Las Vegas to Fontana

[Pain Freak]

I've been talking to a few people who have done this, but really they've kept going all the way to Newport Beach. I'm going to do this in January. It does involve some riding on the freeway which is legal as long as your not within a city. Total freeway riding will be less then 50 miles and will be during the day. I'm going to do it over two days (the total ride), so I'll need a 3 day weekend. This will be a shuttle though. My wife will drive us out there and we will ride back. A few friends have expressed an interest and I have one that is confirmed. We would like to have a group of four, but will do it with 3 if need be. Anyone else interested? The pace will be on the slower side as we will be riding tour bikes with light weight panniers, nothing to heavy though. At this time we are undecided as to weather we will be camping or staying in a motel for the one night we are going to be out there.

[Burner]

you're not navigating, are you??

[Keith B]

Wouldnt it be better to do it the other way round - end up Vegas, collapse into a bucket of hot wings and a keg of beer then sleep in a comfy posh hotel?!
Although there is something cool about ending a huge ride at the ocean.

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by Burner

you're not navigating, are you??

Are you kidding? That's why I have one confirmed!

[MTBMaven]

I am very interested but not sure about availability. What dates are you looking at? It will be best for me if the trip were on one of my three day weekends. The only three day weekend I have available in January is the 18th-20th. At this point I would prefer hotel unless I can get my 29er monstercorss built by then. If I can then I would prefer to camp totally unsupported.

[Pain Freak]

Well we have some time and the dates we were talking about were the same 18/20, so that works. It'd be great to have you. You could throw some skinny tires on the 29er and be ready to go for the most part. I'm leaning to the motel also as it's going to be cold at night regardless of what the daytime temps are going to be. Plus Barstow is such a lovely town.

[MTBMaven]

Yeah if you are planning on making it to Barstow the first day I can't imagine there is anywhere nice around there to camp. There is some great camping in Mojave National Preserve but that is not far enough away from LV I would imagine.

This will be great training for my first double in Feb. Let me talk to the wife this weekend.

[donkey]

Consider me in-terested. Once dates are firmed up and a plan is in place be sure to post back here.

Sounds fun.

B

[FFW]

Mike, sounds like fun. 18-20 is perfect for me if you have enough room. I'll need to up my riding between now and then.

The weather will make it interesting.

[Padre]

I'm also interested as long as it doesn't involve camping. I prefer not to spend my vacation days feigning homelessness. What can I say...I don't even belong to REI...

Anyone have any idea on the route?

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

This will be a shuttle though. My wife will drive us out there and we will ride back.

Shuttlers...all you shuttlers are lazy.


J/K


Sounds like an awesome ride! I wish I could join you. But I'm kind of against the whole shuttling thing. Against my principles.

Anyhow, I'm off to Bootleg in a few minutes.

[SAR_boats]

I am definately un-interested. Youre crazy, Mike. Loosen your helmet straps, mmmmmmk? I think you are cutting off a bit much O2 to the brain pan.

[MTBMaven]

RE route...I once drove from the Joshua Tree area up through the Mojave. That would be an interesting route. More thoughts to come. However Mike is the organizer of this little shin dig so I abdicate to his wished ultimately.

UPDATE:
Looking at Yahoo Maps and based on my knowledge of the area this is my proposed route:
Highway 95 South (near Boulder City)
Highway 164 to Ivanpah Rd through Mojave National Preserve past the 40 to National Trails Highway. NTH to Amboy Rd. Amboy Rd. takes you to 29 Palms. Highway 62 goes through 29 Palms to the 10. Jog over to Indian Ave to Highway 111. 111 to tamarack Rd. It gets a little unclear here but some how you need to get to the Cabazon area. Then to Beaumont to San Timoteo Canyon Rd., which ends near Redlands and Loma Linda. From there there are tons of ways to get back to Fontucky.

Likely not the best way but not bad for 20 minutes of research.

[FFW]

My bud Kevin does this ride a few time every year (he did RAAM this year). I'll see if I can get the route he uses.

[Endo Verendo]

Anyone know what the prevailing winds are like and which direction they might be coming from?

[Impy]

im interested. also have panniers, racks, bob trailer and all that stuff.

[maxwell]

WOW!

I may be interested in this also.

PF, how many miles are we looking at per day?

[Fired Yo Momma]

Really, no joking around Mike that is so hardcore. I always thought when I got some miles under me I would love to try something like this.

[Pain Freak]

We would be doing about 150 the first day and then from Barstow to where ever we finish is a good spot, I personally would like to stop at Fontana as it will be near impossible for me to ride by after logging all these miles. I was thinking of just one night at a hotel, but with all the logistics it just won't work, so I suggest we stay the night in a cheaper type hotel, then start early am Like around 6 am at the latest.

Winds are sometimes a factor, but mostly this time a year we would only see cross winds if any. Then again it has rained in January many of times, even in Vegas.

I should be able to post a route by Thanksgiving and then we can look into reserving some rooms depending on the amount of people who would like to ride. I was also thinking of renting a Uhaul or a van. We may have picked up another shuttle driver so that should help.

[bighit8]

I work out in Vegas every Friday, I don't road ride yet but look to getting into it. Need $ for a bike. My point is if some body Is renting a u-haul or something I can drive. I go out on Friday ( 5:45 am) and leave about 6pm-7pm Friday. I normally ride out In a shuttle with my co-workers but I can arrange other plans just as long as I am there for work.I work up near the Speedway at the greater Nevada auto auction. Don't know if it will be any help but thought I would offer just in case.