is going to be perfect! On the way up...

KiddSisko

I calculate 38 miles, and that 6 hours is total time. If I'm taking my time, taking pictures, stopping to eat and chat with cyclists at Angelus Oaks, probably. I'm in no rush. Then again, I may just decide to hammer.

KiddSisko

Weather Channel says 60 degrees at Angelus Oaks in the afternoon, 50's at Onyx Peak. Bring your sun block.

KiddSisko

Huh. My version was 76 miles total in 5hrs 45min ride time. 2 hours to get to Angelus Oaks, where I had a delicious OJ, eggs, taters, biscuit and gravy brunch while watching the century riders reach that rest and refuel point, which for them was mile 58 or so. Met up with Frank, er GP, and we rode together for a time. Reached Onyx Summit in 2hrs 20 minutes. Took a ton of pics, and some video.

Snow up there! Nice to look at, but it made for a cold descent for the first 20 miles. I was fortified with a piece of cardboard, courtesy of a BA volunteer equipped with a box cutter for just that purpose. Stopping at Angelus Oaks on the way down, a bunch of us raided the remaining rest supplies, including our fill of Pepperidge Farms goldfish crackers, Fig Newtons, Oreos, and oranges.

You would think the descent would be fun, but it was painful because of shoulder and arm cramping, plus the strong headwind made you go much slower. Not to mention sidewinds through passes where you had maybe a foot of road shoulder, then 200 feet down. The last 7 mile stretch was directly into a strong headwind, but then relief came in the form of an invitation to join a rotating paceline for the last 5 miles.

It was an awesome day on the bike. Pics to follow.

Moontrane

Ow.

Hopefully I can post something more substantive soon.

GP

Nice meeting you, Kidd. Saw Vance, Vireo, Alex & Deya and Karen, all very briefly.

A bunch of little things went wrong. Broke a piece of my truck rack, the nozzle on my pump got stuck on the valve and pulled off the hose (at 5am), the Starbucks near the motel was closed at 5:30, forgot a tyvek envelope, left a vial of e-caps in the truck and lost a contact lense. Other than that everything was fine.

VanceMac

Good seeing you GP. Sorry it was going opposite directions. I had my eye out for you all day... guessing I missed you at second rest stop. Your day was better than mine. Felt like a dog all day, and finally threw in the the towel about 5 miles past the last check point.

Didn't see Sisko's socalriders kit anywhere. I did get a chance to chat with Vireo and Endoverendo briefly, which was nice. Saw ericm and alex & Deya briefly at the start.

I was bummed they didn't do the socks and beer glass this year.

KiddSisko

Same here GP. I meant the nice meeting you part, not the valve/hose/tyvek/contact lens part. I knew I saw Vireo!

KiddSisko

I'm pretty sure I saw you at one point. Perhaps at the Angelus Oaks rest stop before I ducked into the restaurant for a half hour. There was one memorable moment at Onyx that you'll remember if you were there at the same time as I was (around 2:30): Someone pulls up, get's checked in, and while still straddling his bike, his tire pops, followed by a loud hiss. Everyone laughed and applauded his timing.

KiddSisko

My non-supported ride began at the start point, but then headed up Rt 38, straight up to Angelus Oaks, and to Onyx. 76 miles total, over 7K feet of climbing.

Rose garden at the start point, around 9am.


Maybe 13 miles in, looking back.


Heading up there.


Angelus Oaks rest and refuel stop.


We've reached the snow level.


Watch out GP, it's icy.


Around the 7K elevation point. I tried to pick up the pace because I was feeling good (probably high from depleted oxygen), but quickly ran out of steam. I wasn't alone.


Finally. It was the highest I've ever been on a bike. I mean the elevation.


I estimate $250,000 worth of bikes laying there.

KiddSisko

The only smiling person I saw all day. (OK, that's not true)


Descending, at 6K


Jaw dropping views on the way down.


Who added climbing in the middle of a descent?


The Angelus Oaks rest stop was a ghost town on the way down. Note the cyclist picking through the remains. We had our fill of Goldfish cheese crackers and Oreos before continuing on.

grrlyrida

Great pics Kidd. Brings back memories of Ride Around the Bear last year. Glad you had a great time! Looks like fun. Maybe I'll do the KOM next year.

GP

Nice pictures. I had a Mt. Dew and some crackers at the leftover pile.

My right ankle is swelled up to about twice the size of the left. It was hurting yesterday but I figured it because I was old and out of shape. I showed it to a paramedic this morning and his professional opinion was that it looked ****ed up.

KiddSisko

Dew and crackers - the food of champions. Did you have some tacos at the finish? I hope you didn't have to pay for that expert medical opinion! What did you do to your ankle other than BA on Saturday?

If you want a full res picture of you at the summit, PM me your email. Unlike the pro photographers, I won't charge you.

KiddSisko

Thanks GR. What was the Ride around the Bear route?

big john

Hey, Kidd, was the store at Angeles Oaks open?

GP

Yes.