Southern California - Route help (PV Switchbacks)

I'm trying to make a route that takes me and my new tandem partner to the switchbacks in Palos Verdes. Could those of you who live and ride in the area give some feedback on this route? Are there better roads to take? Thanks in advance.
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/-marina-del-rey/875629462794

By tandem do you mean a tandem bike or a partner that just rides along with you? How are you two at climbing?

I do that loop on a regular basis through PV. If you aren't to great at climbing and don't want to bust your balls too much I'd reverse the loop around PV. In other words take PV Dr. North (heading east), make a right on PV Dr. East (this is the climb heading south), make a right on PV Dr. South (heading west), and this will eventually turn into PV Dr. West which will take you back to the beach.

Heading North from the South side of PV up the switchbacks on PV Drive East is one of the harder climbs in the area. Taking it from the North side headed south it's a lower grade, but a little longer. Plus descending down those switchbacks is a blast. :thumb: Much more fun than heading down the North side because there's about a mile section where you're actually climbing which kind of sucks. It's nice on the way up because it kind of gives you a break and you can easily do 30+mph on that section heading up.

If you're an animal looking for climbing take the route you have there, also at the top of PV Dr. East there is Marymount College, one of the very few stop lights on PV Dr. East so it's hard to miss, if you head up Crest Rd at that light. this will take you to a dead end and the highest public road in PV. Also a gorgeous view, I'd recommend it.

Other than that it's a gorgeous area and I'm sure you'll love riding through there.

Yes, a tandem bicycle. If you recall a post made by a visually impaired rider about a month ago, I answered it and we did a 30 mile test run last weekend and seem to work well together. I like climbing and have ridden the switchbacks in that direction before by myself. She claims to have done some climbing (on a tandem) including Colorado Springs and is interested in doing more climbs and eventually a century, so this ride is to test the waters on how well we climb together. Pending our performance there for a few rides, we will then try a route up Latigo and Old Topanga, still a bit tame compared to some of the routes I've done.

Anyway, I'm not too concerned about the PV portion. What I want to know is if I chose good, safe streets to get there and back from her place.

Your route is good if you want to add a little more when you get up the switchbacks go up Crest Rd. to the end and back down then head back out to PV north as you did go to Silver Spur turn left go up to Hawthorne turn right back down to PV West turn righ and head back it will add lots more to the climbing.

Yes, a tandem bicycle. If you recall a post made by a visually impaired rider about a month ago, I answered it and we did a 30 mile test run last weekend and seem to work well together. I like climbing and have ridden the switchbacks in that direction before by myself. She claims to have done some climbing (on a tandem) including Colorado Springs and is interested in doing more climbs and eventually a century, so this ride is to test the waters on how well we climb together. Pending our performance there for a few rides, we will then try a route up Latigo and Old Topanga, still a bit tame compared to some of the routes I've done.

Anyway, I'm not too concerned about the PV portion. What I want to know is if I chose good, safe streets to get there and back from her place.

That's very cool!

That's awesome what you're doing!

Those routes are plenty safe, but just like any place you can get the usual idiot in a cage. Tons of group rides and people take that exact route every weekend. One of the largest rides around here the "donut ride" takes that almost exact route and the group can get very large, also a lot of the casual riders like to reverse the loop. Like I mentioned I do that exact loop and throw in Crest Rd on a regular basis alone. There really aren't any tight shoulders or too scary sections.

Since you guys like climbing I say take that exact route except when you get to Marymount college at the top of the switchbacks make a left at the light on Crest Rd. and take that all the way to the dead end. Then come back down and finish the rest of the route. The view is worth it. :thumb:

I would take Paseo de la Playa instead of PV Blvd to get to the PV peninsula. It's more of a steep hill (but it sounds like you're not looking to avoid those), but is a much safer street than PV Blvd on that stretch. PV in that stretch has no shoulder, crappy pavement, and buzzing vehicles.

Also, I would do the short detour on Paseo del Mar off of PV West (the 2nd P del Mar, not the first one when you just get on the peninsula. Great views, and can blow through the few stop signs, whereas that is not recommended on PV West.

Also, I disagree with wcoastbikr -- counterclockwise is the safer way to climb the hill (the switchbacks). The other way, going up from PV Drive East, there is no, or less, of a rideable shoulder, there are a few blind corners where soccer moms will buzz you too closely, and the pavement is iffier. Sometimes when the wind is right, that way gives much less headwinds, but you definitely trade off safety. I always climb much faster that way, but mainly out of fear.:D

On the way back, a brief detour up Westvale/Sunnyridge off of PV Drive East will yield one of the steepest roads you'll ever encounter (as is the shorter Ganado off of the switchbacks.)

