Southern California - The Westside/South Bay Thread

The Westside/South Bay Thread
Okay, it seems like eveyone else has their own regional thread, so it’s about time we have ours. From Malibu (hi Ronjon!) and Santa Monica to the Marina, Redondo to Palos Verdes – post your comments, suggestions, questions, ride links, gossip, photos and everything else that happens near the west-facing beaches. 310’ers unite!

P.S. I’m still working on this OP, so PM me with stuff I forgot.


Local Clubs and Teams:

Beverly Hills Social Climbers (via email list only)

Beach Cities Cycling (http://www.beachcitiescyclingclub.com/) (club)

Cynergy (racing team)

Dockriders (http://www.dockriders.com/) (club)

Ironfly (racing team)

Marina del Rey Cycling Club (http://www.mdrcc.org) (club)

Peninsula Cycle Club (http://www.peninsulacc.org/) (club and racing team)

Shifting Gears Cycling Club (http://www.shiftinggearscycling.com/shiftinggears/Home.html) (club)

South Bay Cruisers (http://www.southbaycruisers.com/Southbay%20Cruisers/Welcome%20.html) (recreational night rides)

South Bay Mountain Biking Club (MTB)

South Bay Wheelmen (http://web.mac.com/kitkarzen/SBW/Home.html) (club and racing team)

Team Helen’s (http://www.teamhelens.com/) (racing team)

UCLA Cycling Club (http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/cycling/index.htm) (collegiate team)

Velo Club LaGrange (http://www.lagrange.org/) (club and racing team)

West L.A. Cycling Club (http://www.wlacyclingclub.com) (club/beginner-to-intermediate)


Rides and Routes:
(Non-club rides only. For club rides, check the links above – most of them will include non-members)

Donut Ride (Original Version) (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/93180) – Saturday 8:00am
Donut Ride (Hilly Version) (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Donut-Ride-Version-2-0) – Saturday 8:00am
Fast group of 50-100+ riders riding through rolling hills on PV West and climbing PV East switchbacks. Sometimes the group comes back up the other side of PV East for a hilly ride, sometimes circles around San Pedro for more sprints. 35-45 miles. Original version has about 2700 feet of climbing; Hilly version has about 4700 feet of climbing. Meets in S. Redondo at the corner of PCH and Avenue I.
***Donut Ride Incident 3/1/08 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=6326425&postcount=1)

Kettle Ride - Sunday 7:00am
Starts in Manhattan Beach, reaches MDR at 7:30 and proceeds up PCH. It officially ends at Cross Creek, but some ride farther up PCH.

Pier Ride - Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30am
Flat and fast. Meets at Manhattan Beach Pier and ends with sprints around the marina. 30 miles.

Holiday Ride – Every holiday at 8:00am
Hundreds of riders meet at the corner of Highland Avenue and Manhattan Beach Avenue. Social pace, then a race to the top of Mandeville Canyon

Santa Monica-to-PV Loop (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Liquid-Fitness-training-ride)
Moderate: 60 miles/3000 feet. Scenic, some high-traffic areas, lots of rollers, one moderate climb

Happy's Longer-Harder PV Loop (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Longer-Harder-PV-Loop)
Intermediate: 54 miles/5500 feet. Periodic steep grades 13%+.


Bike Shops

Aviation Cyclery (http://aviationcyclery.com/), Manhattan Beach
Giant, Felt, GT, Schwinn

Bike Palace (http://thebikepalace.com), San Pedro
Specialized, Trek, Lemond, Orbea, Redline

Bill Ron's Bikes (http://billronbikes.com), Torrance
Fixed wheel and track racing bikes

Cynergy (http://www.cynergycycles.com), Santa Monica
Specialized, Time, Felt, Bianchi, Ridley

Helen’s (http://www.helenscycles.com), Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica and Marina del Rey
Cannondale, Cervelo, Colnago, Litespeed, Trek, Pinarello...

