The Annual New Years “Bicycle Parade” and Annual Mt. Wilson New Years Day bike ride will go for the 53rd year in a row! The annual Mt. Wilson New Years Day promises to reach new heights this (next) year, since Angeles Crest is open, and we will be able to go all the way to Mt Wilson. More than 100 plus riders are expected to begin their attempt to climb to the 5700′ summit nearly 40 miles away.
Typically less than half the riders who start actually make it all the way to the top. But just being sober enough to make it to the start of the ride is an accomplishment in itself. The first 15 miles roll through the Valley on relatively flat streets and look more like the beginning of the New Year’s Parade than a serious training ride. The riders then reassemble at Foothill Blvd. and Sunland Blvd at approximately 10:15 am and prepare for the formal assault on the mountain. The Sunland Recreation Center has much needed bathrooms, and parking if needed! (Many riders who were still trying to recover from their New Years’ Eve celebration join the ride here).
The ride then proceeds 15 miles up Big Tujunga Cyn to Angeles Forest Hwy, then right to Angeles Crest Hwy to a rest stop called Clear Creek Station. Here is the turning point, do you continue the ascent more than 10 miles up to the summit at Mt Wilson, or save yourself for the 30 mile ride back to Van Nuys?
At approximately 1 pm the riders who made it to the top begin the 15 mile downhill trip to the bottom of Angeles Crest Hwy then proceed right on Foothill approximately 2 miles to a Mini-market where the majority of the riders regroup, thaw out, and do some electrolyte replacement therapy. Then they ride the remaining 20 miles at a leisurely pace back to Van Nuys, for a grand total of 80, 60, 50, or 30 miles depending on where you start and how far you ride.
The ride has never been rained out, but at times the last 5 miles of the ride have been impassable due to snow. In past years they only let cars with chains drive up, and some of the riders went all the way because they said their bikes all had “chains”. In any case, it is always advisable to bring plenty of cold-weather gear IE; finger gloves, vest/windbreaker, tights, etc.
Mt.Wilson Ride Start
The Mt.Wilson ride start has changed to the Orange Line parking lot at SE corner of Victory & Balboa Blvd at 9 am. There are no bathrooms, so plan ahead.
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