My Rock Store Climb. (ride report)
01-18-05, 05:55 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
My Rock Store Climb. (ride report)
On Monday, having a day off from work, I decided to take a ride while my wife and 10 year old daughter were out for a play date.
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
01-18-05, 06:10 PM
#2
El Diablo
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Originally Posted by nesdog
On Monday, having a day off from work, I decided to take a ride while my wife and 10 year old daughter were out for a play date.
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
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01-18-05, 06:16 PM
#3
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hey, congrats on your conquest. i think i know how you feel. there are some hills in my neck of the woods that always have me second-guessing myself when i'm about halfway up. and that's coming from someone who concentrates mostly on climbing. it's all in how you treat the climb as you get to know it better and better. and it's like they say -- if it feels like it's getting easier, it's probably because you aren't trying hard enough. so don't don't go easy on the hill and it won't go easy on you. that way, when you take your friends on your favorite route, you can sit next to them while they struggle all the way up.
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01-18-05, 07:12 PM
#4
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Good job. I remember the first time I did the Cornell Grade. After you've done it a few times, try turning left on Kanan, go about 1/2 mile and turn left onto Latigo Cyn. Go up and down, and up again, then all the way down to the coast. Then turn around. Fantstic ride.
The entire Santa Monica Mountains area is arguably the best area to ride in all of Souhern California. I ride all over the place, and it gets my vote.
The entire Santa Monica Mountains area is arguably the best area to ride in all of Souhern California. I ride all over the place, and it gets my vote.
01-18-05, 07:29 PM
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Now think how Lance Armstrong did two Alp d'Huez climbs in one day 
.... but seriously, good job. I don't know if I could do that simply because there aren't any hills more than 100 ft around here. Your area to ride in sounds nice.
.... but seriously, good job. I don't know if I could do that simply because there aren't any hills more than 100 ft around here. Your area to ride in sounds nice.
01-18-05, 08:06 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
", I usually combine it with other climbs like Stunt-Piuma-RS..."
Hey, when the heck do ya ride out here? I believe you were in Thousand Oaks before but aren't you living in Texas?? Now that's a long ride to get here!!
Sheldon
Hey, when the heck do ya ride out here? I believe you were in Thousand Oaks before but aren't you living in Texas?? Now that's a long ride to get here!!
Sheldon
01-18-05, 09:25 PM
#7
El Diablo
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Originally Posted by nesdog
", I usually combine it with other climbs like Stunt-Piuma-RS..."
Hey, when the heck do ya ride out here? I believe you were in Thousand Oaks before but aren't you living in Texas?? Now that's a long ride to get here!!
Sheldon
Hey, when the heck do ya ride out here? I believe you were in Thousand Oaks before but aren't you living in Texas?? Now that's a long ride to get here!!
Sheldon
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01-18-05, 10:37 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by 2Rodies
Right now due to the lack of work in Austin I spend about two weeks a month in Thousand Oaks working. I leave my LOOK 381 in TO and since I work nights I get to ride every day. Unfortunatly this last trip it freakn' rained every day!
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01-19-05, 11:55 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by dog hair
you should see it now. i was just wondering why it was so cold in here when i realized i forgot to turn the fan off. yes...january and warm enough to need a fan.
Rode here on Sunday with my team and it was in the low 30's. We did 31 miles and called it quits we had all lost feeling in out feet and hands. It's supposed to get to 70 tomorrow and be in the 60's this weekend...woooohooooo!
BTW I'll be out in LA again around the middle of the month if anyone wants to hook up for some miles.
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01-19-05, 01:20 PM
#10
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"BTW I'll be out in LA again around the middle of the month if anyone wants to hook up for some miles"
Zip out a note when you know your schedule. If you don't mind slowing down a bunch, I'll ride with ya! I do work during the week normal business hours though. How about a ride through Hidden Valley? I do that loop from my home in Agoura Hills, works out to about 32 miles.
Sheldon
Zip out a note when you know your schedule. If you don't mind slowing down a bunch, I'll ride with ya! I do work during the week normal business hours though. How about a ride through Hidden Valley? I do that loop from my home in Agoura Hills, works out to about 32 miles.
Sheldon
01-19-05, 02:52 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by nesdog
"BTW I'll be out in LA again around the middle of the month if anyone wants to hook up for some miles"
Zip out a note when you know your schedule. If you don't mind slowing down a bunch, I'll ride with ya! I do work during the week normal business hours though. How about a ride through Hidden Valley? I do that loop from my home in Agoura Hills, works out to about 32 miles.
Sheldon
Zip out a note when you know your schedule. If you don't mind slowing down a bunch, I'll ride with ya! I do work during the week normal business hours though. How about a ride through Hidden Valley? I do that loop from my home in Agoura Hills, works out to about 32 miles.
