Happytime

I have to work at Santa Anita tomorrow. I'm bringing my bike along in hopes I can squeeze in a 1 or 2 ride sometime during the morning. Anyone know a good (safe) route departing from the track, on the Baldwin Avenue side?

roadfix

Go north on Baldwin towards Sierra Madre. Roads are quiet and hilly. The Montrose group ride rolls in and finish their ride in Sierra Madre at 10am at the corner of Baldwin and Sierra Madre......and we all hang out there for a good half hour or so before splitting our own ways.
Or better yet, the pack rolls through Huntington Drive going east towards Santa Anita just before 9am....perhaps you can jump in for a few miles. It eventually loops back on Foothill and back towards the track.

Maybe we'll see you around there...

Happytime

Great, thanks! If I can get out I'll look for the BF jersey. Just take a sniff and if you smell something horsey coming, it'll probably be me!

roadfix

Another option is to ride Santa Anita Ave straight up til it ends at the Chantry Flats Ranger Station. That's a nice little climb. You can't get lost on this ride.....it's straight out and back.

Happytime

Sorry I missed you this morning, Fix. I went out a little earlier and got to SM/Baldwin about 9:20am before I had to head back. I saw some cyclists hanging out under the trees, but didn't see any BF jerseys. It was hot already! I forget how how it can be for you "inlanders"!

My client was probably wondering why I showed up cleaned and professional, yet came back a hour later covered in sweat, hair plastered on my head, a dent in my forehead from my helmet strap, and quite possibly crusty leftovers from a misguided snot rocket. At least he didn't say anything!

roadfix

Joy, yep it was quite warm this morning. Sorry we missed you too. We finished our ride at 10am as usual right there at that corner.
I know Torrance is quite pleasant compared to the high temps inland. My parents live in Torrance and sometimes I take my bike with me when I go visit them. Problem is, there aren't too many places to ride out in the south bay except out on the coastal bike paths.

Happytime

PM me next time you're in town, we can go for a ride. No one actually rides in Torrance! We just use Torrance Blvd. to get to the path, then it's north towards Santa Monica+ beyond or south towards the PV Hills. The trick is getting out early enough to beat the tourists. The PV Loop is the most popular climb, but prolly doesn't compare to the San Gabriel Mts. I'm not much of a climber myself. There isn't a lot of variety, but on a good note, I've rarely come across problems with auto traffic, I think many drivers are used to dealing with a lot of cyclists on the road on the established routes. And the air quality and scenery can't be beat... there's nothing like riding along a deserted beach at dawn, seeing dolphins in the surf.

This area is much better suited for triathletes (flat roads + running trails + strategically placed piers) which is why my tri club is nearly 1500+ strong, the bulk of its members living in the westside-to-south bay swath. Yeah, I know how you roadies dislike us trigeeks... but we ride bikes, too!

VanceMac

WOW. That is incredible. I never would have guessed tri was that popular.

Definitely not true! We just never see one in the hills.

roadfix

It's just that weird wheel size you all use.....I can live with the bars.......

Happytime

Nah, not a lot of triathletes come from cycling backgrounds, more were runners or swimmers before tri. And since there's no drafting allowed in USAT events, like an ITT, many triathletes don't have proper paceline skills. I know a lot of trigeeks who can hammer like anyone, but my roadie pals won't trust anyone with aerobars in a pack.

Plus, they don't have a "leg shaving" thread.. it's more like a whole-body shaving thread. Oh, and band-aids on the nipples, of course. One doesn't want nipple-rub from the wetsuit!

-- Joy of the 700c Wheels.