Bike Riding In L.A.

Surprisingly, I found a great variety of different bike paths to choose from in Los Angeles, covering all types of terrain. I spent a Saturday taking a relaxing cruise down the Santa Monica/Venice Strip, an 8 mile stretch that follows the coast. The interesting array of people and places you'll see on this trek makes this ride worth while. Surfers and wake boarders abound, and there is never a shortage of beautiful beachgoers to catch your attention. The scenery of the Venice boardwalk alone will make your day. There are street performers, jugglers, singers, and musicians. An incredible variety of shops are located on the strip as well. There are bookstores and surf shops to check out, as well as a few tatoo and piercing shops. You can take time out of your trip to eat at one of the dozen local restaurants or just grab a hot dog and an icee from one of the vendors. There really is no down side to this trip. Granted, there are always rollerbladers and people on skate boards, but the paths are substantial so there is plenty of room for everyone. Check it out when the sun is shining and you have a few hours to relax.

The following weekend I took a longer trip down the 12 mile long mid-section of the San Gabriel River which goes from the Whittier Narrows Dam all the way to South St. in Lakewood. It's a smooth ride- a good one for less experienced riders or families. There is an even mixture of urban surroundings and rural/park areas. Wetlands are plentiful on this path, especially in the Pico Rivera flood basins. If you need a break or want to stop off and eat, there are plenty of open concrete sections to rest in. There are bike paths on both sides of the river for a good section of the trip and it is almost never crowded. The only thing to remember is that there are only a few places where you are able to cross from one side of the river to other-so choose your side wisely!

Over the Memorial holiday, a few friends and I spent all day on the rugged off road trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. The paths cover almost 45 miles from Point Mugu in Ventura County all the way to Griffith Park. We only had that one day and weren't able to cover more than a third of this stretch, but the areas we did see-wooded canyons, rugged backcountry, and quite a few animals made this one of my favorite L.A. area treks. There are are gorgeous lakes and streams and more types of plant life than you could imagine. The trail gets fairly rough at times so make sure your bike is up to par. My Hard Rock faired well, but suspension would have made the ride a little easier and much more comfortable. Remember to bring enough water as there is no place to easily refill your bottles once you are on the path. If you are looking for an off-road adventure close to home- this trail is a must see!

This weekend I went to check out the Ballona Creek Path that goes from Culver to Marina Del Rey. It was highy recommended to me, by more than a few of my friends. This was one of the nicest, most relaxing rides I have had in L.A. Heading towards the ocean was an easy, slightly downhill ride but the full frontal wind was a little much at times. On the way back however, that same wind gives you a little nudge and makes the return trip that much easier. As others have said, this wouldn't be a smart path to be on at night. The trails are poorly lit and the lack of gaurd rails makes sliding into the adjacent canal a real possibility. During the day however, this is one of the most enjoyable afternoon trips and definately my favorite way to get to the beach.