Southern California - Night Rides - Anyone? Anyone?

Nightride: Wednesday, October 18th: meet at the Pickwick Bowling Alley Parking lot on Riverside Drive, We will can take off from there down Riverside to Victory and into the park (which, by the way, is the only area that will have traffic. Once inside Griffith Park, and certainly up into the canyon, there will be next to zero traffic). The address to the alley is: 1001 W Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91506-3212. Here is a map to give you an idea of location:
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=27228&thumb=1&d=1160778505 (http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=27228&d=1160778505)
(when looking at this map, please note that we will be turning right on Zoo drive not left - so ignore the red indicator to the Zoo)

Just so you know, Pickwick is 2.2 miles from the entrance of GP (Zoo Drive) which will give those of us driving a bit of a warm up before we start climbing. If you are riding over and do not want to meet at Pickwick, please just be at the corner of Zoo Drive and Forest Lawn Drive (Travel Town) between 8:00 and 8:10 a.m. (call me on my cell phone to receive ETA if you'd like).

Any of the above. I like La Cabanita, and haven't been there since the club got too big to hold our meetings there. It's a nice ride from the RB to there at night.

Next week is bad, and I think all the october weekends are bad for me (except the 8th and maybe the evening of the 15th. Weeknights after the 8th are ok (except for 10/20-28)

Any of the above. I like La Cabanita, and haven't been there since the club got too big to hold our meetings there. It's a nice ride from the RB to there at night.

Next week is bad, and I think all the october weekends are bad for me (except the 8th and maybe the evening of the 15th. Weeknights after the 8th are ok (except for 10/20-28)

Even with the private room in the back..that is around the corner...we walk there for lunch all the time!
great chips and salsa!!!

We were filling up the back room for quite a while, and then the club suddenly got huge when a couple other local clubs folded and the back room was standing room only, and you had to be very friendly with your neighbors...

Even with the private room in the back..that is around the corner...we walk there for lunch all the time!
great chips and salsa!!!
great margaritas too! :D

We were filling up the back room for quite a while, and then the club suddenly got huge when a couple other local clubs folded and the back room was standing room only, and you had to be very friendly with your neighbors...


wow...thats big!!

I have rides on the weekends for a while, but during the week I can generally swing a ride. My only concern is travel time as I live and work in the OC and heading north SUCKS!

First person that agrees to these rides that lives in the OC needs to carpool with me so we can take the HOV lanes.

great margaritas too! :D

cool...haven't tried them...I cant work too well after a margie at lunch!
But I am thinking of having our company xmas party there!! and good margies are critical!!

cool...haven't tried them...I cant work too well after a margie at lunch!
But I am thinking of having our company xmas party there!! and good margies are critical!!
Hey now...I didn't say anything about Margie or how good she is. :lol:

Keep an eye out for the Bad Idea Ride, held on the third friday of five-friday months.

This month's (past):
http://bikeboom.com/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=17&date=20060922

Post-ride write-up:
http://community.livejournal.com/bikepirates/2391688.html

Route (changes):
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=454396

Hey now...I didn't say anything about Margie or how good she is. :lol:


Ya got me there!!! :D

I have rides on the weekends for a while, but during the week I can generally swing a ride. My only concern is travel time as I live and work in the OC and heading north SUCKS!

First person that agrees to these rides that lives in the OC needs to carpool with me so we can take the HOV lanes.

Yeah, during the week will be tough connecting the North and South BFers because of rush hour traffic. :o Is there a ride path/route that could be a compromise (in between)? Alternatively, we could do a Thursday night and start a little later and then the Montrose ride or GMR would be better. That a way, if it runs late, we only have Friday to get through!

Keep an eye out for the Bad Idea Ride, held on the third friday of five-friday months.

]

yeah...no. I said night rides not MIDnight rides. ;)

I ride quite a bit at night.. With the warm weather lately it has been very pleasant.. The time will be changing soon, so it will be mostly night rides for me during the week.. I am actually heading out for a ride at 7pm.

I ride quite a bit at night.. With the warm weather lately it has been very pleasant.. The time will be changing soon, so it will be mostly night rides for me during the week.. I am actually heading out for a ride at 7pm.
Where do you ride?

I live in Claremont, but ride in the Pasadena area often.. I think GMR is a nice night ride but you have to be extra careful on the descent.. It is very dark on GMR at night..

M.E., some of the guys in the club do some night mtb rides after the clocks change, and some of the women go to the velodrome on weeknights. I'm thinking I might join the mtb rides if I can leave work a little early.

M.E., some of the guys in the club do some night mtb rides after the clocks change, and some of the women go to the velodrome on weeknights. I'm thinking I might join the mtb rides if I can leave work a little early.
Hey John - if you ever want to ride at night on the road with me, let me know. I don't mtbike simply because I don't own one (well, that and I'm chicken, too :p ). I'm considering the velodrome, at least to check it out for the heck of it. But I love to ride at night on quiet or empty roads.

