GMR tips and info needed

Check out this link- I rode this route with George a few times and it's a challenging/ enjoyable ride

http://www.epictrain.com/Mt_Baldy.html

We usually start at Encanto and do the backside as it's a little easier to take the rollers first and then have the long descent after. The only water stop I know of is at the cafe on the way up unless you're going to head up to Baldy as well and then there is one up top there too.

Here's the only Baldy ride I've done. 

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/110404517

Tip #1: Don't do GMR when it's snowing. 

I've always just gone up GMR from the Glendora side and typically taken the ridge road to Baldy Village, then down Mt. Baldy road towards Upland/Claremont.  But that just works well for me because of where I live.  I've heard it's a reasonably challenging ride to get to Baldy Village along the ridge road and then turn around and take the ridge road back to Glendora since the ridge road is kind of up and down the whole way.  You could go up Mt. Baldy towards the ski slopes when you hit Baldy Village, and that would be a really good amount of climbing.  Nothing wrong with planning on that and just turning back if you felt like you'd had enough.  Fill water bottles in Baldy Village on your left after making the turn from the ridge road onto Mt. Baldy road -- there's a drinking fountain next to the PO & fire station (I think) and another by the visitor center a bit further up the road.  The descent from the mountain above Baldy Village goes very fast.  Make sure you have layers so that you can dress for a quick descent in cooler temps, esp. if you've done some sweating on the way up.  Couldn't tell you about taking 39, lots of people take that route but I never have.