PhotoJoe 

OK, I sat here eating my lunch today, re-reading the GMR ride report threads. It's been too long. We must ride!

For the past few years, I've been part of the television crew that produced the LA Marathon coverage on KTLA. NOT THIS YEAR, BABY! New job, no need to get up at 2:30am to go work. So, instead, I want to get up at 2:30am to go RIDE! Seriously! Who's in? Wolfpack Hustle does a race every year taking advantage of all of the closed streets. Rumor has it they have a police escort this year. My thought is to let them roll at their 4:30am rolling start, then just tag along at the back. It's 26 miles of closed LA streets. I've seen it several times and it looks like a blast!

Here's the map:

https://www.lamarathon.com/event/course-map/

I'm open to help flushing out the details. Share your thoughts. Good routes for the return trip, good parking spots, etc. Anybody only want to do 26 miles and has an idea of a "taxi" concept, speak up.

Date: Sunday, March 17th
Time: TBD - but the trip West will start around 4:45am

Who's in?

1) PhotoJoe
2) PhotoJoanne



Who else?! AND NO KIDS HAVE SOCCER GAMES AT 5AM!

PhotoJoe 

No reaction. Is that because it's virtually flat? Are you all "if it ain't got 5,000 feet of climbing it ain't worth gettin' out of bed people" now? Don't MAKE me start adding people's names to the list on my own. You know when you make the list, you're required to be there! Need I remind you of the great Village ride of 2012?

TrojanHorse

You can add mine all you want but I'll be boarding a plane in New Orleans on 3/17, crack of dawn style. Otherwise I'd totally be in.

Is this legit / sanctioned now? They used to just do it anyway, rebel style.

Here's a non-Beanz-produced video from 2011:

jsigone

sorry, I am be MTBing Laguna Mountain to work off my hangover I'll have from Saturday's St patty's party

TrojanHorse

jsigone - they have a fixie category you know... I know how much you like staying in the same gear.

jsigone

yah but I like to haul tail down hills, can't do that spinning 160rpms on a fixie..where's the fun in that LOL

PhotoJoe 

They don't go so far as to say it's "sanctioned", but I would say a police escort on the rolling start is as close as you get.

Still trying to figure out the logistics of parking, 26 vs. 52 miles, etc. I think a couple of our friends will do it. They, along with PhotoJoanne are wanting to do a one-way only deal. Still would be fun.

TrojanHorse

What time does the train run? There's a lot of prepartying I think... just take the train downtown at midnight, party a bit, ride and retrieve your car on the tail end. The new expo line terminates at Culver City and I believe runs almost all night long. Santa Monica to Culver city isn't a far ride when you're done.

eja_ bottecchia

When my daughter ran in the LA Marathon there was a pre-race bike ride. I thought it would be fun to be in it.

Where are you planning to start from and at what time?

PhotoJoe 

From the Wolfpack Hustle website -

[h=1]GATHER AT 3:30AM TANG’S DONUT.
ROLLING START AT 4:30AM(ISH)[/h] The race will gather at Tang’s Donut at Sunset and Fountain Ave. 4341 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
There will be a barrier at the start that will separate two groups of riders.
Riders who have completed their registration and have attached their bib numbers in the proper position will be allowed to enter the Front of the mass.
Riders who have not registered will occupy the rear of the mass.



We're planning on rolling at about 4:45. I'm not in this to race. It looks like there may be Mrs. PJ and I along with two friends. I'm the only one who thought about riding back to the start point, too. However, at this point I think I'll be hanging with them and sticking with the 26 miles.

Interesting thought about the train. I'll look into that. Bikes are OK on it?

TrojanHorse

At 2 in the morning who cares if bikes are OK on it? I saw something that mentioned bikes on the metro website but i didn't read it. the cars don't have bike racks or anything but I imagine you can just stand there and hold your Tin bike.

Beachgrad05

Yes you can bring bikes onto the Metro Trains. I have done it and have seen many do so. There are suppose to be certain cars where it is more appropriate I think based on signage I saw. I just stood in the more open area in the front/rear of the car I was in holding my bike and a handrail to steady myself. I've ridden the metro up into LA to Union Station and saw bikes. The time I rode with my bike was when I did the beach babe ride last summer and I rode from the Willow station to downtown LB.

I would be interested except for 1. Need lights of some sort and my road bike does not have a head light. 2. Logistics of getting up there and back home and 3. I hate getting up early.

Have fun and want a ride report at some point afterward.

TrojanHorse

You can borrow both of my head lights. They're crazy bright. PJ only has one of them, I have two. Did I mention how bright they are?

See? No more excuses.

eja_ bottecchia

I know that area verynwell. I attended Jr. High and High School in the area. Also used to ride my bike to work when I worked at the nearby McDonalds.

I assume that they will ride down Sunset to Dodger Stadium and the starting point of the marathon. from then on to Santa Monica and then back to Sunset and Fountain.

