Your Average/Best Gate-Gate time at BlackStar?

I did that in 40 min with BIGFOOT chasing me up the hill to the gate! (just picture that)Just kidding, im from Azusa and guys are often talking about this at the local feed station Camp Williams on East fork Road in the canyon above Azusa. I dont have a Garmin, whats the grade on this and elevation gain,well none the less,who wants to do this Saturday late afternoon!?! This is Santiago Canyon huh in the O.C.? I've seen it listed in one of those trail books,is there a
local spot to grab a bite after?

 

There's always someone faster....and at most races I go to....there's a whole bunch of people who are way, way faster I haven't hit the podium in 5 or 6 years.....and even then it was just dumb luck!

B

 

The climb is broken into two major climbs with a 5 minute break in the middle. Its 7.5 miles gate to gate and your climb about 2000 feet. The grade varies from 5-12% or so but there are only a few spots that get over 10%. The nice thing about blackstar is the constant nature of it. You get 15-20 minutes of constant grade work out then go down into a valley, then another 15 minutes or so of climbing.

I have a garmin and when I down load my ride its amazing how flat the heart rate profile is compared to my other rides.

And if this isn't enough, there's always Harding. 9 miles up, 3000 feet, a little steeper with a decent amount of 14% grade thrown in. About 1:30 of climbing for someone in decent shape (some do it in 1:10 and faster).

FYI, Blackstar feels like childsplay after doing Harding a bit but its all about how hard you go. You can get a very good workout on Blackstar.

Where to eat? Not sure.

 

I was watering the pipe.

 

nice work Olis!!!

 

I use to run a sub 60 minute gate to gate pretty constantly (PR was 56 minutes)... I'm depressed to think what I would run it now after being off the bike for the past 3 months with 2 more weeks to go. I've got a lot of catching up to do before Downieville the end of June!

 

I just made it in to the under hour club last night, 55 minutes on my single speed.

 

Brian, Dooood... let's be real here. As Andy says, you are one fast, strong rider. Do not stop... keep doing this. Your body will thank you for it later in life.. when others are couch potatoes... you will still be going strong.

 

I've only just begun.....my best, strongest years are still ahead of me. The Ultraquest was a good reminder/encourager for me.....almost everyone in front of me was 10-20 years older than me!

B

 

2 hours....... do I win a prize? :lol:

 

Stop it, stop it stop it !!!!!! I started riding again to get in good shape, get some sun, and wonder at Gods creation.

My Ego is waking up. A little voice is telling me "Train, train, train. Then go show 'em what a 46 year old guy on a 17 year old bike can do...."

I can hear it now....."Damm, 45 minutes ? At your age ? On THAT ?!?!?! "

So, where's the trailhead so I can get a baseline ride ? Prolly an hour 15 right now....

 

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=175
Scroll down and click "Find Trailhead"
DO IT TO IT!

 

Thanks for the split times folks. Even though I've ridden Blackstar dozens and dozens of time, today I looked at it just a little differently, with a new perspective on time and pacing. I'm looking forward to going out there one day soon on fresh legs and really seeing how hard I can push myself.

 

Good seeing you out there. It was a beautiful day!!!

 

Great seeing you two also - hope your ride went well

 

Actually not bad. I hadn't been on the Motorway since the fires and forgot what F.U.N. the Pain Divide was. Our ride time was 3:35 for the loop. But we did have a good time and the weather was great. I am surprised we didn't see many people though. Well with the exception of Art almost running me off the road. I hit the mirror on his truck as he went by. What a tool!

 

46:21 Gate to Gate :bang:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33099019

 

Sweet. Nice work. Was that solo or a group effort?

B

 

dayum....its time to get the BSTT (Blackstar Time Trial) back on the ride list! Last year my best gate to gate was an 1:20 on my HT 29'er. Gonna have to get out there with the Yeti and see how we do!

 

OK, I busted it out yesterday. I had nightmares of slippery slick mud that I needed to vanquish.

I was 44:34 up and 22:04 down, so 1:06:38 round trip.

9:10 to the water pipe (there is a joke here somewhere), 22:53 to the first cattle gate, just under half an hour to the Paul Valdez sign (on your right coming out of Hidden valley)

Man is there a lot of bees at beeks! (stick to the road!)

In semi-related tangential news, rumor has it that Lopes has the fastest up cholla time among the local big dogs at 2:38 (!!)