Southern California - suggested Ride from Santa Monica

I'm coming into town for a couple of days, and staying in Santa Monica. Can anyone give me a suggestion on a route? Would love to do somewhere about 50 miles on Tuesday morning, starting from near Shutters.
Thanks in advance for the help.

Do you want climbing? Please say yes.

North on Pacific Coast Hwy
(R) Latigo Cyn
U-turn at the top
(L) Pacific Coast Hwy

North on Pacific Coast Hwy
(R) Latigo Cyn
U-turn at the top
(L) Pacific Coast HwyThat's mean...:p:D

That's mean...:p:D

He could have said Decker. Or he could have left out the u-turn and brought him back Decker!

He could have said Decker. Or he could have left out the u-turn and brought him back Decker!I was mostly referring to the hairy PCH part of the ride....:D

I was mostly referring to the hairy PCH part of the ride....:D

Ha. Yea, that too.

So, you jump on PCH from Ocean Avenue?

Does PCH provide enough shoulder for riders? How about Latigo? I'm riding on Tuesday morning, and not knowing the roads, I was curious about safety.

Thanks for the input!

If you're going north from Santa Monica towards Latigo, take the beach path as far as it goes. It'll end at Temescal Canyon where you jump on PCH. From there, there are a few very tight spots in the first couple of miles until you hit Topanga Canyon where it opens up except for around some construction spots. It's not a lot of fun when the traffic is heavy, but once you get past Pepperdine it's really nice. Nice big rollers til you get to Latigo. I don't think it's very dangerous, but many don't like riding PCH at all.

If you're not comfortable in traffic with sections of road where cars are moving 40+, you should head south to Palos Verdes. It's also beautiful, and has really nice climbs.

I'm good with traffic being from NY and all...

You're referencing the beach path where all the skaters, walkers, etc that's right on the beach?




If you're going north from Santa Monica towards Latigo, take the beach path as far as it goes. It'll end at Temescal Canyon where you jump on PCH. From there, there are a few very tight spots in the first couple of miles until you hit Topanga Canyon where it opens up except for around some construction spots. It's not a lot of fun when the traffic is heavy, but once you get past Pepperdine it's really nice. Nice big rollers til you get to Latigo. I don't think it's very dangerous, but many don't like riding PCH at all.

If you're not comfortable in traffic with sections of road where cars are moving 40+, you should head south to Palos Verdes. It's also beautiful, and has really nice climbs.

You're referencing the beach path where all the skaters, walkers, etc that's right on the beach?

right out the back door of shutters.

you can cut out *some* of the highest speed PCH insanity by taking the beach path to the light at Temescal Canyon. Just follow the path north (west) until it goes through a torn-up parking lot, then seems to end near a traffic light.

If you want insane climbing, and less PCH transit time, you could climb Tuna Canyon to Saddle Peak, then Schuren to Rambla, right turn then climb until it becomes Piuma, then right on Cold Canyon to Mulholland to Stunt to Saddle Peak back to Tuna, then PCH to the bike path and home.

Not sure about the total mileage, but should be ~4500+ft of climbing and 2.5 -3 hr ride.

If you want insane climbing, and less PCH transit time, you could climb Tuna Canyon .

Tuna's one way down.

Tuna's one way down.

And that's a problem? The OP did say he was from New York no? :D

you could head south to PV like ronjon stated. less traffic, a nice long flat section into PV then hit up the loop around palos Verdes. hills, downhills, flats, everything. its at least a 50 mile ride.

It took 10 posts, but someone finally got a NY razz in there! Longer than I expected!

The 'head south to PV' suggestion means driving down to PV, correct? No can do, as I've got a meeting in Playa del Rey at 1:00pm and I cannot imagine making it down to PV and back + a ride.

I think it's the PCH north ride, guys. Maybe I'll see you out there....

Cheers,



And that's a problem? The OP did say he was from New York no? :D

My preference is to head south along the beach bike paths then do a loop around the Palos Verdes Hills and maybe a detour to/stop at the Nike Missile site or go as far as White Point, Fort MacArthur in San Pedro.

Inland routes can be fun. Go east on Sunset Blvd then north on Temescal Canyon Fireroad. Can go as far as you want before turning around or go all the way to the city of Topanga (need to take some side streets, but carry a map with you...there are some dead ends if you take the wrong turn and its miles back to the crossroad aka The Hub) and go down Topanga Canyon Road to PCH. It's a ride thats better suited for a group than solo since you are riding through a couple of state parks.

The 'head south to PV' suggestion means driving down to PV, correct?


no. you can take the bike path on the beach in santa monica south through venice to marina del rey. turn left and hit the city streets for a short distance around the marina then back onto the beach bike path through el segundo, manhattan, hermosa, and redondo beaches before you hit palos verdes.

it is very easy to do.

Here's a google link of Marina Del rey

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=90291&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=33.975503,-118.448968&spn=0.025766,0.059395&om=1

The beach path from Santa Monica ends and turns inland at Washington to get around the Marina. The path around the Marina picks up between Oxford and Admiralty way it's pretty obvious. It'll dump you on Fiji way. At Fiji way, the path picks up again where it ends in that circle. Just head towards the ocean, cross the bridge and your on your way. Eventually you'll want to get on Catalina which will take you right into Palos Verdes.

+1 on riding to PV and back. I just don't care for PCH through Malibu.

I just don't care for PCH through Malibu.


+1

Santa Monica to the base of the PV hill is a flat 22 miles. The PV Loop, where you can get some climbing in, is another 24-or-so miles, so you're looking at more than 50 miles there.

If you can still do so, head south on the bike path and thread your way through Marina Del Rey, as described. Remain on the bike path and pass the Manhattan Beach Pier, until it spits you out onto Hermosa Avenue. Instead of following the signs back to the path, you'll be able to keep your speed up by staying on Hermosa Avenue until you get to Redondo (you'll get a few stop signs, but its better than dodging pedestrians). Make a left at Beryl, which will take you right to Catalina (if you need to refuel here, there is Triathlon Lab store at this corner). Take Catalina for a mile or so to The Esplanade, which would be cool because that is where the Tour of California raced last year.

Follow the Esplanade and hang a right at Paseo de la Playa, still hugging the coast. You'll start ascending and it will end at Palos Verdes Blvd. Hang a right. Stay on the right as the road curves, descending into Malaga Cove.
You can refuel there and start the loop, which is basically: Up Palos Verdes West, rollers on Palos Verdes North, switchbacks on Palos Verdes East, and rollers again on Palos Verdes North, ending up back at Malaga Cove. (Yeah, we're not very creative with the names over here). The scenery is spectacular.

(Yeah, we're not very creative with the names over here). But it sounds exotic when it's Spanish. Avenida Segundo sounds so much nicer than Second Street.

Tuna's one way down.

which means there are no cars going uphill, and very little traffic coming down. 100 yards after you leave the PCH, you feel like you've left the city behind, and entered a wilderness area.

when I go out the PCH i can't seem to stop until I get to Santa Barbara. Bike just says no.

when I go out the PCH i can't seem to stop until I get to Santa Barbara. Bike just says no.What bike do you ride?

Fixer. In the summer a Klein road bike, in the cooler months a Surly Cross check. With a little luck we will get back to Fallbrook for awhile before school starts up for the Fall term. Gonna have to fly in one of my bikes along with me tho .