I just moved out to burbank, and finally got out to ride yesterday. I woke up too late to go with the 8:45 griffith park ride so I went out and ventured into Griffith's park to see what i could find. I hadn't been motivated to get out and ride because honestly it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot locally to ride (90% of my riding has to be at 6 am for two hours before work).
The first part of my ride was great, i climbed to the observatory, but then when i came down i totally got lost and ended up in hollywood riding roads that were way to congested and ended up slipping and falling in some sewage, it really made me not want to get back on the bike again, at least around here. I really can't stand the idea of riding in LA is the conclusion I came too, Griffith's park was great but seemed limited.
Any of you guys got any advice on what to do to stay motivated, I'm so used to riding next to the beach and up in the hills.
Maybe some locals have some ideas as to where i could head to thats close to burbank.
prendrefeu
03-31-08, 11:10 AM
You may consider having this thread moved to the SoCal subforum.
My motivations: the hills in the area - you can do about 10k of climbing in less than 62 miles if you find the niche routes. Look into the residential areas of Hollywood/BeverlyHills... and up into Malibu/Agoura Hills. Get lost, get found. You'll find small hills WITHIN nestles of the mountains that have grades of more than 20% and are of the perfect length to do intervals on. (There's one perfect spot near the Hollywood Resevoir... killer little incline for repeats/training and you have to climb a bit to get there! It's near the dog park.)
Take a look at mapmyride.com for local routes/suggestions. See what's rated the highest.
Riding in the LA area is some of the best in the country - and even if you occasionally face vehicular traffic, you're usually faster than them so it turns out to be lots of fun. In fact, some of my riding partners love that part of it: after 60 or so miles of intense climbing, the last 10 miles of the day can be spent weaving through stopped traffic... hehe suckers :D
photonick
03-31-08, 11:55 AM
I got stuck on Cahuenga Pass and just really didn't like the feeling, I don't mind dealing with some traffic and i love the hills around LA but i'm just trying to avoid dealing with Hollywood LA traffic, it depresses me to ride in the city.
photonick
03-31-08, 11:56 AM
If any mod could move this to the right place i'd appreciate it.
Avalanche325
03-31-08, 12:44 PM
There are tons of rides around. Head towards Pasadena on the weekends and there are rides everywhere. I have lived in CA FL and VA in the last few years. I have found cycling in the LA area to be the best. The Montrose ride is on Sat. You have to be fairly fast just to hang on. If you get dropped you are on your own.
Lots of coffee shop rides go out on Sun. Stan's bike shop in Monrovia is a no drop, social ride. A small group hammers it out from the bike shop to the coffee shop.
What kind of ride are you looking for? I am sure that we can hook you up.
I work in Burbank, and it the most congested place around here besides downtown LA. I rarely even go in there for lunch because the traffic and parking sucks. And what's up with those diagonal streets?????
voltman
03-31-08, 12:45 PM
If any mod could move this to the right place i'd appreciate it.
I'll move it. Maybe you'd like to change your "Location" while you're at it.
roadfix
03-31-08, 12:51 PM
You just need to do more urban riding. Areas around Burbank and Hollywood are tame compared to other areas in LA.
merider1
03-31-08, 12:51 PM
Hey Photonick, welcome. :)
Oh, you, sir, just need to get up into the canyons at Griffith Park. And if you're sick of it over there, try going out of Burbank (by bike) over to the Descanso Gardens and the canyons around there. Lots of stuff to climb and views. You just use Senora to get up to Mountain, over to Verdugo, up to Foothill and you are right there! You may want to consider a night ride up to the Observatory in GP as well. The canyons are stunning at night, quiet and if you have a good group, it's a lot of fun.
Now, get your butt out there! :D
curiouskid55
03-31-08, 01:05 PM
North on Glenoaks. Right on La Tuna . Right on Verdugo. Right on Glenoaks. Repeat as needed. PM me when you are free and I will give you the guided tour.
Socalcycling
03-31-08, 01:07 PM
just ditch griffith park. its total crap. head east, north, or west and you'll have fun
curiouskid55
03-31-08, 01:12 PM
Griffith park is great for training. Little hills for drills and the bikeway for intervals.
roadfix
03-31-08, 01:20 PM
The observatory also makes for a perfect posing stop.
MarkAJ
03-31-08, 01:24 PM
Connect up with HerbM or me. We both ride from Burbank all the time. Usually Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday night. We can get you lost better than yourself. And after you know the routes you can drop us.
merider1
03-31-08, 01:29 PM
Connect up with HerbM or me. We both ride from Burbank all the time. Usually Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday night. We can get you lost better than yourself. And after you know the routes you can drop us.