I think GMR is a nice night ride but you have to be extra careful on the descent.. It is very dark on GMR at night..
You know that's a good point. I definitely wouldn't want to do it unless there was a full moon, and come to think of it, even then it might be incredibly dark. That would make for a very slow descent (for me anyway). But in Griffith Park, even when it's really dark, it's not so bad going down. Of course, there is more light in that area since it is so close to Burbank. I suspect GMR is pitch black!

What about midnight ridazz? (www.midnightridazz.com)

I've been wanting to do that for months. Just hasn't fit into my schedule yet (Doesn't help matters that I'm so far from LA.).

Most of my night rides consist of commuting home after the time change...

What about midnight ridazz? (www.midnightridazz.com)


I've heard of it. But you know, I'm really wanting a ride that starts earlier in the evening, like around 7:00ish. For me, midnight is too late, unless for a specific, gorgeous area (i.e. a canyon ride). I need my beauty sleep (in a big way). :)

What about midnight ridazz? (www.midnightridazz.com)

I've been wanting to do that for months. Just hasn't fit into my schedule yet (Doesn't help matters that I'm so far from LA.).

Most of my night rides consist of commuting home after the time change...
A friend at work does the Ridazz. He got home at 4:00 after the last one, says it's one big party.

I'm in on Thursdays,but I live and work in the OC. I've been thinking about doing a night ride down SART. My wife and I did a MTB night ride on the Fullerton Loop last Thursday.

I ride at night all the time, let me know if you ever want to ride with me. I usually dont do more than 40 miles at night though :X

I suspect GMR is pitch black!

With a full moon it's not bad-- I actually liked it better with full moon and no lights on the descent than with lights. With the lights on you can only see where the light is, and not really at all outside the beam. Without lights you can see the road pretty clearly (different shade of dark) and see the turns from farther back. But I'm kind of nuts.

I ride at night all the time, let me know if you ever want to ride with me. I usually dont do more than 40 miles at night though :X
Where do you ride? You're in the Northride area, right? Which is very near me. 40 is plenty at night. :D

But I'm kind of nuts.
Yes, well, nice to meet you, fellow nut. :p However, I will confess that the thought of descending without lights terrifies me. I've had a back tire blow out on that road. There is some debris up there although not as much as GP canyons.

I only Mountain bike at night, no road night rides for me.
Hey, but if you ever get a mtn bike, my all girl mtn bike club will be having weekly night rides
starting next week!!

Careful on the road at night!!
Karen :)

Hey, but if you ever get a mtn bike, my all girl mtn bike club will be having weekly night rides
starting next week!!


Thanks, Karen :) But I'm petrified of mtbiking. Some friends took me to Marshall Canyon this past February to introduce me (I borrowed one of the women's extra bikes) and I hated it. The climbing I was all over, but the "single-track" descent stopped me cold (I had to walk the bike down it). Of course, it didn't help that it was so muddy in places and slippery. I fell a couple of times and just didn't dig it. I'm a road priss. :D

Thanks, Karen :) But I'm petrified of mtbiking. Some friends took me to Marshall Canyon this past February to introduce me (I borrowed one of the women's extra bikes) and I hated it. The climbing I was all over, but the "single-track" descent stopped me cold (I had to walk the bike down it). Of course, it didn't help that it was so muddy in places and slippery. I fell a couple of times and just didn't dig it. I'm a road priss. :D
Yeah, single track can be difficult, day or night. But there are a lot of non-single track MTB routes out there.

Yeah, single track can be difficult, day or night. But there are a lot of non-single track MTB routes out there.
Yes, you are correct and I've been encouraged to try it again. I'm just being a big baby. Plus, it is so darn hard to pull me away from my road bike! (so many rides, so little time...) :D

I did the IAAL/MAF ride last night (good ride, nice route) and was thinking about this very thing, a regular weeknight ride around SGV/SFV. Glad you posted it.

#1-#3 all sound good to me. I'm in for just about anything in 213/626/818 and maybe even 310, as long as it's not behind the Orange Curtain (all the good rides seem to be down there but it's just too far to drive in the PM). There's also the lower LA river bike path, the Culver City to Redondo path, Rio Hondo path, San Gabriel River path, etc. if you want something off the streets. If a semi-regular group forms maybe take turns doing the route plan <insert evil laugh>.

Kar3368: Single track at night is a total blast. Can men come too?

However, I will confess that the thought of descending without lights terrifies me.

It's just like skiing bumps in a whiteout...

It's just like skiing bumps in a whiteout...

yes, but ski resorts try not to have gigantic cactus covered cliffs off to the side... single track does :eek:

yes, but ski resorts try not to have gigantic cactus covered cliffs off to the side... single track does :eek:

some people have no sense of adventure...

I did the IAAL/MAF ride last night (good ride, nice route) and was thinking about this very thing, a regular weeknight ride around SGV/SFV. Glad you posted it.

