Long Beach to Lake arrowhead ride - is it possible?

Triathlon Forum
1

Got a buddy who seems to think we can ride from Long Beach to his family’s cabin up in Lake arrowhead. I’m game but I don’t know that area at all. Does anyone have input on a possible route up there? I assume that the first part involves the san gabriel rivier trail, but I have no info on how to get up and over the mountains. Is SR 18 a safe road to ride? If not what are the alternatives, if any?

Thanks!

2

Anything is possible. Not meant to be a shot at all, but if you view this as more of an adventure than a training ride, no problem. A kid from my hometown is riding from Alaska to North Carolina… not all the roads are perfect or even reasonable, but they keep going.

http://whyiride.org/page.php?mode=privateview&pageID=1

3

That’s an awesome ride your friend is doing. From the philisophical standpoint, I know this ride is possible, what i’m looking for is the safest and most legal way to do it - for instance, choosing the san gabriel bike trail as opposed to riding on the 605.

So, more specifically I’m looking for input on the following:

  1. Is it legal to ride on SRs 18 and 189? Anyone done it?
  2. Should I consider going SR 39 to SR 2 to SR 138? Are the caltrans closures from the landslides still in effect on the 39? Is it passable?
  3. Is there an alternative to slogging through gendora, san dimas, etc. on something other than baseline or foothill blvd.?
  4. Other routes I might be missing?
4

Getting up to Highland is pretty simple.

I don’t think it’s illegal to ride on 18. I also don’t know if it’s safe to ride a bike on that road. The cars kind of haul ass up that road.

If you were asking if you should ride on 330 until it connects with 18, then I would say that you are nuts.

The only other route is from the back side 189. I think that would be a safer ride, but it is or feels like a really long distance.

Let me suggest that you call a bike shop in Highland and ask them what they think.

5

Thanks…calling the LBS is a great idea.

6

I was up at Xantusia a few months back and Paul Thomas was telling a whole room full of people about a ride he and Souza did from LB to Lake Arrowhead and back. It involved rolling thru a* BARRIO*, getting chased by pit bulls, and some other surly activity. PM Paul and ask him to comment.

7

It is possible. Tinker Juarez has done that ride quite a few times(with some extra credit tossed in for additional climbing, etc…).