Southern California - Anyone up for weekday road rides?

Anyone up for weekday road rides? Recently moved here from San Francisco and I don't know anyone down in SoCal so I've been riding solo trying to work out some good routes. I'm located in Mid City LA so I've been hitting the Ballona Creek Bike path from it's start in Culver City down to Redondo Beach, then cutting up to Palos Verdes and along the coast to the Trump Golf course. Not a bad ride, about 65 miles round trip, but it's a bit monotonous and doesn't have much in the way of climbs or descents.

I hear there's some good riding up the Santa Monica area but I haven't worked out a good route that avoids nasty high traffic areas.

I'm self employed so my schedule shifts around but I usually ride Weds or Thurs, leaving around 10.

I'm not a racer by any means but I ride hard and have done a number of centuries in the past few years including the Grizzly Peaks, Mt Shasta Super Century, and the Death Ride. I'm also not adverse to a couple of post ride beers. ;)

Anyone up for it? Also is there a better forum to post this type of question on?

Thanks!

>.> You should have moved a little bit north of SF instead, I need a ride buddy and I'm a night owl.
Or did you mean 10am?

I meant 10am although night riding has always sounded like fun. First I'd need a fancy lighting system though.

I'm a school teacher, so I will be on vacation after this next Friday (12/16) for 3 weeks. There are group rides Mon, Tue, Wed & Thu, then on the weekend, too. These are all in the San Fernando Valley. I know clubs in West LA also do stuff every day, too: La Grange comes to mind, and I'm sure there's others if you get down near Palos Verdes.

For you, getting to the Santa Monicas is easiest along PCH, but it can be rough with cars in some stretches. Or you could go up Sepulveda Pass, onto Mulholland and into the mountians that way. That's about it, I think.

No climbs or descents???? Palos Verdes has a lot of climbs and descents.

Palos Verdes has some climbs yes but unless I'm missing something (entirely possible) no real steep, long grinders. The one big descent in the ride is OK but not particularly exciting since it's pretty straight. Compared to the Mt Tam - Bolinas Fairfax Ridge ride in SF, Palos Verdes is pretty bland. Sepulveda Pass to Mulholland... I'll have to check that out.

How is the SFV riding? Seems like there would be some good rides out there. The rides you mentioned, are they organized by a club?

I'm in Fontana Ca. If you'd like to explore some good climbing out here, let me know.

SFV riding isn't all that great. There's usually a stop sign or light once per mile. There's a few longer roads without them, but... few. No real climbing IN the valley. You have to head out. South-west to the Santa Monicas, east to Angeles Crest, south to Mulholland/West LA area (some steep semi-short climbs there).

The club I was mentioning is SFV Bike Club. They're a recreational club with a wide diversity of abilities. Def. some strong riders, no racers, though. It's def. a social club: ride to half-way point, relax & socialize 30-45 mins, ride home. If you can handle it, you'll enjoy. If you're more the nose-to-the-griondstone-I'm-on-a-mission type, probably not so much.

@managerharry Are you only riding on the PV drives? There are some fairly long climbs like Hawthorne, Crenshaw, Crest. But for longer climbs you do have to go to the San Gabriels/Mt Baldy area.

hmm, I have been mostly on PV dr. I have cut off on some of the side streets (via coronel i think) but hadn't figured out how to link that up with the rest of the ride. i'm looking at the map now and it looks like maybe you could do a loop from PV dr to Hawthorne - Crest - Crenshaw and then back to Palos Verdes dr north. Or maybe Hathorne - Crest - Portuguese Bend - PV dr north?

The route I've been taking has basically been this route: google map #1 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S+Redondo+Blvd+and+washington+blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90019&daddr=Trump+National+Golf+Club,+Ocean+Trail,+Rancho+Palos+Verdes,+CA&hl=en&sll=33.751605,-118.365154&sspn=0.063942,0.132093&geocode=FXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ%3BFdWtAgIdjyHy-CHybmPBlX6VjA&vpsrc=0&gl=us&dirflg=b&mra=ls&t=m&z=11&lci=bike)

Maybe I should be doing something like this instead: google map #2 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S+Redondo+Blvd+and+washington+blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90019&daddr=Hawthorne+Blvd+to:33.762774,-118.370095+to:33.7682566,-118.3646761+to:S+Redondo+Blvd+and+washington+blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90019&hl=en&ll=33.771763,-118.388629&spn=0.031964,0.066047&sll=33.76923,-118.38232&sspn=0.031965,0.066047&geocode=FXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ%3BFfv6AgIdQ3nx-A%3BFdYtAwId0dDx-ClfL_Xa6UvdgDFaQ6LB0B8yJg%3BFUBDAwId_OXx-CmVoJxRwEvdgDFneGXh0bPz5A%3BFXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ&vpsrc=6&gl=us&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=2,3&t=m&z=15&lci=bike)

