Ride Report: 3 Dream Rides (photo heavy)

[GuyGadois]

Over the last week I had the opportunity to do three dream rides. They were just so challenging and cool I had to share:

Last Sunday: Figueroa Mountain Road (http://www.strava.com/segment_efforts/1948748)
after wine tasting and entertaining guests all day and night Saturday I thought the best remedy for a Long Island Ice Tea cold was a ride up the infamous Figueroa Mtn Road. I grew up only a few miles from this road and have always loved it. I remember watching teams ride to it in preparation for the Tour back in the 80's. I started in Los Olivos and waved to Jacko's old ranch. The hill always has a hot climate this time of year and last Sunday was no different. It didn't help to have a slight tailwind to remove an relief.

Strava Info for Ride (http://www.strava.com/rides/153600)
Here is the profile:
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100740/Figueroa-20Mtn-20Road/web.jpg?ver=12819362390001


Some photos:
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100740/IMG_0014/web.jpg?ver=12819361970001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100740/IMG_0011/web.jpg?ver=12819361910001

The heat and lack of water during the Summer and Fall turns everything brown. In the Spring it is bright green (and sometimes snow can be on the road).

This weekend I took two solo rides in uncharted areas (for myself). I really wasn't sure how hard it would be or how far I was going to make it. Both rides left from our small cabin up in Camp Sierra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Sierra,_California). The location is a dream for nuts who like to haul their light bikes and heavy selves up large and steep mountains.

On Friday I decided to ride to Big Creek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Creek,_California) (3 miles away) and head, literally, straight up to Huntington Lake. That first major hill, Old Big Creek is 3.7 miles long and goes up about 2000 feet with an average grade of about 10%. Within the first 7 miles I had over 2500 feet of climbing - so much for a warmup. From there I would ride the length of the lake, about 7 miles, and then up and over Kaiser Pass, 9184 Elevation. The Kaiser Pass climb was 7.2 Miles, 6% grade and 2100 feet. The last mile and a half kicks up to a little over 9% grade and goes down to one zigzagging lane. At this point you really feel the 9000+ elevation.

The views were amazing. There was almost no traffic and the roads were in good shape. The higher I got the cooler it got but it stuck around 75-80. These pictures don't do it justice.

Strava Ride Report (http://www.strava.com/rides/159134)

[GuyGadois]

Profile and Pics:

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/Big-20Creek-20--20Kaiser-20Pass/web.jpg?ver=12819361940001

Up Old Big Creek Road
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0593/web.jpg?ver=12819348050001

Kaiser Pass:
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0605/web.jpg?ver=12819348110001

The Sun's view
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0603/web.jpg?ver=12819348090001

Watch out for these (this one was big. The camera didn't capture the size):
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0012/web.jpg?ver=12819348130001

View of Huntington Lake
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0634/web.jpg?ver=12819348260001

Goes to one lane and steep
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0631/web.jpg?ver=12819348240001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0609/web.jpg?ver=12819348150001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0611/web.jpg?ver=12819348180001

The top!
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100726/IMG_0010/web.jpg?ver=12819348200001

[GuyGadois]

Today (Sunday), I took another uncharted solo ride down an unmarked Southern Cal Edison road which starts one mile from my cabin. I was told by some locals that the road is closed to cars and motorcycles but bikes were ok. I knew it went downhill for a while but I couldn't find a map with exactly where it went. I did know that it would eventually hook up with a road called the Million Dollar Road. They called it this because it cost that to build it at the time because it was carved into the granite hillside. So, I told my wife I was going to go down and then back up some very steep, cliffed closed road by myself and that I didn't know how long I was going to be gone for. She gave me that look.

So, I rode to the entrance, got off my bike and walked it around the gate and was on my way. The road was in perfect condition with only a few places that a few rocks has fallen into the road. The road may have been the most beautiful cycling road I have ever been on. The views were amazing! The sheer granite cliffs down to waterfalls. I rode over countless bridges (include metal grate ones where you could look down at a sheer drop). I made my way down for about 11 miles! There were a few level areas but not many. I passed 2 or 3 powerhouses owned by SCE (hence this service road). Total cycling nirvana.

