Bear 100 Coasts Into 40-Mile Payoff

As if riding 100 miles isn’t work enough, the Orange County Wheelmen has devised one of the most diabolical courses anywhere for its annual Ride Around the Bear, which returns Saturday for the ninth year.

In fact, the Ride Around the Bear has been named one of the 10 toughest centuries in the country by both Cyclist magazine and California Cyclist. It’s definitely not for beginners.

“We like to strongly suggest it’s for experienced riders only,” said Doug Kerr, vice president of the Wheelmen. Kerr, in fact, has stayed away from doing the ride, although he works the course as a volunteer.

“I haven’t been nuts enough to try it, but I have plenty of friends who have,” Kerr said.

“It’s a gorgeous ride for anybody who likes to climb,” said one of those friends, Tom Eichen, who is coordinator of Teamwork Tandem (one of the clubs within Orange County Wheelmen) with his wife, Trudy. Although some people do the ride on tandem bikes, Eichen has chosen a single bike both times he’s done it.

The ride begins in Redlands, at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. From there, it’s only a matter of riding up to Running Springs (6,030 feet), Big Bear Lake (6,750 feet) and Onyx Summit (8,443 feet). Then, there’s the reward for all that climbing: a 40-mile downhill ride back to Redlands.

“You’ll probably get the best thrill of your life on the way down,” Kerr said. Added Eichen, “You can hold 35 going down, if you get a good pace-line together.” At the end of the journey, riders congregate to eat barbecue and swap stories.

The ride usually draws from 350 to 450 cyclists. Most come from race clubs in Southern California rather than from Orange County Wheelmen, which is primarily a recreational club. The Ride Around the Bear is not competitive, and there’s not even a mass start. Racers, Kerr said, use it as a training ride.

“We have riders from all over who do this on a yearly basis,” Kerr said. “It’s a real personal challenge. . . . I think the ride is as much psychological as it is physical. You can let the ride defeat you.”

More than half the climbing comes in the first 18 miles, making the beginning of the ride the biggest test. Some riders don’t finish and are picked up by support vehicles.

Then there are riders who ride straight through without pausing at the rest stops or the lunch stop at Big Bear Lake--”100 miles without a breather,” said Kerr, who added that some riders finish the course in five hours or less: “They don’t let a mountain slow them down.”

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For cyclists who like to put on the mileage without so many climbs, the Bicycle Club of Irvine is offering its Summer Solstice Tour ’93 on June 19 and 20. The tour goes from Irvine to South Carlsbad State Beach and back, about 60 miles each way. Fees are $25 including camping, or $20 for those opt to stay in local lodging. The ride is open to club members only (membership is $20 for individuals, $30 for couples). Reservation deadline is today. (714) 997-0921.