Southern California - Latigo, Kanan and Piuma ride and pics

I took a ride up Latigo this afternoon and took a few pics along the way. I started at the park across from Pepperdine. Weather and temps could not have been more perfect with clear blue skies and mid 70's temps along the coast. A bit of a breeze coming from the north/west, but that's pretty typical of the Malibu coast. I went up in record time (for me) at a little over an hour for the 10 mile course. 1hr, 4 minutes to be exact. The return trip included a descent down Kanan Dume, then back to my car along PCH. I felt good the whole ride, despite a fairly intense climbing workout yesterday.

Heading back to Topanga in my car around 5pm, the southbound drive on PCH proved to be a living hell, so I opted to wheel the car around and go the back way up Las Flores and down Piuma to Mulholland. Taking advantage of near perfect lighting, I stopped a few times along Piuma to snap some photos of the surrounding hills that are green with life.

A young deer walked in front of me near the top of Latigo and I just missed snapping a picture of it. Awww.

Here's a home foundation along Latigo that remains a victim of the October '07 fires.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/latburnhome.jpg

Near the top of Latigo. Ready for the flight down.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/latigofly.jpg

A view along Kanan Dume.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/kanandume3.jpg

The 8% grade warning sign wasn't kidding. Just coasting you can reach speeds up to 40 mph.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/kanadume.jpg

Two views along Piuma.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/piumaview2.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f140/michsis/piumaview3.jpg

KiddSisko,

Beautiful shots with the ocean in the background. It looks like some of the cols in the South of France. I've never been up there, but always wanted to try. I'll going to make it up there in May.:)

KiddSisko,

Beautiful shots with the ocean in the background. It looks like some of the cols in the South of France. I've never been up there, but always wanted to try. I'll going to make it up there in May.:)

Thanks! You won't be disappointed with the riding, that's for sure. Bring some friends! I'll join in.

Sometime toward the end of April I'm heading up Baldy via GMR. Then in June I'm heading south for a Palomar venture. A cycling friend of mine living in Temecula is tired of hearing about my fitness progress and climbing exploits and has agreed to join along for Palomar. Like me for most of my life, he too has avoided climbing, prefering to stick to the flat roads. He lives in cycling heaven down there with so many nice climbs all around him! It's time he gets a taste of that nectar, and hopefully I'll awaken the mountain goat in him.

Heading back to Topanga in my car around 5pm, the southbound drive on PCH proved to be a living hell, so

haha, welcome to the jungle . this city SUCKS for traffic.

Thanks! You won't be disappointed with the riding, that's for sure. Bring some friends! I'll join in.

Sometime toward the end of April I'm heading up Baldy via GMR. Then in June I'm heading south for a Palomar venture. A cycling friend of mine living in Temecula is tired of hearing about my fitness progress and climbing exploits and has agreed to join along for Palomar. Like me for most of my life, he too has avoided climbing, prefering to stick to the flat roads. He lives in cycling heaven down there with so many nice climbs all around him! It's time he gets a taste of that nectar, and hopefully I'll awaken the mountain goat in him.

If you do GMR, you gotta do it with the mayor of gmr--Mr. Beanz. He'll entertain you with his gmr exploits while you're slogging up the hill. And he'll point out the regulars up there. By the time you know it you're at GRR and all the hard work is done.:p

I'm going to try to join BCI when they go down to Palomar. Always wanted to do that one too.

If you do GMR, you gotta do it with the mayor of gmr--Mr. Beanz. He'll entertain you with his gmr exploits while you're slogging up the hill. And he'll point out the regulars up there. By the time you know it you're at GRR and all the hard work is done.:p

I'm going to try to join BCI when they go down to Palomar. Always wanted to do that one too.

My first trip up to Baldy village via GMR/GRR was exceptional last April. I was alone, but not alone, if you know what I mean. Lots of cyclists out there that day. I had a wonderful meal at the village inn, and I got a guided tour of the inn property by an exhuberant local. I hope to repeat last year's ride, but go further up to the ski lifts. "Hope" being the operative word regarding the lifts. Depends on how I feel once up there. If it works out to ride up with Beanz, I'm game.

What's BCI? You'll love Palomar. It's very woodsy and scenic the whole way up. And you get a fine meal at the top. Can't beat that!

speaking of latigo climbing times, anyone know a good website which lists out records?

I've done 38:36. Best I've seen was mid-37's, but I've heard of pro's doing it in the low 30's.

I've done 38:36. Best I've seen was mid-37's, but I've heard of pro's doing it in the low 30's.

do you define the end as the first summit or the second summit?

Second

My first trip up to Baldy village via GMR/GRR was exceptional last April. I was alone, but not alone, if you know what I mean. Lots of cyclists out there that day. I had a wonderful meal at the village inn, and I got a guided tour of the inn property by an exhuberant local. I hope to repeat last year's ride, but go further up to the ski lifts. "Hope" being the operative word regarding the lifts. Depends on how I feel once up there. If it works out to ride up with Beanz, I'm game.

What's BCI? You'll love Palomar. It's very woodsy and scenic the whole way up. And you get a fine meal at the top. Can't beat that!

BCI is the bicycle club of Irvine. They're doing training rides for "Ride Around the Bear" which I'm doing inJune. So I thought I would crash one of their rides. http://www.bikeirvine.org/other-rides.shtml

I did the Tourmalet in Sept. 08 and people have told me Palomar is similar, but the way you describe it, sounds like it's prettier. Tourmalet is a moonscape on top with bad tourist trinkets and food.

BCI is the bicycle club of Irvine. They're doing training rides for "Ride Around the Bear" which I'm doing inJune. So I thought I would crash one of their rides. http://www.bikeirvine.org/other-rides.shtml

I did the Tourmalet in Sept. 08 and people have told me Palomar is similar, but the way you describe it, sounds like it's prettier. Tourmalet is a moonscape on top with bad tourist trinkets and food.

Here's a thread of mine from October of '08 about my first trip up Palomar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=474078). Pics are included to give you an idea. The heart of the climb for most is to stop at the first main intersection, where you'll find (after turning turn left) the resturant and post office. You can continue up to the observatory, which I haven't done yet.

Here's a thread of mine from October of '08 about my first trip up Palomar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=474078). Pics are included to give you an idea. The heart of the climb for most is to stop at the first main intersection, where you'll find (after turning turn left) the resturant and post office. You can continue up to the observatory, which I haven't done yet.

Kidd, great write-up and pics. Very descriptive. You write well. After reading that, I definitely want to go in May.:)