The Tour de Big Bear is happening tomorrow. Most of us know it is a cycling race, but other than that? I had a reader of The Big Bear Times tell me more about it. Joe Dittemore lives in Redlands and comes cycling here often. His insurance agency is a sponsor of Tour de Big Bear for the past 4 years and he has participated in the 25, 50 and 75 mile runs in the past. This year he is going to participate in the 100 mile run called “The Climb”.
Hold on. 100 miles? Biking throughout the Big Bear mountains? I had to meet this guy. He told me he would be up and we could chat during the expo while people signed up at Nottinghams today.
I met up with Joe and his wife Diana around 4 pm. Joe was easy to find wearing a bright red Tour de Big Bear sponsor shirt.
Joe told me he loves coming up to Big Bear for the fresh air. Diana, (who is also doing “The Climb” by the way) chimed in “it’s a great healthy escape”. They pointed out different bikes and I learned they ride “Road Bikes” which more or less evolved from the traditional “ten speed” of days past. Thin tires and curved handlebars are the distinctive trademarks. Mountain bikes have larger knobby tires, taller “sitting up handlebars and often times shocks. Hybrids are “the worst of both and should be avoided at all times” Diana joked. Basically, it has mountain bike handlebars, thinner tires and shocks. As we made our way to take a picture with Joe and the bikes – we ran into one their friends, an interesting guy by the name of Erminio Perez. Now his bike was something entirely unique and can only be described as a mountain bike on steroids.
Here are a few facts about the Tour de Big Bear:
- This is the 5th annual event
- The first event had between 200-300 participants, they expect to have over 2,000 this year.
- The Tour de Big Bear has simultaneously comprised of 4 races:
- Big Bear Valley Tour – 25 miles – 700’ Climbing – down through boulder bay and back through Fawnskin around the lake
- Big Bear Valley Tour – 50 miles – 3,012’ Climbing – down through boulder bay to Snow Valley, then back through Fawnskin around the lake.
- The Grand Tour – 70 miles – 4,800’ Climbing – the same as The Big Bear Valley tour, just add in a trip to Onyx Summit.
- The CLIMB – 100 miles – 7,425’ Climbing – the same as The Grand Tour, just add in a trip to Jenks Lake.
The races start off early in the morning and traffic tomorrow will take negotiation and tolerance. Remember, there will be an additional 2,000 bicycles on practically every road around the lake and going halfway down the mountain. The 18 to Apple Valley from Baldwin Lake is clear, but North Shore before it is part of the route. If you must leave the mountain, you might want to leave before 7 am and wait till after 4 pm to come back.
As I made my way back the the sign-up area, I heard the smooth piano sounds of my friend, Mike Cross.
Did you know that Tour de Big Bear funded over $35,000 in improvements last year? $25,000 of that went to the Alpine Pedal Path Improvement Project, the path that runs by one of my favorite places, Juniper Point.
Thanks for the info Joe and good luck tomorrow.
The Big Bear Times 