I recently helped decorate a rose parade float on a saturday morning and noticed a number of riders cycling around the parking lot... does anyone know of a cycling route that passes through the Rose Bowl? I am looking for a new ride in the L.A. area with some good hill sections....e-mail me if you prefer mtb562@yahoo.com.

I recently helped decorate a rose parade float on a saturday morning and noticed a number of riders cycling around the parking lot... does anyone know of a cycling route that passes through the Rose Bowl? I am looking for a new ride in the L.A. area with some good hill sections....e-mail me if you prefer mtb562@yahoo.com.

I'm pretty sure that there's a training race there during the summer, but that's all I know. Go surf on over to www.socalcycling.com and see if its listed under "local rides."

M

Yes, just a couple of miles south of the Bowl is the Montrose ride. It leaves the Trader Joe's parking lot in South Pasadena at 8:30 every Saturday morning, rain or shine year round. However it originally starts from Descanso Gardens in La Canada at 8:15. There are two routes, short and long. The route starts off flat till the split. From there the short ride ends with a flurry power climbs ending in Sierra Madre You'll pull in about 40+ miles. The long ride adds 10 miles but throws in a couple of lung busting hills in between. This route separates the more experienced and fit riders. This is not a ride for everybody. The pack routinely goes through red lights and there is no regrouping. And when the warmer months come around, the famous Bowl ride takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. It begins when the time changes starting off with 5 laps then adding one per week until it reaches 10 laps. This training ride is also a hammer fest, especially during the peak summer months where local pro's make cameos. The Rose Bowl surrounding area is an actual hallowed training ground for the locals. There are many climbs in and around the area. And if you really want to climb, the Angeles Crest Hwy is just a mile or so away. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Let me know if you have any questions.---redrider

I recently helped decorate a rose parade float on a saturday morning and noticed a number of riders cycling around the parking lot... does anyone know of a cycling route that passes through the Rose Bowl? I am looking for a new ride in the L.A. area with some good hill sections....e-mail me if you prefer mtb562@yahoo.com.

Yes, just a couple of miles south of the Bowl is the Montrose ride. It leaves the Trader Joe's parking lot in South Pasadena at 8:30 every Saturday morning, rain or shine year round. However it originally starts from Descanso Gardens in La Canada at 8:15. There are two routes, short and long. The route starts off flat till the split. From there the short ride ends with a flurry power climbs ending in Sierra Madre You'll pull in about 40+ miles. The long ride adds 10 miles but throws in a couple of lung busting hills in between. This route separates the more experienced and fit riders. This is not a ride for everybody. The pack routinely goes through red lights and there is no regrouping. And when the warmer months come around, the famous Bowl ride takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. It begins when the time changes starting off with 5 laps then adding one per week until it reaches 10 laps. This training ride is also a hammer fest, especially during the peak summer months where local pro's make cameos. The Rose Bowl surrounding area is an actual hallowed training ground for the locals. There are many climbs in and around the area. And if you really want to climb, the Angeles Crest Hwy is just a mile or so away. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Let me know if you have any questions.---redrider

redrider's comments are mostly true. The ride leaves Descanso Gardens in La Canada at 8:10 sharp - rain or shine. From there it rolls through the Rose Bowl/Brookside Park area (the riders you saw might have been waiting to catch the group as it went by) and heads south on Arroyo to TJ's in So. Pasadena. Be warned: This ride is not for the average recreational rider. The pace is fast (a large portion of the riders are active racers and a few pros are usually included in the group). Also, this ride can easily reach 150+ riders during the summer months (same is true for the Tues/Thurs Rose Bowl ride). Being comfortable riding in a tight pack at 30+mph is a must!

Yes, just a couple of miles south of the Bowl is the Montrose ride. It leaves the Trader Joe's parking lot in South Pasadena at 8:30 every Saturday morning, rain or shine year round. However it originally starts from Descanso Gardens in La Canada at 8:15. There are two routes, short and long. The route starts off flat till the split. From there the short ride ends with a flurry power climbs ending in Sierra Madre You'll pull in about 40+ miles. The long ride adds 10 miles but throws in a couple of lung busting hills in between. This route separates the more experienced and fit riders. This is not a ride for everybody. The pack routinely goes through red lights and there is no regrouping. And when the warmer months come around, the famous Bowl ride takes place every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm. It begins when the time changes starting off with 5 laps then adding one per week until it reaches 10 laps. This training ride is also a hammer fest, especially during the peak summer months where local pro's make cameos. The Rose Bowl surrounding area is an actual hallowed training ground for the locals. There are many climbs in and around the area. And if you really want to climb, the Angeles Crest Hwy is just a mile or so away. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Let me know if you have any questions.---redrider

I've been doing both the Bowl ride and the Montrose ride for the past 3 years. First year was scarier than shite :eek: . Probably one crash every month on average for the Bowl ride during the warmer months. Probably one crash every two months on average for the Montrose ride. These crashes are sometimes solo, but usually involve at least two or more bikes. Some of these can be bad; I've been on rides where the following hard parts have been broken: collarbone, jaws, pelvis, forearm, and teeth.

When I started, I couldn't hold a line and was yelled at a lot. I learned. Just stay off the back until you're comfortable, because you'll get more space there. Also, if you go down, you won't take anyone else with you. The drawback to being on the back is that you're more likely to get dropped and it's the most dangerous place because that's where all the newbies are. Ironic, huh?

I never miss these rides :D .