Upcoming Rides

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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

Every Thursday, 8:30 a.m. (unless otherwise specified). 

Start Location: Ballona Creek Bridge.  From I405 exit Culver Blvd and head West or take Rte 90 West and take Culver Blvd exit turn left. Right on Esplanade St, left on Convoy St, and right on Pacific Avenue. Park by the Lagoon on the right. The bridge is about 2 blocks North on Pacific.

For a map and directions to the start, click Start.

Riders usually goes South to Palos Verdes on the bike path and then do some riding on the Peninsula. There are optional climbs including the 3 “dips” which give the ride its name. The group usually stops for a break at the Golden Cove shopping area. Occasionally the group will decide to vary the route and explore specific sites elsewhere in the city. A typical day is 40 - 50 miles but often individual riders either cut the day short or add extra miles as desired.  Contact Lewis Singer lewissinger@nullgmail.com for details.

Check out our weekly newsletter here to get a preview of some of our past rides...Newsletter (http://www.lawheelmen.org/vp-newsletter)

We hope to see you there!

Sunday, May 11 – 8:30 a.m.

Start Location: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CITY PARK.  From San Diego Fry (I-5), off and R on Junipero Serra Rd, L - El Camino Capistrano .7 mi. to park.  Park on street near restrooms.

For a map and directions, click Start.

Routes: 

• Long – 64 miles – 2900 feet (2300 w/o hill) of elevation gain (barometric)
• Medium – 47 miles – 2400 feet (1800 w/o hill) of elevation gain (mapping software)
• Short – 31 miles – 1300 feet of elevation gain (mapping software)
• Combined Routes

Today we start from Capistrano and head south. I know Capistrano is a long drive, but you get to see things on these routes you never get to see on any of our other rides. We only run this one every couple of years so why not check it out. As I said we head south. All routes make it to San Clemente, former home of President Nixon. I suppose we could rename this ride the Nixon Memorial ride. We don’t actually get to ride past his former home, but we do ride along Avenida del Presidente which I’m guessing was named in honor of Nixon. Riding to San Clemente and back is pretty much all the short route does. However it continues south past San Clemente just enough to pass the famous trestles surfing location and on to see the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant before turning back. The power plant is moth balled now but I believe there is still a lot of spent fuel on the premises they don’t know what to do with, so bring your Geiger counters if you are worried. The medium and the long ride to San Clemente, but they take an optional very steep climb before getting there. You can skip the worst of this climb if you wish. The medium continues south past the power plant and goes all the way to the edge of Camp Pendleton. This takes you through the San Onofre Bluff campground and along the old highway which is now closed to traffic. The long follows the medium down to Pendleton, but then continues south to Oceanside for lunch. In the past we have ridden through Camp Pendleton which was a nice traffic free route. However, in past years the Marines have made it more and more difficult to do this, so we have been riding the shoulder of the I-5 freeway down and back. This is a wide shoulder and in the past I have found it fairly clean of debris. You still get to see some of the sights in Pendleton from the freeway. I think it is such a hassle to get the permit to ride through Pendleton, I’m taking that option off the route sheets this year. However, if you really want to do it, see the information about riding through Pendleton below. So to sum up – today you get to see San Clemente, Trestles Beach, the San Onofre Power Plant, the San Onofre Campground, Camp Pendleton and Oceanside and when you get back to Capistrano – who knows – maybe you can spot some of the famous swallows. Not a bad day or riding and definitely worth the drive.

RIDING THROUGH CAMP PENDLETON:  YOU MUST OBTAIN A PERMIT IN ADVANCE AND YOU CAN ONLY DO SO IN PERSON AT THE BASE. To get the permit you will need to present a Real ID or a birth certificate. For information go to:

https://www.pendleton.marines.mil/Main-Menu/Base-Access/Recreational-Bicycling/#BATAB/recreational-bicycling

Sunday,  May 18 – 8:30 a.m.

Start Location: THE "CORNER", Olympic Blvd, 1 block west of La Cienega in Beverly Hills.  From the Santa Monica Frwy (10), off & north La Cienega 1½ miles, L - Olympic 1 block to R- Le Doux.

For a map and directions, click Start.

Routes:   

• Long– 44 miles – 2600 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
• Medium – 20 miles – 1500 feet of elevation gain (barometric)
• Combined Routes

Today we ride to the Hollywood sign, so here are a few important dates about the sign. It was first erected in 1923 (102 years ago) as the “HOLLYWOODLAND” sign. The “LAND” was taken off in 1949. In 1978 the sign was completely replaced with the current metal sign. 2023 was the last time we rode up to the sign. We actually ride to a point immediately above the sign where we are looking down on the sign. As you look up at the sign from Hollywood you can see an antenna array above the sign. That’s where we are headed. You also get a view down on the Hollywood Reservoir from up there and you can look down on both the Valley and downtown from the same location. It’s quite a view. But, admittedly, it’s not so easy to get there. The climb includes a couple of very steep stretches. The steepest is only a few tenths of a mile long and the last 1.3 miles to the top are on a closed road so the only competition are the many hikers on their way to the top too. We only have two routes today and both start by going up to the sign. Due to the difficulty of the climb, the routes are short. The medium simply goes up to the sign and then turns around and comes back to the start. It is 10 miles up and ten miles back. The long route goes up to the sign with the medium but after coming back down makes a loop taking you out to the Valley and back. This long route was originally put together by Steve Bowen and was intended to take in 3 Los Angeles lakes. After coming down from the sign, it first makes a loop around Silver Lake. Then it heads out to the Valley via Griffith Park and passes near Toluca Lake (although you can’t see it). Finally, on the return the route takes you up along Mulholland where you descend to the start by going past Franklin Canyon Reservoir – the third lake. While in the Valley, there is a point where you can look up and see the antennas where you were no so long ago. So, yes, the climb is difficult, but the view is worth it and you can brag to your friends that you were up there. The really steep parts probably total less than 3 miles and you can always stop to rest as often as you wish. So why not give it a go.