i.Martin (http://www.imartin.com/), West Hollywood
Sister store to Helen's

The Old Bike Shop (http://www.theoldbikeshop.com/), Hermosa Beach
De Rosa, Colnago Merckx (coming soon), Litespeed (coming soon)

Palos Verdes Bicycle Center (http://pvbike.com/index.cfm), Palos Verdes
Specialized, Terry, KHS, Look

Smith's Cycles (http://www.smithscycle.com/), Lomita
Giant

Ted’s Manhattan Cycles (http://tedsmanhattancycles.com), Manhattan Beach
Calfee, Bianchi, Time, Fuji, Colnago (coming soon)

Triathlon Lab (http://triathlonlab.com), Redondo Beach
Cervelo, Felt, Kuota, Orbea, Quintana Roo

Triathlete Zombie (http://triathletezombies.com), Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica
Guru, Jamis, Look
** ROAD BIKE RENTALS **

Wheel World (http://wheelworld.com/), Culver City
Giant, Specialized, Kona

Splitter

Did you check with Dan and Greg for permission to post this?

No Sunday bagel ride?

um...excuse me. I don't have a Sherman Oaks thread. Or a Valley thread. :rolleyes:

I'm boycotting this thread! :p

um...excuse me. I don't have a Sherman Oaks thread. Or a Valley thread.

Where's the valley?

Where's the valley?

over the rainbow, speedo

:D

I believed there is also the Beach Cities Cycling Club. Meet on Sat and Sun.
http://beachcitiescyclingclub.com/ (http://beachcitiescyclingclub.com/)
sponsor by Aviation Cyclery. I believed they are less intense but a nice group of riders.

My rides are mostly in the 323/818/626 areas.

EDIT: and don't forget Malibu. Malibu is in 310. And it's along the ocean.

She didn't forget Malibu, she maliciously dissed us. Perhaps we should start our own Topanga thread, then we'll see how she feels being excluded.

She didn't forget Malibu.

Fixed.

um...excuse me. I don't have a Sherman Oaks thread. Or a Valley thread. :rolleyes:

I'm boycotting this thread! :p

Nothing is stopping you from creating your OWN thread, Mary. I don't see the Eastside anywhere, either.

Jeesh. And considering the pull you have with the OP it'd probably be easy. Call in a favor from your BF BFF for cry eye..:p

And considering the pull you have with the OP

Ahem. ME doesn't have "pull" with me.

Maybe a nice "push" every so often... :p

Here's a tidbit we picked up yesterday:

Rock Racing's training camp will be in Malibu starting mid-January. Will Tyler Hamilton be there?

Is there a ride that starts out of Marina Del Rey and heads north on PCH to Trancas and back? If so, please indicate time and place of start. Thanks.

Is there a ride that starts out of Marina Del Rey and heads north on PCH to Trancas and back? If so, please indicate time and place of start. Thanks.
The Sunday South Bay Kettle Ride starts in MB at 7:00am, and rolls down Fiji Way in MDR at 7:30. It officially ends at Cross Creek, but there’s always peeps who continue to Trancus, Latigo, The Rock, etc. I hook on at Fiji most Sundays.

Here's a link to all the SB rides: http://web.mac.com/kitkarzen/SBW/Rides.html

On X'mas day I'll be riding my cruiser from the downtown area to Torrance. What's the quickest, most direct route? Vermont? Western? Major blvds preferable as long as the roads are clean and smooth rolling. I need to reach near the corner of Sepulveda/Hawthorne. Thanks!

405 North to 10 East. :p Just be careful by pedaling in the slow lane.

Make that Topanga/Calabassas so they won't complain.

Speaking of Topanga, even though it appears to be just two of us who participate on BF, I think Topanga should be included within this thread's original community listing. For one thing, it is 310, we have a south facing beach, and we're well represented by the number of rides through here. To be included on so many rides (all the way from the SFV and even SV!) and not be a part of the community listing is just not nice and it's not fair. Malibu got in! We should be in too!

Topanga should be in, we have our own bike shop and everything. I don't want any part of the calabasians though. To be honest, they freak me out man.

