Note: You must register in advance for this ride- registration closes at noon on Thursday before the ride. There is no late registration or day-of-event registration. You must be a member of both RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register.
The ride starts in the Santa Clarita Valley and traverses through Valencia and Newhall along bike trails and surface streets to Sierra Highway. It then climbs up along the original route of what was known in the 1860s as Beale's Cut Stagecoach Pass (Beale's Cut was a narrow channel cut through the pass where tolls were charged to travel to and from the San Fernando Valley. Beale's Cut still exists but is difficult to see from Sierra Highway.) The route then travels across the top of the San Fernando Valley and over the beautiful Santa Susana Pass, and then down and across Simi Valley to Moorpark. Climbing up Grimes Canyon Road to cross the Santa Susana Mountains, there is a fast and winding descent into the Heritage Valley. The route then travels down the valley to Santa Paula, where it turns up Highway 150 into the Topatopa Mountains and down the long descent to the Dennison Grade and on down into the Ojai Valley. Heading west over the double bumps the route descends to Carpenteria. Following the coast south to Oxnard, the route turns inland across Rancho Las Posas and through the Las Posas Hills back to Moorpark, where it again crosses the Santa Susana Mountains. The return to Santa Clarita follows Guiberson Road to Piru along the northern edge of the Santa Susanas, then along Highway 126 (where the shoulder has been designated and painted as a bike route.) Following a few miles of streets and trails the route ends back in Valencia. There are beautiful views of rock formations in the Santa Monica Mountains, and of the Heritage Valley, the Ojai Valley, and Lake Casitas along the route, as well as an opportunity to see the sunset over the Pacific from our namesake highway.
There are several moderate climbs on this route, but for most part they are 6% or less with occasional short sections at 7--8%. Services are available along the route, but at least two water bottles are recommended due to the dry, and often windy and hot, conditions that may be encountered, particularly on the climb from Moorpark, and between Ojai and Carpenteria.
The ride starts at Bridgeport Park in Valencia, and ends at the ride leader's house a short distance from the start, where there will be food and drinks available around a backyard fire pit. Limited parking is available in the parking lot at the start, and also to the east of the park along Bridgeport Lane and Parkwood Lane.
All participants are required to have working front and rear lights on their bicycles and meet the reflectivity guidelines as required by Article 10 of the RUSA Rules for Riders. An inspection will be conducted to ensure compliance for your safety during the ride.
We will hold a fleche on the weekend of April 6th and 7th. More details to come, but we will have a common finish at Mollie's Cafe in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday morning where we can have breakfast together. Start thinking about your team and route.
If you want to learn more about the fleche event, you can find info here.
Note: You must register in advance. Registration closes at noon on Wednesday before the ride - there is no day-of-event registration. You must be a member of RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register.
This a big 400 km loop around much of our region in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. You will head south on San Gabriel River Trail. From there you will head up the coast going through PV, Santa Monica, Malibu and Ventura. You'll head east up to Ojai then further inland, through Santa Paula, Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Pasadena. There are a couple of bike paths that might be difficult to navigate. Here is a link to some ride notes that include mileage and photos of those areas.
The start/finish is at the Hotel Huntington in Duarte. Riders are responsible for making their own hotel reservations if needed.
This is a minimally supported ride. In general, riders are responsible for finding their own food and water on course. There are some great places to stop and eat, you'll find some suggestions as POI or controls on the route. There is no SAG vehicle. Food and beer provided at the finish.
Full lights and reflective gear are required. Please see Article 10 of the RUSA Rules for Riders.
Good news! As of March 4th, Highway 33 is open again, so for now the ride is on! Fingers crossed that it stays in good shape for riding. I will scout the ride during the week of April 15th. If you register and we have to cancel the ride because of road closures, most of your fee will be refunded.
Note: You must register in advance for this ride- registration closes at noon on Thursday before the ride. There is no late registration or day-of-event registration. You must be a member of both PCH Randonneurs and RUSA in order to register.
