Lollipop XC Loop Part 1: Strawberry Peak | Los Angeles Mountain Biking

We call it the Lollipop Loop because the map looks like a lollipop. It took us 6.5 hours to complete that day, with temperatures reaching over 40C (104F). I was riding with reigning XC Marathon State Champion Josh Tootell. This was a good training day for me before heading to the Swiss Epic where we had to ride a similar loop 5 days in a row. The part in the video is the Strawberry Peak Trail which goes the scenic route around the mountain peak of the same name. That trail is doable on its own starting at the junction of highway 59 and highway 2. But for us, starting from JPL in Pasadena, it took us 3 hours to climb where the video starts. We climbed via Gabrielino Trail, which is a beautiful single track connecting JPL to Switzer Camp. But I gotta say this is a very difficult trail to climb with many dismounts in back-to-back technical sections. It doesn't look that long on the map, but you burn a lot of energy per km just to keep moving there. Part 2:    • Lollipop XC Loop Part 2: Red Box to Switze...   Part 3:    • Lollipop XC Loop Part 3: Gabrielino from S...   🌎 Location info Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles, CA, USA Ride map →   / strava   ❤️ Brands supporting my mountain biking season Team Dream → https://bit.ly/teamdreambicyclingteam Bike Improve → https://bit.ly/bikeimproveshop Nir Wheels → http://bit.ly/nirwheels Speed Evolution → https://bit.ly/speedevolution Kenda Tires → http://bit.ly/kendaboosterpro 🍩 Follow me Blog →   / thebikecomesfirst   Strava →   / strava   TikTok →   / bengoyette   Instagram →   / bengoyette1   Facebook →   / bengoyette1   👍 Like & Subscribe I post long uncut pov videos at 60 fps #xcmtb #xco #xc #mountainbike