Labor Day Ride

[S54MCoupe]

Everyone better show up.

We're going to be meeting at Encanto Park around 7:45am, and the ride will leave at 8:00am sharp.

To get to Encanto, exit Mountain off the 210 and head North. Make a right (east) on Route 66 (I think it's Huntingon), and then a left on Encanto Parkway. We'll be in the parking lot.

We'll take off from there and head up to the Ski Lifts at Mt. Baldy.

Bring a lot of water, money to eat at Baldy Village, and plenty of energy gels.

See everyone there!

[Pain Freak]

Jess, I promised the wife that I'd stay home that day, but I'll start working on her now to see if I can get a kitchen pass. That's close to what I ride now, but I do need some climbing.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Jess, I promised the wife that I'd stay home that day, but I'll start working on her now to see if I can get a kitchen pass. That's close to what I ride now, but I do need some climbing.

Get to work

[MTBMaven]

Can you do the same ride on Friday as well? My plans to ride to Arrowhead on Friday are not working out.

Jesse or anyone else let me know if you want to do a long ride on Friday. Road or dirt (in the ANF).

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Jess, I promised the wife that I'd stay home that day, but I'll start working on her now to see if I can get a kitchen pass. That's close to what I ride now, but I do need some climbing.

Hmmm, maybe I can ride that day, too. I'll have to see. You want company?

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Can you do the same ride on Friday as well? My plans to ride to Arrowhead on Friday are not working out.

Jesse or anyone else let me know if you want to do a long ride on Friday. Road or dirt (in the ANF).

I'm actualy going to be doing a ride down to Carlsbad to meet up with my family early Friday morning, if you'd like to join me I'm sure you can catch the train back to Pasadena or somewhere close. It shouldn't be much further than 100 miles. I'm doing a hard ride tomorrow and I want to save my legs for the Baldy ride, so I will be taking it super slow and easy on the way to Carlsbad.

Here is the official invite that was emailed to me via our Team Leader:

Leaving from En Canto Park in Duarte at 8am Labor Day mornin. Riding up GMR
to Baldy village, Baldy Village to the top (the parking lot), then back down
to Baldy Village for some grub. After the grub we will be having a cartwheel
contest back up to the top. we will then ride back to En Canto. Total ride
time about 5 hours.

The last time we did this ride we had about 25 riders show up. Lets shoot
for 4000 this time.

It is going to be hot again. Bring as much water as you can carry. At least
2 on the bike 2 in the jersey. We hope to have vehicle support again midway,
but thats not confirmed yet. So yeah.....bring extra gels and what not.

If this ride is anything like it was a few months back, it will blow up from
the start. Those who are in the competitive spirit will take off, others
will cruise. Meanwhile, the smart competitive riders will pace themselves
and have front row seats for the non-smart competitive riders CRACK fest
which will most likely begin just before Baldy Village and for surely by the
time we hit the 75% grade heading up to thy top. It is wonderfully magical
fun! We will be regrouping 4 or 5 times before we get to Baldy. So....come
one...come all.

I will keep everyone posted on the support vehicle situation.



-Jason Robert Lowetz the 1st

The ride will probably be about 70 miles, but everyone will be going at their own pace and it will be completely friendly. The 5 miles after Baldy Village (especialy the 3 miles of switchbacks) suck about as bad as anything else in the world, but getting to the top, descending and eating a well earned meal at the Village is very fun and rewarding.

See everyone there... or else.

[gurp13]

I think I'm in. Wife says okay. Pain Freak?

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by gurp13

I think I'm in. Wife says okay. Pain Freak?

Awesome. Cruise into the parking lot at Encanto with enough time to gear up and leave by 8:00am. We're usualy pretty punctual (sometimes...) and would hate to leave anyone behind.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

I'm actualy going to be doing a ride down to Carlsbad to meet up with my family early Friday morning

Yeah I'm down. That sounds perfect. Pasadena to Carlsbad. There is baggage service in Oceanside and SD. If I feel good I will head on the SD.

