managerharry

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!

RaleighSport

>.> 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?

managerharry

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

mkadam68

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.

Pokey Rider

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

managerharry

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.

managerharry

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?

Genaro

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

mkadam68

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.

allroy71

@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.

managerharry

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

Maybe I should be doing something like this instead: google map #2

or this: google map #3

allroy71

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.

mkadam68

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?

TealLA

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.

managerharry

@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.

TealLA

Sounds good to me, just let me know.

RVD72

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.

managerharry

@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.

managerharry

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.

allroy71

Glad you got to try that route!!

TealLA

Tuesday would work for me. :-)

julianfranco

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!

curiouskid55

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

curiouskid55

https://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20...grouprides.htm

managerharry

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?