I don't want any part of the calabasians though.


Those Calabasians are as bad as the Andorians.

(But not quite as bad as the Bolians)

Those Calabasians are as bad as the Andorians.

(But not quite as bad as the Bolians)



Well, just as long as they're not Big-Endians!

Nothing is stopping you from creating your OWN thread, Mary. I don't see the Eastside anywhere, either.

Jeesh. And considering the pull you have with the OP it'd probably be easy. Call in a favor from your BF BFF for cry eye..:p

:lol: "pull you have" on the OP. My dear, I only wish I could pull on that OP right now. ;) :p

And wait a minute...YOU can't use my cry eye! For cry eye, you haven't even met me! :D

Maybe a nice "push" every so often... :p


Oh is that what we're calling it? :p

I need a good route to get to Torrance.

I need a good route to get to Torrance.

I'm going to be working on that this week and I'll get back to you.

A few more clubs:

http://www.shiftinggearscycling.com/shiftinggears/Home.html

http://www.wlacyclingclub.com/

http://www.mdrcc.org/

PS: Don't forget Helen's MDR

If your talking about downtown LA to Torrance, I've done that a couple of times. According to the MTA's bike route map see http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/la_bike_map.pdf. I have taken Main Street to Broadway and then cut over to Prairie or Van Ness and then ridden those down into Torrance. Traffic shouldn't be a big issue on Christmas Day so I think on that day you could probably take other streets fairly easily but once you get out of downtown I would recommend Prairie since it has a bike lane in much of Torrance and has less traffic than some of the bigger through fares. Hope this helps but check out the MTA's map for alternative routes.

I'm going to be working on that this week and I'll get back to you.I need it by X'mas morning! :D

If your talking about downtown LA to Torrance, I've done that a couple of times. According to the MTA's bike route map see http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/la_bike_map.pdf. I have taken Main Street to Broadway and then cut over to Prairie or Van Ness and then ridden those down into Torrance. Traffic shouldn't be a big issue on Christmas Day so I think on that day you could probably take other streets fairly easily but once you get out of downtown I would recommend Prairie since it has a bike lane in much of Torrance and has less traffic than some of the bigger through fares. Hope this helps but check out the MTA's map for alternative routes.Thank you! :)

As of today I'm officially scratching Stunt Road off my list of climbs to conquer. A bit tough in spots, but very sweet. And the views up top - wooowww.

Good going, Kidd! :) I love Stunt except when it's really hot outside. Then it can be a miserable climb since there is little to no breeze up there. But otherwise, it's one of my favorites (along with Latigo).

Wheel World in Culver City, Performance, Bike Attack and Bicycle Ambulance in Santa Monica. Bikes & Books in Culver City. I. Martin in West Hollywood.

Are there any daytime Westside rides that:

A) don't start at the crack of dawn?

and

B) don't involve climbing every peak in LA and travelling at breakneck speeds?

In other words, where do I meet up with the amateurs/underachievers? ;)

In other words, where do I meet up with the amateurs/underachievers? ;)

You might want to try the WLA Cycling Club, jc.

BTW... We're all amateurs and underachievers. We can't even win primes (well, maybe Speedee can) and we spend far too much time posing at coffee shops. :p

A bit nipply at the top

Yeah, I know how the girls can be in cold weather.

Yeah, I know how the girls can be in cold weather.

I can see that, oops, I mean I understand.

Wheel World in Culver City, Performance, Bike Attack and Bicycle Ambulance in Santa Monica. Bikes & Books in Culver City. I. Martin in West Hollywood.

Are there any daytime Westside rides that:

A) don't start at the crack of dawn?

and

B) don't involve climbing every peak in LA and travelling at breakneck speeds?