I've got to be back to Pasadena by 8:00PM to head up to Arrowhead for the weekend. The last train I can catch in SD is at 5:45 to get me to LA at 7:00PM. That is plenty of time.

I'll give you a ring tomorrow in the late afternoon. Sometime around after 4:30, I'm stuck in meetings almost all day tomorrow.

Sorry to hijack your thread.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

Yeah I'm down. That sounds perfect. Pasadena to Carlsbad. There is baggage service in Oceanside and SD. If I feel good I will head on the SD.

I've got to be back to Pasadena by 8:00PM to head up to Arrowhead for the weekend. The last train I can catch in SD is at 5:45 to get me to LA at 7:00PM. That is plenty of time.

I'll give you a ring tomorrow in the late afternoon. Sometime around after 4:30, I'm stuck in meetings almost all day tomorrow.

Sorry to hijack your thread.

Awesome,no worries on the thread hijack. I'm gonna need to leave pretty early, probably around 5:00 or so, since I want to be able to spend most of the day with my family. Does that work?

[MTBMaven]

5:00AM is very painful but very necessary. I will cope and try to sleep on the train. My Friday night will kick of a weekend full of debauchery. Need to rest up.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

5:00AM is very painful but very necessary. I will cope and try to sleep on the train. My Friday night will kick of a weekend full of debauchery. Need to rest up.

You work for the man, it means you wake up at a semi-early hour on the weekdays.

Me? I haven't seen anywhere near 5:00am in a LONG time. I almost die when I need to wake up at 8:00.

[Pain Freak]

You guys are pissing me off! I can't go!

But I think I may be able to make the Monday ride. It turns out to be shorter then my home loop and climb to the village. Problem is that additional climb up the switchbacks......damn, I'm getting excited.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

You guys are pissing me off! I can't go!

But I think I may be able to make the Monday ride. It turns out to be shorter then my home loop and climb to the village. Problem is that additional climb up the switchbacks......damn, I'm getting excited.

The switchbacks are what makes the ride so damn great.

[Pain Freak]

I took a spill last night on our mtb ride. I got road rash right where my knee bends. I'm going to ro try to ride tomorrow am and see how it works out.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I took a spill last night on our mtb ride. I got road rash right where my knee bends. I'm going to ro try to ride tomorrow am and see how it works out.

Lies! There's no such thing as road rash from the Mountains

Seriously though, I hope you heal up quickly and we see you on Monday. This heat is going to make the ride super fun!

[RidetheRAAM4]

I am riding up near there on monday. Leaving my houses and heading up to the road up to baldy. Probably 25-30 miles for me to get there and I am leaving at like 6am to try and beat some heat. Should be on that road around 7:30 or 8 so I might be ahead of you guys. Don't know how far up the road I am going though. My buddy is coming along and I will see if he whimps out.

[S54MCoupe]

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

I am riding up near there on monday. Leaving my houses and heading up to the road up to baldy. Probably 25-30 miles for me to get there and I am leaving at like 6am to try and beat some heat. Should be on that road around 7:30 or 8 so I might be ahead of you guys. Don't know how far up the road I am going though. My buddy is coming along and I will see if he whimps out.

Some of the guys on the ride will probably end up in alpha-male competive mode, so they might end up going for it up GMR trying to break some sort of record or something.. If you're just crusin and taking it easy and they're in race-mode, they might catch up to you.

That does not include me, I'll probably be an hour behind all of them, haha.

But if you do see the group, stay motivated and meet us at Baldy Village, were we're all gonna regroup before the death-march to the ski lifts and then join us all for lunch.

The weather forecast for in Glendora for Monday is 103....

[S54MCoupe]

Come on guys, I know more people are interested in a nice gut check on Labor Day.

[Pain Freak]

I can't say for sure yet, I'll see what time we get back from the race.