Tour de Big Bear - 08/02/2025

Big Bear Lake is home to the Tour de Big Bear, named North America’s Favorite Gran Fondo for 2023.Choose from our 25, 50, 70 or 100 mile road routes, the Family Fun Ride, our Dirty Bear and Dirty Cub Gravel Rides and now our Dirty Burro Mountain Bike events. There’s a ride for all ages and abilities. Come early for our Two Day Cycling Festival, Poker Ride and Glow Ride and stay for our Sunday Recovery Rides 

Choose from the 25, 50, 70, or 100-mile road events and embark on a journey through the breathtaking San Bernardino Mountains. Enjoy legendary aid stations, beautiful mountain scenery, and spectacular summer weather. 

Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 The Tour de Big Bear offers something for everyone in the family! Choose from the Family Fun Ride, or the 25, 50, 70 or 100 mile routes. All of our rides offer access to our legendary aid stations and scenic mountain views. If you’re feeling a bit competitive, check out our awards for Timed Climbs! Final course closure time is 5 pm. Specific course cut-off times are available in the Rider Information Package. Embark on an extraordinary adventure amid the stunning backdrop of Big Bear Lake, California. With four expertly designed routes, cyclists of all abilities can test themselves, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow riders, and feel the rush of reaching new heights. Whether it’s your first ride or your hundredth, it’s sure to be an experience you’ll treasure for years. 

The Climb: 100 Miles The ultimate challenge for seasoned cyclists Conquer over 8500’ of demanding climbs Exclusive eligibility for the KOM/QOM Challenge adds competitive excitement. Completing this route is a badge of honor, marking a day of personal victory.

Now that I'm retired, I can now do all the rides I read about.  The downside is I'm not the same rider I might have been.  Maybe I'll be riding over my ability, but I won't be the only to not finish.  Well I paid for support.  Of course I'm there to finish.

And I did.  And still had over an hour left.  OK, when I got to the free parking lot, there were less than a dozen vehicles.  Well looked like most paid the 40 dollars to park next to the event rather than climb over a mile which I went up twice.

Left home before three as I can not stand in line and expecting a crowd.  At the event was told it can draw 3,000. 

The good is the drive has little traffic and I did not make any mistake.  What I did not like is the drive up the hill.  Though there is not much, let every vehicle come up behind, pull over to let go by.

Arrive earlier than expected, less than 2 hours.  On my trip back, took over 2 1/2 hours with a car going less than 25 miles and will not pull over.  When there is passing lane, it decides to finally speed up as not to let cars go ahead..

Registration is at 6 as I listen to the radio.  Finally another vehicle parks, so I decide to get.  It is still dark as I'm climbing, ask where registration, take a seat to wait.

Does not take long, first for the 100.  But they have no route sheet.  Just a code you can down load on your phone.  Like that going to help me.  There is route signs, just follow the purple.

As I've signed up for the California Pass Challenge.

Take the challenge this summer and ride two of California's most spectacular bike rides - The Tour de Big Bear & Mammoth Gran Fondo!

The California Pass Challenge is a package deal that includes your registration for the Tour de Big Bear in August and Mammoth Gran Fondo in September. Participants who conquer both rides will receive an exclusive California Pass Challenge cycling jersey.

2025 California Pass Challenge:
Tour de Big Bear - Saturday, August 2, 2025
Mammoth Gran Fondo - Saturday, September 6, 2025

Pricing:

$265 - includes both event entries, unique race plates, and an exclusive California Pass Challenge jersey

Return to the truck to leave my lights off and a bag. Then back up to line up.  Let everyone leave and among the last to go.  A lot of fast downhill which is my weakness, falling well behind the leaders.  We have a lead vehicle and police stop traffic at intersections.

Finally we climb.  My plan is to take it easy but the pace felt slow so I up my push which was a mistake to go out hard early.  But then the lead group is going the other way, probably 5 miles ahead of me when I'm at mile 10.

One thing about my bicycling, no matter how much faster I am on the uphill, those I pass leave me in the dust on the descent, so much I'll not see them again.

Another problem with me is I have to pee a lot, 7 times.  Guess that's good meaning I've been drinking.  And I have, even drank soda, Coke, Fanta, Ginger Ale.  And twice Pickle juice, though it taste terrible, know it helps against cramping which I was experiencing on the last big climb.  My legs and arms were coated with salt.  Learn later how much salt in my head wear.

Ate lots of salty items like chips and they served ribs.  Would have eaten more than one but was not sure if my body will react.  Will write they offer a lot of good food and enthusiastic volunteers.  With 6 rest stops, spent many time eating.  Ate half a watermelon.  Though I did not spend much time. ate and went.  As I'm slow.

Then on the King of the Mountain timed climb, we have 6 miles to Onyx summit.  Even with riders passing me, I take my slow time, even with the finish in sight, while others race, I'm not winning take my time to the top.

As the 70 miler turns around and head to home, the century riders go down the other side only to return back to this summit.  It felt warm and sweat is blinding me but I keep pushing the 8 miles return.  Till almost there, a cramp is about to burst, stop, take e caps and slowed my pace even slower than my slow.

Was it worth it, I think so.  Just not the drive there and the downhills.  More than likely will not do again after experiencing.  Now I'm thinking those years riding OCW Ride around the Bear.  But then again, that was then.

I did get a medal.  Announced my name crossing the finish and mention my age as I'm probably one of the older riders