or this: google map #3 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=S+Redondo+Blvd+and+washington+blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90019&daddr=Hawthorne+Blvd+to:33.762774,-118.370095+to:33.76282,-118.36996+to:33.756238,-118.3504498+to:S+Redondo+Blvd+and+washington+blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90019&hl=en&sll=33.765698,-118.36082&sspn=0.031966,0.066047&geocode=FXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ%3BFfv6AgIdQ3nx-A%3BFdYtAwId0dDx-ClfL_Xa6UvdgDFaQ6LB0B8yJg%3BFQQuAwIdWNHx-ClfL_Xa6UvdgDFaQ6LB0B8yJg%3BFU4UAwIdjx3y-CntFfhv1EvdgDHrg9mLfSFWnA%3BFXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ&vpsrc=0&gl=us&dirflg=b&mra=dvme&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=2,3,4&t=m&z=15&lci=bike)

Map 2 is fun. I like going up Hawthorne and down Crenshaw. Crenshaw is really fast, so you are pretty much riding with the cars. No bike lane, but the shoulder has good space.
Part of map 3, if I remember correctly, goes through a private community near Crest and Portuguese bend road. So I think that you can't do that part.

Most of the other green streets in Google maps, bike mode, are great too!! The other popular one missing is PV drive east. Rideable from either direction. For most of it, a bike lane, that can get tight in places.

edit:some of the green streets are actually dirt paths!! The stipled greens are good roads, though.

When I'm in the area, the group I'm with almost always takes PV Drive South farther on until it hooks up with PV Drive East. This climbs up past Marymount College and descends/rolls back to PV Drive North. Have you tried that?

I'm located in Hollywood. I do the Ballona Creek path as well and have been to the Trump G.C. and sometimes I go North from M.D.R. and head up into Malibu. My schedule is pretty open during the week on Tuesdays and Fridays if you want to get together and do some rides.

@TealLA - Yeah, that sounds good. I'm heading out of town for the holidays but I'll be back around new years. Maybe we can do a ride the first week of January.

@mkadam68 - No, I haven't tried that but looking at the map it looks like a good option too.

Sounds good to me, just let me know.

In PV take Crest Rd. off PV Drive East for a nice climb.

Also, if you go in PV towards San Pedro, take Anchovy St. for another nice climb.

@tealLA been really busy the last few weeks working through some holiday backlog but i've finally caught up and have some time to ride. I'm going to hit the Palos Verdes route tomorrow although looking at your post it seems like you might only have time on Tues & Fri. I'm also planning on riding next Tuesday so maybe we could meet up then?

system here won't let me PM since I haven't posted enough entries.

btw: last time I took people's suggestions and took PV to Hawthorne - Crest - Crenshaw and then back to Palos Verdes dr N. Much better route than the straight out and back and some decent climbs. Crenshaw descent is fast though it would be a little more fun if it had more curves. All in all though a pretty good loop that way.

Hawthorne - Crest - Crenshaw and then back to Palos Verdes dr N. .

Glad you got to try that route!!

@tealLA been really busy the last few weeks working through some holiday backlog but i've finally caught up and have some time to ride. I'm going to hit the Palos Verdes route tomorrow although looking at your post it seems like you might only have time on Tues & Fri. I'm also planning on riding next Tuesday so maybe we could meet up then?

system here won't let me PM since I haven't posted enough entries.

Tuesday would work for me. :-)

Mid City is a bit of a trek from us but we do have some great rides in the Santa Monicas. There are a number of local clubs in our area that actually have rides leaving almost daily at 9:30AM. If you're up for a ride in this area, let us know; it might be a good excuse to head out a bit earlier than we normally do!

Barry Wolfe ride Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 Riverside and Avon Burbank

http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/grouprides.htm

Tuesday would work for me. :-)

sounds good. so long as the rain clears up as forecast. i usually try to hit ballona creek bp around 11... what's your schedule?

that works for me. we should exchange numbers so we can contact each other in the morning. I'll PM mine to you.

Alright, I think I've come up with a pretty good route: Palos Verdes Dr W to Hawthorne to Granvia Altamira cut off to Via Del Monte and swoop down to Via Campesina, circling around the Palos Verdes Country Club to Paseo Del Campo to Palos Verdes Dr N and finally looping back to PV West. You get a long, grinding climb up Hawthorne followed by a rewarding fast, curvy descent down Altamira and Via Del Monte.

