Cruise up PCH to Malibu for a quick break. Lazy and out-of-shape riders can go home from here. The rest of us will continue up Malibu Canyon to Mulholland Highway and enjoy the gentle rollers back to Old Topanga. Up and down Old Topanga, down Topanga back to the coast, and the zip back to MDR. Short and full rides are about 31 and 50 miles, respectively.

Mostly flat with one gentle grade and a lot of the Orange County coast. Start at the south end of Long Beach and cruise through Seal, Sunset, Huntington, and Newport Beaches. Slight diversion at Corona Del Mar to a scenic overlook and then continue to Laguna Beach. Up the slight grade of Laguna Canyon and then back via Turtle Rock and Irvine to Newport Back Bay. Then back up PCH for a brunch stop at Brix (originally suggested by Mikki!). Then, just a few more miles back to the start. Here is the RideWithGPS version of the ride:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7885084

The whole ride is about 61 miles with less than 2000 feet of climbing.

Directions to the start: 405 South through Long Beach and exit on Studebaker. Right on Studebaker and go about 2 miles to where it tees into 2nd/Westminster. Turn right on 2nd, and just past PCH, turn left on E Marina Dr. Go past the farmer's market and park on the right side near what used to be Joe's Crab Shack. It's across the street from a Five Guys. Drive time from Marina Del Rey will be about 35 minutes. Meet at 8:15 am for an 8:30 am start. Car pooling is encouraged. Any questions?

We've done this route a few times in the last couple of years. It goes through a rustic area many people are surprised to find so close to Beverly Hills and on a closed road in Griffith Park.

Cruise through WLA and BH to Beverly Drive and then to Franklin Canyon. Continue up to Mulholland. Short route riders go back on Sepulveda for 30 mild miles. Long route riders head east on Mulholland to Griffith Park. Take Griffith Park Drive to the closed (and minimally maintained) Mt. Hollywood Drive to the Observatory. Return to the Westside via Western, Fountain, and Santa Monica Bl. Should be about 50 miles with 3200 feet of elevation gain. One time we even stopped on the way back at Pink's for ptomaine tube steaks!

Through Playa Del Rey, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches to Palos Verdes. From Malaga Cove, climb to the crest of the peninsula via Via Del Monte, Monte Malaga, Silver Spur, and Crenshaw. Throw in Whitley Collins for fun. Back down Hawthorne and around PV Drive West, and a first scenic detour for Paseo Del Mar and then back for a second scenic detour via Via Coronel through the PV foothills in search of peacocks. Back down Via Del Monte and snack at Roman Aroma in Redondo Beach. A relatively hilly 54 miles with an annoyingly steep section on Silver Spur (and a short steep section on Whitley Collins!).

Here is the RideWithGPS of route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29995278

The annual MDRCC Winter Party will be in the afternoon. The usual pot-luck and chance to see your current and long lost riding buddies not in cycling clothes. Time to consume mass quantities of foods and bevarages. Details to be announced by email. RSVP's requested.

Zip up PCH to Trancas with the usual break in Malibu. The short ride turns around here (or back at Malibu). The long ride proceeds a few miles more to Encinal Canyon. A scenic climb up Encinal brings us to a choice of Mulholland or Upper Encinal to take us over to Kanan Dume for the long and fast descent back to the coast and optional brunch before returning on PCH. The short ride is about 45 miles; the long ride is about 65 miles with a fair amount of climbing. Encinal Canyon is about five miles but never too steep (except maybe right at the start!).

A tour of the Westside canyons above Sunset. Palisades Highlands, Amalfi, and Mandeville. We used to do Tigertail as well, but for years, everyone has wimped out after Mandeville for a total of 46 hilly miles. Bring a low gear for Palisades Highlands which gets very steep for the top mile and one half. We used to do the start of Sullivan Fire Trail, but the road has gotten so bad that now we just go up Alta Mura, a semi-private dead end (shush!). And finally, bring your good behavior for manic motorists on Mandeville. A new variation for Mandeville is, on the way up, to turn left at Westridge, go to the top of it, and then back down to Mandeville via Banyon and Arbutus for the rest of that climb. Fun! Fun! Fun!

