TOC Stage 7 Mt. Baldy Roll Call

[Boeing]

Who's going?

I have had a tough time finding info on road closures and access the day of. Some say road from the inn closes at 9pm Friday yikes that almost kills the deal

Going to be a cluster F on a Saturday too. But WTF

 

[DirtyWorks]

FYI: AEG's site shows that stage being run on Saturday, May 21. IF there's a road closure, it's Friday night????

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage7.html

At some point you have to feel sorry for AEG. They finally get some climbing that will make some splits and CHP might be closing the road the night before so no one can come up.

Riders are going to feel like they smoked a couple of packs of cigarettes at the end. There's a smoggy inversion layer they have to climb through twice.

 

[biokemguy]

Gonna ride up

I was planning on riding up early-ish in the morning from Pasadena.
Going over GMR to Baldy village.

I put a call into the CHP and will update this thread with info they share.

 

[Boeing]

FYI: AEG's site shows that stage being run on Saturday, May 21. IF there's a road closure, it's Friday night????

http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage7.html

At some point you have to feel sorry for AEG. They finally get some climbing that will make some splits and CHP might be closing the road the night before so no one can come up.

Riders are going to feel like they smoked a couple of packs of cigarettes at the end. There's a smoggy inversion layer they have to climb through twice.

brainfart for sure thanks posted too fast

one of the issues they face is the endless city/county permit application approval process and it is impossible to get any of the councils to plan together on this. One of the reasons we have yet to see a stage in the OC

a closure would suck for sure. there isnt a lot of room up there for buses and team cars etc. I could ride but none of my friends will ride. no doubt a nice bike will get hacked up and pushed around while waiting

 

[Boeing]

I emailed sheriff and CHP with no answer.

the Host I called at the Mt. Baldy Lodge said she hears 2 stories from the Sherriffs Dept lately. One says 9PM Friday the other said Rolling closures up till race start.

she also said they expect 20,000 people Friday night by the Lodge and surrounding

might be worth staying home and avoid all the peeps pretending to be Basque

 

[biokemguy]

CHP Reply

I got a call back from the CHP this morning. They say the road up to Baldy should close around 9:00am on the 21st (day of the race), but be up there by 8:00am just to be sure.

The rest of the coarse will be on a rolling enclosure.

Should be fun. A rare opportunity for cycling fans in the US.

 

[Boeing]

thank you for the update

9am is good. I'll ride but I need to get the ice and keg up there first

 

[ghostofjoy]

Thanks for looking into that. For anyone staying overnight, there are campgrounds between the switchbacks and the summit that have fairly good facilities and make a good alternative in case the cabins and lodges are booked full. Weather permitting, of course.

My plan is to park near the summit (ski lift lot if it's open, but i doubt it) around 7, ride down to the village for breakfast and to watch the riders hit grr, and ride back up to watch the pros suffer up the last ramp to the finish. Gonna be doing it with some others, though if there are really going to be 20,000 people...that might make things difficult.

 

[Boeing]

Got this email


Basic Information
 Race start in Claremont is at 11:45am
 Race will start climbing Mt Baldy Rd at Noon
Race will start climbing Glendora Ridge Rd (GRR) from Mt Baldy Rd at 12:30pm

Basic Services (water, food, gasoline) are basically unavailable in the mountains. There are no
gas stations, there are no stores. You may find local residents selling water and some type of
food, but do not rely on it. You will need to rely on your own food and water.

Plan on “packing out” any trash or other refuse

There will be no shuttle program for spectators

If you plan on walking or riding your bike to the switchbacks or the finish area, you need to be
parked in the first available spot you can find on Mt Baldy Rd by 9:00am on race day.

WARNING: much of the six miles from the Mt Baldy Village to the finish line is 10-15% and the
descent is just as dangerous as the ascent is hard.
Best Places to Watch the Race
In order to preserve the natural beauty of the area, please do not paint on the road. The CHP and Forest
Service have been asked by the Tour to enforce this rule through ticketing and confiscation of paint.

Claremont (race start). You will have opportunities to get autographs, take pictures, and talk to
the riders. Claremont will also have big screen TVs to watch the live coverage of the race. Great
town. Great Shopping. Great Food.
Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) GMR is a great place to watch the race. It is a very long climb
(about 8 miles). It is steep. There is a ton of parking. It is easy to get to. It is easy to get back
down the road. There is nothing there for food, water, or gas. We will have some Porta-Johns
along the climb.

Glendora Ridge Road (GRR). This is a 13-mile section of the course that the riders will do twice.
Not as much parking as GMR, but you can see the race come by twice. The vistas from here are
spectacular. Again, there is no gas, food, or water available.

Intersection of GMR and GRR. Just .3 miles from the 2nd KOM. You can watch the race go by and
then easily walk up to the KOM and be there to watch the race come by the second time.
Parking is available but will go fast. No services.

GRR at the first KOM. No services. Some parking. Great views down the valley. Just a mile
downhill to Mt Baldy Village. You can watch the race come up Mt Baldy Rd, climb up to the
KOM, and then watch them return. Probably the best place to watch the race on the entire
course, but parking will go quickly. It will also be VERY crowded.

