We just spent a few days in LA after a great turkey day visit in Palm Desert. I brought my road bike with me to PD and LA, and got out for two great rides with the folks from the La Grange club. Saturday: Given that my buddy Tony @ Madkast was heading out in 19 degree weather in Boulder, I was pretty psyched to find it already warming up to a nice mid-70s on Saturday in LA. Tony had given me a list of some great rides, and the La Grange site has some good ones also. I am staying in Brentwood, so a quick spin down San Vincente to Ocean brought me right to the meetup spot for the local clubs. I hopped in with a group of 5 riders heading up the coast to do the hills in Malibu. Latigo canyon was already on fire, and we could see the smoke from Santa Monica, but we wanted to see how far north we could get and if we could see the fires. We ended up doing the following loop: PCH>Topanga>Fernwood>Saddle Ridge>Las Flores>PCH. View Larger Map The ride was fantastic...the climb up Topanga was pretty mellow, but Fernwood was tight and steep, and the views from Saddle Ridge were amazing as you could see the ocean, downtown LA and everything in between, including the raging fire in Latigo canyon about 5 miles north. I really wanted to grab a few pics with the iPhone from the top of the Saddle Ridge but forgot about it when I was up there. The descent down Las Flores is nuts - the first part on Scheruen Road and the top of Flores is VERY tight and steep. So much so you really have to ride the brakes and worry about brake-fade! Coming back on PCH thru Malibu was entertaining but very heads-up with all the cars parked right on the edge of the road. Sunday I did the "Nichols" ride with the La Grange group. This is one of their signature rides and is really a race-ride once you hit the hills. Lots of fun, hard, and fast. The group was about 50 strong and everyone seemed to be good pack riders. Everything from Cat1 guys to weekend warriors were out too. Here's the ride detail: http://www.lagrange.org/rides_sun.htm Highly Recommended if you are looking for a challenging and fast ride! Another note: There are so many cyclists in the area you can pretty much sit at the corner of San Vicente and Ocean at 8, 8:30 or 9 and find a group to ride with. Kinda like Amante in North Boulder, but with less attitude from the riders.