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Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option?

slowangeleno

May 1, 12 14:41

Post #1 of 12 (696 views)

Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option?	Quote \| Reply

Just starting to get back into cycling and tris in general. Thing is, I used to live on the Westside in L.A., where it was super easy to walk out the door and go for a 20-30 mile ride. Now I live downtown, where, if you know L.A., that just isn't going to happen (i'm sure there are routes and I could make it happen, but it's too difficult). That being the deal, how do you balance your training when you're only riding on weekends?

trackie clm

May 1, 12 14:59

Post #2 of 12 (671 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I can ride out my door, but the past 5 months I've been working way too many hours to get out during the week, which is why rollers and the Lemond trainer have been a saving grace.

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm

Pharmguy

May 1, 12 15:11

Post #3 of 12 (649 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Given the nasty/busy roads around me, I have to drive 20 minutes to a rideable stretch. So.......all trainer during the week unless i want to drive 40 min round trip for a 1 hour ride........nope!

slowangeleno

May 1, 12 15:14

Post #4 of 12 (646 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [Pharmguy] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

yup. same here.

vmandel

May 1, 12 15:23

Post #5 of 12 (631 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

You can hop the gold line train and be in Pasadena in 20 minutes. Is that possible after work? Great riding right off the train :) I live in Pasadena and I sold my car a month ago. LA is a whole 'nother place without a vehicle!! I should have ditched the car years ago. Do you also work downtown? Is it possible to ride before/after work near your office? I work in Burbank and will ride in Griffith Park since it's close to my office and very nice place to ride.

On Saturday mornings you can take the train to the Montrose ride in So Pas. (mission stop) you could get off at Filmore or Del Mar and cruise to the Rose Bowl.

Or exit at Sierra Madre, puts you close to a ton of very popular rides, such as GMR and Chantry Flats.

(This post was edited by vmandel on May 1, 12 15:26)

slowangeleno

May 1, 12 15:26

Post #6 of 12 (616 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [vmandel] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

interesting...i actually take the gold line to work in pasadena (memorial park stop), so I'm familiar with the area. thanks for the info!

i don't consider riding around or even out of downtown an option. not that it can't be done, i just don't want to.

i was looking at griffith park as an option for weekends since its much closer than driving to brentwood or manhattan beach, but i couldn't figure out the routes/paths. got any recommendations or recommendations where to look?

(This post was edited by slowangeleno on May 1, 12 15:29)

ChrisM

May 1, 12 15:27

Post #7 of 12 (615 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Come on, buy a fixie and blow the reds like all the other idiots downtown! Trainer rides midweek, and I have a place to ride (Torrance). Can't imagine riding up there

vmandel

May 1, 12 15:32

Post #8 of 12 (598 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

slowangeleno wrote:

interesting...i actually take the gold line to work (memorial park stop), so I'm familiar with the area. thanks for the info!

you could take the gold line all the way to the end at Sierra Madre and ride into the office. I am trying to get into a routine where I ride an express commuter bus to work (bike on the bus rack) and ride home.

The Memorial Park Station is close to the Rose Bowl. There is a TON of great riding there, laps around the bowl or all the hills surrounding it. I love riding at the RB!!! There is also a fantastic aquatic center there, it's $$ tho. What is your shower situation like at work?

If you have a shower at work, you're set. Cos you work by a lot of great routes and group rides! Or if you like to ride after work then you're good!

As for riding around Griffith there is a 5 mile loop around the park/zoo. There is also a paved path not open to cars that takes you up to the observatory. It's a nice 2 mile climb. LA River bike path also goes thru there. LA Tri club does a Wed night group ride (used to anyway) I don't suggest riding there on the weekend it's a bit crowded with people going to the zoo and museum. Check out the Barry Wolfe ride and the Love ride. Both good routes in the area, with or without a group.

http://www.socalcycling.com/...eekly/barrywolfe.htm
http://www.bikely.com/...ffith-Park-Love-Ride

(This post was edited by vmandel on May 1, 12 15:38)

slowangeleno

May 1, 12 15:54

Post #9 of 12 (548 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [vmandel] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Shower situation at work is non-existent. Unless I wanted to join Equinox, and I don't really want to pay $140/month for the showers when I already have a gym. Thanks for the info on griffith park, I might check that out this weekend.

In terms of the Rose Bowl, I've always heard it's a great place to ride. I've seen super fast group rides tearing around the stadium a few times. Is it pretty fun to ride laps around the stadium/golf course? looks nice and flat and fast.

lightheir

May 1, 12 16:00

Post #10 of 12 (538 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I I spent 4 years recently on the Westside. It's still not easy to go for a weekday ride there - lots of traffic to deal with, even on the PCH.

I did virtually all of my riding on weekdays on a gym bike or on an indoor trainer when I lived there. I did do 1x/wk sessions with the LaGrange bike club in mornings when the AM sun hours were better in the summer, but for evening rides, it was all trainer or indoor bike. I now live in Norcal and have ample roads to ride on weekdays even during rush hour, but honestly, I still do almost all my bike work on the trainer ddue to convenience. I only go out if I'm absolutely going nuts from the indoor stuff.

vmandel

May 1, 12 16:25

Post #11 of 12 (500 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

slowangeleno wrote:

It's fun to do a few laps and some hill repeats up Lida to the Art Center and then up into La Canada. All in nice residential areas that are rideable even in rush hour. You can probably look on Strava or Map My Ride for some routes. But head west into Glendale/La Canada. . Pasadena Tri Club has wed night brick that should be starting up soon if it has not already. They do some laps and some hills and run a few miles after.

Sorry I hate the trainer and refuse to ride it. I try to help anyone from that awful fate if I can.

(This post was edited by vmandel on May 1, 12 16:28)

markvoss

May 1, 12 16:26

Post #12 of 12 (496 views)

Re: Anyone else live somwhere where weekday cycling isn't an option? [slowangeleno] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Tegucigalpa, Honduras. We just moved up to being second most dangerous (non-war) city on the earth. My friends give me a 10% chance of coming back with my bike if I decide to ride on the roads at any time, day or night. Only way to train for any distance is to escape the city on a weekend or a rare day off :-)

(This post was edited by markvoss on May 1, 12 16:27)