daoswald

I thought I was training well, getting a run over the Sepulveda Pass and back (Los Angeles) three nights a week, in addition to my long ride on my day off. Seemed to me I was getting some good hill workouts.

Then I spent a few days visiting my folks in Salt Lake City, and had some time to take a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, and later up Little Cottonwood Canyon for a hike. It was then that it hit me: I need more hills. I was seeing guys ten or more years older than me (I'm 40), climbing out of the saddle at 8000 feet elevation as they pounded their way from 4200ft (Salt Lake Valley benches) to 9000ft (the tops of the Cottonwood canyons) in under 12 to 18 miles.

Tonight was my first ride back in LA since returning home Thursday. Having seen what those guys could do, I spent the evening doing Sepulveda repeats. Two "over and backs" tonight, with the same planned for tomorrow night. Maybe in a few days I'll try three.

ANK

You should ride out in the Malibu hills. You can find some long and punishing routes up there.

KiddSisko

Here's a fun 40 plus miles Santa Monica climb you could do:

Park at the bottom of Topanga Canyon and PCH. Heading out early, go up Topanga Canyon, then up Old Topanga Canyon (peaks at 1530 ft), down to Mulholland, left on M to Stunt Rd, up Stunt to Saddle Peak (peaks at 2360 ft), then fly down Shuren/Piuma. Then you can either go left on Malibu Canyon Rd to PCH and back to your car, or right to Mulholland, head back to Old Topanga Canyon, climb up and over for the return flight back to your car.

Johnny Rad

Use this site for planning your return trip to the Wasatch front!

https://www.saltlakecycling.com/showride.php?rideID=1000

cadencesdad

You may have seen me, although i'm not 40. Big C usually finds it's way into my workout 3-4 times a week.

Little C, maybe once a week. If you saw a silver and black Orbea, with a skinny dude, that was probably me.

daoswald

The guys I saw had legs that would make Hercules feel inadequate. Skinny wouldn't describe them.

This was Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I think I got to Big Cottonwood on Monday, and to Little Cottonwood on Wednesday (a quick hike over Katherine Pass and back for old times' sake).

I lived in Sandy from 1982 to 1999, and did a fair amount of biking in the mid-80's, but never really explored the canyons. Now that I've been riding hills "because they're there", I was a lot more interested in what bikers I might see as we drove up the canyon.

Anyway, my hat's off to those of you who train in the Cottonwood canyons. I was a frequent hiker there for 18 years, but now that I'm spending more time in the saddle I am newly envious.

cadencesdad

Ya, the older dudes around here have always impressed me. I hope I am that active when i'm 50+.
Sounds like your pretty familiar with the area. Have you ever hiked Pheiferhorn in Little Cottonwood canyon? It's up past Red pine lakes. If you have'nt, maybe check it out next time your in this neck of the woods. It's a great workout, and upper and lower Red Pine lakes are kind of a glacial blue in color, tucked in to the pines is beautiful.

patentcad

I'm 50 kid. I'll drop you like a silent vowel on those hills.



You know you're getting friggin old when you call 40 year old dudes 'kid'.

BillyD

PCAD'S back!

Let the thrash talking resume, NOW with new Europe pics!

Jasper Storm

My Bogen 3047 tripod head has level bubbles to ensure that the camera is being held in the correct position.

patentcad

When taking photo portraits of yourself climbing, it is advisable to tilt the tripod to exaggerate the grade of the climb.

j_amie_

Yeah and i can think of few threads than need pcads brand of candor

cadencesdad

Like most, I would consider it a privelage to be dropped by pcad. Then I would latch on and suck wheel all the way to the top.

Surferbruce

my favorite is Latigo Canyon, it's such a cool climb. get on it.

big john

There are so many good climbing ride around here, why limit yourself to Sepulveda? Watch the SoCal regional forum and come on one of the rides that I post. I'm 54 and fat, so you can probably keep up with me, but we usually do 8-9000 feet of climbing.
San Gabriel mountains, Santa Monica mountains, even the Tehachapi range has great rides.
.
Here, we are at 7000 feet headed up to 8000.

furiousferret

Go out towards San Bernardino Co and hit Baldy, Onyx, or the Oak Glen. If youu're feeling really strong go out to the eastern Sierra and hit Whitney Portal or Horseshoe Canyon.

Also, pretty much everyone in SoCal should hit Palomar before the ToC in Feb.