Southern California - Riding the PCH on weekdays - avoid or no problem?

I ride a lot on the PCH from Santa Monica to the climbs that start from off PCH past Malibu (Latigo, Encinal, etc.), but have only done it on the weekends. There's definitely fast traffic blowing by on the weekends, but it doesn't seem to be insanely dangerous as long as you're visible, preferably with a pack.

I may have to do some of my long 70+ mile hilly training rides on my weekdays (I have some off work) upcoming, and was wondering how the PCH riding situation is doing weekdays and compared to weekends.

Should I go for it, or is the traffic increase really problematic compared to the weekends?

I guess it depends what time you're riding, but isn't there more traffic on the weekends?

I'd say that your probably won't notice any difference in practical terms, but there is more traffic on the weekends than the weekdays (at least in South OC).

PCH headed north from Santa Monica is very busy weekday mornings during rush hour e.g 7-9am; especially near the busy intersections (Temescal, Topanga Cyn, Malibu Cyn) . But riding cautiously and single-file is critical. Once you turn off to begin climbing (Tuna Cyn, Los Flores, Malibu Cyn, Latigo, Kanan Dune, Encinal, etc), the traffic diminishes signficantly (but the pain and heavy breathing increases significantly (trade off...heavy breathing or heavy traffic). Thursdays are trash pickup days on PCH, so if heading back to SM be mindful of the trashcans which are pushed out all the way to the white stripe making it very dangerous. However, if you stay in the climbs and head back to PCH via Topanga you can avoid the trash can issue.

I just rode from Pepperdine up the coast yesterday morning, and would agree that the route from SM to at least Sunset is just brutal. It continues very busy until Topanga, then eases off significantly. There's just tons of traffic, and people are NOT in a weekend state of mind.

It gets much better past Sunset, except for that choke point on PCH right near the Getty where there is no shoulder. If there's any way to skip PCH until after Entrada, or even better, after Sunset, do it. Noentheless, there were guys out there who are obviously riding through it all, so YMMV.

My strategy is to drive past the mess, then ride. Since I'm in the car anyway to drop kids off, it works out.

I haven't ridden on the weekend so I can't compare, but I've ridden up PCH starting from Pepperdine several times during the week and found it busy but totally manageable. TerriB's note about being mindful of trash pickup day is significant, particularly as a lot of those trash cans are actually full size dumpsters. Although, it seemed to me that I saw the dumpsters out on Wednesdays, but maybe that's just Westbound pick up? Or maybe dumpsters get a different day? I don't know, but they do take a bite out of an otherwise ample shoulder when they're out.

I've also only ridden on the weekend, but then you have all the folks parking on the shoulder to surf and what not. I'm surprised I haven't been doored yet!

I wish there was a long stretch of flat road for LA folks that isn't busy. I love climbing and all, and I love the lack of traffic on the SM mtns roads, but sometimes I just want to ride on a calm flat road and it just doesn't seem to exist.

I rode up and down PCH today and it didn't seem any different than usual. Definitely less traffic than on the weekends, but still lots of cars.... and lots of dolphins.

Endoverendo - did you prefer the PCH ride on the weekend or weekday?

It doesn't really matter for me.


Endoverendo - did you prefer the PCH ride on the weekend or weekday?