Mt Baldy Village. You will be able to watch the race come by twice: as they head towards the
first KOM and then as they return and head towards the finish. There are just two places to eat,
but there is the possibility that there may be some outside dining set-up by the town.

The “Switchbacks” on Mt Baldy Rd will be the most coveted place to watch the race, but this
viewing spot presents the most challenges. There is parking for just a handful of cars. If you
park in a “No Parking” zone, you have a 100% certainty that you will be ticketed and towed. Tow
trucks will be on the mountain. Average towing bill from Mt Baldy Road is very expensive.
Parking will be gone the day before the race. If you are lucky enough to find parking on Mt Baldy
Rd between the switchbacks and the Mt Baldy Village, you will need to either walk or ride your
bike to the switchbacks. Average walk or ride will be 3-4 miles. There are zero services here.
Once the parking is gone, only residents will have access to the road to get to their homes. IDs
will be checked by CHP.

Race finish at the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts parking lot. Great place to watch the race, but the most
difficult place to get to. There is no parking available to the public. This area has such limited
parking, that even the race itself does not have enough space and will need to use a shuttle
service from several miles away. Realistically, the closest parking is going to be more than five
miles away. To get to the finish area, you will need to walk or ride your bike. WARNING: much
of the six miles from the Mt Baldy Village to the finish line is 10-15% and the descent is just as
dangerous as the ascent is hard.
Road Closures

There are two roads to Mt Baldy Village and they will both be closed by 10:30am on race day. From the
Village to the finish, there is just one road and it is likely to close by 9:00am on race day. Residents and
business owners will have unlimited access, until the race is imminent. CHP will be checking IDs. Cyclist
and pedestrians will be allowed to proceed on closed road, but will be asked to stop as the race is
approaching.

Mt Baldy Road – This is the main road up to Mt Baldy Village from Claremont. There are four parts that
will have different closures. This road will be heavily monitored by CHP.

From the intersection of Ice House Canyon – will be closed Friday night at 9:00pm to allow for
oversized trucks to make it to the finish area. It will be reopened, or when all parking is gone,
whichever comes first .

From Ice House Canyon to Glendora Ridge Road – will be closed at 10:30am on race day, unless
all parking has already been taken.

From Shin Rd to Glendora Ridge Road – CHP will close Mt Baldy Rd at Shin Rd at 11:00am. All
traffic will be turned onto Shin Rd and down into Upland. Race Staff and credentialed guests will
be allowed to proceed.

From Padua to Shin Rd – This section of road should remain open and should provide parking
on both sides of the road.
Glendora Ridge Rd – This is a 13-mile road that runs between Mt Baldy Road and Glendora Mountain Rd

This road will be closed at 10:30am, from both ends
Glendora Mountain Rd - From Sierra Madre Ave to Glendora Ridge Rd
Northbound no later than 1:00pm (depending on available parking)

Southbound at 12:30pm (depending on available parking)
Available Parking

All four tires must be totally off the pavement

There will be no parking at the finish area or in Manker Flats. You will be immediately towed
from these areas.

Parking on the switchbacks is extremely limited and will be gone by Friday morning

Parking north of the Mt Baldy Village will also be limited. The entire Trout Pond parking area will
be taken for Team Parking.

There will be plenty of parking on Glendora Ridge Rd, Glendora Mountain Rd, and Mt Baldy Rd
(south of the Village). The earlier you arrive, the shorter your walk will be to get to the finish
area or switchbacks.

the campgrounds and Lodge have been sold out since route was released

 

[flicker]

Got this email


Basic Information
 Race start in Claremont is at 11:45am
 Race will start climbing Mt Baldy Rd at Noon
Race will start climbing Glendora Ridge Rd (GRR) from Mt Baldy Rd at 12:30pm

Basic Services (water, food, gasoline) are basically unavailable in the mountains. There are no
gas stations, there are no stores. You may find local residents selling water and some type of
food, but do not rely on it. You will need to rely on your own food and water.

Plan on “packing out” any trash or other refuse

There will be no shuttle program for spectators

If you plan on walking or riding your bike to the switchbacks or the finish area, you need to be
parked in the first available spot you can find on Mt Baldy Rd by 9:00am on race day.

WARNING: much of the six miles from the Mt Baldy Village to the finish line is 10-15% and the
descent is just as dangerous as the ascent is hard.
Best Places to Watch the Race
In order to preserve the natural beauty of the area, please do not paint on the road. The CHP and Forest
Service have been asked by the Tour to enforce this rule through ticketing and confiscation of paint.

Claremont (race start). You will have opportunities to get autographs, take pictures, and talk to
the riders. Claremont will also have big screen TVs to watch the live coverage of the race. Great
town. Great Shopping. Great Food.
Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) GMR is a great place to watch the race. It is a very long climb
(about 8 miles). It is steep. There is a ton of parking. It is easy to get to. It is easy to get back
down the road. There is nothing there for food, water, or gas. We will have some Porta-Johns
along the climb.

