RR: mini RR: Beautiful LA - Westridge

[Burner]

Did my usual Westridge workout, I do one of the ridges a couple times a week (Sullivan ridge would be the other). This one's a 3.5 mi climb, with a fun parallel singletrack down, that has some steep rolling climbs and descents, it makes for good fun, and a workout in both directions on the SS. Always good views too.

The view was exceptional yesterday, the air was super clean. Nice day to be out, so nice I did a second lap.

(forgive the camera phone, it was all I had with me)

rainbow over downtown la


rainbow over century city

[0gravity]

What times do you tend to ride up there? I do a night ride every Wednesday night, usually Westridge / Sullivan options, but I have a flexible schedule and wouldn't mind fitting in a daytime ride during the week on a more regular basis. I could meet you over there. Post here or PM.

[Burner]

Jesse, I head up there last minute a lot, just to get a quick ride in when I can. Most times it's mid afternoon. When I have some lead time, I'll try to hit you up.

[FoShizzle]

boy....a "rainbow" in your picture....what a surprise. dude, you are so ghey

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by FoShizzle

boy....a "rainbow" in your picture....what a surprise. dude, you are so ghey

[Pain Freak]

Secret weapon....

[sauce]

I saw that rainbow yesterday! I like to ride up sully ridge at 4:15 pm and down Backbone at around 5:30 pm. good 2-hour workout. but this ride of yours (Westridge) is one of my fav.'s as well ... great 50-minute work-out, awesome views and fast, semi-techy single-track! and the single-track really gets the heart rate flying. i've been out there tuesday and thursdays (late afternoon and early evening). i bet i've seen ya! santa monica mountains rule!

[Burner]

Mike, thanks for blowing my cover! those are healthy oatmeal choc chip cookies, no butter, bad oil, or refined sugar. I get my mom to bake 'em and send to me for the trail. Excellent refueling. (no mom jokes Fo!)

Sauce
when you do your backbone loop, do you come down jdrop or take sunset to your car? where do you park?

ever climb sully ridge and take jedi (the parallel ST) back down? It's a blast also and the climb up the ridge face to the lower part of jedi (below the big tree) is a great challenge on the SS.

[Keith B]

That last picture looks sweet - will try this trail soon.

[0gravity]

Yo Sauce and Burner, let's pick a tentative time next week for a ride somewhere up there so we can put some west-side faces to screen names. The 2 hour Sully ridge over to and down backbone is great if we've got the time. But I could do a shorter one too. Thursday is better for me.

By the way, Sauce, you missed a great Wednesday night ride (WNR) last night. Seven of us did the Sulpher springs, China flat, dead-cow loop. Next week might be a long out and back on the backbone trail leaving from the parking lot at the end of Corral Cyn. Ya'll are

Otherwise, maybe we can meet up for that afternoon midweek ride sometime. I'm so close to those trails, I really should be riding them during the week (besides the WNR) anyway.

[Burner]

I might have time later today, but will have to play it by ear, if I do it would be a start time in the 3-430pm range. All this talk has given me a cravin to go hitup sullivan to jedi.

[0gravity]

What's JEDI? For all I know i"ve been on it, but i don't remember. Or it was called something else.

[JimN]

[quote=Burner;50905]
when you do your backbone loop, do you come down jdrop or take sunset to your car? where do you park?
quote]

Mat,

I recommend parking at Upper Mesa & Amalfi. The short spin up Amalfi makes for a nice warm-up at the beginning of the ride. And at the end of the ride, you don't have to ride on Sunset or do any significant climbing.

At the end of the ride, use the west exit from Will Rogers Park and head down the paved road to Sunset. Cross Sunset at the crosswalk and go right onto the sidewalk. Follow the sidewalk to the first cross street, go left and immediately left again into what looks like a driveway (actually a legal easement). Follow this easement a short distance and cross over a gated wooden bridge, which leaves you on Latimer Road. Follow Latimer Road, passing by Rustic Canyon Park on the right. Latimer Road will tee into Mesa/Upper Mesa Road. Go left onto Upper Mesa and you'll be back at your car in a couple minutes.

[Nagaredama]

Be sure to post up if you guys are doing a West LA ride. I would love to ride with someone other than my boring self.

[ApexMan]

I forget how to loop it right but the ridge that is east of Backbone (westridge?) has a little scary technical decent for those who wish to test their skills. The decent is called "the Scairs"! My advice when first attemping it is to start SLOW and use two fingers on your breaks, and DON"T stop!

[tkblazer]

damn that looks fun!

[ApexMan]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

damn that looks fun!

I have a vid of about 5mb of a friend finishing it out, how do I upload it here?

[sauce]

how do you get to that?

[ApexMan]

I shot a vid with my camera, it's not great, but fun.

[0gravity]

Word, that's a really fun drop! It's around one of the first obvious and wide corners on the Westridge fire road (closest to the beginning parking lot). I think there might be a small sign or dog baggie dispensor or something. It just drops pretty much straight down into Sullivan canyon and is super steep, technical, loose and hella fun!