Southern California - Coming to Malibu or San Dimas in March to train. Which is best?

Hi folks,

My team is coming to the Malibu area in March to train for a week. But right now we are considering racing the San Dimas Stage Race, which may mean we'd have to spend the whole week in San Dimas to train due to logistics.

The question I ask you - which location is better for riding - Malibu or San Dimas? What is the traffic like in both areas? What are the routes like?

So far we are leaning towards Malibu because it also has a "vacation" feel to it. We'd probably end up with a pretty swanky vacation rental home. But if staying in San Dimas is just as nice and offers the same amount of climbing and training, we might as well do that and finish the week off with the stage race. But I expect that San Dimas is just a big, crowded suburb of LA.

Ten guys are awaiting your thoughts!

Thanks,


Rob

Tough choice Rob! I guess all things considered, I would go for Malibu, but not for the "vacation" feel. In Malibu you can ride up PCH for flat miles, and should you get the urge to climb there are many climbs (of various inclines and intensities) to pick from. Or, hey, you've got a week, you could probably do them all.

Don't miss Deer Creek, Decker and Latigo!

How 'bout you spend three or four days in Malibu and then head for San Dimas? Is that an option?

Lots of great climbs in the San Dimas area, plus you could do GMR/GRR (Glendora Mountain Road to Glendora Ridge Road) and Angeles Crest (CA Hwy 2) depending on weather conditions and snow levels. Of course, snow would not be a problem in the Santa Monica Mtns. (in Malibu).

If I were coming from MN this time of year, lets face it, either one would be excellent!

Rick / OCRR

Malibu for sure. There are great rides near San Dimas, but Malibu has some of the country's most spectacular beachside scenery and legendary climbs (described above).

You'll be convinced when you look out onto to vast Pacific and the gorgeous Malibu beachside scene (rural, actually) from 1400+ feet up en route. It's really spectacular.

Hi Rob,
I live in san Dimas and race for the team that hosts the San Dimas Stage Race. Part of why I live where I do is because of all of the great riding available. From my door, I can ride to hour long climbs in 20 minutes. I can ride to the coast in less than 2 hours. I can head east and ride miles of flats if I want. I have done very limited riding in the Malibu area (a couple of training rides and a couple of races), so I can't comment to the riding in that area. If you are looking for a vacation feel, San Dimas may not give you what you want. There are a couple of nice hotels, but I wouldn't suggest it as a vacation destination.

From a pure training camp/ vacation perspective you'll probably enjoy Malibu more. It's got more of a 'California vibe' that you're probably expecting. On the other hand SDSR is a large, well run race and the nearby training is very good. The variety and views are better in Malibu but the climbing is just as good if not better near San Dimas.

Not taken in San Dimas.

Not sure about Malibu, but I would assume traffic is worse there. Here in San Dimas it's only bad around rush hour. If you're worried about money, I bet Malibu is more expensive then San Dimas.

I would say San Dimas is a much better place, then again I am biased.

Malibu means you'd be riding in the Santa Monica mountains, in March. Perfect conditions and no expected problems with the roads.
San Dimas in in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains which just suffered a huge fire last fall. Some of the roads are still closed because of it.

Depending on how wet our winter and spring is (Feb. is our rainiest month) there may be sizable mudslides in the burn area that could cause a lot of new road closures above San Dimas.
In any case, Malibu and San Dimas are only an hour drive apart.

Malibu means you'd be riding in the Santa Monica mountains, in March. Perfect conditions and no expected problems with the roads.
San Dimas in in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains which just suffered a huge fire last fall. Some of the roads are still closed because of it.

Depending on how wet our winter and spring is (Feb. is our rainiest month) there may be sizable mudslides in the burn area that could cause a lot of new road closures above San Dimas.
In any case, Malibu and San Dimas are only an hour drive apart.

Yeah - actually, your best bet may bet to live in cheaper San Dimas and bike in Malibu from time to time if you're budget constrained. The hour drive isn't bad on the weekend or off-hours.

Or you could do the reverse (what I'd do!) - live in Malibu, ride the PCH & climbs, and if you want to mix it up, drive out to San Dimas and beyond (Mt Baldy!) for more.

Thanks for all the input.

So many choices!

Seems like Malibu might be the way to go, as there will be no road closures/snow/mud slides/etc. And it's Malibu.

Not taken in San Dimas.

Well that settles it.

It's hard to compete with Malibu but here's another option for you...Murrieta, CA.

