Route ATOC Palmdale-Big Bear Stage (official)  

Some of the press coverage says the route will climb by crystal lake...that's up 39 out of azuza, so I don't see how they can take 2 out of Pas. and get there. More likely they follow something like the montrose group ride out to 39, then go up...would be cool if they put GMR in there as well.

Thanks to smelly and others on Twitter who do the Montrose Group Ride, I'm now showing the stage using rt39 from Azuza then connecting with rt2 before the descent into Wrightwood

Hwy. 39 has been closed to traffic between Crystal Lake and Hwy. 2 for 25+ years, apparently due to landslides. I don't know whether it is even passable by bike at this point.

hey "dude", People ride rt39 but you are right, it has been closed to traffic for a while. One of route descriptions I read said the stage goes by Crystal Lake. Other people have now described the sorry state of rt39 past Crystal Lake so I've reinstated the complete rt2 portion of the stage including the ascent out of Pasadena.

The reference to Crystal Lake at the TOC website is misleading. There is no 8000ft summit at Crystal Lake. However, there is a 8000ft summit on Angeles Crest (SR-2). Angeles Crest does not literally go to Crystal Lake, but then again neither does SR-39. Obviously, SR-2 is much closer to being raceable than SR-39. I ride SR-39, but I always wish I had my knobbies.

Will it be possible to ride the entire race route early on the morning of the stage?

I think this route is very much up in the air. The Station Fire simply DESTROYED much of the vegitation , and some of the highway improvements (guard rails, signs, etc) along the route. Angeles Crest Highway was closed for nearly 5 years as repairs were made to the road due to a massive landslide triggered by heavy snowfall.... Only reopened this year in fact. With the lack of vegitation in parts due to the fire, mudslides could wipe out entire sections of the road once again, and leave the route completely unpassable. But I would like to see it happen.

Not likely that they'll finish at Lakeview Summit or at the dam. They like to put the finish line someplace were they can park busses, host the sponsor fair, and set up the podium. Perhaps in town? Is there a logical spot?

I suspect that the finish will be either in the downtown of BBL at Pine Knot and BB Blvd. or at the base of Snow Summit. It definately will not finish at the dam as logistics will make that location very difficult; especially with the new bridge construction going on there. It would be great to have the route run around the north shore and then finish up back in BBL.

Ok, Scott and Tim, I've moved the finish into the town (I have the power to do that); however, I've heard that the finish will not be going to the top of the climb. My original position was a compromise at best. Thanks. If anyone knows the precise location of the finish then let me know.

Okay - maybe some more info. The Big Bear squad held their news conference at Onyx Summit - which is on highway 38 into Big Bear Valley - up from Redlands. That summit is higher than Lakeview - something on the order of 8,100' elevation. It doesn't note that as the route but I don't see why they'd have a news conference there (it's a long way from anywhere) unless the route was actually headed that way up the hill. Here's the local paper's coverage: http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2009/10/29/news/doc4ae7968db3790433320163.txt

Good find, Tom. Well, of course. Why would the "Big Bear Squad" host a press conference at Onyx Summit (under a finish banner) if they weren't going to hold the stage finish there. Map updated!

yes alan, you can ride the route earlier in the day. Leave lots of time if you want to watch the summit finish.

Would the organizers have a route this long and with this much climbing?

May 21 Friday Looks like the day

1. As of this writing, Stage 6 is being rerouted due to storm damage to SR2. 2. Regarding an 8,000 foot Crystal Lake summit, the actual highpoint is at Dawson Saddle at 7,901 feet, on SR2. 3. Regarding the portion of Route 39 that has been closed, I understand, since 1978, this 4 mile stretch is passable by bicycles, but I am not sure whether this is legal since the road technically is closed and has barriers at both ends. However, I have ridden it many times myself - cold and windy. Given the debris, cow skulls, etc., strewn across the road, which is not cleaned regularly, it looks post WWIII apocalyptic-ish, so I call this my "Planet of the Apes" climb.

I'll be riding all the ATOC routes on the same day as the official race as part of a 6,200 mile cycling challenge. Look out for the Think Pink bike, pink mini or just keep a look out for me and say hi if you wizz past me! (www.thinkpinkcycling.com)

The road from Green Valley Lake to Fawnskin (2N13) is a mountain bike trail!!! It's fun for mountain bikes but these are road racing bikes!!!! I'm confused!!!!!