What 1 ride should I do in LA - Page 5

AngryScientist · #61 02-13-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgolvin

I'm also happy to provide a route but it would be on Strava not rwgps. There are several PV options so give an idea of what you're after. All are the same along the beach to get to PV, then you've got:
1. Shortest: A short loop that includes a brief punchy climb along PV Country Club;
2. Medium: A longer climb followed by a fast descent and a return loop along the peninsula with lovely ocean views;
3. Longest: Full PV loop, rolling along the peninsula, similar climb to #2 then long return loop through rollers.

For max climbing you can combine #2 and 3. I think the mileages range from 35 to 50 starting from Marina del Rey but I'm not certain; elevation gains top out at something like 3-4K?

i'd like to see those strava links too. sounds good. i'll be out in SM area in a few weeks myself.

adampaiva · #62 02-13-2018, 12:23 PM

@cgolvin Strave is great too.

I’m staying in Venice Beach and have a meeting at 10:30 in Palos Verdes. I haven’t scheduled anything for Friday afternoon so should have from 12:30 on for a ride. Debating whether to:
a) take bike in the car and do a ride from PV. I would then have to drive back up to Venice after the ride, which would I guess be at rush hour and bad traffic? But I get maximum daylight.

B) drive back North after the meeting to Malibu or thereabouts and ride there all Friday afternoon. A bit later a start, but I wouldn’t have much of a drive after the ride.

I’ll be on a borrowed road bike with 28s. (Unless I succeed in buying a bike I just found on CL)

cgolvin · #63 02-13-2018, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adampaiva

@cgolvin Strave is great too.

I’m staying in Venice Beach and have a meeting at 10:30 in Palos Verdes. I haven’t scheduled anything for Friday afternoon so should have from 12:30 on for a ride. Debating whether to:
a) take bike in the car and do a ride from PV. I would then have to drive back up to Venice after the ride, which would I guess be at rush hour and bad traffic? But I get maximum daylight.

B) drive back North after the meeting to Malibu or thereabouts and ride there all Friday afternoon. A bit later a start, but I wouldn’t have much of a drive after the ride.

I’ll be on a borrowed road bike with 28s. (Unless I succeed in buying a bike I just found on CL)

OK, I'll work on routes today for you (and you too, Angry).

Personally it's an easy choice -- (B) since the Santa Monica mountains offer a greater diversity of options. I'm sure folks from the South Bay know some additional add-ons but if I were to start from PV at 12:30 I'd be done well before sunset even throwing in a couple of spurs.

But starting north of Santa Monica you've just got loads of choices. I have a route that traverses 5 different ways up to Saddle Peak, like 12K of climbing all within a constrained area. Or, if you're keen to ride on PCH, plenty of long steady climbs.

Traffic on a Friday afternoon is bad, no way around it. The good news is that from PV to Venice there's a long section of bike path and if you're returning on PCH the traffic is heavier northbound.

adampaiva · #64 02-13-2018, 01:07 PM

Ok that makes the choice easy then, and logistically I kind of preferred b) anyway.

cgolvin · #65 02-13-2018, 01:13 PM

OK, here you go. These all start from the bridge in Marina Del Rey that crosses Ballona Creek.

Short route (aka "the doughnut hole"): https://www.strava.com/routes/11956834

Medium route: https://www.strava.com/routes/11956899

Max climbing route: https://www.strava.com/routes/7193277

Easy adaptation of the last route: excise the detour through the shopping center and first climb coming out of PV and simply continue on Palos Verdes Drive West, you will then cross Hawthorne Blvd. (approx mile 20.6) and continue on the route.

I made the first two by altering the last one just now and it's possible that Strava did something weird with the waypoints, so don't let your GPS veto your brain. Let me know if any questions. Happy to provide additional routes through the Santa Monicas too.

