2024 Rides and Events

All Sunday rides, except out-of-town rides, leave from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace.  Most people ride to the start, but some drive and park on nearby streets.

Sunday departure time is 8:00 am, except for out-of-town rides. Please be ready to roll at the departure time!

Your bike should be in good working condition and you should be prepared to fix a flat (i.e., have spare tube, tire levers, patches, pump or CO2 inflator, etc.).  You should also carry a water bottle (two in warm weather), snacks, and lunch money. Helmets are required at all times, and no headsets or earbuds, please!

This schedule is always subject to change.  As a convenience to riders, it may include  mention of and links to other organized rides that some of us participate in, but these are not “official” or “out-of-town” MDRCC rides.

Please, no E-Bikes.  This group is somewhat traditional and part of the reason people ride with us is for the fitness it brings under their own power.

IMPORTANT RIDE CAVEAT – Riding on public roads with motor and pedestrian traffic, road hazards, and other cyclists is inherently dangerous and because of this, accidents and serious injuries might occur. By riding with MDRCC, you acknowledge and accept these risks and release MDRCC and all others involved from any and all liability.

  • Sun
    05
    Jan
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Cruise up PCH to Malibu for a quick break. Lazy and out-of-shape riders can go home from here. Whoever is left will continue up Malibu Canyon to Piuma and then take the Dry/Cold Canyon/Creek side roads back and forth across Mulholland Highway. Then up  and down Old Topanga, down Topanga to the coast, and back to MDR. Short and full rides are about 31 and 50 miles, respectively.

  • Sun
    12
    Jan
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    The usual 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 got ticketed at, On to PV South and then up PV East and the switchbacks. Extra credit for doing the domes on Crest, and continue to PV North and back to Roma Aroma in Redondo Beach. People wanting a shorter route can do the golf course (Via Campesina) and return.

     

    I can't tell from the internet if Portuguese Bend is still closed.  If so, we'll do some variation from Malaga Cover

  • Sun
    19
    Jan
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Cruise through Beverly Hills to Benedict Canyon, and climb up to Mulholland. Turn west to Sepulveda for 30 slightly hilly miles (short ride), or head east on Mulholland to Griffith Park for 57 moderately hilly miles. Optional jaunts to the Observatory and/or stop at Pricilla's in Toluca Lake for a coffee and snack break and then head back via Riverside, Valley Vista, and Sepulveda.

  • Sun
    26
    Jan
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    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 a break 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.

  • Sun
    02
    Feb
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    A new tour of the Westside canyons that incorporates a number of our members favorite climbs for a total of 46 hilly miles. Ride up Ocean Ave to San Vicente and jog up to Bundy with the climb to Mt. St. Mary's. Return to Sunset and climb up Homewood, back down to Sunset and round trip on Mandeville. Return to San Vicente and ride to a round trip up and down Amalfi before returning to MDR. 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!

  • Sun
    09
    Feb
    2025
    8:00 am Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina MarketplaceCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Zip up PCH to Trancas with the usual break in Malibu. We are now stopping at Malibu Bluffs Park at the top of the hill. 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 snack break 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. There is also some more climbing to get to Kanan Dume.

  • Sun
    16
    Feb
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    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 (PCH and Torrance) A relatively hilly 54 miles with an annoyingly steep section on Silver Spur (and a short steep section on Whitley Collins!).

    Here is an (updated and mostly correct) version of the RideWithGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29995278

  • Sun
    23
    Feb
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Up Sepulveda to Moraga and then wind our way through scenic Bel Air, past a few way-to-big monstrosities, then up the steps of Stradella to Mulholland Drive. The short ride returns to the Westside via Sepulveda. The long ride continues on Mulholland over the San Diego Fwy to Encino Hills Drive for a steep descent into the Valley. From Hayvenhurst, continue to wind our way over the (not-so) secret commuter route to Valley Vista, Wells, and Dumetz, to Topanga Canyon. Take a break at the Starbucks, and then climb New Topanga over and down to PCH. The short route is 30 hilly miles. The long route is 48 miles with more hills and 3700 feet of climbing. There are a few steep sections.

    Here is the route to help you from getting too lost:
    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19044553

  • Sun
    02
    Mar
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Through West LA to Santa Monica Blvd. Turn north at Beverly Glen and take a scenic tour all the way up to the top of Mulholland with one steepish section. Short ride turns left and returns via Mulholland and Sepulveda. Long ride turns right and takes Mulholland to Cahuenga Pass, then up and over on Barham Blvd., past Forest Lawn and Travel Town before turning back through Toluca Lake for a break at Priscilla's. Return via Riverside, Valley Vista, and Sepulveda Pass. 55 miles. Moderate climbing.

     

  • Sun
    09
    Mar
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    Long, easy distance - Up PCH through Malibu, by Zuma, past Trancas to the Rock at Pt. Mugu, then back. A relatively flat 80 miles. Short routes turn around at Malibu or Trancas.

  • Sun
    16
    Mar
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    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 possible brunch stop at Brix (or other). 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 San Pedro Fish Market. It's across the street from a Five Guys. Drive time from Marina Del Rey will be about 35 minutes. Meet at 7:45 am for an 8:00 am start. Any questions?

  • Sun
    23
    Mar
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    The usual route through the South Bay beach towns to the Malaga Cove Plaza. Then around the golf course to PV North and PV East. Up PV East to Crest (radar domes for extra credit), and then down the switchbacks to PV South and PV West. Snacks and conversation at Klatch Coffee in Redondo Beach on the way back. Short route riders can return after the fountain or golf course. Full route is about 58 miles.

  • Sun
    30
    Mar
    2025
    8:00 amCoffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 13420 Maxella Ave, Villa Marina Marketplace

    The usual route to Nichols Canyon, and if people are willing, left turn onto Willow Glen to Woodstock to Woodrow Wilson, and up the Wall to Mulholland. Either continue on Woodrow Wilson or Mulholland, down to and across Cahuenga. Then up Wonder View to Lake Hollywood. From here, we either go around the lake, climb up to the Hollywood sign, and back down Beachwood through Hollywood, or out to Griffith Park and back the usual way from there.