I would take Paseo de la Playa instead of PV Blvd to get to the PV peninsula. It's more of a steep hill (but it sounds like you're not looking to avoid those), but is a much safer street than PV Blvd on that stretch. PV in that stretch has no shoulder, crappy pavement, and buzzing vehicles.

Also, I would do the short detour on Paseo del Mar off of PV West (the 2nd P del Mar, not the first one when you just get on the peninsula. Great views, and can blow through the few stop signs, whereas that is not recommended on PV West.

Also, I disagree with wcoastbikr -- counterclockwise is the safer way to climb the hill (the switchbacks). The other way, going up from PV Drive East, there is no, or less, of a rideable shoulder, there are a few blind corners where soccer moms will buzz you too closely, and the pavement is iffier. Sometimes when the wind is right, that way gives much less headwinds, but you definitely trade off safety. I always climb much faster that way, but mainly out of fear.:D

On the way back, a brief detour up Westvale/Sunnyridge off of PV Drive East will yield one of the steepest roads you'll ever encounter (as is the shorter Ganado off of the switchbacks.)
I completely overlooked that part with PV blvd. Definitely take Paseo De La Playa, stay off of Palos Verdes Blvd until you get to the top of that street. The 2006(?) TOC took that road up and around, it's much safer but a little steeper than PV Blvd. As for Paseo Del Mar, I wouldn't bother. If you're not familiar with the area you might get lost. It is a little safer, and a little less traffic but I take PV Dr. West all the way skipping that, plus the shoulders have plenty of space imho. I'll take Paseo Del Mar in larger group ride because well...they're large and I'm usually sitting in the back following. lol

As for heading South on PV Dr. E, I agree that it is a little narrower and the streets aren't as nice but I still feel it's plenty safe. I've been up that way countless times and on my hill repeat days PV Dr. E both the front and back side is what I do. The reason I mentioned it was because it is much easier imho going up that way than it is going up the switchbacks. But since he said he likes climbing definitely take the switch backs up. I'm in Torrance so I'm coming from the North side of the hill and that's actually the road I take up to go riding through PV.

Thanks for all the help... and fast responses, too! This ride is still probably weeks away but I got all my answers in a few hours. I'll definitely look into Paseo de la Playa, and if we feel up to it at the top, we'll try Crest for some more climbing. Thanks again!

I would take Paseo de la Playa instead of PV Blvd to get to the PV peninsula. It's more of a steep hill (but it sounds like you're not looking to avoid those), but is a much safer street than PV Blvd on that stretch. PV in that stretch has no shoulder, crappy pavement, and buzzing vehicles.

I do Calle Miramar to Camino de Ecanto instead of Paseo de la Playa. It's a false flat halfway up and my fat butt usually needs the break.

I do Calle Miramar to Camino de Ecanto instead of Paseo de la Playa. It's a false flat halfway up and my fat butt usually needs the break.
I thought about mentioning Camino de Ecanto because it's not as steep but he said he likes to climb. I like Paseo de la Playa, it's a nice steep hill to warmup on before a hard ride though PV.

I grew up riding in the South Bay. Most of these are residential climbs that overlook either the Pacific (views from Long Beach, Catalina Island, up towards Santa Monica) or overlooking the LA basin. Great climbs are:

[a] from Malaga Cove Plaza -> Via del Monte, Granvia Altamira

[b] off of PV Dr W -> Via Coronel, Via Zurita, Via Fernandez, Via Coronel (again), Paseo la Cresta

[c] PV Dr S to PV Dr E, Crest Rd (to the observatories, high side on E side of PV, these are the switchbacks)

[d] off of PV Dr N -> Eastvale, Sunnyridge (Sunnyridge is one nasty climb, by far the hardest one on this list)

[e] from top of [a] or [b], Ridgegate, Highridge, Whitley Collins (high end on W side of PV)

[f] from Malaga Cove Plaza -> Via Campesina, Rolling Meadows Rd, Silver Spur Rd, Montemalaga, Granvia Altamira

[c] PV Dr S to PV Dr E, Crest Rd (to the observatories, high side on E side of PV, these are the switchbacks)

[d] off of PV Dr N -> Eastvale, Sunnyridge (Sunnyridge is one nasty climb, by far the hardest one on this list)

They're actually radars not observatories, run by LAX...just fyi. :thumb:

Have you done Ganado Dr. off of PV Dr. East which takes you to Crest Rd. That is one tough climb. Is Sunnyridge harder? I've never done it before, I'm going to have to try that on my next ride.

Have you done Ganado Dr. off of PV Dr. East which takes you to Crest Rd. That is one tough climb. Is Sunnyridge harder? I've never done it before, I'm going to have to try that on my next ride.
No. I'll have to check that out next time I ride in PV ... which may be a long time (that sucks).

FYI, Sunnyridge is a dead end. Eastvale starts at PV Dr N and Sunnyridge tops out about the same elev as the Peninsula center. Have a good ride on it.