Question 2. Is there any group of cyclists that get together that I can join, to make it also more fun and learn more about other triathletes, since I’ve been 12 years away from the sport?
Thanks for any input you can give me. Here is my contact if anyone wants to keep in touch/train together.
I was going to say the Pasadena Rose Bowl for flat riding without car dangers. They even have weekly FAST group rides. But if you’re on the Westside, I can’t see driving out for that.
Great riding at the Rose Bowl if you don’t mind 3 mile loops.
Also, look up the San Gabriel River Trail (LA River Trail) for riding.
There are a few local events I can recall off the top of my head:
Bayshore 70.3, I think there is a tri (or used to be one) in Redondo Beach or Manhattan Beach. Othere will probably chime in here.
The San Gabriel River trail is what local triathletes use for flat, uninterrupted riding. Starts in Seal Beach or Long Beach (two choices) and keep going north until it ends in Azusa. Flip it and it’ll be around 80 miles. I’m on the east side so I used to do it from Azusa and go south to Long Beach or Seal Beach. It’s very boring but it serves the purpose.
Pasadena Rose Bowl is where I’d ride during the week and where I do TT training on weekdays. I’m a regular at the infamous “Rose Bowl Ride” on Tuesday/Thursday (an informal race with 10 laps of 3.1 miles). THere’s also a flat fast group ride starting from South Pasadena every Saturday (The Montrose ride). Note these group rides are awesome but road bikes only - no TT bikes.
Now that summer is over, and if you get out early, you can use the beach bike path. From where you are at you could go south to Torrance, then north to will rogers beach and back. That is about 40 miles of dead flat, some nice sections where you can open it up for intervals, and others just to recover. All with the ocean on your side for a great view!!! Just dont go on weekends until it really cools down though, unless at like 6 or 7am
Second question first, there are plenty of tri clubs in the LA area.
First question, there are plenty of people who do laps right there on Westchester Pkwy in the morning
The San Gabriel River Trail is a good place to get the miles it, but I wouldn’t put my head down and just hammer on it. Maybe possible on a weekday, but too many people on the weekends.
I drive up to Zuma. You can park on PCH and ride west from there. I avoid riding PCH east of Pepperdine, but west of Zuma is pretty good. You can do laps turning at Los Posas, or continue to Los Posas and Potrero. Zuma is also great to add an open water swim or a run down to Pt. Dume
But don’t be afraid of hills, they are fun. Plenty in the Santa Monica Mountains or you could do a few donuts around palos Verdes. Understand the need to punish yourself into holding position for extended periods, but don’t forget to enjoy riding.
Welcome back. My name is Ian Murray, I’m the Head Coach and one of the founders of the LA Tri Club. Torrey spoke the truth a couple of posts up about Westchester Pkwy - if you’re near LAX, that’ll be your easy, go-to flat bit to get in some weekday morning laps.
You’re talking IM, flat, long distance, etc. then the best (only?) place to get that done is PCH through Malibu. You say you’re willing to drive but you don’t need to waste too much time in the car and that’s so easy to do here. My advice is this: drive to Ocean and San Vicente in Santa Monica. Park off meter on Georgia and ride down into Santa Monica Canyon then North on PCH.
If you go early in the AM the traffic is lighter and it’ll feel safer. There are some pinch-points where the shoulder disappears (creeping side hill, new society of van life, etc. etc) you need to be skilled enough to look back and signal with a hand while holding your line. Once you’re past Topanga, you’ve got a lot of shoulder and a lot of miles up into Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai and beyond.
Here’s a look at 37mi, one way from Santa Monica Canyon to Las Posas (where you gotta exit). You can build on this nicely. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31072023
The LA Tri Club has a ton of coach-led and member-led workouts, come and join us.
I second the San Gabriel River bike path. Though ugly and prone to many other cyclists, it’s your best (only) bet for flat, completely uninterrupted miles in LA