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Serious cyclists already know about Claremont, the California city just 40 minutes east of Los Angeles off of I-10. It’s a key starting point for rigorous rides along the Glendora Ridge Road and through the rugged San Gabriel Mountains.

Underscoring just how popular the place is among elite cyclists, Claremont is where Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California kicks off on May 21. This is the grinding, grueling Mt. Baldy stage. It tests calf muscles, stamina and sheer courage. This year’s route is projected to pass by the historic Claremont Train Depot, traverse the city’s Village streets and then head to the San Gabriels for the winding pull to Mt. Baldy.

You don’t have to be a pro to get a taste of Mt. Baldy. Two weeks before the big boys get to town, serious recreational cyclists get a chance to cover the same demanding ground as the professionals do in stage 7. May 7 is the date. By the time riders finish they will have ascended close to 10,000 feet, and covered some 100 miles.  While amateurs make they trek, these are very serious amateurs.

Even if you’re cycling May 7, you should try to make time for Blues & Brews the evening before. The four-hour event (5 to 9 p.m.) takes place May 6 – and offers several non-alcoholic options. Not cycling Saturday? Designate a driver and indulge a bit.

Just $30 buys you a ticket good for beer tasting at as many as ten locations. To serenade you between pubs, entertainment will be scatted throughout the Village.

The evening after the ride, make tracks to the aptly-named Heroes & Legends Bar & Grill at 131 Yale Street. The prices are tame, but the food isn’t. Order the gumbo and wash it down with something cold.

There’s more to Claremont than cycling and testing your limits. On Sunday mornings Clermont Village transforms into a marketplace, serving up fresh local and organic produce. Throw in the aroma of local cheeses, fresh flowers, and used books and you get an idea of why locals flock here on weekends.

If you’re planning to come for the Amgen Tour of California, know that the area’s 450 hotel rooms tend to sell out fast. One of the more pocketbook-friendly options is the Howard Johnson Express Inn Claremont . It’s just off I-10, and a king goes for as low as $59.50, taxes and surcharges not included.

Getting to Claremont by air is comparatively easy. Ontario International Airport is a scant seven miles from the center of Claremont. Compare that to the 41 miles through LA traffic you’d have to travel to get to LAX.

Discount airline Southwest is a major player at Ontario International. The carrier offers nonstop Chicago flights to Ontario, Denver flights to Ontario, Las Vegas flights to Ontario, Oakland flights to Ontario, Phoenix flights to Ontario, and San Jose flights to Ontario.

Chicago Midway, Denver International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, and Oakland International are all major Southwest focus cities. They offer good connections to Ontario from much of the discount airline’s route system.

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: Slabcity Gang)

About the author

Jerry ChandlerJerry Chandler loves window seats – a perch with a 35,000-foot view of it all. His favorite places: San Francisco and London just about any time of year, autumn in Manhattan and the seaside in winter. An award-winning aviation and travel writer for 30 years, his goal is to introduce each of his grandkids to their first flight.

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