Southern California - Route Advice: Woodland Hills to Thousand Oaks.

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Pepper Grinder
06-13-08, 03:33 AM
Hello,

I'm visiting a friend in Thousand Oaks this Saturday afternoon. I was hoping somebody could give me some route advice.

I did this route once:

Route #1 - Parallel to 101 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=8283074679886275199,34.151663,-118.781258&saddr=Oxnard+St+%26+Owensmouth+Ave,+Woodland+Hills,+CA+91367&daddr=Reyes+Adobe+Rd+%4034.151663,+-118.781258+to:34.200658,-118.873787+to:Lynn+Rd+%26+W+Avenida+de+Los+Arboles,+Thousand+Oaks,+CA+91360&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=1,2&dirflg=h&sll=34.196043,-118.883958&sspn=0.014908,0.026608&ie=UTF8&ll=34.213506,-118.737488&spn=0.238484,0.42572&z=11) 23.9 mi.

but Google also suggests this route...

Route #2 through Simi Valley (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Oxnard+St+%26+Owensmouth+Ave,+Woodland+Hills,+CA+91367&daddr=Lynn+Rd+%26+W+Avenida+de+Los+Arboles,+Thousand+Oaks,+CA+91360&sll=34.155,-118.701439&sspn=0.23865,0.42572&dirflg=h&ie=UTF8&ll=34.224294,-118.746414&spn=0.238454,0.42572&z=11) 26.7 mi.

I had a good experience with route #1; clear low-traffic roads until Thousand Oaks Blvd., a cute little arterial I didn't mind going through. However, it's my style to mess with good things, so I figured maybe I could add a few miles and see some interesting sights if I take route #2, but I won't bother if somebody tells me it sucks.

Thoughts?

awiner
06-13-08, 04:10 AM
#2 adds climbing Santa Susana however you will deal with more traffic through Simi. If you haven't done it before, give it a try for something new.
stevesbike
06-13-08, 08:40 AM
I would advise against riding on Topanga Canyon Blvd. Take a look at the Simi Valley Ride route map on socalcycling.com if you're interested in smaller roads along route 2. The weather forecast sounds like it's going to heat up this weekend so you may want to factor heat into the routes as well.

Socalcycling
06-13-08, 10:17 AM
1 there 2 back
ken cummings
06-13-08, 11:42 AM
Could some of the Santa Susanna Pass road be avoided by using Box Canyon?
nesdog
06-13-08, 11:47 AM
I use route 1 all the time as I commute from Agoura to West Hills. It's way shorter than going through Simi with less climbing. Only thing to watch for is Mureau at the moment, where road construction (a bike lane!) is being done.

Other than that, it's fine.

Sheldon
nesdog
06-13-08, 11:48 AM
Could some of the Santa Susanna Pass road be avoided by using Box Canyon?

Box Canyon would be my least favorite jump; lanes are narrow, it's very steep and the road surface sucks.

sheldon
bhammer
06-13-08, 11:50 AM
I would advise against riding on Topanga Canyon Blvd. Take a look at the Simi Valley Ride route map on socalcycling.com if you're interested in smaller roads along route 2. The weather forecast sounds like it's going to heat up this weekend so you may want to factor heat into the routes as well.

Topanga isn't that bad is it? I ride it all the time. Is there a specific hazard you know of ? Or just don't like the traffic?
umd
06-13-08, 04:05 PM
Mulholland Highway (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=401561147546711004,34.100160,-118.662560&saddr=Oxnard+St+%26+Owensmouth+Ave,+Woodland+Hills,+CA+91367&daddr=Mulholland+Hwy+%4034.100160,+-118.662560+to:34.098728,-118.808556+to:Lynn+Rd+%26+W+Avenida+de+Los+Arboles,+Thousand+Oaks,+CA+91360&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=12&via=1,2&dirflg=h&sll=34.154925,-118.74478&sspn=0.254843,0.357742&ie=UTF8&z=12)

I think it was Christmas time I rode from Westlake to Woodland Hills along the 101 route, and back via Mulholland. I would link to the motionbased data, but it seems to be down now.
big john
06-13-08, 04:22 PM
Could some of the Santa Susanna Pass road be avoided by using Box Canyon?

Santa Susanna is fine, Box Canyon sucks.
Bone
06-13-08, 05:18 PM
I prefer to stay off Thousand Oak Blvd and take Agoura Rd instead. It changes to Hampshire in Westlake, and just before the freeway I turn left on Willow(next to TO Bike Shop), drop under the freeway and cross TO Blvd continuing straight on Old Conejo School Road to a left on Hillcrest and a right on Moorpark and your back on track.
umd
06-13-08, 05:25 PM
I prefer to stay off Thousand Oak Blvd and take Agoura Rd instead. It changes to Hampshire in Westlake, and just before the freeway I turn left on Willow(next to TO Bike Shop), drop under the freeway and cross TO Blvd continuing straight on Old Conejo School Road to a left on Hillcrest and a right on Moorpark and your back on track.

T.O. Blvd and Agoura Rd are fairly similar east of Westlake Blvd. I'll usually take Agoura because that's closer to where I'm coming from (in-laws).