Glendora Ridge Road (GRR). This is a 13-mile section of the course that the riders will do twice.
Not as much parking as GMR, but you can see the race come by twice. The vistas from here are
spectacular. Again, there is no gas, food, or water available.

Intersection of GMR and GRR. Just .3 miles from the 2nd KOM. You can watch the race go by and
then easily walk up to the KOM and be there to watch the race come by the second time.
Parking is available but will go fast. No services.

GRR at the first KOM. No services. Some parking. Great views down the valley. Just a mile
downhill to Mt Baldy Village. You can watch the race come up Mt Baldy Rd, climb up to the
KOM, and then watch them return. Probably the best place to watch the race on the entire
course, but parking will go quickly. It will also be VERY crowded.

Mt Baldy Village. You will be able to watch the race come by twice: as they head towards the
first KOM and then as they return and head towards the finish. There are just two places to eat,
but there is the possibility that there may be some outside dining set-up by the town.

The “Switchbacks” on Mt Baldy Rd will be the most coveted place to watch the race, but this
viewing spot presents the most challenges. There is parking for just a handful of cars. If you
park in a “No Parking” zone, you have a 100% certainty that you will be ticketed and towed. Tow
trucks will be on the mountain. Average towing bill from Mt Baldy Road is very expensive.
Parking will be gone the day before the race. If you are lucky enough to find parking on Mt Baldy
Rd between the switchbacks and the Mt Baldy Village, you will need to either walk or ride your
bike to the switchbacks. Average walk or ride will be 3-4 miles. There are zero services here.
Once the parking is gone, only residents will have access to the road to get to their homes. IDs
will be checked by CHP.

Race finish at the Mt Baldy Ski Lifts parking lot. Great place to watch the race, but the most
difficult place to get to. There is no parking available to the public. This area has such limited
parking, that even the race itself does not have enough space and will need to use a shuttle
service from several miles away. Realistically, the closest parking is going to be more than five
miles away. To get to the finish area, you will need to walk or ride your bike. WARNING: much
of the six miles from the Mt Baldy Village to the finish line is 10-15% and the descent is just as
dangerous as the ascent is hard.
Road Closures

There are two roads to Mt Baldy Village and they will both be closed by 10:30am on race day. From the
Village to the finish, there is just one road and it is likely to close by 9:00am on race day. Residents and
business owners will have unlimited access, until the race is imminent. CHP will be checking IDs. Cyclist
and pedestrians will be allowed to proceed on closed road, but will be asked to stop as the race is
approaching.

Mt Baldy Road – This is the main road up to Mt Baldy Village from Claremont. There are four parts that
will have different closures. This road will be heavily monitored by CHP.

From the intersection of Ice House Canyon – will be closed Friday night at 9:00pm to allow for
oversized trucks to make it to the finish area. It will be reopened, or when all parking is gone,
whichever comes first .

From Ice House Canyon to Glendora Ridge Road – will be closed at 10:30am on race day, unless
all parking has already been taken.

From Shin Rd to Glendora Ridge Road – CHP will close Mt Baldy Rd at Shin Rd at 11:00am. All
traffic will be turned onto Shin Rd and down into Upland. Race Staff and credentialed guests will
be allowed to proceed.

From Padua to Shin Rd – This section of road should remain open and should provide parking
on both sides of the road.
Glendora Ridge Rd – This is a 13-mile road that runs between Mt Baldy Road and Glendora Mountain Rd

This road will be closed at 10:30am, from both ends
Glendora Mountain Rd - From Sierra Madre Ave to Glendora Ridge Rd
Northbound no later than 1:00pm (depending on available parking)

Southbound at 12:30pm (depending on available parking)
Available Parking

All four tires must be totally off the pavement

There will be no parking at the finish area or in Manker Flats. You will be immediately towed
from these areas.

Parking on the switchbacks is extremely limited and will be gone by Friday morning

Parking north of the Mt Baldy Village will also be limited. The entire Trout Pond parking area will
be taken for Team Parking.

There will be plenty of parking on Glendora Ridge Rd, Glendora Mountain Rd, and Mt Baldy Rd
(south of the Village). The earlier you arrive, the shorter your walk will be to get to the finish
area or switchbacks.

the campgrounds and Lodge have been sold out since route was released

The only question is....do you like white or red?

 

[Boeing]

The only question is....do you like white or red?

Red is better on the pallet at air temp in May IMHO. that and it accents the sage brush bloom in the San Berous

keg is out

 

[Boeing]

Did a little Recon yesterday. this is going to be a nightmare.

some of the malls at the bottom of the grade in claremont have posted no parking signs.

plan to ride up

If you do plan to get up there and park on mt baldy road or the ridge road you need a daily forest service parking permit to park anywhere on the side of the road whatever. and know that the budget state in Cali could inspire revenue driven ticketing...just a hunch talking to a local...

I bought a few and have one extra I can send if you need it just pm.