planning on going to angeles crest this sat with few /26 members, how are the roads compared to azusa/gmr? and what are the specific directions for good roads with nice swoops. tried to do a search, but the road is over 77miles. thanks in advance.

 

found a sportrider mag article from sport rider hehe

http://www.sportrider.com/feat....html

 

Glendora and Azusa are the like training wheels when compared to ACH.

The average speeds for ACH are much higher and the riding is a much better as far as I am concerned. Best be on your toes, because parts of ACH are not for the faint of heart if taken at speed. GMR and Azusa kind of keep you in check by being slower in general. While Azusa has decreasing radius corners most of ACH is laid out very nicely. Like most canyon trips you want to be heading up no later than 5:30-6 am

Take a trip down 9 mile and see what you are made of

Schu
(maybe it's better if you stay off nine mile for the time being )

 

thanks for the heads up

so is it like ortega in comparison? i want to check out ach, but will always be nervous the first time, like how I was the first time up on azusa/gmr. i starting to enjoy the azusa/gmr roads, but also want to venture out

 

Ortega... Come now, surely you jest.

This of it this way, Like all race tracks whos lap times are rated in average mph so can you rate roads. For instance if on Azusa your average mph is about 50-60 range, ACH will come in at around 80+ easy if your on the ball, some sections much faster than that... eg Nine Mile which is in excess of 120+

 

But please ride careful and just have a look around, it's a big road, and you don't want to get in over your head. Gas up at the bottom before heading up and have fun

Items of special interest and things to watch out for... Rabbits, Bears, Mountain lions, Rams, Boulders, the occasional out of control biker coming in the opposite direction

 

ACH is alright. I personally prefer going the AFH route. And, depending on the time you go, you may want to take Lower Big Tujunga, instead of heading up from the Shell station, to avoid the weekend traffic and cops.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ACH is alright. I personally prefer going the AFH route. And, depending on the time you go, you may want to take Lower Big Tujunga, instead of heading up from the Shell station, to avoid the weekend traffic and cops.</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1 on lower big tujunga. It is a much less hectic route to get there and I agree that AFH is a lot better. You can cut through Palmdale after AFH, head to Lake Elizabeth Rd, stop off at the Rock Inn for the best Pork Sandwich around and then take San Francisquito home.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But please ride careful and just have a look around, it's a big road, and you don't want to get in over your head. Gas up at the bottom before heading up and have fun

Items of special interest and things to watch out for... Rabbits, Bears, Mountain lions, Rams, Boulders, the occasional out of control biker coming in the opposite direction </TD></TR></TABLE>

You forgot the other animals to look out for, pigs.

Just ride your own ride and you'll be fine OP.

 

To be sure are better roads in so cal... there are always better roads, but ACH ranks right up there

 

What does an old man from Tennessee know about socal roads?

 

some notes about ACH:

A. Landmarks:
1. The Shell - there's a shell station off the 210 where everyone meets.

2. The ranger station - about 10 miles up, there is a ranger station right at the intersection of ACH and Angeles Forest Highway. It's sort of the halfway point of the ride.

3. Upper Big Tujunga/Big T/9 Mile - this is a road that connects ACH to AFH. it's fast, fast, fast. not all that much fun, but fast.

4. Newcombs Ranch - Good breakfast, lots of other riders, good place to rest. There's a few more miles of ACH past newcombs ranch, but it's not ridden enough and it's not a given that that part of the road is clean.

B. The Road

Back when ACH was rough and unpaved, there were sections of it that were absolutely pants crappers at speed. but it's been repaved all the way up to newcombs, so it's nice and smooth. The turns are generally long sweepers--i find that most of ACH is just like the lower section of Azusa, just 26 miles long instead of 6. ACH is a road that doesn't appear to be technically daunting--but it'll jump up and bite ya, and bite ya hard. don't push your luck up there--between traffic, the cops, and bad luck--bad things happen up there every weekend. It lulls you into being overconfident.

