What a Bear!June 7, 2008. In the cool, crisp pre-dawn darkness Rabbit and Map Boy arrived to participate in the 2008 Ride Around the Bear. Touted as one of the ten most difficult centuries in the US, we knew we had a big day ahead. Already waiting in the parking lot was Windbreaker friend Brad Bell Boy, along with approximately 400 other riders. After registering and check-in, we rolled out of Redlands at 5:40 am. Following a quick warm up loop through the citrus fields of East Highlands, soon enough we found ourselves on the first big climb of the day, on State Route 330 through Running Springs and past Snow Valley ski area, topping at 7,112 feet at Lakeview Point. Now to our right was a beautiful view of Big Bear Lake. Following lunch, our second climb was ahead, to Onyx Summit at 8,443 feet!!!(see pic). Following a quick break at the rest stop, we had approximately 40 miles of downhill (with a few climbs stuck in to slow Rabbit down a little bit). 102 miles, 9,000 cumulative feet of climbing...a great, tough day!! Ride On!!
