Ride Has Nowhere to Go but Up

The title of the bicycling event is a warning and a challenge--the Breathless Agony Ride--and by all accounts it lives up to its billing.

Conceived by Robert Kahler, an exercise physiologist and owner of a bicycle shop in Tustin, and Chuck Bramwell, an ultracyclist from Irvine, the 112-mile ride, which starts early Saturday, is one of the toughest centuries in California.

The numbers are daunting and should scare away all but serious long-distance cyclists. Starting from Sylvan Park in Redlands, riders will climb a total of 11,000 feet and 73 miles to reach 8,443-foot Onyx Summit in the San Bernardino Mountains.

“You are just burning, you are just on fire when you roll into the top of Onyx Summit,” Bramwell said. “It’s nothing but a party when you get to the top. Everyone is so glad to see it.”

From there it’s almost all downhill. Riders turn around and head back down Highway 38 for a nearly 40-mile descent. It’s then that riders can more fully appreciate the scenery, which Bramwell compares to Colorado.

“It’s really one of the nicest stretches of road climbing that you can do in Southern California,” he said. “It’s really cool.”

The ride also offers less taxing options--51 miles with 4,200 feet of climbing and 73 miles with 7,300 feet of climbing--but make no mistake: it’s going to hurt.

“People are subjecting themselves to a great deal of discomfort,” Kahler said, “but a lot of us thrive on that particular aspect of cycling.”

For more information, click on https://www.cyclingpros.com or call (714) 544-6091.

KEEP ON RIDING

The Orange County Wheelmen put on a similar ride, the Ride Around the Bear, that starts June 9 in Sylvan Park and goes over Onyx Summit from the other side after climbing through Running Springs and Big Bear. Details: https://www.ocw.org or (714) 956-BIKE.

But if you must ride this weekend and don’t want to put yourself through agony, here are two interesting, albeit way out there, options:

* Death Valley by Moonlight, which starts at 8 p.m. Saturday and offers up to 100 miles of riding under a full moon in the spectacular California desert. Details: https://www.badwaterevents.com

LONGBOARDS RULE

The Hobie San Onofre Classic will turn back the clock Saturday and Sunday with a longboard surfing competition that recalls the sport’s roots.

Surfers must ride boards at least 9 feet long that were manufactured before 1970. That means they will be hefting boards that weigh 40 pounds and more instead of today’s lightweight wonders.

And leashes are prohibited. Some of the vintage boards, which range in price from $750 to $2,500, will be on display in a Concourse d’Elegance on Saturday. The senior and women’s competitions are Saturday and the men’s 36 and under and Menuhune youth events are Sunday. The youths can use modern longboards. Surfing will run until 3:30 p.m. both days.

“We’re trying to bring back the fun and aloha spirit to San Onofre as it was in the ‘60s,” said contest director Allan Seymour. “It’s a wonderful family beach.”

If you have an item or idea for On the Go, you can call us at (714) 966-5904 or e-mail us at martin.beck@latimes.com