Here's the Google Map. (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=W+Washington+Blvd+%26+S+Redondo+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90016&daddr=Esplanade,+Redondo+Beach,+CA+to:33.811921,-118.3904555+to:palos+verdes+dr+west+and+hawthorne+blvd+to:Granvia+Altamira,+Palos+Verdes+Peninsula,+ CA+to:V%C3%ADa+Del+Monte,+Palos+Verdes+Peninsula,+CA+and+V%C3%ADa+Campesina,+Palos+Verdes+Peninsula, +CA+to:33.799374,-118.384688+to:via+campesina+and+Pso+del+campo+to:W+Washington+Blvd+%26+S+Redondo+Blvd,+Los+Angeles,+ CA+90016&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=33.803364,-118.392448&spn=0.03484,0.065875&sll=33.807109,-118.394852&sspn=0.034839,0.065875&geocode=FXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ%3BFWIoBAId4ILx-ClDfTfMVEvdgDEqw-4lOx9B0g%3BFdHtAwIdSYHx-CmDcVTjWEvdgDFmW4zQRi5Bnw%3BFbX5AgId7j3x-ClLMx9jGkzdgDGECLIfoh9n3A%3BFViKAwIdWJDx-CmrgX7hgUvdgDEYbS3bXS1IvA%3BFRK7AwIdaITx-Cnzux6yY0vdgDFr2Z5jx9IC2w%3BFc68AwId0Jfx-ClB6BNfZEvdgDFYTEaq8zgVog%3BFXqtAwIdndXx-Cmnk3mnDEvdgDFJpWkyhI6D3w%3BFXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ&gl=us&dirflg=b&mra=dvme&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=2,6&t=m&lci=bike&z=15)

Anyone have an idea how to add a little more climbing to this route? I did try doing this route with the following modification- going from Hawthorne > Crest > Crenshaw > Indian Peak > Hathorne > Altamira but that kindof sucked because it's hard to make the left turn off Crenshaw and Indian Peak has a bunch of stop signs and was clogged with traffic.

Alright, I think I've come up with a pretty good route: Palos Verdes Dr W to Hawthorne to Granvia Altamira cut off to Via Del Monte and swoop down to Via Campesina, circling around the Palos Verdes Country Club to Paseo Del Campo to Palos Verdes Dr N and finally looping back to PV West. You get a long, grinding climb up Hawthorne followed by a rewarding fast, curvy descent down Altamira and Via Del Monte.

Here's the Google Map.

Anyone have an idea how to add a little more climbing to this route? I did try doing this route with the following modification- going from Hawthorne > Crest > Crenshaw > Indian Peak > Hathorne > Altamira but that kindof sucked because it's hard to make the left turn off Crenshaw and Indian Peak has a bunch of stop signs and was clogged with traffic.

Why don't you add PV east and then switch backs going up to the white ball?

PV west is all pretty much real easy either way you take it. Unless of course u just want a real easy part. Doing all of pv north to pv east is more a challenge. Also, have you tried doing Hawthorne coming up from PCH? that's real good climb. I never seen anyone do that, but me.

I'm I alone on that one?

I think the climb from PV Drive South up Hawthorne is more of a climb than from PCH up Hawthorne but then again I've never ridden it but have driven it plenty of times. I'm too out of shape to ride Hawthorne right now.

I think the climb from PV Drive South up Hawthorne is more of a climb than from PCH up Hawthorne but then again I've never ridden it but have driven it plenty of times. I'm too out of shape to ride Hawthorne right now.

I've done it. I don't know how I feel about it lol. I'll have to do them both the same day to compare

yea pv south to Hawthorne def a tuff one. Will def get you back in shape though :)

For more pain on your current route, Hawthorne-> R. onto Crest-> Left on Highridge ->L back onto Hawthorne. Then the Granvia section.