A new variation on an old time destination. Meet out at Malibu Bluffs Park to avoid the Santa Monica/Malibu section of PCH. Continue up PCH past Trancas and Leo Carillo State Beach to Mulholland Hwy. Climb up Mulholland to Westlake Blvd, and descend to Westlake Village. Lunch break at the Natural Cafe. The way back is either going back up Westlake Blvd. to Mulholland, Cornell Rd. to Mulholland, or Agoura Rd. back to Las Virgenes. Down Las Virgenes back to the start. RideWithGPS for the Cornell return: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31924896. This route is about 45 mile and 3900 feet of climbing. The route could be exteneded if people want more. And some people have said they will meet at San Vicente and Ocean at 7:00 am and ride out to Malibu Bluffs Park!

Meet at Malibu Bluffs Park at 8:15 for an 8:30 start. To get to the park, take PCH past Clear Creek, up the fun hill, and turn left at the top.

The regular Nichols - Griffith Park route. Through Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and up Nichols Canyon. East on Mulholland to Barham, Forest Lawn, and Griffith Park. Snack stop at Priscilla's in Toluca Lake. Return through the Valley via Riverside and Valley Vista, and then over Sepulveda, to jog through the VA to San Vicente to Ocean Avenue and Palisades Park in Santa Monica. A fairly hilly 51 miles.

Over Sepulveda to Burbank Boulevard, Victory, and up DeSoto to Devonshire. If people are willing, add in Santa Susanna and Box Canyon. Or maybe just skip Chatsworth altogether and head to Topanga. Otherwise, around the Reservoir and stop for brunch (for those who want) at Pedaler’s Fork in Calabasas. Return over Old Topanga Canyon to PCH. Moderately hilly 61 miles. Short route can return from the top of Sepulveda.

(Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning, so the 8:00 am start will feel like 7:00 am!)

Through Playa Del Rey, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches to Palos Verdes. From Malaga Cove, climb to the crest of the peninsula via Via Del Monte, Monte Malaga, Silver Spur, and Crenshaw. Throw in Whitley Collins for fun. Back down Hawthorne and around PV Drive West, and a first scenic detour for Paseo Del Mar and then back for a second scenic detour via Via Coronel through the PV foothills in search of peacocks. Back down Via Del Monte and snack at Klatch Coffee in Redondo Beach. A relatively hilly 53 miles with an annoyingly steep section on Silver Spur (and a short steep section on Whitley Collins!).

Here is the RideWithGPS of route (with updated start route and stop at Klatch Coffee): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32064556

Beware the Ides of March!

Through Santa Monica, and up PCH to Malibu. The short route turns around at Cross Creek in Malibu and returns to Santa Monica for 30 flat fast miles. The long ride proceeds up Latigo Canyon for a very scenic and long (10 mile!) climb. At Kanan Dume Road we will take the fast descent back to the coast and return on PCH for optional lunch at the Reel Inn or Malibu Seafood.

The GMR ride is postponed. We tried this last week and got rained out in Malibu. Will try again!

Through Santa Monica, and up PCH to Malibu. The short route turns around at Cross Creek in Malibu and returns to Santa Monica for 30 flat fast miles. The long ride proceeds up Latigo Canyon for a very scenic and long (10 mile!) climb. At Kanan Dume Road we will take the fast descent back to the coast and return on PCH for optional lunch at the Reel Inn or Malibu Seafood.

POSTPONED FOR A WHILE - Doing Latigo instead - See above.

A fresh route used once before. Up and down roads to and from Mulholland. Some we haven't ridden and some in directions we don't normally do. The whole ride is almost 60 miles with 4700 feet of climbing! And those who don't want to do the whole ride can bail at few earlier spots.

Up Sepulveda to Mulholland and then down a steep Woodcliff. Then up Beverly Glen from the Valley side and down to Sunset. Back up Benedict to Mulholland and down an obscure twisty route just off of Beverly Glen called Camino de la Cumbre. Then back up the Valley side of Coldwater and down through Franklin Canyon and back up Coldwater to Mulholland. A little bit of riding on Mulholland past Laurel Canyon, turn righe on Woodrow Wilson and follow it to Nichols. Then down Nichols into West Hollywood and back to the start.

Here is the RideWithGPS version of the proposed route. It is subject to change.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29396419

The southern route down to the Malaga Cove Plaza, continue on PV West with side route on Paseo Del Mar, where we will observe the stupid stop sign that Herwin and I once got ticketed at. On to PV South and then up PV East and the switchbacks. The usual Extra Credit for doing the domes on Crest (or Extra Rest for not doing!), and continue to PV North and back to Klatch Coffee in Redondo Beach. People wanting a shorter route can do the golf course (Via Campesina) and return.