#1-#3 all sound good to me. I'm in for just about anything in 213/626/818 and maybe even 310, as long as it's not behind the Orange Curtain (all the good rides seem to be down there but it's just too far to drive in the PM). There's also the lower LA river bike path, the Culver City to Redondo path, Rio Hondo path, San Gabriel River path, etc. if you want something off the streets. If a semi-regular group forms maybe take turns doing the route plan <insert evil laugh>.

What is the IAAL/MAF ride? Just curious. :)
Well, I'm going to shape up at least one ride here soon (still in info gathering stage - thus, this thread), but I would love to get a regular weeknight night ride going. As it is now, I ride laps around the RB at least once/week ("kill me, it's so boring") and up a little into those canyons around there. But without a partner or group, those roads can be a little dangerous.
Oh, and people taking turns designing a route would be fine by me <insert evil laugh with a snort or two>

yes, but ski resorts try not to have gigantic cactus covered cliffs off to the side... single track does :eek:
Single track in the dark??? :eek: No way, no how, ain't going happen for this rider ever! That's just suicide.

I only Mountain bike at night, no road night rides for me.
Hey, but if you ever get a mtn bike, my all girl mtn bike club will be having weekly night rides
starting next week!!

Careful on the road at night!!
Karen :)


All girl my bike club ya say.:p

Single track in the dark??? :eek: No way, no how, ain't going happen for this rider ever! That's just suicide.


Not suicide, just plain fun.:D

Kar3368: Single track at night is a total blast. Can men come too?[/QUOTE]

Hey! Yes! we have guys in our club too, as long as they don't mind riding at
our pace! BUT I don't do single track at night, well I haven't yet.
Here is our website!
www.dirtchix.com

What is the IAAL/MAF ride? Just curious. :)
Well, I'm going to shape up at least one ride here soon (still in info gathering stage - thus, this thread), but I would love to get a regular weeknight night ride going. As it is now, I ride laps around the RB at least once/week ("kill me, it's so boring") and up a little into those canyons around there. But without a partner or group, those roads can be a little dangerous.
Oh, and people taking turns designing a route would be fine by me <insert evil laugh with a snort or two>

I found the IAAL/MAF ride on the BikeBoom calendar (http://bikeboom.com/webcalendar/month.php). IAAL/MAF is an acronym for (horrible misquote) International Association of Armed Librarians/Mission Attack Force. Or something not even remotely similar to that.

I too do laps at the RB, and that's exactly what I always think when I'm there (until I got smoked by a grrrl last Tuesday night anyway. Hey, I was already tired and .. and .. and ... ;)). It is a good place to just be mindless and work on pedal stroke and cadence though. But even the RB would be more fun doing a paceline or something with a group for a quick 20 or 30 after work.

(until I got smoked by a grrrl last Tuesday night anyway. Hey, I was already tired and .. and .. and ... ;))

MERider, you should learn to be nicer to people you pass them, you never know who it will be!

MERider, you should learn to be nicer to people you pass them, you never know who it will be!
:roflmao: I'm rolling around laughing my you-know-what off because trust me, I'm not smoking anyone at the RB. That would be those peloton folks! But thanks for the vote of confidence, Extort. :p

Where do you ride? You're in the Northride area, right? Which is very near me. 40 is plenty at night. :D


Yea I start from my house which is about 2-3miles from CSUN and then I just make up a random route and ride it. Sometimes I'll do the medium 2-3 rated rides from SFVBC and do those but at night its hard to read the route slip so I'll just memorize about where it goes and then do it.

Let me know if you want to ride sometime ^_^

Yea I start from my house which is about 2-3miles from CSUN and then I just make up a random route and ride it. Sometimes I'll do the medium 2-3 rated rides from SFVBC and do those but at night its hard to read the route slip so I'll just memorize about where it goes and then do it.

Let me know if you want to ride sometime ^_^
Definitely! :) I'll PM you my cell number. I can't next week since I'm flying out on Friday. I'm going to need my evenings to get ready for my trip. But the following week? Mondays don't work, but most any other evening, I'm game.

Night ride sounds like fun

Just started to ride again after quite a few years off once im in shape to keep up with ya's im game.
cyclecoder.

I'll be commuting in the dark early tomorrow morning. Thinking about Old Topanga to Topanga to PCH to San Vicente to UCLA campus.

Hi all,

Started riding at night after work. Usually I try to leave my house around 9 pm, riding from Echo Park out to Travel Town in Griffith Park and return home on the LA river bike path. If im feeling energetic, I'll try the climb up the Observatory, or ride further out to Warner Studios. Depending on where I decide to go, it takes me between about 1 to 1.5 hrs. to do the ride. 3-4 weeknights.

hiya kids....i work at universal studios and used to ride griffith at night a few nights a week, its a good place to do night rides! im off work around 0730 most nights and would be way into hooking up with whomever before i start my commute back to van nuys....im good to go most nights!!