alright, here's the new route per the suggestion from StevenAkaProek:
Longer, More Painful PV Loop Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=redondo+blvd+and+washington+blvd+los+angeles,+ca&daddr=33.8014968,-118.387454+to:Palos+Verdes+Dr+W+and+Palos+verdes+dr+n,+Palos+Verdes+Peninsula,+CA+90274+to:palos+ver des+dr+n+and+palos+verdes+dr+e+to:33.76674,-118.32629+to:33.7556495,-118.3283509+to:palos+verdes+dr+e+and+palos+verdes+dr+s+to:33.7291341,-118.3365528+to:palos+verdes+dr+w+and+hawthorne+blvd+to:hawthorne+blvd+and+granvia+altamira+to:V%C3%A Da+Del+Monte,+Palos+Verdes+Peninsula,+CA+90274+to:33.7995261,-118.3881771+to:33.79666,-118.38273+to:V%C3%ADa+Campesina,+Palos+Verdes+Estates,+CA+to:33.8012969,-118.3748031+to:33.8015858,-118.3756199+to:33.80111,-118.374513+to:33.8015814,-118.375567+to:33.80209,-118.38142+to:33.8018466,-118.3789859+to:Paseo+Del+Campo,+Palos+Verdes+Estates,+CA+to:33.8006551,-118.3731139+to:redondo+blvd+and+washington+blvd+los+angeles,+ca&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=33.80192,-118.37908&sspn=0.015887,0.032594&geocode=FXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ%3BFRjFAwIdAo3x-CmhleRVYUvdgDFqCX3CPsAgMg%3BFXzGAwIdTorx-CmhleRVYUvdgDFZ89gRBitTqw%3BFRFWAwIdDnvy-CkPGnlXPErdgDHg3JtG6blWRg%3BFVQ9AwId7nvy-CkHTGlLIkrdgDHkxnJ6MeTSCQ%3BFQESAwId4nPy-Cl7fRxgiUndgDH2BHKSd2BHCw%3BFRWsAgId90_y-ClTw8tXpEndgDE7md_7AdBgsA%3BFW6qAgId2FPy-Ck92Hn9pEndgDF-T1qUPNjETQ%3BFbX5AgId7j3x-ClLMx9jGkzdgDGECLIfoh9n3A%3BFYBtAwIdLH7x-Cnpnlg5h0vdgDGeaxMbwjuiLg%3BFZasAwId62_x-CltZCsWnUzdgDHtpKjU7gZyyA%3BFWa9AwIdL4rx-CkjBxiWY0vdgDGjo1V6rMgbrg%3BFTSyAwIddp_x-CmTLDDMekvdgDGsKvFYo4IeQw%3BFRPIAwIdrLDx-CnXoB_gbkvdgDEg973vUJlD0w%3BFVDEAwIdbb7x-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE3_wMsxN_vhw%3BFXHFAwIdPbvx-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE3_wMsxN_vhw%3BFZbDAwIdj7_x-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE3_wMsxN_vhw%3BFW3FAwIdcbvx-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE3_wMsxN_vhw%3BFWrHAwIdlKTx-CmJgqb3ZUvdgDGI1MhK4AVh_w%3BFXbGAwIdF67x-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE2_wMsxN_vhw%3BFTvCAwIdBcjx-CkpKVtkckvdgDHMNetSkEt0Pg%3BFc_BAwIdB8Xx-Cl7Fgz2bkvdgDE3_wMsxN_vhw%3BFXRtBwIdORTy-CmhBJJaB7nCgDFhQruIU4-9wQ&gl=us&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=16&sz=16&via=1,4,5,7,11,12,14,15,16,17,18,19,21&t=m&z=16&lci=bike)

PV West > PV North > PV East > PV South > PV West > Hawthorne > Granvia > Del Monte > Campesina > Del Campo > and back to PV West.

Looking at the map it looks like a bruiser. Think I'll give it a whirl tomorrow morning and see how it treats me.

For a shorter day in the saddle I'll definitely try my previous route plus allroy's suggestion of hawthorne - crest - highridge - hawthorne - granvia.

Visiting from Toronto for the week and looking for group rides Thu & Friday. Have done Palos Verdes and Santa Monica mountains, have climbed Decker a couple of times in past years (will again next weekend), so would like to try one of the other higher altitude climbs, eg Mount Wilson. Also saw this great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2UEUwcPGU&feature=fvsr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2UEUwcPGU&feature=fvsr)
so also hoping to meet a group here - I've been told solo'ing this is risky. The posts on SART have turned me off that as an option.

Did the loop yesterday and went ahead and tacked on crest - highridge as well. from my house it's about 75 miles and you get in two solid climbs, first climbing up PV East and later Hawthorne. Nice loop but I think I'd try a different route next time. While it's definitely a good climb up PV East, the descent down to PV South is not particularly great. Perhaps it would be better to take PV West/South and climb up the backside of East and drop down to PV North (which would be a very nice descent) then climb back up Crenshaw to Crest and then drop back down Granvia. That way you'd get in two hard climbs and two good descents.
Here's what I'm talking about: Google Map (http://g.co/maps/6spde)

http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/grouprides.htm

Re: Barry Wolfe Ride: Anyone know exactly where the start is? The link shows two different start points at 830: Its either Buena Vista or Avon. Anyone know if there is a ride leader to contact?

Re: Barry Wolfe Ride: Anyone know exactly where the start is? The link shows two different start points at 830: Its either Buena Vista or Avon. Anyone know if there is a ride leader to contact?

You can wait at Los Feliz and Riverside a little before 9am and catch the ride there. Since the park has reopened they may be riding through there instead of the bike path. Buena Vista and Avon are 100 yards from each other. Hope it helps.

I live in Redondo Beach and ride between PV to Santa Monica a lot. There is a ton of climbing in PV! I have a flexible work schedule so if you want to check it out weekdays, let me know.

When I'm in the area, the group I'm with almost always takes PV Drive South farther on until it hooks up with PV Drive East. This climbs up past Marymount College and descends/rolls back to PV Drive North. Have you tried that?

Yes, and you can climb up to the "Domes" further up from Marymount College.