Southern California - Any Good Routes from Pasadena to LA ZOO?

Are there any Good Routes that people would recommend from Pasadena to the LA Zoo?

Are there any Good Routes that people would recommend from Pasadena to the LA Zoo?
Why sure, John. You could take the canyons (Descanso) to Foothill to Verdugo to Mountain to Kenneth to Senora to Victory to Griffith Park Zoo Drive. It's the ride you were on with us that day that you had on GPS, no? Or am I completely off my rocker (quite possible as I'm tired from staring at my computer all day typing graphs!)

What constitutes a "good" route. Eagle Rock is beautiful certain times of the year. Then there's always Glendale for neometro urbanites. If you like humming along in traffic, Colorado Blvd. to Glendale Ave., then south to Los Feliz and across to Riverside Drive can be nice.:D

Why sure, John. You could take the canyons (Descanso) to Foothill to Verdugo to Mountain to Kenneth to Senora to Victory to Griffith Park Zoo Drive. It's the ride you were on with us that day that you had on GPS, no? Or am I completely off my rocker (quite possible as I'm tired from staring at my computer all day typing graphs!)

Oh, I know that one. How fast was it? I guess if I don't do Sacred Hearts it would be a bit quicker... :D

I'm trying to add a few miles to the Wed ride for me. I'm a lot happier NOT driving my car and putting everything back on once I get there.

What constitutes a "good" route. Eagle Rock is beautiful certain times of the year. Then there's always Glendale for neometro urbanites. If you like humming along in traffic, Colorado Blvd. to Glendale Ave., then south to Los Feliz and across to Riverside Drive can be nice.:D

I don't know, I'm trying to balance speed with as little traffic as possible. You know, the perfect route! ;)

I'm looking for one that would take approximately an hour, if possible. I'd like roads with a little less traffic, at least going Westbound, as it would be right after rush hour that I'd be going out.

For routes to minimize traffic, I would say stay north of the 210. Personnaly I prefer Woodbury all the way to Berkshire or Foothill. If you take Berkshire, it will take you to any number of options to transition north to Foothill, or south by way of Chevy Chase, Verdugo, or Glendale Ave.. If you take Chevy Chase down to Mountain, you can follow the general route M.E. suggests, or any number of options. If you take a northern route, either by way of Foothill, or Montrose & Honolulu, you'll have to go on over to La Tuna Cyn. down to Glenoaks and back track through Burbank, unless you want to cut south via Hollywood Way or Buena Vista, neither of which is recommended due to traffic and lack of adequate curb lane. Glenoaks is pretty decent though. You can take Glenoaks around to Western, and go over to Riverside Dr. north of the zoo at the junction with Victory. A lot of options depending where you're starting from in Pasadena.

I'm thinking of finishing up with M.E.s route, but going over Linda Vista to Chevy Chase instead, then using Glenoaks to get up to Mountain.

Do you know how the traffic is on Chevy Chase at, say, 7 or so?

That's cool. I can't really comment on traffic down Chevy Chase around 7am. It could be light just guessing that most of the folks using that route into Glendale or points south probably travel a little later.

Are you coming up from Linda Vista Ave. above the Bowl, then over Lida to connect with Linda Vista Rd. on the west slope? Then using Glenoaks to Rossmoyne to Mountain?

That's cool. I can't really comment on traffic down Chevy Chase around 7am. It could be light just guessing that most of the folks using that route into Glendale or points south probably travel a little later.

Are you coming up from Linda Vista Ave. above the Bowl, then over Lida to connect with Linda Vista Rd. on the west slope? Then using Glenoaks to Rossmoyne to Mountain?

7AM? I avoid that time of day like the plague, I meant 7 pm. ;)

The Glenoaks to Rossmoyne to Mountain is what I've mapped out. I guess I could drive it and see if there's anything worth noting on it, but that would take away some of the fun.

I probably should ride it prior to one of the Wednesday rides to get an idea of the timing, though.

Do you know of any routes south of Colorado that are worthwhile?

7pm......? That part of town's all comfy at home asleep.:D

The Glenoaks, Rossmoyne, Mountain route is a nice one. Very little traffic, and nice scenery. Once you're over the hill and down Chevy Chase, going across Mountain is a jaunt, then up to Kenneth or down to Stocker over to Grandview, Sonora or Western.