Oh, yeah, the HILL HAZING ride. :D
If you want REAL motivation, go join these men on their Wednesday night climb-fests. ;)
big john
03-31-08, 01:30 PM
Join up with Herb on his B2B ride on April 26th. You'll have a great time and there are no cars.
merider1
03-31-08, 01:44 PM
Join up with Herb on his B2B ride on April 26th. You'll have a great time and there are no cars.
Are you coming? :D
herbm
03-31-08, 02:53 PM
Are you coming? :D
Yeah John....
It should be way warmer and dryer!!
urbanknight
03-31-08, 04:00 PM
North on Glenoaks. Right on La Tuna . Right on Verdugo. Right on Glenoaks. Repeat as needed.
+1 Then extend it passed Verdugo to include Descanso and Chevy Chase, then maybe out further.
photonick
03-31-08, 04:02 PM
Thanks for all the help guys. As far as urban riding goes its not that i can't handle the traffic its that i just don't want to handle it, i just don't like riding in that environment, i like sticking to the canyons and mountains.
voltman
03-31-08, 04:04 PM
Okay, how about that "Location" tag now?
merider1
03-31-08, 04:26 PM
Voltman, I think it belongs here.
Photonick, if you want canyons with few cars, the canyons above the Rose Bowl are not highly trafficked most days and certainly not on weekends. Otherwise, you're stuck driving somewhere - and I'd suggest GMR/AC/Mount Baldy. But, Burbank IS urban and if you want to ride your bike from home, you will have to deal with cars.
photonick
03-31-08, 04:27 PM
I don't mind riding through burbank that was fine it was when i get stock up in hollywood on cuhenga and such.
merider1
03-31-08, 04:32 PM
I don't mind riding through burbank that was fine it was when i get stock up in hollywood on cuhenga and such.
Well, I'm not sure where you are in Burbank, but there are better roads than others to get you to GP and beyond. Cahuenga is a death strip and I try to avoid it.
photonick
03-31-08, 04:41 PM
I live off of hollywood way and i rode that too riverside basically and then just started taking stabs at getting into griffiths park (I haven't had internet in my new place so i couldn't plot routes) I ended up getting to the observatory which was awsome but i stupidly assumed I could keep going around the park back to burbank without getting on cahuenga and los filez. I just want to find nice areas to ride in the area that would be suitable for 2 hour rides i could do before work that don't end up on traffic death strips.
merider1
03-31-08, 04:47 PM
Okay, well, I'd suggest Riverside and Victory as your main streets for getting to GP. Victory can be scary at the FWY entrance and going into the park, so be sure you are as visible to drivers as possible. But it's a short skip into the park. Once there, you can either go toward travel town or left toward the museum, but two hours of riding (and good riding) can be found there. I don't know how you got to the observatory, but basically, if you get up past the gates and climb, you'll avoid traffic altogether and you can loop around in there. If you can, googlemap it or googleEarth to see the roads up there. The only other way is to ride with someone who knows Griffith Park and can show you different ways to loop around. As for Hollywood Way - you're just stuck, unfortunately!
MarkAJ
03-31-08, 04:47 PM
I live off of hollywood way and i rode that too riverside basically and then just started taking stabs at getting into griffiths park (I haven't had internet in my new place so i couldn't plot routes) I ended up getting to the observatory which was awsome but i stupidly assumed I could keep going around the park back to burbank without getting on cahuenga and los filez. I just want to find nice areas to ride in the area that would be suitable for 2 hour rides i could do before work that don't end up on traffic death strips.
The Glock 103 starts in Burbank and goes into the moutains. Bring your camera and see you on April 13th.
photonick
03-31-08, 04:51 PM
I don't mind doing hollywood way, its not so bad but getting caught on cuhenga just caught me by surprise.
merider1
03-31-08, 05:04 PM
The Glock 103 starts in Burbank and goes into the moutains. Bring your camera and see you on April 13th.
That's a hard 100 miler isn't it, Mark?
herbm
03-31-08, 05:05 PM
I don't mind doing hollywood way, its not so bad but getting caught on cuhenga just caught me by surprise.
Yeah thats bad....Barham is no bargain either....
But there are great roads around here.....
GP is awesome...no matter what some others say....
You do the observatory...MT hollywood dr....even into the hollywood sign and up thru Beachwood cyn and over to lake hollywood...
Also you can easily ride up to the Rose bowl and the great hills around pasadena....