AFH splits off from ACH and goes to the "Tree" which is a stones throw from the 14 freeway. Personally, i think it's more fun than ACH since it's got some great high speed sweepers, less traffic, and it's a tad more technical. But again, like ACH this road can bite, and does very often. It hasn't gotten the repave that ACH has, so it's a little less smooth, but it's not terrible.

C. Stout and the Gang

There's a legendary moto-CHiP that patrols ACH, and his name is Stout. Many ACH riders know him, as he makes it a point to hold it down on "his mountain." Some say he's a giant dick, others say he's just doing his job--but he WILL bust his *** to write as many tickets as possible, and he hates sportbike riders.

On any given weekend there can be anywhere from 2 to 6 CHP units on ACH/AFH. I've commonly seen them around:

1. The beginning of ACH, just past the country club

2. within a 3 mile radius of the ranger station

3. around the Mt Wilson Turn off

4. At the intersection of Big T and ACH

5. on Big T

6. AFH near the summit

basically, they can be everywhere.

D. Standard Routes:
(btw these aren't official names, just the names i use)

The SCS loop - Start at the shell, go up ACH to newcombs. After breakfast, take 9 mile to AFH, and AFH to the tree. Turn around and come down AFH to Lower Crest back to shell.

The SBN loop - Start at the shell, go up lower ACH to AFH, make left at ranger station. AFH to tree. Tree to 9 mile. 9 mile to newcombs. newcombs down ACH all the way back to the shell.

Eventually, when the repair the 2 and the 39, you'll be able to take ACH to San Gabriel Canyon Road and make a big giant loop. But, we've been waiting for that to happen for a long time, and it's not high on Caltrans list. There is a way to link ACH/AFH to Wrightwood to Big Bear to Idyllwild to Ortega, though...

 

I have to disagree with ^

Nuke's breakfast sucks donkey *****.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have to disagree with ^

Nuke's breakfast sucks donkey *****. </TD></TR></TABLE>

c'mon herb i know you &lt;3 the GSrider special!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">c'mon herb i know you &lt;3 the GSrider special!</TD></TR></TABLE>
The best thing about Nukes is their updated porcelain thrones.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The best thing about Nukes is their updated porcelain thrones. </TD></TR></TABLE>

daughter of owner &gt; new toilets

 

COPS COPS COPS & more COPS! oh and lots of idiots that think it's a race track. if you go, go up really early, like 6am.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">daughter of owner &gt; new toilets</TD></TR></TABLE>
Mina?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by life sux die &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lots of idiots that think it's a race track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Before 6am it is a race track...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MSchu &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Before 6am it is a race track...</TD></TR></TABLE>

you're right! however, the guys riding at 6am more then likely have a bit more skill/experience, and aren't even trying. they're there to get some good riding in with no one around to bother them. i'm sure you know exactly what i'm talking about...

it's the retards that show up later in morning that i worry about.

sweet passing moves!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Mina?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i don't know her name...

I've never been up in time to make it for dawn patrol. 9:30 is about the last time you can leave before it gets busier. Unless it's a GP weekend, squids don't make it up there until 11am or noon or so.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by life sux die &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it's the retards that show up later in morning that i worry about. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm right there with ya brotha...

In the beginning, I tried to keep the spots and times secret, but there is just no use anymore with the interweb. in the last few years, before I took my sabbatical from California, going up on any day other than a very early week day was pure death, I can't imagine how it is now that it's summer time and every swinging dick is up on two trying to practice his Rossi imitations. The best bet is to just get out as far from the city as possible for your riding fun... that's what I did, that's what I would do.

Still, ACH has a special meaning for me... I remember the road as it was, going through to azusa and Wrightwood, I remember growing up on it... and tear assing around. now its merely a shell of its former self, but sections are very fast and very fun. But I guess the bottom line for me is that I buried my dad up there after his cremation... My favorite driving/riding spot back in the day

 

ACH is a magical place, no doubt. Dipping it into that first left, as 9am sun begins to shine brightly on the road, you, and your bike--alone in quiet concentration as you make your way through the hairpin, up the steps, and along the ridge of the valley.

I haven't ridden it in about a year, but i think large parts of my soul are up there.

 

Yes... very well put