merider1

Okay, finally. for those of you who want a ride tomorrow that isn't too time consuming, here goes:

LINK: https://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=16689&
(does anyone know how to print out a map or routeslip from that website??? And if so, can you - I don't have a way to print which means I'll be leading from memory. I can do it, but it could be a little confusing too!)
Level: This ride has some climbing and we'll be doing a decent (but not hammering) pace. Please know your level. This is a NO-DROP ride, but please be prepared to go at least 16 miles per hour on the flats!
Meet: 9:45 a.m.
Roll: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Los Angeles Zoo Parking Lot (Letter S) off of Zoo Drive in Griffith Park
Description: Head West on Zoo to Victory, cut over (surface streets) to Glenoaks to Verdugo, climb up to Descanso Gardens, climb up to Sacred Heart, circle around, come back down Verdugo to Griffith Park, re-enter, climb up Mt. Hollywood (not to the observatory unless you really want a few more feet of climbing) down toward Greek Theater, cut up through canyon loop which intersects at Mt. Hollywood and come back down to the Zoo Lot
Miles: 48-50 (I mapped it but some of my points were not exact, so expect 50 miles)
Climbing: roughly 5200 ft (give or take)
Option one: Those who only want about 30-35 miles can head back to the Zoo parking lot in lieu of climbing in Griffith Park. Lunch after at Patty's in Burbank (or anyone else have a favorite dive?) I'm not nixing La Cabinita, but you guys may not want to stop and have lunch and choose lunch after. I'll go either way.
Option two: Full 50 (duh)
Time: Plan for 4 hours to be safe

Please let me know if you want to join and if enough of you want this later in the morning, I'll push it to then (11:00 a.m.) . I need a vote please.

Also, without doubt, rain cancels! Be aware that due to today's weather, the roads will be more debris-filled than normal. Please bring extra tubes! Also, if the canyons are too messed up, we will have to turn back around, so if you need the full 50 for sure, you might not want to do this ride. I hope and plan to do the full 50.

Hope a bunch of you can join! But I'm happy with just one other victim...um...I mean riding partner.

Riding:
Jschen
merider1
ronjon10

May be Riding:
Jpconrad

Scootcore

probably wont be able to make it...babysitting duty till around 11....next time..

jpconrad

I may be up to it... I'm looking for something to do tomorrow and thought about GMR, but am worried about how the road will be after the rains.

merider1

If we started at 11:00 could you do it?

ronjon10

I feel pretty good about committing to the first part of this ride and leaving 2nd part (around Griffith park) in the air depending on whether or not I blow a gasket on the other climbs. Normally I'd prefer the 9am start, but I got in 30 miles today, and my friends are going to try and get me drunk for my birthday tonight. So, 10am actually sounds better to me. However, 9 is better than 11.

Scootcore

probably not...whits mom is supposed to come get the little man right bout then....ill probably just go out on my own in the early afternoon...next time..

merider1

Okay, I talked to Jason (who committed first, so I gave him final vote) and we'll meet at 9:45 am and roll at 10:00. I'll remove "sharp" in the original post since you'll be "recovering" and Jason is driving from San Diego. I'm pretty laid back, so if you are running a little late, just give me a ring (I'll PM you my cell). Have a wonderful birthday celebration!!!!

Indolent58

To print a routeslip you need to annotate the red dots as you create/edit them. If you click on a dot a window pops up where you can write "Left on 1st Street" etc. If you do this at all the turns and click "routeslip preview" it display the routeslip with mile markers and let you print it. As far as I know only the author of the route can do this.

Of course if you don't have a printer handy none of this matters.

Scootcore

what time do you guys think youll hit patty's? maybe i can ride out and meet you for lunch!!! thats the pone on riverside in toluca lake, right???? let me know!!!!

merider1

Well, if we start at 10:00, I'm thinking 1:30 at the latest. Would you like me to call you when we're headed over?

Scootcore

thatd be cool!!!

Scootcore

itll take me about 50 minutes to ride there

merider1

Okay, I'll try to keep that in mind and call you right about the time we start the loop back. Great, Bill - we'd love to have you join for lunch!

jsigone

sounds like fun but I got new plans for tomorrow. We're having brunch buffet at Borona Casino. It's my GF's brother's b-day.

Have fun and stay dry!!!!!

merider1

Hmmm...maybe I should join...just kidding. Have fun, Jeff. Actually, I can't wait to get on my bike since I didn't ride today other than a spin class!

jsigone

spin class......I need to get you on a MTB Don't worry, I know some easy trails to learn on. Spin class is a great way to get your HR up and bump up the tempo.

I've actually been doing lunch rides on the roadie so today was a nice mix to get on the dirt. Normally I don't even ride my roadie

merider1

Hmmm...let me think about it (sneaking off quietly into the wood work so that she won't have to really face mountain biking again...)

N2GLOCK

I'll be doing a similiar ride, except I'm getting to Descanso Gardens via La Tuna Cyn. Rd. I'll most likely be riding up to Sacred Heart as well and then down Chevy Chase thru Glendale and into GP. Don't know how much more climbing I'll actually do there. It all dpends on how my legs feel as it's been a couple of weeks since I've ridden and all the Holiday candy is most likely going to bog me down. Hope the weather allows for this. Maybe we'll cross paths as I should be departing around the same time. Have fun!

jsigone

We'll jus keep you on the roadie for now

merider1

Great ride today in the brisk winter air! Jason, ZZwillZZ (Will), Ronjon10 (Ron) and Jpconrad (John) all joined. Will knew a modification of the route that kept us off busy streets and although there was some traffic, it wasn’t too bad. We did 45 miles with 4300 feet of climbing (Routeslip.com was off a bit) and all had a good ride. We followed it with a late lunch at Patty’s in Burbank at which Scootcore met us. It was such a nice day and these guys are all so great to ride with. Here are some shots of the boys on their bikes as well as some of the scenery:

Will, doing a balancing act like I've never seen. The guy could balance forever at stoplights, hold a conversation, eat a power bar, pop a gel, take a swig of water, talk on his cell to his stockbroker - it was amazing!


Downtown LA from Griffith Park Lookout Point - blissfully, smog-free!


Griffith Park Canyon (Mt. Hollwood or Vista de Calle, one of the two


Jpconrad (John) posing artfully with the Observatory behind him.


Jason and John, putting up with me asking them to say cheese


Jason, Will and John looking fabulous


The boys up ahead (that's Ronjon10, Birthday Boy, in the yellow jersey


John in an action shot - one of the few I took as I almost dropped my camera


The boys: Will, John, Ron and Jason - climbing in the canyons


Will, kicking back on his bike

ronjon10

M.E. Thanks for organizing this great ride! Great to meet finally meet a few of you, I'll be back for sure!

For any lurkers out there, this was my BF first ride and I finished unscathed, no bite marks to speak of Very nice people and good riders, come on out, just be ready to climb!

merider1

Ah, man - that's what I forgot! To bite you and leave you with a battle scar. Yeah, the climbing was sweet wasn't it!

Tiffanie

This is a cool pic:

merider1

Thanks, Tiff. My models weren't moody at all and posed for me willingly!

thomson

Great pictures m.e., this is one of the best I have even seen of downtown



So, how about some captions?