Join in on any of the local rides and you will learn this area in no time..
and for a sunday recover, we ride with the San Fernando Valley Bike CLub
www.sfvbc.org
great people...may ride options...
merider1
03-31-08, 05:05 PM
I don't mind doing hollywood way, its not so bad but getting caught on cuhenga just caught me by surprise.
Cuhenga blows and don't get me started on parts of Moorpark. I utulize Riverside, but it's always tricky at that interesection where the road splits. Of course, I'm coming from a different direction than you are.
herbm
03-31-08, 05:06 PM
That's a hard 100 miler isn't it, Mark?
Yup...approx 6k elevation....
But I am going to ride it also....:eek:
photonick
03-31-08, 05:08 PM
I'm happy to ride with anyone who will take me, if you guys give me the information about your rides i'll definitely show up when i can! I'm much more open to busy streets when im with a group ride...if that makes any sense.
merider1
03-31-08, 05:48 PM
I'm happy to ride with anyone who will take me, if you guys give me the information about your rides i'll definitely show up when i can! I'm much more open to busy streets when im with a group ride...if that makes any sense.
Perfect sense. Always safety in numbers. I'm hoping to get the GP night ride back up and running. Schedules and work keep affecting it, but maybe this week. You should come join on one of those. ;)
merider1
03-31-08, 05:48 PM
Yup...approx 6k elevation....
But I am going to ride it also....:eek:
Well, that and the PACE. You boys hammer...:D
herbm
03-31-08, 05:59 PM
Well, that and the PACE. You boys hammer...:D
Thats was on SGRT....no way this is a hammerfest....I would die after 30 miles...
They did that to me last wed....30miles,,no rest (cause I was last)...
I need to pace myself for this...
herbm
03-31-08, 06:03 PM
I'm happy to ride with anyone who will take me, if you guys give me the information about your rides i'll definitely show up when i can! I'm much more open to busy streets when im with a group ride...if that makes any sense.
PM markaj for details on the Glock103...and they also do a wed night ride....
Also check for ride threads here...
I am doing the SGRT on april 26th....
merider1
03-31-08, 06:05 PM
PM markaj for details on the Glock103...and they also do a wed night ride....
Also check for ride threads here...
I am doing the SGRT on april 26th....
And there are NO cars on this ride. :)
photonick
03-31-08, 06:12 PM
I really want to check out La Tuna i've heard alot about it, i didn't know i was close to it.
herbm
03-31-08, 06:15 PM
I really want to check out La Tuna i've heard alot about it, i didn't know i was close to it.
They are doing that this wed....up La Tuna then thru Montrose to the Rose Bowl
This is an awesome ride!
You will need lights!!
photonick
03-31-08, 06:24 PM
What time on wed? And what lvl is this ride?
herbm
03-31-08, 06:27 PM
they usually roll at 6:30 from the Northern Burbank area
I am not going...so I think the pace will be a bit more...
Not sure what level...maybe 3...
photonick
03-31-08, 06:34 PM
I work mon-fri 9-6 but maybe i'll try and show up for that.
MarkAJ
04-01-08, 03:10 PM
Expected rain will cancel this Wednesday nights ride. Please join us in the future.
huboon
04-01-08, 05:09 PM
Learn your way through the serpentine streets of the Hollywood Hills. Google Earth will show you the way. You can go from Fern Dell in Griffith Park all over to Cahuenga and Mulholland without touching any street bigger than Beachwood. There are steep little hills all through there, especially around the reservoir.
bones
04-02-08, 02:44 AM
LATE BREAKING NEWS - MOUNT HOLLYWOOD DRIVE
Last thursday the road from travel town up to at least the landfill was a TRUCK EXPRESSWAY. I was passed by 15 or more double semis hauling dirt up there, you may want to check with the ranger by phone before attempting to get over to the observatory on a weekday.
photonick
04-02-08, 02:48 PM
Where exactly is La Tuna Canyon?
MarkAJ
04-02-08, 03:40 PM
I did not make these maps nor can I say I have ridden these exact routes, but probably have. La Tuna Canyon is part of each ride I listed here. La Tuna Canyon is in Sun Valley from Sunland Blvd. to the 210. I suspect since you are focused on GP this is north of you.
GP / La Tuna Canyon Ride (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-angeles/690044497)
GP via La Tuna Canyon to the Rose Bowl (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-angeles/317591761)
La Tuna Canyon (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-angeles/218468901)
La Tuna Canyon from Glendale (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/los-angeles/732297839)
If you want to do 50-60 miles with 4,000 ft climbing this Saturday (all approx.) let me know and I will hook you up to ride with us.