Haven't come across south of Colorado, and only used Colorado during the middle of the day. Don't particularly care for that section across the bridge past San Rafael into Eagle Rock. On the other hand, San Rafael to Glenoaks at the top is a hoot. Nice views and good workout.

Don't particularly care for that section across the bridge past San Rafael into Eagle Rock.

That's the part that bothers me. I've ridden on Colorado Westbound from Ave 64 over to Patrician Way and thought I was gonna get run over and have a hard time picturing riding farther on it.

I guess I could also cross La Loma to either Colorado or Yosemite and follow that way down, too. That might be an interesting way to return since it's right off Colorado.

I've ridden Patrician around to Glen Oaks a few times and had a blast, how does San Rafael compare?

Ya, Colorado, Del Mar, California west of Lake to Fair Oaks can make your sphincter pucker a little.:eek:

Haven't tried Patrician, but just looking at a topo it looks like there may be a couple of short pulls on Patrician up to Glen Oaks that out do San Rafael & Los Altos to Glen Oaks. Probably over 18% at a couple points. Have to give it a try.

Maybe I'll get over to a Wed. night ride at the park in a couple weeks. Been wanting to do that.:)

Haven't tried Patrician, but just looking at a topo it looks like there may be a couple of short pulls on Patrician up to Glen Oaks that out do San Rafael & Los Altos to Glen Oaks. Probably over 18% at a couple points. Have to give it a try.

Maybe I'll get over to a Wed. night ride at the park in a couple weeks. Been wanting to do that.:)

Patrician's a fun ride. The last couple times I did it reversed, from Linda Vista up Glen Oaks and over to Patrician and I think I prefer that way, but it's been a couple months since I did it the opposite way and I'm a bit stronger now.

So you're in the Pasadena area too? You should come out for the Wednesday night ride, it's a fun group of riders and they're really patient when you do something stupid like hook your battery up halfassed and lose it in the middle of an intersection. :o They even wait for you!

I'm going to try and start riding it from Pasadena occasionally instead of driving, I could use the extra miles.

So you're in the Pasadena area too? You should come out for the Wednesday night ride, it's a fun group of riders and they're really patient when you do something stupid like hook your battery up halfassed and lose it in the middle of an intersection. :o They even wait for you!

I'm going to try and start riding it from Pasadena occasionally instead of driving, I could use the extra miles.


You're funny...of course we would wait for you. Personally, if you hadn't gotten your battery back on, we would have waited for you at Viva Fresh with some beers. ;) :p

Also, Chevy Chase can be bad at night if there is traffic. I don't think that they are all asleep at 7, maybe 9pm! And the deer will run out in front of you, so just take it easy on the descents. But that climb is a good one! :D

You're funny...of course we would wait for you. Personally, if you hadn't gotten your battery back on, we would have waited for you at Viva Fresh with some beers. ;) :p

Also, Chevy Chase can be bad at night if there is traffic. I don't think that they are all asleep at 7, maybe 9pm! And the deer will run out in front of you, so just take it easy on the descents. But that climb is a good one! :D

I figured you were all waiting to either watch how well I can run in cleats, or to call 911 if I got hit. :D

I'm sure the deer will run out in front of me, I seem to attract them everywhere I go in those hills. I think they can smell me coming!

Boy, it's been a while since I've seen deer south of Foothill Mary, but I don't doubt there are some around. Its those slow movin flower things with the white stripes down there backs, and the little burglar guys you gotta watch for.:D OK, so I exagerated about the folks in that part of Glendale and Flintridge. Some of them are awake until 9pm.:p

Actually I'm in Tujunga JP. I ride over to Sierra Madre frequently, and am always looking for different routes back. Occassionally I drop over to Open Road, or stop by Incycle, Performance, or Budget Pro and try different routes through Brookside. Sometimes a loop around through Sun Valley, Burbank, Glendale and Montrose.

That's a good pull up Glen Oaks from Linda Vista also. I've only gone down that section to Linda Vista, then up to Oak Grove and Foothill.