AngryScientist · #66 02-13-2018, 01:27 PM

thanks cg, much appreciated.

adampaiva · #67 02-18-2018, 10:24 PM

took one of the posted routes here and did this Friday.
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/20816564
but i would recommend this slightly modified version
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26877978

Borrowed this spicy meatball which took me up Latigo Canyon. Of course work took longer than expected on Friday so then I didn't end up getting started on the ride until like 4 pm. But I wasn't gonna let it stop me and it was pretty great. I was racing against the sun and lost. I was totally unprepared for this ride as I had banked on way more free time but then work got in the way. Didn't have any water or any snacks and there was nowhere to stop after PCH. I was pretty dumb. I did think to pack a headlight, thanks god, but turned it on and battery indicator was red. Oops. Saved the juice for the descent and finished up the climbing in the dark. Then the route I mapped surprise-turned me onto some trails, which was ok, but then the trails disappeared or at least I couldn't find them in the dark with my headlight, so had to re-route on the fly. But still a blast. Can't wait to go back, which I think wont be too long.

beeatnik · #68 02-19-2018, 02:44 AM

Adampaiva, you are a brave man! And I'm not talking about that thing on your bars.

cgolvin · #69 02-19-2018, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Adampaiva, you are a brave man! And I'm not talking about that thing on your bars.

Seconded! Amazed that you found the dirt connection to Big Rock and managed it in the dark, but still probably safer than descending Tuna after sunset.

Next time, if it's daylight, stick with the original route — the Tuna descent is worth it. (It's a great climb, too, if you don't mind flouting the law, just stay alert to descending traffic.)

Oh, and for others who might want to use the route, there are water stops which I'm happy to document, just ask.

AngryScientist · #70 02-19-2018, 01:05 PM

looks good! i may do just this next week.

cgolvin · #71 02-19-2018, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

looks good! i may do just this next week.

Presumably that's during the week, but if you're here over the weekend we're welcoming a visitor from London with a Sunday ride that will traverse these roads and you'd be more than welcome. PM me if it's in the cards.

AngryScientist · #72 03-02-2018, 07:45 AM

thanks to adam for the route i sniped and did a couple days ago.

weather was cooperative, maybe a bit windy and not as warm as i had hoped, but overall, good weather for a february ride i did in bibshorts and a short sleeve jersey. left my windbreaker at the hotel accidentally and should have brought it, it would have made the descents a bit more pleasant, but no big deal.

the descent off tuna canyon road is pretty good!

rented one of the nicer bikes i've been able to use travelling. carbon tarmac with dura ace. not bad!

didnt bring the gps or any computer, so old school cue sheet was the ticket.

vertebraille · #73 03-02-2018, 07:57 AM

I'm staying in Glendale soon so most of the coastal rides posted in this thread might be a little out of reach for me. Does anyone have any routes around Griffith Park or anything north? It looks like Verdugo Mountains, Wildwood Canyon, and La Tuna Canyon are all within a reasonable distance. I'm also probably going to find a cyclocross bike to rent so off-road suggestions would be great, too.

cgolvin · #74 03-02-2018, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vertebraille

I'm staying in Glendale soon so most of the coastal rides posted in this thread might be a little out of reach for me. Does anyone have any routes around Griffith Park or anything north? It looks like Verdugo Mountains, Wildwood Canyon, and La Tuna Canyon are all within a reasonable distance. I'm also probably going to find a cyclocross bike to rent so off-road suggestions would be great, too.

If you provide some rough guidance on distance/elevation/duration I can try to put something together for you.

I don't know the connections from around Glendale like LaTuna, but would recommend that you head up into the San Gabriel mountains if possible. For example, here is a 35 mile 4K loop starting on Foothill Blvd, which you could bridge to from Glendale. If you want to add to it, turn left instead of right on Angeles Forest Highway, then right on Upper Big Tujunga, then right on Angeles Crest Highway, which will loop you back to the junction of AFH & ACH on the route. For additional elevation, there's the spur at Red Box up to Mt. Wilson.

If this sounds interesting I can also provide guidance on water stops; also beeatnik and others who know the east side better than I can, I'm sure, suggest some offroad pieces.

cgolvin · #75 03-02-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

thanks to adam for the route i sniped and did a couple days ago.

weather was cooperative, maybe a bit windy and not as warm as i had hoped, but overall, good weather for a february ride i did in bibshorts and a short sleeve jersey. left my windbreaker at the hotel accidentally and should have brought it, it would have made the descents a bit more pleasant, but no big deal.

the descent off tuna canyon road is pretty good!

rented one of the nicer bikes i've been able to use travelling. carbon tarmac with dura ace. not bad!

Nice shots, angry. Looks like you rented from Cynergy?

Tuna is indeed a fabulous descent, though a couple of friends have melted their carbon wheels on it. Glad you enjoyed your visit, hope I can join next time.