Note: You must register in advance for this ride, there is no day-of-event registration. Registration closes at noon on the Friday before the ride.
This ride starts in Pasadena, heads through the residential neighborhoods of Glendale to Griffith Park, where we do a scenic loop and eventually end up at the observatory. Next we desend into Hollywood, work our way toward USC, then travel through downtown Los Angeles. The finish is up through the Arroyo Seco into South Pasadena, then back to the start. Total climbing is about 3500 ft- most of the climbing is in the first half of the course, the second half is fairly flat.
This is most definitely a tourist ride. It goes by many famous sites in the Los Angeles area including Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Blvd, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum Row, the Coliseum and USC, Staples Center, Bunker Hill, and the Disney Concert Hall. It is a lot of fun, especially in a group. And traffic on a Sunday is not too bad.
Full disclaimer- this is a very urban route. There will be some busy roads and many stoplights. Although most of the route is quite nice, there are a few gritty sections with homeless encampments.
The ride begins near the Sierra Madre Villa train station. There is ample free parking there (or you can take the train!).
This is a minimally supported ride. Riders are responsible for obtaining their own water and food on the course. There is no SAG vehicle.