My ONLY time cycling in SoCal was back in the 80s when I had visited a cousin that lived in the Valley (Reseda maybe) and had my bike in the back of my car. I'd never been to Malibu and there I went on Topanga Canyon Road. Looking at the map now I don't know how far I went towards Malibu proper but it was my first time seeing the ocean in SoCal. Every other time I'd been there, and it wasn't a lot, I just never made it there because it just wasn't on everybody else's agenda. I was in my 20s then. My more recent visits have taken me along PCH up to Ventura just because, then through Topanga to another cousin in Chatsworth, and in a car. I was only once in LA between the 80s and 2022 so never got a chance to do more.

I'm 70 now and feeling the same way as everyone else. You hit that age and suddenly you just can't do it the way you used to. And the heat! It will be near 100 today in NYC and the next few days too so I'm staying home in the A/C.

And one place on my list to ride, just for the kick, Venice Beach. It's the only place that's tackier than Coney Island.