Upcoming Rides

Sunday, February 15th - 7:30 a.m. (century); 8:30 a.m. (metric & half).

START LOCATION:  MALIBU CIVIC CENTER. Take the Santa Monica Frwy west to the end and then PCH north to R on Webb Way and R on Civic Center Way 

For a map and directions, click Start.

Routes: 

• Century – 101 miles – 3400 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
• Metric– 67 miles – 2300 feet of elevation gain (mapping software)
• Half – 52 miles – 2200 feet of elevation gain (mapping software)
• Combined Routes

Our traditional New Year’s Day centuries were rained out this year, so I thought I would give everyone a second chance to kick off the new year with a bang. Sure we are a month and a half into the year, but look at it this way – if your resolutions haven’t been going so well, it’s a chance to start all over. Not only that, but the days are about 1 hour longer now than they were on January 1^st. I’ve moved up the starting times from the January 1^st rides, so you don’t have to get up so early. The plan is the same. All routes are simply a trip from Malibu north up PCH and back. The full century adds a loop around the Ventura/Oxnard area to make up the miles with a lunch stop in Ventura. The metric rides into Camarillo for lunch and then returns back down the coast. The half century simply rides to Point Magu and returns, stopping for lunch at Neptune’s Net on the way back. The roads might be a bit more busy than they would have been on January 1st when everyone stays home to watch football or recover from a hangover, but riding PCH north of Malibu is always pleasant and there is a good shoulder most of the way. The bulk of the climbing comes from the many hills along PCH which all routes ride in both directions and which add up to about 1000 feet of climbing each way. However, no hill ever gets above 150 feet above sea level, so the climbing isn’t very difficult. So why not come out and start your year off again.

Sunday,  February 22nd – 8:30 a.m.

Start Location: BARNES PARK in MONTEREY PARK.  From San Bernardino Frwy (I-10), off & south on Garfield, R - Newmark, L - McPherrin to the Park. Park where you can - we'll meet at corner of McPherrin & Park Ave.

For a map and directions, click Start.

Routes:   

• Long – 56 miles – 4000 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
• Medium – 38 miles – 2100 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
• Short – 30 miles – 900 feet of elevation gain (mapping software)
• Combined Routes

The word “express” has many meanings. It can mean to convey a thought or meaning as in “He expressed his ideas on the subject.” But I don’t think that’s what the word means in the title of today’s ride. It can mean the process of pumping breast milk for a human baby, but I’m sure that’s not what the word means in the title. Finally, there are meanings related to speed. An express train is one that makes few stops and therefore gets to its destination sooner. Similarly, an expressway is a roadway with few exits to get you to your destination faster. Express delivery usually means something like overnight shipping or somehow expedited shipping. So it would seem this is the meaning of the word in the ride title. But I don’t see why. None of the routes are the fastest or most direct route to Flintridge or any other place these rides go. I can’t think of anything about today’s routes that I would call express – particularly the long. Today’s routes offer a wide range of options like our long, medium and short program should. None of the routes is excessively long, but they vary quite a bit in difficulty. The long route includes some difficult climbing with 4000 feet of gain in only 56 miles. Much of this climbing is in relatively short but very steep climbs. We start off with some hills in Monterey Park. I don’t normally think of Monterey Park as a hilly place, but you will be surprised. Then we head over to La Canada Flintridge and ride up Crown and Starlight Crest. This is very steep, but take it slow and bring low gears and you can do it. The heavy climbing is over after Flintridge, but there is another good climb in Pasadena and a final hill back in Monterey Park. The medium is somewhat easier. The medium skips the hills in Monterey Park and takes a less hilly route over to the Pasadena area, but it doesn’t miss all the fun. Once in Pasadena, the medium riders go down Chevy Chase to Eagle Rock before returning to the start. Then there is always the short route. It hardly does any hills at all. It spends a relatively flat day in Alhambra, South Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia and Pasadena. Sounds like we have something for everyone. So why not join us – what have you got to lose? Hopefully, at the end of the ride you will express your satisfaction with having had a good day on the bike.

To play the video, hit the arrow in the center of the frame.

Select a past ride from below to view it. Then hit the replay arrow in the center of the video frame. 

August 18, 2024: Phil's Ride: Whale of a Century

August 11, 2024: Phil's Ride: The Orange Coast Tour

June 30, 2024: Jacques' Ride: Corner - Will Rogers to Mount Holyoke

March 20, 2022 Phil's Ride: Oak Ridge Rides

December 12, 2021: Phil's Ride - Foothill Footsie Century

November 28, 2021: Phil's Ride - Cal Poly By Golly

September 19, 2021: Phil's Ride - Wandering To Whittier 

September 12, 2021: Phil's Ride - The Grand Tour Lite  

April 18, 2021: Phil's Ride - Laguna Canyon Century

August 15, 2021: Phil's Ride - Huntington Beach Go Around 

April 11, 2021: Phil's Ride - Winding Roads of Orange County

November 12, 2020: Phil's Ride - The Triple Dippers