Angeles Crest Century bicycle ride

General Information and Ride Rules - Please Read!

SPECIAL REGISTRATION POLICY: Due to the very small rider limit imposed at this event, there will be NO refunds and NO ride credits. NO exceptions. Sorry, but rollover ride credits and/or volunteer ride credits may not be used for this event.

Registration for the 2008 event will be postponed until all permitting issues with the National Forest have been resolved. Please check back in the Spring.

Click here to see the 2007 Results

Click here to view results from previous years

Field Size
This event is limited to 100 riders, first come, first served, PLUS up to twenty-five riders who personally donate at least $100 to Challenged Athletes Foundation, as well as pay the entry fee. As this classic, very popular event is in high demand and we are required by the Forest Service to maintain a small field size, No-Shows are a real bummer. So, please don't sign up unless you're really going to ride. If you must withdraw, please tell us as far in advance as possible so that your space can be made available to another lucky rider.

Start Location
Memorial Park in La Canada Flintridge, corner of Foothill Blvd. and La Canada Blvd. Plenty of parking on the street.

Directions
Take the 2 Freeway North to Foothill Blvd. Turn right at the light. Go about 1/2 a mile and the park is on the left.

Start Time
First daylight: 6:30 to 7:00am.

Check In / Start Times
Registration opens at 6:00am and closes at 6:45 am. All riders must be on the road by 7:00 am.
Riders may start between 6:30 and 7am, after checking out with the time keeper.

Timed Event
This is not a race, but a timed event from La Canada to the top of Mt. Wilson. You must check out with the timekeeper before you leave, and you must check-in at the top of Mt. Wilson. The clock stops, and the ride is officially over at the Mt. Wilson finish line. There, you'll check in, savor the victory, and enjoy a well-earned lunch before heading back down the hill to La Canada. If you fail to check out or check in, you will be listed as DNF in the results. Please don't email us after the event to change your results if you failed to follow these rules. We only fix typos or other problems that are our fault.

Time Limit
To be listed as an Official Finisher, you must reach the finish line at the top of Mt. Wilson by 3:30pm - no exceptions. Riders who fail to make the time cut-off will be listed as DNF. If you don't think you're able to ride 80 very tough miles in 9 hours, then this ride is not for you!

Sticker Stops
There will be two locations on the course, indicated on the route sheet, where riders will receive a Polka Dot sticker as proof of completing that section of the course. Stickers will be placed on the rider's number, which must be on the rider, and visible, at all times. At the finish, riders will be asked to show their number to prove they finished the entire course.

Twilight, Sunrise, and Sunset
Twilight begins 6:22; Twilight ends 19:01. Sunrise is 6:47; Sunset is 18:46.

Bring a Camelbak!
Planet Ultra events are held in very remote locations and generally have the potential for major extremes in weather conditions, not to mention very challenging routes. Despite the fact we offer rider support that is second to none, we absolutely, positively, strongly and most assuredly encourage every Planet Ultra cyclist to bring, wear, and use a Camelbak. Running out of water on any ride is a bummer at the very least. So, even though we do a great job of "taking care of you" at our events, you have to take care of yourself first and so we believe that every single rider in every single one of our events would be wise to bring a Camelbak with at least 50oz. of water, plus two full, full-size water bottles. Our two cents!

Route Description
The Angeles Crest Century is truly Southern California's classic alpine century - traveling the beautiful, but hilly roads of Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles Forest Highway, and Big Tujunga Road. The total elevation gain for the day is almost 11,000,’ so the difficulty factor depends on your fitness level.

Leaving La Canada, you will travel on Foothill Blvd to Angeles Crest Highway. Turning left (North) on Angeles Crest Highway, you will climb to Clear Creek. At this point you will have climbed 2400' in 11.4 miles. Clear Creek is at the intersection of Angeles Crest Highway and Angeles Forest Highway. This will be the first checkpoint.

After Clear Creek you will enjoy a fast well earned descent down Angeles Forest Highway, past the Big Tujunga turnoff, through a tunnel, and past the Hidden Spring Cafe. One mile after the Hidden Springs Cafe you will turn right onto Upper Big Tujunga Road. You will then have a long uphill grade that brings you back to Angeles Crest Highway. Turning left onto Angeles Crest Highway you will continue about 1,200 meters to the Short Cut checkpoint. At this point you will have ridden 30 miles and climbed 4,330'.

From Shortcut you will continue on Angeles Crest Highway past Charlton Flats and the Chilao Visitors Center to Newcomb Ranch. At this point you will have ridden 37 miles and climbed 5,360'. You'll continue climbing, up, up, up to the turnaround checkpoint at Jarvi Memorial Vista.

On the return journey you will stay on Angeles Crest Highway until the Mt. Wilson turn-off. Along the way, there are two noticeable climbs, one starting at Newcomb Ranch for a 1,000' gain and another after Shortcut for another 500' of gain. Next, leaving Angeles Crest Highway at Red Box, you'll climb up the back side of Mt. Wilson, enjoying a shady, tree-lined road and cool temps. The clock stops at the top of Mt. Wilson - where you'll check in, sit down, relax, and enjoy your lunch before enjoying a casual ride back down the hill to your car in La Canada.

All riders must obey the California Motor Vehicle Code. Our relationship with the Forest Service allows us to have this event as long as the riders obey the vehicle code and we keep the event down to about 100 riders or less. The vehicle code gives us the same rights and responsibilities as a motor vehicle. The cars are not going up Angeles Crest two, three, and four abreast. If they did, they would be cited, and if you do... Citations are not cheap and they go on your driving record. Ride safely and legally! Also, the Forest Service doesn't want us to paint navigation arrows on the ground. There are so few turns on the route - and it's so easy to navigate, we really do expect that all riders should be able to follow directions and not get lost. Finally, we can't deliver portable toilets on the course. There are many Forest Service bathrooms along the route - so if you need to go, stop and do that when you see one.

NOTE: Route sheets are not available prior to rider check-in; so please, please don't ask us to send you one.

Volunteers
We always need help at our events! We can only put these events on with the help of loyal, trustworthy, motivated individuals running the checkpoints along the way. To provide a little incentive, we offer one free entry into any Planet Ultra event for each time you volunteer at a Planet Ultra event. It's a simple formula: "work one, ride one free!" So please contact us to let us know when and where you'd like to help. (Please note that riders are specifically encouraged to work an event. Friends and family of riders are welcome to lend a hand, too, but don't count towards the "work one, ride one free!" formula.)