cycling

My favorite bike rides around Pasadena, listed roughly in increasing order of length/difficulty. All rides begin at Caltech:

Sierra Madre (about 1 hr) Start out going East on Del Mar Blvd. Turn left on Sierra Madre Blvd. follow Sierra Madre Blvd. up into the city of Sierra Madre. You can turn around at any point or continue to Santa Anita Ave. and turn left up the hill. Turn around at the gate that marks the end of development and retrace the route back to Caltech. For variety on the way back, turn right from Sierra Madre Blvd. onto Orange Grove Blvd. Turn left at Wilson Ave. and you'll soon arrive back at campus.

The Rose Bowl This ride lends itself to numerous variations. I'll list a few. To begin, there are two good ways to get to the Rose Bowl:

1. Go west on California Blvd. until it dead ends at Arroyo Blvd. Turn right and follow the road up to the Rose Bowl.
2. Go west on California Blvd. Turn left on Lake Ave. Turn right on Monterey Blvd. and take it until Arroyo Blvd. Head north to get to the Rose Bowl.(This is quite a bit longer, but it is a nice ride and it allows you to avoid the traffic on California Blvd.)

There are a couple ways to return. One is to retrace your steps, the other is to follow the road along the east side of the bowl(Rosemont Ave.) north past the stadium and past the golf course. This goes up a hill and lets out on N Arroyo Blvd. near the 210 freeway. Go north. The road will curve 90 degrees to the right and turn into Ventura St. Turn left at Casitas Ave. and right at Altadena Dr. You can either continue straight on Altadena drive or turn left on Lincoln Ave. and run right on Loma Alta Dr., which will take you to the top of Lake Ave. From there wind down through residential streets back to Altadena Dr. Turn right on Holliston Ave. and follow it until you hit the 210 freeway. Turn right then turn left on Wilson and head back to campus.

There are two extra loops you can tag onto this ride. First, when you reach the rose bowl bear left and head up Washington Blvd West Dr. To your left Washington Blvd. will curve up and climb out of the arroyo. Turn right on Yocum St., left on Linda Vista Ave., and right on Linda Vista Rd.(the first stop light you'll encounter). This will take you up past the Art Center College of Design. Continue to follow the road up and over the mountain until you reach Chevy Chase Dr. Turn right and turn right again after a fairly long climb and short descent onto Highland Dr. Highland Dr. will turn into Linda Vista Av and you can turn left on Yocum St.(at the mailbox) and return to the rose bowl.

A second loop is actually an out-and-back. While climbing Loma Alta to the top of Lake turn left on Chaney Tr., which is very poorly marked, and climb until you reach the top. You can go down the back side, but you will have to retrace your path to get out. In any case, turn around and come back.

And of course there are many more possible variations.

Chantry Flats (about 2 hrs) Follow the instructions for the Sierra Madre ride but continue up Santa Anita Ave. past the gate and climb about 3 miles to a parking area. Retrace your steps home.

Herb's Ride (about 2 1/2 hrs) Head west on Califrnia Blvd. Turn right on Madre St., left on Huntington Dr., right on Holly Ave., left on Longden Ave., right on 6th Ave., and left on Live Oak Ave. Turn right down a long driveway just before the Arcadia golf course sign. On the east side of the parking lot there is an entrance to the river bike path. Take the bike path south along the Rio Hondo(turning right at the one stop sign) until it ends at Rosemead and San Gabriel Blvds. Cross the intersection and follow the bike path over to the San Gabriel river path. Turn North. Continue north, over the Santa Fe dam until you come to a footbridge that takes you west across a wash and to Encanto Park in Duarte. Go north on Encanto Pkwy., turn left on Royal Oaks Dr., right on Shamkrock Ave., left on Colorado Blvd., and left on Wilson Ave. (This is actually a bit longer than Herb's ride. The one time I went with Herb we got off of the San Gabriel bike path well before the dam and wound our way back to Caltech on streets, but I can't remember exactly the route.)

San Gabriel Canyon (about 3 1/2 hrs) Go north on Wilson Ave. Turn right on Colorado Blvd., turn right on shamrock Ave., left on Royal Oaks Dr., and right at Encanto Pkwy. Across from Encanto Park will be a bridge leading over the San Gabriel wash to the San Gabriel bike path. Take the path north toward the mountains. The path will dump you at the mouth of San Gabriel Canyon on San Gabriel Canyon Rd(Route 39). Head up the canyon and turn around when you wish, retracing your steps back to campus.

Long Beach (about 5 hrs) Follow the directions for Herb's ride, but at the San Gabriel river turn south. Follow the trail along the river ~25miles until you reach Long Beach. Return the way you came.

If any of these directions are confusing, or you have better ideas for the routes or other good rides let me know.