This is a challenging ride that travels some beautiful, remote mountain roads. From the start in Ventura riders will make a gentle warm-up climb to Ojai, and then the real fun begins. The route travels north on Highway 33, through the Wheeler Gorge and the Sespe Wilderness Area. At Pine Mountain Summit (mile 51), riders will have already climbed over 6000 feet. Food and drinks will be provided here. Riders will make the rapid descent down to the Lockwood Valley Road, then begin the "Heartbreak" climb up to Lake of the Woods. (This climb gets its name because it seems like you have reached the summit at mile 66, but there are actually two more bumps to climb until you reach the final summit at mile 80). Riders then work their way to Lebec, Gorman, and Lake Hughes- a mostly downhill segment, but it may not seem like it because there are plenty of climbs along the way. After visiting the little market at Lake Hughes, riders will descend San Francisquito to Valencia, then follow the Heritage Valley back to Ventura.
The total climbing for this ride is about 14,000 ft. This is a great way to help build your fitness for your upcoming difficult rides in the summer.
In general, riders are responsible for obtaining their own food and water out on the course. However, there will be a staffed control at Pine Mountain Summit, and maybe additional locations if the weather is hot. There will be food provided at the finish.
Note: You must register in advance. Registration closes at noon on Friday before the ride - there is no day-of-event registration. You must be a member of RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register.
This is our classic Kendall's Double Bump 200k route, justed shifted so that the start is in Fillmore. This means that all the significant climbing happens in the first half of the ride. Highlights of the course include the climb up Highway 150 to Ojai, Casitas Pass, and the beautiful cycling roads of El Toro Canyon and East Mountain Road in the hills above Santa Barbara. The last half of the ride is the usual coastal route from Santa Barbara to Ventura, then the cruise through the Heritage Valley back to Fillmore. There is a total of about 6,000 feet climbing, most of it in the first 100k. There are many great places to grab lunch in Santa Barbara, including the control at Cantwell's market and deli.
This is a minimally supported ride. Riders are expected to be self-sufficient and obtain their own food and water out on the course. There will be food provided at the finish. There is no SAG vehicle.
Note: You must register in advance. Registration closes at noon on Monday before the ride to allow for last minute logistics and communications. There is no day-of-event registration. You must be a member of RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register. There will be a 30 rider limit on this ride.
This is a point-to-point ride that PCH Randos last did in 2018. The ride begins in San Luis Obispo and travels south, mostly along the coast, to San Juan Capistrano. The planned overnight stop is at the Jones' house in Moorpark, where riders will be able to sleep and eat some hot food. A drop bag will be transported from the start to the overnight control, and then on to the finish.
The start is at the Motel 6 South in SLO. Riders are responsible for booking their own motel rooms and there are many hotel choices nearby. It is smart to do this well in advance- SLO hotels tend to be in high demand on spring weekends. The finish will be at the Best Western in San Juan Capistrano. There are train stations with riding distance of both the start and finish hotels.
Riders can take the Amtrak to San Luis Obispo on the Friday before the ride. There are two Pacific Surfliner trains per day that allow you to wheel your bike in and store in a special bike area. The bike is free, but you must add a bicycle reservation to your ticket and there is a limit to the number of bikes on one train. The Coast Starlight also allows bikes, but for this train you wheel your bike to the baggage car and the conductor will load it into a bike area. Another option to get to the start is to join with some friends and use a one-way rental car.
This is a minimally supported ride. In general, riders are responsible for finding their own food and water on course, although there may be roving support. There will be food provided at the finish and the overnight. There will be a limited amount of SAG, so riders should have a plan to find their own way back if they need to abandon.
Note: You must register in advance. Registration closes at noon on Thursday before the ride - there is no day-of-event registration. You must be a member of RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register.
More ride details soon.
This is a minimally supported ride. Riders are responsible for finding their own food and water on course. Food will be provided at the finish. There is no SAG vehicle.