Southern California - Need route advice around LA

After a lifetime of mountain biking, all 26 years of it, I just got my first road bike. Yipee. It's a 2007 Specialized Sequoia Elite blah blah blah. I really want to take it out of a spin on a nice quiet road this weekend, somewhere in the vicinity of 30 miles or so. I live in Glendale, and would be willing to drive about an hour out of the city. Any suggestions?

Has anyone else experienced the something-is-not-quite-right sensation going from one bike type to another? I like the fact that I can go WAY faster on my new wheels, but I feel like I have 25% of the control of my mountain bike. Is this just in my head? And I really have to stop running over anything bigger than a nickel. I see a grande taco in my near future :-)

It's going to be a sunny one! See you on the road.

-Nat

it's cuz your tires are narrower on your roadie (i think)

ummm look at the san dimas/covina thread... although there's a TON of hills to ride out in glendale... i think La Tuna is a good one, but yeah, i would start in glendale first... anyone from the area want to chime in? i'd be down to ride too (after work hours... when the sun stays up longer). I work in Glendale but don't know too many roads out here :)

In glendale you can go up Verdugo...or chevy chase to the rose bowl
or even Griffith park and the la bike river trail...
La Tuna is great also...

here are some links to maps of la bike trials and routes as well as a route mapping site..

http://www.labikepaths.com/

http://www.bicyclela.org/maps_main.htm

http://www.bikemetro.com/route/routehome.asp

....or join us on any one of our rides, including the Griffith Park night rides if you have lights....:)

Natty, JPconrad provided me with the route for a ride from Griffith Park to the Rose Bowl and back that in my copious free time (yeah, right), I plan to post as a route for people to use in this area. He, some other members and I did the route in December and it's a good one (around 46 miles with 4,500 feet of climbing). You might want to try it since you are used to mountain biking and the climbs shouldn't be too drastic. Of course, you may be cursing me on Inverness up to Sacred Heart, but you'll love it once you get up there! :D

I live for hills, as long as I'm going UP them!

I live for hills, as long as I'm going UP them!
oooh...good to know cause there are many billie goats on here. :D

Has anyone else experienced the something-is-not-quite-right sensation going from one bike type to another? I like the fact that I can go WAY faster on my new wheels, but I feel like I have 25% of the control of my mountain bike. Is this just in my head?
-Nat
Forget one bike to another, I switched from heavy touring rim wheels with 28's to lighter Ksyrium Elites with 23s and I just about had a panic attack on my first fast descent. I felt like the I was going to lose control around every corner. It took me almost a month to get over that. Now of course, damn the torpedoes!

I recommend the route from Griffith Park to the Rose Bowl ME referred to. I only did I minor amount of cursing, and the views are awesome.

See ya on the road!

I live for hills, as long as I'm going UP them!

...there's always GMR...:)

Natty, JPconrad provided me with the route for a ride from Griffith Park to the Rose Bowl and back that in my copious free time (yeah, right), I plan to post as a route for people to use in this area. He, some other members and I did the route in December and it's a good one (around 46 miles with 4,500 feet of climbing). You might want to try it since you are used to mountain biking and the climbs shouldn't be too drastic. Of course, you may be cursing me on Inverness up to Sacred Heart, but you'll love it once you get up there! :D

There are many little roads going up the hills West of the Rose Bowl that are pretty fun, steep, and usually pretty devoid of traffic.

If my bike isn't acting up I'm thinking about going up to Sacred Hearts tonight.

...there's always GMR...:)

Can't get much better than that...