Can anyone provide some information about the Montrose Ride in Pasadena every saturday?

What skill level, distance, destination, etc?

Thanks

Starts Descanso Gardens, but many join in at So. Pasadena Trader Joes. Ends in Sierra Madre, though everyone of course has to get back to where they started. 40 miles for the short route, add more for the long route to the turn around in San Dimas, not sure how much more since it has been a while. Fast pace, though it will slow a bit during the winter. One of the best local training rides for those who race.

start times and locations are shown here: https://socalcycling.com/Group%20Ride...y/montrose.htm

Skill level includes beginning pack riders through very experienced racers. Safer than the rose bowl ride because once people are dropped they generally stay dropped.

Montrose long, starting at TJ's in South Pas: https://beta.mapmyride.com/route/detail/1529399/

If you aren't very experienced in big pack rides, find someone who looks smooth and stay on their wheel. If you're not really fit, stay out of the wind. There are a lot of short or shallow grades after about the halfway point and they don't seem like much until you hit them in a fast moving pack.

If you're not used to pack riding or riding a higher tempo please ride towards the rear. I know it's harder to ride off the back but there have been some sketchy ass weekend warriors and newbies out there the last couple of weeks. It's a fun ride. There is also a Montrose tempo ride that leaves TJ's in So Pas at 8 before the regular Montrose ride.

Thanks for the responses. They are greatly appreciated.

I rode the Rose Bowl with the Tues/Thurs guys yesterday and needless to say that it was an experience. I've never ridden in a large group and was able to hang for about 2 laps before getting dropped and then rejoining from there on.

Also, one other question. The Tues/Thurs group only rides from March till the time changes in Oct or is there still a showing in the off season?

Thanks again.

if you can only last two laps at the bowl, you are probably better off with the 8 o'clock group

NOTED

Thanks

The Rose Bowl ride hangs it up throughout the winter. And, in fact, probably this next week or week after, will even be doing fewer laps 'cause of darkness. At some point they will probably start at 5:30 instead of 5:55. But Montrose goes year 'round at the same time.

The Simi ride starts though

the 8 am group is way more civilized anyway, as far as pack and traffic behavior. You'll learn more about group riding on that than the 8:30 group. The Tue/Thu rose bowl ride has historically been a terrible place to try to learn pack skills, but it may be improving now that there's some organization to it.

When I rode with the Tue/Thurs group, they seemed pretty rather willing to share the road with others. That was contrary to what I had heard from a few other people who ride locally.

I'm in pharmacy school and finding a free saturday is rare since I work every Saturday morning. However, it looks like my schedule is changing which is awesome.

Two things:
- The 8 AM group meets at Trader Joes in South Pas, correct?
- Any decent Sunday rides you guys know about?

Sunday Rides

PAA's ride out of TJ's So Pas ( check website) I think 8

The Amigo's Ride out of Griffith Park at 8 am Lot K

The Love Ride out of Griffith Park 845 am Lot K

sadly this used to be true but is no longer, i have done the 8am ride a few times recently and the nice double paceline tempo ride is not really happening. it's more like the 8:30 ride just a little slower. maybe with the winter some order will be restored

It's funny you mention that. I heard the same thing a from a few people this week. It really doesn't make sense though. These are "training" rides not races.
It would be nice to see some of these hard on's pin a number on and take it out on the course.

i guess some guys would rather look tough on the early ride than get dropped on the regular ride. maybe some the coaches will come out now that it is the off-season and restore some order (but i won't hold my breath)

I definitely recommend 8am montrose, it may not be as organized as in the past but still much more chill and way better place to learn group riding than being yelled at by the people at 830, believe me they take pleasure in yelling.

The 8 AM ride seems a lot more my style at this point. Thanks for the suggestions and advice.

Hope to see/meet you guys out there on the road!

Is anyone a member of PAA Cycling?

Yes, I'm the 4/5 Team Captain

Hey chefxian,

I've wondered about both the 8am Sat and Sun rides (since I live in South Pas, anyway). I'm not a PAA member, but would like to give one or both a try. Is that typically frowned upon?

Thanks

Please come out. The rides are open to anyone and we always love to have new people come along.

Thanks, I will.

i think i might come out this sunday to check you guys out if you don't mind!! =)

I'm looking to join and sent an email. I can't wait to get out and ride with you guys.

I've been doing the regular Montrose ride for over 15 years, but this past year saw me off the bike a lot. I lost a lot of fitness and gained too much weight and so I thought I would do the 8am ride, remembering people describe it as a tempo ride. I thought, cool, here's a ride I could just sit in and not worry about accelerations, sprints etc. I was wrong. They totally drilled the Campus Sprint and ramped up the pace along Arrow Hwy. I kept saying to myself, these guys don't get it. This is stupid. I might as well just suffer on the regular one. Like someone said earlier, the guys at the front are survivors on the regular ride and players on this one.