OVERVIEW OF RIDES

Our regular rides are on Sundays, starting at many different locations in L.A. and Orange Counties, occasionally venturing into adjacent counties, to provide a wide variety of experience. The rides have 3 options: short (25-35 miles, few or no hills), medium (35-55 miles, some hills) and long (longer, hillier). Download route sheets from this website before arriving at the start. As much as possible, we ride on reasonably bike-friendly roads with adequate shoulder clearance, occasionally with stretches on bikepaths. (Click on red text for more info)

OUR NORMAL RIDES

Current two-month regular ride schedule

Grand Tour training rides (spring)
(progressively more difficult)

"Corner Caper" rides

Recurring weekly rides:

  • Wednesdays, Griffith Park group
  • Thursdays, South Beach Ride
  • Saturdays, San Fernando Valley

Multi-day rides and events

  • Presidents' Day Weekend (February): location varies
  • Memorial Day Weekend: Great Western Bicycle Rally (Paso Robles)
  • Labor Day Weekend: Ventura Triad (not scheduled 2008)
  • Thanksgiving Day Weekend (not scheduled 2008)

CHALLENGING EVENTS

The Grand Tour! (late June)
(200, 300 or 400 miles or the Century Challenge!)

Five Counties Century Ride (Early Fall)
(and Four Counties Mini-Century)

Fargo Street Hill Climb (March)
Tackle the steepest street in Los Angeles!

Grand Tour Lite (September)

Janus Sequential Centuries (January)
Back-to-back centuries- two days, same route, opposite directions.

"CORNER CAPER" RIDES

SUNDAYS, 9:00 a.m. -Social, scenic rambles in Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and Marina areas. These are rides for busy West Siders who like to stay close to home and finish early. Beginners and non-members are always welcome! START: The Corner, Olympic 1 block west of La Cienega, Beverly Hills. From Santa Monica (10) Fwy., off and north-La Cienega 1½ miles, L-Olympic Blvd., R-Le Doux. INFO: Lou Sirota, 323-295-4689.

. . . and THE CORNER'S CHALLENGE- The FIRST Sunday is the time for a longer, faster ride. This is NOT for beginners, and you should be able to keep up a fairly good pace over hilly terrain before attempting it. Please ride with the Corner Caper group first, to find your comfortable pace, before you attempt the Challenge. INFO: Burl Simon, 323-651-2315, or b.b.simon@att.net

Back to top

RECURRING WEEKLY RIDES.

WEDNESDAYS, 10:00 a.m. GRIFFITH PARK GROUP-Come at 9:45 a.m. to get acquainted with the group. Short and medium rides, (20 and 40 miles), friendly riders who take care of newcomers and can introduce them to longer distances. START: L.A. Zoo parking lot, at "L" (for Lion) sign opposite entrance to Autry Museum. From Ventura (134) Fwy., or Golden State (5) Fwy., passing Griffith Park, off at any Museum or Zoo sign, follow signs into Park to Zoo lot. INFO: M.J. Grove, m.j.grove@att.net

THURSDAYS, 9:00 A.M., SOUTH BEACH RIDE. Meet on bridge at end of Ballona Creek Trail in Marina Del Rey. Ride usually goes South to Palos Verdes on bike path and then some riding on the Peninsula decided by the group. Contact Nancy Domjanovich, nancyadnil@sbcglobal.net for details

USUALLY SATURDAYS, 9:00 a.m., SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. Richard and Nancy Wedeen usually do a "show and go" ride on Saturday mornings, leaving the corner of Glenoaks and Sonora (Sesame Donuts) at 9:00 am , usually riding 20-40 miles total to breakfast/brunch. Info: Nancy Wedeen , (818) 985-8415

Back to top

GRAND TOUR TRAINING RIDES.

Tougher than our normal weekend rides, these are designed to get you in shape for the Grand Tour, commencing in March or April and continuing every Saturday until the Grand Tour. Don't give up after the first ride! We are not aware of anyone who has conscientiously completed most of the training series who was then unable to complete the Grand Tour.

They might seem hard, but they work! In addition, there often develops a great camaraderie among the riders that makes getting out there each Saturday just that much more fun.

The GT training rides are included in the regular 2-month schedule, but for a quick summary of the entire current series, click here.

A brief description of each ride and driving directions to the start are found in the current two-month ride schedule.

Back to top

5 COUNTIES CENTURY RIDE and 4 COUNTIES MINI-CENTURY

Date: Late September or Early October (check ride schedule and home page.)
2004 date: October 9.

Incredible Course: Ride through portions of Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties, all within a 101-mile route. This is not an easy century. It includes about 8000 ft. of elevation gain, including a long climb late in the ride. But you can always opt for the mini-century and skip 1 county, 14 miles, and about 1000 ft. of elevation gain.

But it's worth the effort. You are rewarded with spectacular scenery, including a view of the central valley floor from over 6000 ft., some great downhills, and almost an entire century on low traffic roads. There are only half-a-dozen turns in the entire course, so you aren't likely to get lost either. To further help you, there are two snack/water stops, a lunch stop, and sag support.

LOCATION: Near the intersection of Frazier Mountain Rd. and Lockwood Valley Rd., Lake of the Woods, north of Gorman off I-5.

