This looks fun!
Get to ride and see the pros on Mt Baldy
http://cloudweb105.atoc.smartycloud.com/letape-10-reasons
He is a vid of Stage 7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUDtFjw8nXE

I'm sure we can put a good group together for this. When I went to Harvey Mudd in Claremont, the Baldy climb was my favorite diversion when I was trying to pretend not to study 
Karl

I am planning to do this ride.  Looks like a great experience.  Just need to sign up!

Ok, I am officially registered for the long course.  Who else is joining me?

Im registered for the long route.

Me, too.

BTW, both courses shoot straight up Mills to Mt Baldy Road, then up to the ski lifts. The long course will climb to Mt Baldy Village TWICE, the first time heading east on Glendora Ridge / Mountain roads (another of my favorite routes while in college there) to circle back around to Mills in Claremont. The Short course will be quite nice on its own and you certainly won't feel cheated if you only climb Mt Baldy once.
Karl

I thinking about going up on Friday. Here are some places to stay in the area
https://www.google.com/maps/search/hotels/@34.0992782,-117.8021586,14z/data=!3m1!4b1

Ursula and Nigel

I also just noticed the L'Etape route cuts out the classic GMR climb (we DEscend it)
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/uploads/images/2015stages/2015_AmgenTOC_Stage7_Map_v2.pdf
The pro route is also 80 miles, but 11,600 ft of elevation due to the 39 loop at the end of Glendora Mountain Ridge in order to go UP Glendora Mtn Road (GMR). I'm not suggesting we do that, especially with the shape I'm in, but we could think about it. I think you two both would have no problem with the pro course. Another variation, would be to back track at the bottom of GMR in Glendora just to do the cool (and steeper) GMR climb like my friends from Altadena. So we have some options depending on how we feel that day, in my mind. Where the L'Etape rest stops are could also be a consideration.

Karl

Rest Stops 1 and 3 are at Baldy Village, while Rest Stop 2 is right at the bottom of GMR. So, any variation we might want to do would hit all the rest stops as well. It all depends on how we feel and how the time looks for getting up to the finish area on time.

I did map out a L'Etape variation which includes the FULL climbing that the pros will do. - 78 miles, 11,800' climbing.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7650396. You can also do a shorter variation (but about the same elevation) by riding straight down GMR to Rest Stop 2 and making a U-turn back up GMR.

And to beat this to death ... http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7650688 is the GMR Out and Back variation - 64 miles and 11,000 ft of elevation. Note that both variations do not show the 20 mile descent back to the start - EZ-PZ 
Karl

The pro route makes a great century, especially the last twenty miles of descent! The descent along Glendora Ridge is not to be missed, although you pay for it on the way back after climbing Glendora Mountain. I'll be out of town the weekend of the Etape, but I'd love to ride this again another weekend if anyone else is interested!

I can't make that weekend either but I'd might be up for it some other time Bill.......if you don't mind waiting (a long while) the extra time it would take me or you slow down and talk (encourage) me onwards while I suffer horribly in comparison. 
Anthony

I am registered for the L'Etape. I will be staying in a hotel near Ontario airport and we should try to meet at the start so that I can watch you all ride off ahead of me:)