Info needed re climbs out of Bishop

On the subject of mountain biking, we ran into a local guy on his FS bike who was riding out to the top of Lower Rock Creek to take the dirt trail down. He told us that there's an epic mountain bike trail that leaves from South Lake and drops 6000' down into Bishop. Anyone ever do that one?

 

Sounds like a fantastic weekend!

You're not alone. The reach on Shimano brake levers really became crazy when they made the jump to STI. There are a couple options available though: You can swap out for the ST-R600/700 shifters, which use small rubber blocks to reduce the lever reach up to 20mm or so. I believe the Dura Ace 9800 and Ultegra 6700 shifters have reach adjustability built-in as well.

Finally, the exact angle that the levers are mounted on the bars, and the shape of the bars themselves will have an impact on how comfortably you can reach the levers.

 

One year later and I am reviving this thread because I'm headed back up to Bishop this Thursday. It looks like this year will be hotter than last year. We're leaving early on Thursday a.m.

I'd like the gang's opinion on the following:

On Thursday- Horseshoe Meadows or White Mtn? Which is prettiest, easiest? Any water along the way?

On Friday or Saturday- South Lake or upper Rock Creek? (I'm thinking about starting where the lower Rock Creek mtn bike trail starts)

Isn't there a lake loop somewhere around Mammoth that's high up but relatively flat(ter)? Does anyone know the name?

 

^^ June Lake, perhaps?

- shud

 

yeah, I think that's the one. Thanks!

 

or the 120 HWY...did that last friday....

 

Take the Road from Independence to Onion Valley

A couple months ago Bicycling Mag had a special article on the best climbs/descents and one featured the climb out of Independence up to Onion Valley. The article even provided an elevation profile along with the average grade. Needless to say, some serious speed can be yours on the descent!

As others have mentioned, the Whitney Portal road is a good challenge. I rode the Whitney Portal road in early June this year and that was a fun climb.... it was an even better descent! I had my parents in a car in front of me to "clear the way" and I ended up passing them..... my bike comp went over 50mph... it was thrilling but afterwards I got a bit squemish thinking about becoming road pizza. :-s

 

I like White Mtn. a lot. Both Horseshoe & White Mtn. are long (20+ mile climbs) and steep. In Summerson's book of the Best Climbs (toughest) - Horseshoe is #2 in California (after Onion Valley) and White Mtn is #3. Horseshoe is epic - there are really no flat sections save for that short drop and climb back section near the end. White Mtn. is pretty spectacular at the top. The full-on ride to the summit (14,246') is a great ride on a MTB. You just take the dirt road past the end of the paved and go another 20+ miles. Bring plenty of water on White Mtn.. The ranger station at Schulman Grove sells bottled water till 5PM and after that you're on your own up there.

We did the Everest Challenge route to Rock Creek which ends at Mosquito Flats (10,200+). That's a long ride from Millpond Campground but the views of Round Valley on the descent are great. Overall the climb is a couple of notches down from Onion Valley, Horseshoe and White Mtn - long but not that steep. Fairly busy road with all the hikers and fishermen on the weekend. Refuel at the general store in Tom's Place on the way up/down and be sure to hit up the "Pie in the Sky" cafe near the end of the road. Great place.

 

I remember a lot of shoulderless roads with traffic on the June Lake loop.

My goal is to circle Mono Lake.

 

I'm still up here. Right now I'm at Lake Sabrina. My b.f. caught a 2.5 pounder this a.m.

Anyway, it was 95 degrees in the Valley when we came up on Thursday so we opted to start at Tom's Place and do upper Rock Creek. It was later in the day and way cooler but unfortunately we ran out of time so we only did 7.3 of the 9 miles to the top. It's way easier than Whitney Portal and Hwy 168 but very, very pretty.

Today I'm planning on starting from Sabrina and riding over to South Lake and back. That way I can stay out of the heat below and still get 9 miles plus of climbing.

 

Anyone ride just on 395? I want to pedal the grade from Bishop up, and the Mono Lake grade. Has anyone done this? The road looks wide enough.

 

There's a good shoulder on 395, in both directions, all the way from Bishop to Lee Vining (Mono Lake). Actually, there used to be a short section on the northbound side, just before the turn-off to Hwy. 120 East, that was narrow, but I think its been given a bike lane, too. Prevailing winds will often blow out of the northwest in the afternoon, so its best to be heading north in the morning and south in the afternoon.

BTW, Sweetpea, how'd that ride go today?

 

I didn't end up doing the ride to South Lake on Saturday because I opted to stay and relate to the family.

On Sunday, my b.f. and I rode 44 miles of White Mountain. I estimate that we quit about 1.5 miles from the Bristol Cone Pine Forest visitor center. We quit because I was done with the grades of 12% to 17% at 9500' el. and a mutiny ensued. Fortunately, just as I told my b.f. that I didn't need to finish the ride to be happy with myself as person (unlike some people) it started to thunder and lightning above us and we decided to get below the top of the mountain fast. Usually the downs off of these mountains kill my wrists because of all of the braking but I only had to use my brakes maybe 25% of the time because the headwinds forced me to pedal down -8% grades.

I'd say that 75% of White Mountain was 8% to 15%. It got to where the 6%'s felt flat and the very rare 3%'s felt like they were downhill. There were frequent 16% and 17% climbs. I was really glad that I had spent the past three days at 9000' el. Despite the steepness and the length, it wasn't that hard. I am not a strong rider and I could have finished if I had to but I couldn't guarantee that I would be full of sweetness and light at the top.

So, I have 3.5 of the climbs done; Whitney Portal, Lake Sabrina, Upper Rock Creek (I know, doesn't count) and White Mountain. I stll have Horseshoe Meadows, Onion Valley and South Lake. I'll have to go back and do all of Rock Creek, and there are probably others?

The Owens Valley is so full of adventure. It's so beautiful. I wish I could spend a year exploring everything around the 395.

 

Nine Mile Canyon up to Kennedy Meadows, Glacier Lodge, and Big Pine-Death Valley Road (bonus points for going all the way to Erueka Valley, where the pavement ends).

 

.. along with Onion Valley and Pine Creek Canyon if you're talking about Owens Valley. If you venture a little farther North, Highway 120 East from 395 to Sagehen Summit (or all the way around the incomparable High Sierra Fall Century loop), and IMO the best climb in the Eastern Sierra, Tioga Pass from Lee Vining.

 

We did OnionValley and Whitney Portal last weekend. We head out fri pm, camped and rode OnionValley first and did Portal after and head back sat night. The temp was around low 80s and low 50's. It was just after the hard rain we got here in socal. Weather was perfect and the climbs were great. Was definitely a good day. Max speed downhill was 55.8 mph I got pics if interested .

IMHO, its the best road ride i've done.

 

Nice! I have tentative plans to do Onion Valley on the 23rd.

 

Hmm..."new2mtb"....riiiiiiiight. Onion Valley and Whitney Portal were both great climbs last Saturday. The Portal is deceptively tough if done as a 2nd climb for the day.

 

Hey David, I'll be camping at Gray's Meadow that weekend and bringing the road bike. Let me know what time Sunday (hopefully in the AM) and I'll climb up to Onion Valley with you.

 

If you ever get the chance, take a plane ride over the Owens Valley from Olancha up to Mammoth. You'll be blown away. I think there are flight services out of Lone Pine. Fly up to Mt. Ritter and Banner, Mono Lake, etc.