out2dasea

Anyone do this ride? I live on the westside and ride to my parents house everyon so often, usually I take sepulveda, beverly glen or roscamare, my ride buddy wants to ride topanga this time. How is it all the way across?

KiddSisko

Like any main LA area roadway, there are better times than others for riding on TCB. Except for early morning, the weekend is busy, as are rush hours during weekdays. The first 3 to 4 miles going up (north) has some very narrow sections with little to no shoulder, so if you're at all skittish about riding slowly uphill with traffic in close proximity to you, then don't do it during busy times. Once past the town center (red light, post office, shops, eateries), the road widens up, and the last 3 miles of climbing is on a nice wide smooth road. Drive up in a car first to get a first hand perspective.

Rip Van Winkle

Topanga Canyon is a lot more enjoyable going southbound than it is going northbound, precisely for the reasons mentioned above. I'd take Sepulveda to get there, and think about taking Topanga on the way home. Those narrow stretches are ok if you're going pretty fast, but I wouldn't want to do it slowly and uphill.

agarose2000

I've ridden Topanga both ways to PCH and the valley. It's a fairly good-sized climb, with a fair amount of cars. I found the southward direction a bit friendlier - there's a wide shoulder on the uphill climb that makes it easy to share despite a good amount of car traffic, and then you can bomb the backside.

Old Topanga is a much nicer climb from the PCH side, and is a branch of Topanga that leads to essentially the same place.

endoverendo

I enjoy climbing Topanga more than descending it because of the nice tailwind. I haven't had any issues with cars and it's comparatively quieter than PCH! Just North of the village you should check out Hollywood Pro Bikes, soon to be re-named due to the new location. Cool place, nice peeps. I took a rest stop their and was treated to some free coffee and girl scout cookies.

KiddSisko

I live a mile from them. Very surprising to see a shop of that caliber up here! Chris and Scott are the two I mostly see there. And you're right, they always have something to eat there. On my last visit to buy a tube, they were having a bike build party in the yard and treated me to a burger and mac salad. 2 months ago during their grand opening party they were grilling Phili cheese steaks. With a kitchen and a patio you can do that.

Ben FR

I totally disagree - I'm fine going uphill but I'm scared s***less coming down with all the cars going 60mph!

out2dasea

Did the ride on wed, at it was a nice ride. liked it a lot, headed northbound as i was going to my parents to pick up my SUV that my parents borrowed for the week. We got to topanga about 2pm and there was not many cars.

zzzwillzzz

i'm fine going up or down, the problem for me is the cars usually get in the way when i'm going downhill.

Agitipropist

I'm thinking of doing this ride next week. Do you need ginormous calf muscles and a granny gear for this climb (southbound)?

KiddSisko

No ginormous galves are needed, and I can't advise you about the granny gear because I don't know your fitness level and climbing experience. Southbound is easier than north because it's one quick climb, then a pleasant flight to the ocean. I just finished climbing up that way. Sweet climb.

thomson

Let me put it this way, I used to take Topanga up and over on my Sting Ray when I was 10 (in the mid 60's). Of course there wasn't nearly the traffic there is now. It seemed more often than not, a pickup truck would pull over and I would put my bike and myself in the back and get a ride to the Top-o-Topanga. From there I practically coasted all the way to the beach.

Anyway, I just jumped in for a chance to reminisce. To answer your question, it isn't a bad ride at all, I am sure you will have no problems.

KiddSisko

I love 10 year old/Sting Ray stories! Those were the days. I can just imagine what that must have been like - mid summer, temps somewhere near 100, heading up and over Topanga to escape the valley heat, a head full of hair and $3 for all your dining and snacking needs...

thomson

For some reason, I just don't remember the heat being an issue. But $3********** we should be so lucky. There was a small restaurant sorta thing on PCH just west of Topanga. I remember me and my buddy going up to the counter asking the waitress what we could get for a quarter. (that is all we had between us). She gave us each toast. HAHA good times...normally we brought our lunch. The reason we rode was to spend the day at the beach, the bike ride was just the transportation to get there.

lesiz

Another way over to PCH is to take Mulholland to Stunt Road, climb Stunt about 2 miles (1400' about 7% grade).

At the top take the left, then after another hundred feet or so of climbing start a really narly descent. You end up on Tuna Canyon Rd to continue the descent to Ferndale, south of Topanga. Turn right on Toanga and head for PCH.

Takes some pretty good climbing, but the descent is great. On toward Ferndale the road is so steep and twisty that my hands get fatigued from squeezing the brakes.

KiddSisko

You're right, $3 was a lot of money back then for a kid, but that's what endless energy, chores and odd jobs were for at that age. We didn't have the beach where I grew up, but we did have swimming pools which required an entrance fee (probably .50), and you had to have at least a dollar for ice cream and pretzel sticks. So how was the ride back UP and over Topanga after a day at the beach? Same deal with hitching a ride?

thomson

For some reason, I don't recall getting any rides going home. But, and this is somewhat strange, I always felt it easier going home. I don't really know why as there is more altitude to overcome going north. Also, that steep part just south of the market just didn't seem so bad back then. I really have no recollection of it being difficult going north. These days, completely different story, I feel every pedal stroke.

Another thing that seems off to me these days, old Topanga seemed like it took way longer than new Topanga. I lived near Fallbrook and Burbank so I really think it is a wash. Shrugs, who knows, was a long time ago.

Anyone remember Top-o-Topanga with the telescopes?

[eta] I forgot to mention, my mom hated the fact I rode to the beach. But when I was in the 6th grade (age 12) I rode my bike 7 miles through the valley at night to play in a chess club. My parents were OK with that. I, naturally, didn't think anything was wrong with any of it.

KiddSisko

The question must be asked: Was your Sting Ray the single or 3 speed variety? Quite an epic journey that must have been for a 10 year old. And you mom was right to keep you away from the beach bums.

thomson

It was a single speed but my dad got me a two-speed kickback hub somewhere along the line. I don't remember exactly how old but I imagine I had it before I got too far out of the neighborhood. That hub was fantastic!! And if I left the impression that I was doing anything epic, far from it, that is how everyone got around those days. Over Topanga wasn't any big deal.



Also, fun times, I used to paint the bike about once a month. I guess I got bored easily. Just a rattle can.

KiddSisko

Well, when I was a lad, we rode our bikes everywhere too. Except in Ohio, we didn't have 1500 foot mountains to climb over to get to our swimming holes! You boys in CA were definitely different. We read all about you in Boys' Life. And we saw you in The Monkees and Beach Blanket Bingo.