Strava Profile (http://www.strava.com/rides/159133)

Profile:
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/Million-20Dollar-20Road/web.jpg?ver=12819362280001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0644/web.jpg?ver=12819348930001

Pic back towards Big Creek. Lake Huntington is at the top of that far mountain.
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0645/web.jpg?ver=12819348950001

Powerstation 2
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0656/web.jpg?ver=12819348960001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0655/web.jpg?ver=12819385350001

Water carried to the Powerhouse. You could hear the water inside these penstocks as I rode under them.
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0659/web.jpg?ver=12819348980001

Another powerstation
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0664/web.jpg?ver=12819349000001

The Million Dollar Road cut into the granite. It follows the San Joaquin River for a long time.:
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0672/web.jpg?ver=12819349010001

Dizzying
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0695/web.jpg?ver=12819349120001

[GuyGadois]

The at the 12th mile I rounded a corner and saw one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. At first all I could see was the mist from the falls way up on the top of the mountain but as I rode closer I saw that this gigantic water fall actually went through the rode/bridge which was a metal grate. There was no way I was going to ride over that. The amount of water and force it created ensured a Darwin Award for whoever dared. I could have stayed here all day watching the water tumble down.

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0691/web.jpg?ver=12819349080001

These photos only show the lower part of the fall. Live you can see a huge amount of water spilling over the very top and then going to this part of the fall.
http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0693/web.jpg?ver=12819349100001

http://gallery.me.com/danspeirs/100736/IMG_0685/web.jpg?ver=12819349060001

Here are a couple of videos I shot (quality stinks).

Approach to falls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOhuXiDD5lU)

A closer video of the bridge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBlDR_RvEI8)

The ride back up the 10 mile climb wasn't as fun as going downhill. My legs were a bit tired from Friday's two pass climb. The heat started to rise and the damn gnats came out and followed me up the hill. But that didn't take away from this being an incredible ride. Oh, I did get passed by a service truck on my way back up the hill.

So, there are my three dream rides, done in a matter of 8 days. All three were grueling but rewarding. The last ride was simply amazing and one I won't soon forget.

Gadois

[firerescuefin]

Guy...it's your world and we're just living in it. Great pics...I hate you :beer:

[Norm Swift]

Awesome pics and narrative. The Waterfalls/bridge video rocks.
Thanks for sharing!

[TimmyB]

awesome ride reports! Figueroa mountain is a fun ride. That place gets absolutely beautiful in the springtime too... so many wildflowers!

[alancw3]

nice rides. thanks for the spectacular pics.

[William]

Thank you for sharing Big D!! :cool:

Now I want to see photos of those decents on a skateboard. ;)





William

[jblande]

worthy of much jealousy

[Bob Loblaw]

Epic! Makes me wish I was there. Awesome pictures and descriptions.

BL

[texbike]

Wow! California is such a rider's paradise. Austin is a great place but has NOTHING on that. :)

Thanks for the pics and narrative.

Texbike

[wgp]

Just to echo everyone else - WOW! Now that is scenery! And gotta love the Parlee too!

If only I had that kind of riding opportunity outside my door!

BTW, can you accept the forum membership for a week of riding, staying at your cabin?

[thwart]

Still wonder why the road was closed... :rolleyes:

Great pics and video.

[snah]

Need to go home, tell the wife and kids to pack up, time to move. Great photos!!!

[henrypretz]

Fantastic! That's quite the trifecta!

We were in the area on Saturday riding from Dinkey Creek up to Courtright Reservoir. I grew up in Fresno, just an hour away and had never really explored the area until I did it on a bike.

This coming Saturday our club is doing a mini version of your Kaiser ride (skipping Big Creek :) )

Thanks for sharing your spectacular rides!

This picture is on the road to Courtright at 8500' above Wishon Reservoir.

[weisan]

Guy-pal, this is PHENOMENAL.

I absolutely love rides like these. It reminds me of the reason why I ride in the first place.

Thanks for the effort in putting the narrative and pictures together. It's what separates this forum from all the others.

I had the privilege to do something like this over the summer at Blue Ridge Parkway, I will never forget the experience.
http://alicehui.com/pics/nc/img/11.jpg

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=75111

[1centaur]

Now I know what I'm doing when I win the lottery.

