beeroux
Well-known member
June 12th 2013, on my way home from the end of the Spank Rally in Gilroy, I decided to ride all 13 paved passes of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountain range. This had been a dream of mine for some years. I hadn't been riding my bike for 3.5 months while it was in the shop getting a motor swap, and hadn't ridden a long ride since last summer, so in my lame shape, who knew if I could make it?
I started my day at 0425 in Chester, CA, about 35 miles West of Susanville on Hwy 36, and ended it 22.5 hours and 1,012 miles later in Pasadena, CA. Just doing the passes from top to bottom, involved 775 miles and 17.5 hours of mostly twisty riding. In my lame shape, I still had it in me. Who knew.
Riding this route was like eating the fluffiest pancakes with the sweetest maple syrup all day and never getting full. Heaven.
The best part was riding up to Donner Pass through four more passes to Sonora Pass. Endless awesome scenery, great roads, and just the best riding and atmosphere in these parts. Even with all the construction delays and a Performance Award coming off of Carson Pass, it was a completely awesome day.
I nominate this for a new IBA Cert-Ride. Ride any In-State ( or not ) Saddle Sore incorporating all 13 passes in any order. If someone did this as a BBG that'd be pretty impressive. Anybody give me a second on nominating this ride?
Following is a day in pics, the passes in order from North to South.
Minaret Vista
Sherman Pass
Walker Pass, the end of quite a journey. I'm happy, but pretty tired.
222 miles to go, and I'm starving, but glad to have bagged such a plumb. All the twisties are behind me now, just a long stretch of highway to beer and a warm bed...
...to dream of endless pancakes.
GZ
I started my day at 0425 in Chester, CA, about 35 miles West of Susanville on Hwy 36, and ended it 22.5 hours and 1,012 miles later in Pasadena, CA. Just doing the passes from top to bottom, involved 775 miles and 17.5 hours of mostly twisty riding. In my lame shape, I still had it in me. Who knew.
Riding this route was like eating the fluffiest pancakes with the sweetest maple syrup all day and never getting full. Heaven.
The best part was riding up to Donner Pass through four more passes to Sonora Pass. Endless awesome scenery, great roads, and just the best riding and atmosphere in these parts. Even with all the construction delays and a Performance Award coming off of Carson Pass, it was a completely awesome day.
I nominate this for a new IBA Cert-Ride. Ride any In-State ( or not ) Saddle Sore incorporating all 13 passes in any order. If someone did this as a BBG that'd be pretty impressive. Anybody give me a second on nominating this ride?
Following is a day in pics, the passes in order from North to South.
Minaret Vista
Sherman Pass
Walker Pass, the end of quite a journey. I'm happy, but pretty tired.
222 miles to go, and I'm starving, but glad to have bagged such a plumb. All the twisties are behind me now, just a long stretch of highway to beer and a warm bed...
...to dream of endless pancakes.
GZ