Sheldon
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01-19-05, 04:04 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
Sundance is good, as we live right off Kanan. Or if TO is easier for you, let me know. Keep in touch!
Sheldon
Sheldon
03-24-10, 11:15 PM
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Kanan rd. query
Howdy from the sonoran desert! Do you happen to recall much of the stretch of road between Kanan and the top of the rock store climb? I am curious if there is much of a shoulder in this area to park a vehicle. Also, if you were to hike up to the top of rock store from the intersection of Kanan would it take more than about 30 minutes (sans bici)?
Thanks!
Mariaji
Thanks!
Mariaji
03-24-10, 11:32 PM
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Howdy from the sonoran desert! Do you happen to recall much of the stretch of road between Kanan and the top of the rock store climb? I am curious if there is much of a shoulder in this area to park a vehicle. Also, if you were to hike up to the top of rock store from the intersection of Kanan would it take more than about 30 minutes (sans bici)?
Thanks!
Mariaji
Thanks!
Mariaji
The rock store is actually downhill (6-7% grade seems right) from the intersection of kanan and mullholland (unless mullholland intersects with kanan twice?). Heading down mullholland from the intersection of kanan and mullholland you will first reach "the lookout" which is where a lot of bikes and cars park and hang out on the weekends, past the lookout is a very curvy section of mullholland called "the snake" at the bottom of the snake is the rock store. Theres plenty of parking at the lookout, at the bottom of the snake, and at the rock store. Theres definately not any parking on the side of the road in this area, as the road is very tight with not much of shoulder.
I'm not sure how long of a walk this would be but I'm sure you can look up distances on google maps..
Last edited by W Cole; 03-24-10 at 11:38 PM.
03-25-10, 08:00 AM
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Kanan road is slightly downhill and about 1/2 mile from the actual top of the RS climb. If you want to hike there are several nice hiking trails in the area.
03-25-10, 08:02 AM
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On Monday, having a day off from work, I decided to take a ride while my wife and 10 year old daughter were out for a play date.
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
Weather in Socal was awesome! Finally having lost the rain, we now have temps nearing 80, blue skies with high clouds.
The area I live in is semi-rural among the foothills outside of L.A. Basically it's the backside of Malibu and has it all; hills, flats, open roads and narrow lanes.
The first part of the ride was a nice 20 minutes to Malibou Lake, a scenic area that looks more like a mountain retreat than a community 15 minutes from the beach.
Everything is so green! The rains really brightened up the hills and the small streams that normally are dry are running wet. Lots of times I could hear rushing water in the hollows. So cool!
I turned up Mulholland Dr. and headed north. Hmm, where to go?
I started to climb...and climb...and climb and decided to tackle a route that I knew to be intimidating: The Rock Store! Named for a local hangout where the motorcycle riders gather (think Jay Leno), it's one of the more difficult rides that clubs often use.
The road is two lanes, curvy, narrow in spots, limited visibility and steep! Something like 800' vertical 6-7% in a couple of miles. It's also part of the route that a Century (my first!) I am thinking of training for follows. Scary enough for me that I have been considering doing the Metric instead.
"Ok, let's see how far we get." Mind you, I'm no racer. Just a guy who goes bike riding when there is time in a busy schedule.
Huff and puff, not too bad in the first part. Winding through trees I suddenly hear a LARGE truck somewhere behind me. There is a ton of clean-up work going on here following our storms. Over the next two miles, I'm passed many times by dump trucks. This is especially tough in areas where there is no shoulder. I practically had to squeeze in to the cliffside.
Yard by yard, thankful for a triple (!) I kept grinding. Took a couple of water stops and a snack break. It was neat because I could see where the road was going up the hillside, with switchbacks looming overhead. The views kept getting better and better. Soon I could see the snow on the far off mountains.
At least once I almost turned back thinking I would try again another day. "No! Keep going!"
Alone, just the sound of the bike working and my sweat falling to the pavement. Motorcycles would pass me and I’d see them a couple of minutes later near the top. Took me a lot longer to get there though!
Finally, I reached the top, rose over the grade and coasted down to where it intersects with Kanan Road, the route through to the beach.
“Yeah!!!!".
The ride back down Kanan was a 15 minute downhill, through two tunnels, taken slowly due to poor road conditions and fear! Nonetheless when I got to the bottom, I was totally jazzed. I did it! I got to the top!
Disclaimer: Lots of people ride this route every weekend. For fun, for exercise, for training. For the more serious riders, I doubt that it crosses their radar that this is any kind of climb at all so it's not like it's the Alps or something. I get that. Lots of you ride much harder routes I’m sure.
But for me, as a potential obstacle in an organized ride or just as a personal moment to savor, it was an achievement.
I'm looking forward to doing more!
Sheldon (smiling!)
OCR2
