Road Ride Report Malibu GranFondo

I headed to Malibu after work this morning hoping to get a ride in, but ended up watching a road event instead.

As I headed up Encinal, there was a CHP cruiser leading a bunch of cyclist down Encinal, then I realized today was the Malibu Granfondo. http://malibugranfondo.com/Malibu_GranFondo/Home.html

These folks were hauling butt along Encinal. I didn't pull over and couldn't get my camera to take pics. I know they were going to come up Decker so I waited and was able to snap a few pics.

The 55 mile Gran route would be from the start at the top of Encinal and down, then up Decker, down Mulholland, up Yerba Buena, down Encinal, up Mulholland and back to start finish at Encinal/Mulholland. There were 2 other routes you could do if 55 miles was a bit much. http://malibugranfondo.com/Malibu_GranFondo/Route_Details.html

Perfect beautiful day in Malibu Canyon for a road ride. Here's the few pics I took. Hopefully someone on here did the ride and will post up their experienced.

Almost at the top of Decker








Some wore costumes for the ride

 

A cruiser leading them down? As in, they can only go as fast as the cop? That would suck. Unless he's going 50.
I remember when Amgen Tour of Cali wanted to go through Malibu and the residents complained too much and city hall said no. I wonder how the Fondo folks got this ok'd.

 

The cop was well ahead of them with lights on(no siren) and some of the riders seem to be going pretty fast.
Not sure how they got approval but the roads weren't closed as cars were still on them, but lots of cyclist in the area as there were 3 different routes.

 

I happened to be climbing Mulholland yesterday morning and was surprised to find myself riding along with tons of other cyclists.
When I got to the stingers (near the top), I came up on an older gentlemen (REALLY Older)... he was walking the stingers and asked me if I would help him with his bike. He was having shifting troubles. I fixed it for him and then finally took a good look the guy... it was 81 year old former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. He was having a tough go of the stingers... but he was getting it done!

 

Riordan? That's cool! What part of Mulholland do you refer to as 'stingers'? The satellite dishes? Just curious.

 

If you're riding all the way to the top of Decker, The Stingers are the last mile of climbing... after you turn left onto Decker, there are three "stair-step" mini climbs that some have dubbed "The Stingers".

 

I ended up missing it, but riding coastal ventura county is sweet fun in da big hills.
Happy Trails

 

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