Sunset Bl. is not in the best of shapes in that area. It will be a fun ride but just be careful.

I think I am going to skip this ride and instead ride to Santa Monica from my home, via PCH, and either ride back or get a friend to drive me back.

Have fun and be safe.

PhotoJoe 

You too, EJA.

TH - Thanks for the tip on the train. Not thrilled about the ride from Santa Monica to Culver City, but at 8am, it shouldn't be a problem. Actually, I have no issues. I think the other three with me may!

TrojanHorse

You know, I used to ride around there a lot when I lived in Playa Del Rey and if I recall, Venice has a nice big bike lane. You can cruise down the beach path (maybe the freaks will be out in Venice, LOL) and then turn inland on Venice. Or take the Ballona Creek bike path, it goes pretty close to Culver City Station.

I'm a little jealous, I tried talking some people into riding that last year and all I got was weird looks. By the way, the Long Beach Marathon does something similar, only it's at a more civilized hour.

PhotoJoe 

OK, maybe we can get a group to go ride the Long Beach version, although a 6am start time isn't THAT much more civilized!

https://runlongbeach.com/about/26-2-bike-tour/

PhotoJoe 

And regarding bikes on the trains....just because it was brought up....

https://www.metro.net/bikes/

[h=3]Taking Bikes on Metro Rail[/h] Bikes are permitted on Metro Rail trains at all times. If train is full, please wait for the next train. Enter at doors marked with this symbol:
[h=3]On Red/Purple Lines[/h] Look for the designated open area to accommodate bikes and other large items at the end of the car.
[h=3]On Green and Gold Lines[/h] Please stand with your bike in the designated area marked with the symbol above.
[h=3]On Blue and Expo Lines[/h] Please stand with your bike in an available area at either end of the rail car. Exception: Bikes are not permitted in front of the operator’s door in the lead car.
[h=3]Rules for Bikes on Metro Rail[/h]

• Be courteous to other passengers.
• Always wait for the next train if the train is crowded.
• DO NOT park your bicycle behind operator’s cab in lead car.
• Always keep doors and aisles clear.
• Give priority to wheelchair passengers in designated areas.
• Always stand with your bike in the designated open area while on board the train.
• Walk your bike in stations and on platforms.
• Use elevators or stairs to enter and exit the station. Bikes are not allowed on escalators.
• Folding bikes are encouraged and allowed on board. Make sure it is properly folded.
• Fuel powered, 3-wheeled, tandem, recumbent and over 6-foot long bicycles, as well as all mopeds and trailers, are not allowed.

Failure to obey these rules may result in a citation; ref. PC 640 (b) (9) (A)
[h=3]Rules for Bikes on Metro Buses[/h]

• Wait for the next bus if the rack is full.
• Remove ALL loose items not attached (i.e. bags on handle bars, backpacks, helmets, etc.) and take them with you onto the bus.
• You are responsible for loading and unloading your bicycle.
• Just before your stop, tell the bus operator that you will be getting your bike from the rack.
• Never cross in front of a bus.
• Never try to retrieve something that rolls under the bus.
• Use elevators or stairs at transit centers and bus facilities. Bikes are not allowed on escalators.
• Folding bikes with 20 inch or smaller wheels can be taken on board. Make sure your bike is folded and stored under a rear seat so as not to block aisles and doorways. Motorized folding bikes are not allowed.
• Bicycles over 55 pounds cannot be accommodated on Metro bus bike racks.

PhotoJoe 

Last chance.........anybody?

PhotoJoe 

OK, that was a blast!!!

https://app.strava.com/activities/44796157

TrojanHorse

That's it? You call that a ride report?

How'd venice blvd work out for you?

PhotoJoe 

I got up at 2:30am. That's all the ride report you get.

Venice worked out well. It's rough, but it worked. I had a whole trip mapped out down around the marina to ballona creek, but PhotoJoanne was tired and wanted to take the most direct path to the train. So, Venice it was. Expo to Red back to Vermont/Sunset. Train dropped us off right where we parked (Kaiser). We were NOT the only people taking the train back. Trains were FULL of bikes.

jsigone

were you near the front of this? Some of those crashes looked bad in the dark...

https://vimeo.com/61966950#

PhotoJoe 

HECK NO!!! PhotoJoanne and I waited at the very back until almost everyone else took off. Seriously, we had maybe 30 bikes behind us when we left. We had no desire to be in a larger pack. We just wanted to finish the ride with no bloodshed.

We saw some remnants of those crashes. Looked pretty bad. I heard the main pack was really crazy!

Just looked at the video. That was from last year. The ground was really wet that year. I think that was the year it POURED on the marathon. Can't wait to see the video from this year!

TrojanHorse

Yeah, that was last year's... this event is growing past it's underground heritage and seems like an uncomfortable place to ride... unless you're at the back. Wise choice.