Ben FR

Has anyone here ever done the Sunday La Grange Nichols Canyon ride? I had heard about this ride but hadn't ever tried it because I prefer to ride in Malibu, and I always ride hard on Saturday so Sunday is usually a recovery ride. In any event, this weekend I did a easy ride on Saturday so I figured I'd try the nichols ride given that my legs were very fresh.

As advertised, the ride was very calm until we hit Nichols and then hell broke loose. Within the first 1/2 mile I got gapped by 50 meters with ~6 riders in the front group, but was able to hold the gap all the way to Mulholland with the help of two other guys (who I edged out when we made the turn onto the "Wall"). Not sure on the exact time to Mulholland but I'd guess ~11-12 minutes with an average speed of ~15mph. Once I got to Mulholland I was dying and didn't realize that the top of the climb wasn't the regroup point. I slowly pedaled on Mulholland with the other two guys and then we picked up speed. After a minute or so, we started hammering. I started to fall off the back and then unfortunately got caught at Coldwater Canyon while the other two guys made it through, only 10 seconds or so behind the first group. As the light changed, I started moving and connected with a slower group of four guys who came to the light right as it turned. I rode with this group for a little while but then I got dropped off the back again on the flats but re-connected right before the regroup point on the last little climb.

The rest of the ride was pretty chill. Anyone else try this ride out? Thoughts?

hairnet

I haven't ridden with them yet. I've tried, but I can't seem to wake up early enough and have energy to ride across town to the meet point.

agarose2000

I ride with them sometimes. I love that ride! The front group is hellaciously fast - I've only been able to stay within eyesight of them once when in peak form, and even with that, I suspect the top riders weren't there that day.

I saw Rahsaan Bahati (US Criterium champ, on the now-defunct Rock Racing team) on this ride the first time I did it and I had no idea who he was until I looked up the Rock Racing team (who was all there that day.) Haven't seen anyone else like that show up ever since.

Fortunately for me, there's always another major pack trailing the lead group and a bunch of other loose riders that regroup at the first light . Impressive that you could hold your own against the leaders!

VanceMac

I've done it a few times -- like you, I'm usually too spent from Saturday's ride to want or need that kind of effort Sunday morning. When the stars align, though, it's a fun sprint that I usually sandwich with mellow miles from/to the Valley.

esammuli

It's a fun ride. I used to do it from time to time when I lived in LA. I'd suggest avoiding the Sepulveda sprint (after the regroup) at all costs. When riders are fresh going into a slightly downhill sprint bad things happen. There are some nasty pileups from time to time.

Ben FR

Rode the Nichols ride this morning. Legs were tired from my friday and saturday rides, but I felt pretty good. Was able to stay with the front pack to the top of the climb, but then got dropped right after we crested (climb took about 11 minutes). I was hoping the group would take a breather but instead they started to hammer it on Mulholland. I fell of the front pack and was holding a 5-10 second gap for a mile but couldn't close. I had to ride most of the way to Sepulveda by myself. About five minutes from Sepulveda, I got caught by one other rider and we worked together to finish strong. Ended up ~1-2 minutes behind the lead group.