A Taste of Topanga and Malibu
01-25-09, 09:17 PM
#1
Has coddling tendencies.
Thread Starter
A Taste of Topanga and Malibu
It was time for my longer favorite loop ride up and around the Santa Monicas, starting and ending at my door. This one is 25 miles and 2700 feet of climbing, which takes me up Topanga Canyon, west on Mulholland, up Stunt Rd, down Fernwood and back home on Topanga Canyon Blvd. With the temps at just over 60 in the sun, I brought a windbreaker for that sure to be cold descent down Fernwood. By the time I reached Saddle Peak via Stunt Rd, I was drenched in sweat, and just in time for a large cloud to settle over Saddle peak and block the warming sun while I rested and attempted to dry off
So without enough warming sun to dry me off completely, the descent down Fernwood was indeed cold. I sure hope this is the last time I have to worry about being cold on a ride until next December. Then again, it was probably because of the cold that I managed to beat my previous best time for this loop ride by over 5 minutes. No overheating at all!
Here's some shots of the views.
First up was the view overlooking Woodland Hills and the SF Valley.
And from atop Saddle Peak, 2400 feet up.
One of the peaks on Saddle Peak.
Ready for take off.
Heading down from Saddle Peak, a view of the Santa Monica Bay across to Palos Verdes.
Looking back along Saddle Peak Rd, still 2000 feet up.
Looking across Topanga Canyon, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, the Wilshire corridor and downtown LA.
So without enough warming sun to dry me off completely, the descent down Fernwood was indeed cold. I sure hope this is the last time I have to worry about being cold on a ride until next December. Then again, it was probably because of the cold that I managed to beat my previous best time for this loop ride by over 5 minutes. No overheating at all!Here's some shots of the views.
First up was the view overlooking Woodland Hills and the SF Valley.
And from atop Saddle Peak, 2400 feet up.
One of the peaks on Saddle Peak.
Ready for take off.
Heading down from Saddle Peak, a view of the Santa Monica Bay across to Palos Verdes.
Looking back along Saddle Peak Rd, still 2000 feet up.
Looking across Topanga Canyon, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, the Wilshire corridor and downtown LA.
01-25-09, 11:14 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 649
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Beautiful pics, could you give directions from PCH and directions to your route? Maybe something on bikely.com or google maps? I've been wanting to go through topanga canyon for some time but I am not familiar at all with that area. I just got back from taking PCH from Torrance to Point Mugu, it was beautiful today...but a little windy.
Last edited by wcoastbikr; 01-25-09 at 11:18 PM.
01-26-09, 12:40 AM
#4
Has coddling tendencies.
Thread Starter
Beautiful pics, could you give directions from PCH and directions to your route? Maybe something on bikely.com or google maps? I've been wanting to go through topanga canyon for some time but I am not familiar at all with that area. I just got back from taking PCH from Torrance to Point Mugu, it was beautiful today...but a little windy.
The version I did today goes all the way up and over Topanga Canyon Blvd and connects up with Mulholland in Woodland Hills, whereas the linked version goes up Old Topanga Rd, which is a very nice route.
01-26-09, 02:19 AM
#5
BOATS AND HOES!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 666
Bikes: Madone
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice pics, thanks for posting. This inspires me to bring my camera out with me since I've been hitting the canyons lately.
01-26-09, 02:35 PM
#7
got the climbing bug
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 10,206
Bikes: one for everything
Mentioned: 82 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 632 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
275 Posts
great pics, I need to ride up there again!!!
__________________
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
01-26-09, 03:05 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 649
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the directions. I'm not going to be able to do a ride like that in a while though, I'm coming from the South Bay so that's some decent mileage and time I'm not going to have now since school is just started.
I'm thinking of getting myself a small p&s camera to carry around with me. Carrying a DSLR isn't practical.
I'm thinking of getting myself a small p&s camera to carry around with me. Carrying a DSLR isn't practical.
01-26-09, 03:16 PM
#9
Dagger Boy
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,247
Bikes: 1999 GT 5.0i mountain, 2004 Basso Reef road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did you just push your bike forward two feet to begin the descent? 
Great pics!
Great pics!
__________________
Women think they're so clever because they can fake an orgasm for the sake of a relationship, but men can fake a whole relationship for the sake of an orgasm.
Women think they're so clever because they can fake an orgasm for the sake of a relationship, but men can fake a whole relationship for the sake of an orgasm.
01-26-09, 04:16 PM
#10
Senior Member
Stunt is one of my favorite climbs now...love the canyons surrounding the bottom and when you reach the top and catch the view to the ocean, it's great.
__________________
[insert clever quote here]
[insert clever quote here]
01-26-09, 04:42 PM
#11
Has coddling tendencies.
Thread Starter
01-26-09, 05:17 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 649
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
01-26-09, 05:32 PM
#14
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
You should post this in the road forum. Especially now with much of the country having crappy weather 
01-26-09, 06:02 PM
#15
Has coddling tendencies.
Thread Starter
01-26-09, 06:04 PM
#16
Has coddling tendencies.
Thread Starter
01-26-09, 07:09 PM
#17
Spin Meister
If it wasn't about to turn dark, I'd make that ride! Great photos.
__________________
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
This post is a natural product. Slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.
01-26-09, 07:21 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: CA
Posts: 649
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm thinking this weekend I might head up there...this week is the first week of school whichis probably going be light.
01-27-09, 09:03 AM
#19
Senior Member
Just saw your pix in the Road forum. In that context, thanks for reminding me of how great we have it here and that I should stop complaining on the colder mornings. If I lived in the snow covered parts of the country and saw those shots, I'd be killing myself! But I'm looking out the window now into the SM's and itching for the weekend.
__________________
[insert clever quote here]
[insert clever quote here]