Back to top

GRAND TOUR LITE (September)

Highland, Full, Metric and double Metric Centuries

The LOS ANGELES WHEELMEN shortened their famous Grand Tour Double Century, by cutting the distance in half, but leaving the best scenery in a VERY challenging 100+15 miles, Highland Century Plus route (now also offered as part of the Grand Tour itself). Climbing Latigo Cyn., look back at that view, the ribbon of pavement behind you disappearing into the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Then make a fast and furious descent into Westlake-stay alert!-to enjoy the shoreline of picturesque Lake Sherwood. Cruise past mansions with their own stables and pastures, then go down Potrero. It's Moorpark for lunch, Oxnard, Port Hueneme (more food), and Pacific Coast Hwy. back to Malibu. OTHER OPTIONS: The Lowland Century, up PCH along the shoreline to Port Hueneme, lunch, Ventura, and return along PCH. The Metric Century, PCH to a lunch and turn around in Port Hueneme, PCH to return.

START/FINISH: MALIBU. Back to top

MULTI-DAY TOURS AND EVENTS

Consult the two-month ride schedule for basic information. Information is posted within the month or two before the ride and also is listed on the home page.

  • GREAT WESTERN BICYCLE RALLY (Memorial Day Weekend)

    Not just rides but also a swap meet, special events, cookouts, commercial vendor booths, family activities and entertainment.

  • VENTURA TRIAD (Labor Day Weekend)

    Enjoy three days of riding the coast on our traditional escape from the big city. Start: Malibu Civic Center. SATURDAY: ride to Ventura via direct coastal or longer inland options. A Sag volunteer will drive your bags from Malibu to the selected motel in Ventura. SUNDAY: join with the Channel Islands Bike Club on rides to Santa Barbara (various options) or Carpinteria. MONDAY: return to Malibu. If you can't make it all three days, drive to Ventura and join us for dinner Saturday and then ride with us on Sunday. (Or just eat and don't ride.) More details later...

  • HOLIDAY HOP TO SOLVANG (Presidents' Day Weekend)

    Join riders from the Los Angeles Wheelmen, Foothill Cycle Club, and San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club in Santa Barbara County and Solvang, its famous, picturesque Danish village. Our Presidents' Day tour starts from Carpinteria and heads north to explore the countryside all the way up to Lompoc. Ride from Carpinteria-or drive to Solvang, to enjoy three days exploring the area without the long-distance touring. SATURDAY: Carpinteria to Solvang (55). SUNDAY: Short (40), Medium (65) or Long (80) tours around Solvang, Lompoc, Los Alamos, and Foxen Canyon. MONDAY: return to Carpinteria.

    Weather is questionable in February-so if it rains, you have to kill time in the pastry and smorgasbord capital of California, where you'll be surrounded by Danish bakeries, restaurants, wineries, missions, miniature horse farms (tiny horses, not tiny farms), Scandinavian craft shops, an ostrich farm!, and did I mention Danish bakeries?

  • TURKEY TROT (Thanksgiving Weekend, Fri-Sun) * Not scheduled for 2008 *

    This is a three day 200+mile tour through Orange, San Diego and Riverside Counties. Starting on Friday, we ride from Tustin to Carlsbad (65 miles). On Saturday, we ride from Carlsbad to Temecula (45 or 69 miles). Finally, on Sunday, we ride from Temecula back to Tustin (68 miles). The entire tour is one large loop riding through areas we seldom (if ever) ride.

Back to top

FARGO STREET HILL CLIMB (March)

This is one of the club's older traditions. Fargo Street is only two blocks long but is the steepest street in Los Angeles (32% grade). Each year we assemble to watch a passel of riders try to make it to the top. Many fail, but some are successful several times in one day. Those who succeed receive a patch. Start location: the intersection of Fargo St and Allesandro (LA 90039), near the south end of the Glendale Freeway. For photos and list of finishers of the last event, Click here
Back to top

JANUS SEQUENTIAL CENTURIES

Back-to-back centuries Saturday and Sunday on a January weekend. January, festival month of Janus, ancient Roman god of beginnings and endings, gates and doors, who looks both forward and backward, inspiring these routes. Ride a century on Saturday, turn around and ride the SAME century in the OPPOSITE direction on Sunday.

It's hilly: Norwegian Grade, Grimes Cyn., Dennison Grade, and Potrero Rd. Here's your chance to go both up and down each of these "popular" grades. And it's VERY scenic countryside: Lake Sherwood, Hidden Valley, San Antonio Creek, Upper Ojai Valley, Sisar Creek, and South Mountain Road. Obviously, Sequential Centuries are less physically demanding than a Double Century. However, the demands upon the bicyclist psyche are much greater. Particularly on the second morning when the body would much rather stay in bed.

Recommended for experienced century riders in good condition. No support: we provide route slip, starting time, and place; you provide the rest. OPTIONAL: If you can't ride both days, then join us on either day. The Sunday ride is slightly easier. START: Historic Crowley House, Thousand Oaks. From Ventura (101) Fwy. north, off and R-Hampshire Rd. ¼ mile, L-Thousand Oaks Blvd. (at the T) ½ mile, L-Oakview ½ block, L-Pleasant Way. INFO: Rod Doty, (310) 838-0843. Back to top

Red light has a wavelength of 6500 Angstrom (about 1/40,000 inch)
Back to top