In other words, where do I meet up with the amateurs/underachievers? ;)

I'm definitely in the underachiever category but I don't live on the Westside anymore and don't generally make it out there too often to ride. I tend to stay closer to my home (San Gabriel River Trail, East LA Downtown LA) I believe that one of the gentlemen who posts here often...hi Cassave...likened organizing cyclists to organizing cats. That's about it. There really isn't an online "central clearing" area to go and find out about ALL the different rides in LA. You end up going to several websites/calendars. I think that the BikeBoom calendar was originally an attempt to centralize rides/events and it would be great if there were more daytime/road rides listed there on the pulldown tab for road rides...but there isn't. I'm not sure why that is.

Anyone see the luscious waves at Rat Beach today??? Holy Moly... 6-8 feet and tubes that went on forever! I stopped on my ride and had to watch for 15 minutes, all agog.:eek:


it would be great if there were more daytime/road rides listed there on the pulldown tab for road rides...but there isn't. I'm not sure why that is.

Could be because a lot of roadies belong to regional clubs and they already have established rides. There are a ton of stuff I did not post in the OP because they are club-sponsored rides.

Joy, would you hate me if i started an "Inland Empire Thread"? :D

Joy, would you hate me if i started an "Inland Empire Thread"? :D

No. I hate you because you have nicer legs than I do.

Awesome! ;)

Anyone see the luscious waves at Rat Beach today??? Holy Moly... 6-8 feet and tubes that went on forever! I stopped on my ride and had to watch for 15 minutes.....or were you posing and just pretending watching the waves...:p

.....or were you posing and just pretending watching the waves...:p

I can't do both?

Also known as Torrance Beach. It's at the south edge of Redondo, where the parking lot is before you start heading up the hill into PV.

OK, tomorrow's Waddling Wounded Century is on!

In order to get ME her final CAM requirement, the Fat and the Injured will be departing Torrance at 7am and cruising through MDR/Santa Monica before returning to the Peninsula for a couple of loops around PV. If you see a rotund panda, a loudmouthed blonde, Assos Man and a guy with a red Serotta and helmet mirror, be sure to give a shout out. :)

OK, tomorrow's Waddling Wounded Century is on!

In order to get ME her final CAM requirement, the Fat and the Injured will be departing Torrance at 7am and cruising through MDR/Santa Monica before returning to the Peninsula for a couple of loops around PV. If you see a rotund panda, a loudmouthed blonde, Assos Man and a guy with a red Serotta and helmet mirror, be sure to give a shout out. :)

You mention fat like it's a bad thing ... :p

Anyone see the luscious waves at Rat Beach today??? Holy Moly... 6-8 feet and tubes that went on forever! I stopped on my ride and had to watch for 15 minutes, all agog.:eek:



Could be because a lot of roadies belong to regional clubs and they already have established rides. There are a ton of stuff I did not post in the OP because they are club-sponsored rides.

I didn't but my wife thought if would be fun to send me pictures of them while I was working. It was torture cause I didn't want to be at work anyway. I knew I should have called in sick today.:mad:


RAT beach = Redondo And Torrance.
Unless you're from Torrance
Then we call it TAR beach. Torrance And Redondo. :D

OK, tomorrow's Waddling Wounded Century is on!

In order to get ME her final CAM requirement, the Fat and the Injured will be departing Torrance at 7am and cruising through MDR/Santa Monica before returning to the Peninsula for a couple of loops around PV. If you see a rotund panda, a loudmouthed blonde, Assos Man and a guy with a red Serotta and helmet mirror, be sure to give a shout out. :)

:lol:

I have to change my title again...:p

Oh, and nice try. :rolleyes: rotund panada, my ass!

You're missing my favorite bike shop... The Bike Shop in Hermosa Beach... It's on Pier Ave right next door to the french crepe place. They have high end road bikes, components, et cetera. Great service and prices. You should definitely check them out.

Where is Rat Beach? Never heard of it.


R.A.T. Beach = Right After Torrance Beach

It's the area after the homes along Torrance beach and before the PV beach club. The wave is a slow left on the outside then curls up like standard beach break on the inside.

I do not recommend falling down stairs as the best way to prepare for a century. Even a flattish, easy one.

Hurting.... :(

anyone riding tomorrow? Specifically @ PV area?