Wouldn't want to have a major mechanical on that utility road.

[junkfood]

Great Thread! Thanks for the pics

-Jake

[tiretrax]

great post. the quality of pics AND video was great. i don't suppose you could post a map so i can find this place when i next make it out to santa barbara? that would be great.

i mounted my digital point and shoot on my handlebars using a gorrillapod. it worked well and kept the weight of a helmet cam off my neck. the ride was a little choppy, but it adds to the affect.

[GuyGadois]

i don't suppose you could post a map so i can find this place when i next make it out to santa barbara? that would be great.



All the rides have links to Strava which maps it out. The Figeuroa ride is close to Santa Barbara but the two other's are several hours inland, close to Fresno.

Gadois

[Ray]

Some great pics, particularly in the first couple of posts and then of the waterfall. There's something about some of the first few pics of the roads on hills that makes me suspect that those hills are a LOT steeper than they look in the pictures. Partly because hills shown in pictures are almost ALWAYS a lot steeper than the pic makes them look.

Looks like beautiful riding. I'd be doing less epic versions of some of those rides, but I'd love to ride in that area.

-Ray

[MattTuck]

Great ride! Thanks for sharing.

What Mac program are you using to collect the profile data? Is that from Garmin?


You'll have to go back when it's drier, maybe you can cross the bridge and continue on...

[DreaminJohn]

Very, very nice.

Is there even cell reception in these areas?

[veggieburger]

Great photos...love the elevation charts too.

[GuyGadois]

Very, very nice.

Is there even cell reception in these areas?

I have an iPhone with ATT so I usually don't get reception anywhere I go :crap:

Funny enough, there were areas of cell reception. If worse came to worse I could walk to one of the powerhouses and asked for a phone but my cabin has zero cell service (but texting works). I also did see one SCE phone on the roadside. The problem would be getting out of the valley. I could call my wife to let her know I was stuck. Me getting out is another thing due to the closed road. It did dawn on me at the bottom of the hill that riding tubies wasn't the best decision I have made. But, us cyclist don't always do the 'safest' thing; otherwise, we wouldn't cycle.

[GuyGadois]

Great ride! Thanks for sharing.

What Mac program are you using to collect the profile data? Is that from Garmin?


You'll have to go back when it's drier, maybe you can cross the bridge and continue on...

That program is Ascent and yes it links to the Garmin. I love it but the guy hasn't improve the program in over a year. I hope it continues to develop as it is very good.

[soulspinner]

Thanks, great stuff............... :beer:

[jghall]

Great pics, and story.

I'd probably **** a brick if I can across that snake while riding.

[McQueen]

That program is Ascent and yes it links to the Garmin. I love it but the guy hasn't improve the program in over a year. I hope it continues to develop as it is very good.


Fantastic ride photos - if only that was around here - and I also caught the Ascent screen shots and wondered what it was.. I'm on a mac, and Garmin connect is maddening. Just downloaded to check it out.

[Kevan]

is the silhouette of your helmeted head, near the snake...um, it's big.

I've heard a lot about what these guys can do to tires.

[henrypretz]

That program is Ascent and yes it links to the Garmin. I love it but the guy hasn't improve the program in over a year. I hope it continues to develop as it is very good.
1+ to Ascent on the Mac!
They have a free trial download so that you can check it out before you buy.
I use it for running with my Forerunner and cycling with an Edge ...... it works great.

[bozman]

great photos and descriptions. you are a lucky man.

[Climb01742]

guy, your posts and photos sparked three emotions...gratitude, jealousy and admiration for your spirit of adventure. thanks for taking the time to share.

[azrider]

Awesome! thanks for sharing

[rickbb]

Making me wish I could ride in CA again. Wonderful shots!

[GuyGadois]

...also caught the Ascent screen shots and wondered what it was.. I'm on a mac, and Garmin connect is maddening. Just downloaded to check it out.

I use Strava.com (http://www.strava.com) as my primary download and then Ascent as a secondary. Strava keeps getting better and better each month and is worth the annual fee, IMHO. This is the advantage of a web-app. Ascent is awesome but it lacks any progression. But, it is still the best charting GPS application out there, bar none. All this coming from a guy who still sells quite a few mileage logs via my website (for those non-GPS folks).