Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

• The ride up the old Ridge Route giv~s you an opportunity to stop and look down at the Castaic Reservoir. By Donald E. L. Betsworth Photos by Donald W. Betsworth Driving up to Alamo Mountain or Ballanger Canyon, you zoom up the new Ridge Route, Interstate 5, six lanes of 55 mph asphalt and concrete, you and a thousand others. Occasionally some of the scenery can be fairly interesting, at least the first couple of times. How would you like td' do 26 36 mile; of the Teal Ridge Route on a bike and thumb your nose at that unimaginative roadway below? Well, let's ride the old original route. It's still up there, way up on the ridge top laying like a snake. It's a fun ride with many historic and scenic spots along the way. With fuel price; the way they are, this make; a super family outing fairly close to home. The flJ"St time my son and I tried it on a scooter,.the wind was blowing so hard that 10 mph was all that I could obtain at full throttle heading nonh. Coming south on the return I hit 40 going uphill in neutral. We were hit with small rocks, branches from bushes, tumble weeds, and even free flying beer cans. It was a 40 degree day but with the wind and the chill factor figured in it must have been about zero. A windy day up here is a real bummer. Recently a long time buddy asked if .) would conduct a dde over the .route for him and several friends. Tpey are novice riders and their bikes ran the gamut from a tacky and very old Suzuki 90 to a new Honda 550 still I loaded with all the factory do dads plus some interesting add-ons. It was a very sucCeiSful ride with the weather in the shin sleeve mode. The only problem encountered was a laugh-in type getoff resulting in a skinned shin and a bent ego. The history of the old Ridge Route is fantastic reading. The stories I've read sounded like so much fiction, but after you ride it you have to believe every word. I've driven it several time; and once.led a party of 14 dads and their sons on a 19 mile bicycle ride on it. That ride was so rough, one dad ended up with a $75 repair bill on his racing bike, two kids crashed because of chuckholes, and many tires were worn paper thin. The route was started in 1915 and completed in 1915. It was built with horse drawn "Fresno's" and many pick and shovels. The cost was a staggering (for the time) $1.5 million. The concrete was laid six inches thick and it has held up better than the asphalt used to straighten many of the curves. It has been said that there were 642 narrow curves along its 29 mile length. Remember, the Ridge Route section was from Castaic to Gorman and the section from Gorman to Wheeler Ridge on the Bakersfield side was called the "Grapevine." The speed limit on this new super highway was a hot 15 mph.' Imagine driving this "abomination" in an open cab, chain-driven Mack truck. I've talked to one old trucker who hauled potatoes over the old route and his stories of the snow stonos, high winds, runaway trucks, shifting loads and boiling radiators make me wonder how he lived to be 72. These were the days of mechanical brakes, no safety inspections, and many truckers were "outlaw" so their vehicles were usually overloaded because they were paid by the hundredweight. • In 1955 a new route was completed in the canyon bottom, saving nine mile; and over an hour's time. The cost went up to $5.5 million. In 1947 a modernizing and realignment took place and you guessed it, the cost now jumped to 12 million dollars. The new route, Interstate 5, is a pretty fine highway and it was completed in the early '70s. It's a far cry from the original but the cost jumped, maybe catapulted would be a better word, to more than $90 million. That kind of bread buys a lot of chain lube and spark plugs. If you take this ride, I think springtime is the best. The wild flowers will be out in force. There are two places that abound with wild poppie;. One is just across the road from the county fire station and the other is on the sides of Bald Mountain. Let's get to the actual ride. Drive to the settlement of Castaic on Interstate 5, and exit on Lake Hughes Road. Go east one half mile to a road signed "Old Ridge Route." Take a left and proceed north about one mile, past the park at Castaic Dam, to the Castaic brickyard. Park and unload your bike;. Take mom and the older kids, (a Class four license is needed) as this would be a super ride for them. Start up the paved road and stop occasionally to take in some of the canyon scenery. Several miles from the stan you parallel Interstate 5 for a shon distance. Vehicles on the freeway will be only 20 feet away traveling at 55 to 70 with only a four strand barbed wire fence between you. At about 6.8 miles you will come to Templin Highway. Left is down to the freeway, and right is down to the Castaic Dam powerhouse and the road up to Cienaga Spring. This is a very good side trip and I'll cover it later. Along the way disregard the following signs: "Not a through road," and "Not maintained past this point." The road goes through and is cared for - well, sometimes. But do obey the No Trcspasring, No Hunting, and No Shooting signs. From the intersection go straight ahead, and as you continue took off to your right, you'll see the unusual formations of Red Rock Canyon. The road you see in the canyon bottom service; a telephone cable. At 16.7 miles you come to Reservoir Hill with its few pine trees. Take the road on the left, up about 100 yards to the top. This is a good spot for a coffee break or to have lunch on your way back. Take a walk around the top and if it's a clear day the view can be pretty interesting. The dry concrete reservoir a tad to the south has and can be ridden like an old fashioned motordrome. Be careful because the sides are sometimes slick. Continue north for about two miles and right under the power lines to the east was the site of the old H'aHway Inn. Time, the elements and progress have (C""ti,,ued to page 40)

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