If you're coming a week early your team can race in the 3 day Tour de Murrieta as a warm up for the SDSR. You can then train for a week in & around Murrieta before heading off to San Dimas. The Murrieta/Temecula/Fallbrook area has some of the best riding in So Cal with very little traffic. There are many beautiful routes that range from pancake flat to Mt. Palomar. (There is also a few casinos & and some excellent wineries).

Just a thought.

If climbing is a big focus, then go to San Dimas. GMR. Mt Baldy, Hwy 39, Crystal Lake, it's all there

If climbing is a big focus, then go to malibu. topanga, fernwood, stunt, piuma, mulholland, latigo, encinal, decker, deer creek, los flores, tuna, malibu cyn, yerba buena, it's all therefixed.

fixed.

The San Gabriel Mountains are bigger and offer longer mountain rides at higher elevations. they are probably both equal in steepness. However, you can't ride above 3000 feet in the Santa Monicas.

There really isn't much to see in Malibu and during March it might not be all that sunny and beach type weather. Its not like you can jump right in the ocean and have fun. The nightlife is further down the coast. But you will be training. Even the good restaurants aren't in Malibu.

Pepperdine University is in Malibu and its a real nice campus. It actually has lodging accommodations because of their Graduate Business School. You might call them to see if your team can stay in their facilities.

http://www.villagraziadio.com/accommodations/

This is awesome... not even the locals can agree!

Garfield - thanks for the housing rec! We are looking to save money... I'll give them a call.

Thanks for all the input.

So many choices!

Seems like Malibu might be the way to go, as there will be no road closures/snow/mud slides/etc. And it's Malibu.

Well, if you chose Malibu you may have some pro teams such as Saxco Bank and Rock Racing to play with

However, you can't ride above 2000 feet in the Santa Monicas.

Fixed

San Dimas is close to the Glendora Mountain road. You can get directions from Mapmyride.com but you could get there via Foothill Blvd. There is a lot of traffic so I dont know if the intersections would hinder your training. Im not a racer so I only ride for enjoyment and there are plenty of routes in San Dimas to ride. Its a beautiful area in my opinion and very relaxed. The only confrontations I have had on the road were in La Verne or Pomona. Those are the bad parts where impatient "gangster" types want to tell you THEIR rules on the road. And its usually telling cyclists to get OFF the road. And if you ride to Upland you can ride up the Mount Baldy Road (or whatever its called) and thats a steep climb. There are some sections over 15% grade and guys like me would be crawling up at 5 mph while maxing my heartrate. I would think Malibu would have less interruptions and the scenery might be more enjoyable. For casual riders San Dimas is great.

well, I didn't see Carlos Sastre, The Schlecks, or Jens Voigt in San Dimas, but I did ride with them in Malibu last Feb when their teams had their training camps here....

Malibu. duh.

Thanks all. This helps alot!

Just to follow-up from Malibu. Here's a crappy cell-phone pic I took yesterday of the ocean from mid-way up Encinal Cyn. Rd.. This is just one of many climbs inthe area, a 5 mile effort with an average of 5-6% grade.

129441

...and it was ~75 degrees.

Today, from near the top of Latigo Cyn, same area as Encinal. Looking down at the road, and on to the ocean. This one's a 10 mile road end-to-end, about 2000ft of climbing, with 8 miles of 5-6% avg. grade, and two miles of fast, fun descent. Or, come up the back side, and climb 2 miles, and descend 8. :)



It was about 70 degrees today, btw. Oh, and sorry for the crappy cell phone pic.

edited to add pic. Sorry! :o

Thanks DScott!

BTW, no pic in your second post...

Fixed the pic above. It was a bit cold today, low-to-mid 60's and very overcast. The coast was gorgeous, especially up past Ventura County line. One funny thing up here is that up Little Sycamore Canyon, the road crosses the LA-Ventura county line. Ventura county doesn't maintain their part, so you see this, right at the county line:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=110599&d=1247170966

One side is freshly paved, the other is pothole city.

Wherever you stay, you'll have a great time!

Enjoy!

Let's see - Las Vegas or Winnemucca?

Paris or Marseilles?

London or Liverpool?

New York or Des Moines?

Malibu or or San Dimas? (and where did the excellent adventure of Ted and Bill take place? Uh, huh.)

Also planning to come and do a training week in LA. What week are you planning on coming down?
I plan to be there from the 5th to the 14. Doing the Solvang Century on the 13th.

hey Toronto Rider....our group is planning on being there the 13-22 or there abouts

San Dimas, offers great access to Mountain, flats and all that is in between. Then there is the Buds Wed. Hammerfest Rides and loops around rose bowl. GMR, Azusa Canyon. Mt Baldy. Lots of choices.

Forget the coast, go inland.
The coast is warmer, the view is spectacular and you might want to live here.