EPIC TRAINING SYSTEMS
Endure, Excel, Acheive.
Coach George's Training Rides
We help athletes
achieve their goals
to win, race, or be
fit, and to discover for
themselves our
passion for cycling.
Route Sheet also available as a .pdf here
|
Tour de Glendora Mountain
|
Rated A
|
|
100 Miles
|
11,280 Elevation Gain
|
|
Beginning in ENCANTO PARK in Duarte, CA head out on the bike path that
runs along Hwy 39 and begin your warm up. You will climb rolling terrain from
Encanto Park to EAST FORK.. Approximately 17 miles from your start you will
reach CAMP WILLIAMS. There is access to a spigot there and IT IS
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED you top off your fluids. This ride can be done
with one extra bottle in your jersey. However, if you are a hydration pack person
it is strongly recommended you bring one on this ride.
From Camp Williams you begin your first sustained climb of 4.92 miles. The
climb is called different things by different groups i.e. Little GMR, or the
backside of GMR. At the top of Little GMR you reach an intersection that is
popular with motorcyclists and cyclists alike. You can take GLENDORA
RIDGE ROAD (GRR) to BALDY VILLAGE (12 miles). On this ride you will
continue on GMR and descend into Glendora.
At the bottom of GMR you make a U-turn and climb "Big GMR" about 8.4 miles
to the aforementioned intersection. Now you will bear left and take GRR to
Baldy Village. Once at the village you can finally get water at the Post Office.
At this point you can bail out of this ride and do a lot of descending back to
Encanto Park or commit to one more climb. A screaming downhill on Baldy
Road to takes you to Mills Ave. This climb will definitely bite when you are on
the last 3 miles of the 8+ mile ascent. The grades steepen significantly as you
enter the first of two tunnels.
Your BALDY MOUNTAIN ROAD climb ends at the Post Office where you can
FINALLY get water again. From the Post Office you take GRR back to Little
GMR to Camp Williams. Refill your water bottles for the last 17 miles. You
might not remember but there are quite a few rollers getting back to Encanto
Park along with headwinds and HEAT if done in the summer time.
The scarcity of water, continuious climbing which includes 10,000 feet of
climbing in the first 67 miles calls for EPIC TRAINING DIFFICULTY
RATING OF A.
|
|
GMR to Dawson Saddle
|
Rated A
|
|
85 Miles
|
10,600 Elevation Gain
|
|
Beginning in GLENDORA at the foot of GLENDORA MOUNTAIN ROAD
(GMR) you will climb 8.4 mile 2500 climb. Once you crest you will continue on
GMR and descend Little GMR to Camp Williams. IT IS STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED to top off your bottles at the camp. The next section is you
will NOT have access to services for the next 57 miles. Hydration packs are
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
Once you leave Camp Williams you will head out on East Fork and make the
Junction with Hwy 39. Make a right turn on Hwy 39 and get ready for one of
the longest climbs in the San Gabriel Mountains. You will now climb from
approximately 1600 elevation to 7901 elevation to DAWSON SADDLE 24
miles later.
One of the best parts this climb is 80% of this climb is closed to vehicular traffic.
This good for many obvious reasons but you must be self-reliant. Bring enough
flat repair, food, WATER and physical stamina to tackle this monster and very
remote climb. You will not have cell phone coverage. It is recommend you file a
"Flight Plan" with your significant others. You will not have cell coverage and
even if you did the road is closed and gated. There is no access to the public.
From Dawson Saddle you have a long long descent on Hwy 39. Left turn at East
Fork and refuel at Camp Williams. In the summer months it can be in the high
90's. You have one more climb left -- the 4.92 mile climb of little Glendora
Mountain Road (GMR). But then it's just a descent back to the car. It is literally
"all down hill from here"
The remoteness, scarcity of services, and the relentless climbing calls for an
EPIC TRAINING DIFFICULTY RATING OF A.
|
|
