Los Angeles neighborhoods - Best 4 out-the-front-door cycling

[cat6]

I suggest some volunteers host rides in their respective cities\neighborhoods of choice. Nothing epic but your favorite local out-the-door ride, 20-65 miles.

It won't prove anyone right or wrong but could offer some enlightenment and help bring east and westside together, where we can all bash NYC together

[fuzzalow]

Originally Posted by cat6

It won't prove anyone right or wrong but could offer some enlightenment and help bring east and westside together, where we can all bash NYC together

Bash away. We have the whole nine yards that is all here for the asking in our own version of Fantasy Manhattan Island.

I earlier quoted Woody Allen's dig at LA as culturally bereft. Woody is an equal opportunity basher of either coast. From "Annie Hall":

Alvy Singer: Don't you see the rest of the country looks upon New York like we're left-wing, communist, Jewish, homosexual pornographers? I think of us that way sometimes and I live here.

[ofcounsel]

Originally Posted by cat6

I suggest some volunteers host rides in their respective cities\neighborhoods of choice. Nothing epic but your favorite local out-the-door ride, 20-65 miles.

It won't prove anyone right or wrong but could offer some enlightenment and help bring east and westside together, where we can all bash NYC together

IN!

This road ride is literally out my front door: https://www.strava.com/activities/429085721

If anyone wants to join in, I'm happy to lead --- very slowly

I also know some fun mtb rides in the area, so if anyone want's to do that as well, I'm game.

[beeatnik]

Preview of the South Pasadena/Pasadena/Altadena/Sierra Madre Loop Presentd by Beeatnik and Cat6

A crummy urban street in a high crime area. No cars!


They're designing those Mars Rovers here (Jet Propulsion Laboratory):


This is a 20% grade


No climbs like this on the Westside. You gain about 2000 feet in 3 miles




Hey, Steve, Altadena has mansions tambien






Irony


Another congested San Gabriel Valley street

[Climb01742]

I'll be the first to say it...that looks_very_nice. Even more so because we have snow and temps in the 30s.

[hockeybike]

Do you like city density, walkable restaurants, nightlife, bars, etc? I'll buck the trend and say forget cycling if DTLA is where you're going to work. Live there and enjoy it! Or try out silverlake/echo park, two other more walkable neighborhoods. Much less traffic, and much more to do that doesn't require a drive.

I moved to LA a year+ ago and basically gave up on riding. Loved the climbs, hated dealing w drivers and refuse to drive to a ride. Started running, instead.

[Ciavete]

Originally Posted by hockeybike

Do you like city density, walkable restaurants, nightlife, bars, etc? I'll buck the trend and say forget cycling if DTLA is where you're going to work. Live there and enjoy it! Or try out silverlake/echo park, two other more walkable neighborhoods. Much less traffic, and much more to do that doesn't require a drive.

I moved to LA a year+ ago and basically gave up on riding. Loved the climbs, hated dealing w drivers and refuse to drive to a ride. Started running, instead.

The walkable city life is indeed great, but I can't give up the bike. Without getting into details I can say cycling became very important to me during a very rough 2015. Something about riding a bike is healing.

The thoughtful (and funny at times) contributions and banter on this thread have been super encouraging.

[hockeybike]

If you love the city life and love cycling, find a way to make it work. You'll be miserable in lots of LA if you love city life. In other places, you'll be happier than a clam. Culver City, and the west side in general, are very residential areas with 1.5-ish mile strips of commercial property (restaurants, bars, etc). I'm not a fan of those sorts of neighborhoods, so I avoid em like the plague. Remember, you'll have to drive to EVERYTHING in a lot of the neighborhoods mentioned here.

You might do well to hit up a shop in Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, DTLA, etc, and ask about car-free rides. Better yet, figure out if there's a cycling group/team in a neighborhood and email someone.

I also shouldn't make it seem like it's impossible to ride in LA west of Culver-- there's riders, and if you don't mind some hills and cars to start your ride, you can probably do ok from Hollywood on east, as long as you don't have to cross a horrible intersection. When I was still riding, I had a very regular loop that was all climbing and descending with minimal stop lights, cars, etc, depending on the hour. Fun, as long as I got on Mulholland and onto the Sepulveda pass early enough. That's another consideration, actually. Do you like to climb? My rides all started with a 2+ mile climb. I like that, not all do. Still a ···· descender, though.

All of the above hinges on whether you want both city living and cycling. if you're ready to give up on city living, then the game changes quite a bit.

[SoCalSteve]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

It's settled. This thread has reached its natural conclusion. Westside Paceline Ride to Pedalers Fork hosted by Steve.

What would be your route to Pedalers Fork from the Westside? I rarely ride to or in the Valley.

As for the food at Pedalers Fork, I ate there once, wasn't impressed.

[beeatnik]

^Your call. The route you posted to San Vicente then PCH to Topanga?

[kitsnob]

Originally Posted by SoCalSteve

What would be your route to Pedalers Fork from the Westside? I rarely ride to or in the Valley.

As for the food at Pedalers Fork, I ate there once, wasn't impressed.

Westside to PCH to Topanga to Valley Circle to Peadlers.
Return via OLD Topanga to new topabga to PCH back to westside.

[beeatnik]

More Pasadena and Silver Lake and Los Feliz

You get a 15% discount if you show up on a bika.


Intelligentsia (above) is in the former location of the Mexican Carniceria (butcher shop) immortalized on the cover of Such Great Heights


A Parlee, A Strong, A Firefly and the Two Best Bikas on Earth (CAAD10 and Super Six Evo) walk into a bike rack


Strong Sock Game ATMO


Gold (Speedvagen) in them thurr hills above the World Famous Rose Bowl




Gonna rain the next 4 days. Time to hop in the car and grab a $20 burger and $10 beer in Culver City.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fathers-office-los-angeles

[whateveronfire]

Originally Posted by SoCalSteve

What would be your route to Pedalers Fork from the Westside? I rarely ride to or in the Valley.

As for the food at Pedalers Fork, I ate there once, wasn't impressed.

Ate there this morning. The breakfast is good. Dinner can be hit and miss, depending on what you order.

Coffee at 10-Speed is pretty spectacular.

[onsight512]

So did the OP ever move 'here'? If so, where?

I came across this thread (happens often with the search function) while I was looking for something on Mt Lukens.

Here's a gratuitous shot from the Verdugos...



#lasucksforcycling

[beeatnik]

#LAisSoWeird