Los Angeles Spring Riv Ride!

[Armand Kizirian]

Hi everyone, 

I've been wanting to put together a pleasant day on some Rivendell's for those of us in the Los Angeles area. I think the last one was Ted's put on in 2024, which many of us, including me, thoroughly enjoyed! I encourage this to be a collaborative undertaking. If you have strong thoughts, suggestions, or alternatives to the info below, chime in! 

When

• Saturday, April 4th, meet 7:30-45AM, roll 8:00AM. May be good timing for availability with the Easter holiday on Sunday?
• Other options include the two Sundays that follow, April 12th or the 19th. 
• Let us know what options work best for you!

Where

• I'd love to switch things up and have this be on the Westside!
  • Thinking a mixed terrain loop into the Santa Monica's and back. We will start somewhere in Santa Monica, wind our way up Mandeville canyon, hop on some dirt to the Nike Missile Site for some spectacular views, and have a lively descent down Sullivan ridge back to the city. 
  • There will be some steep bits on dirt to the Nike Site, but they very short sections that can easily be walked. Otherwise most of the climbing is gentle. Having low gears is recommended (<20 gear inches). 
• Approximately 25-30 miles, 2000-2300ft of climbing. Mixed terrain, maybe 30-40% on smooth fire roads (minimum 35mm tires suggested, ideally 40mm or more, slicks are fine). 
• Pace will be in Rivendell fashion of course. No rushing allowed, no drops, all the stops we desire for things worthy of our attention, and frequently re-gathering.
• I'd really love for this to be as inclusive as possible, if you have hesitations on your ability to join this ride, let us know!

Starting Point? Ending point?

• I'm sad to say I can't think of a Rivendell-esque bike shop west of the 405 to start at. Does anyone have suggestions? Worst case scenario we can meet on my street.
• We can include some leisurely miles to a coffee shop before we start the climb, should we desire. Best to pack a lunch, I'm thinking we can eat at either the Nike missile site, or under the big Oak tree on Sullivan (view photo reference below)
  • Depending on how timing goes, perhaps it will make sense to have lunch elsewhere in the city. 

To entice you all with a photo the last time I rode this route: 



Armand!
Santa Monica, CA

[Keith Paugh]

I’m in. 

I’d love to help in any way too.

k.

On Feb 15, 2026, at 7:58 PM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone, 

<B0B8B360-9716-404B-9839-0A42332D6732_1_105_c.jpeg>

Armand!
Santa Monica, CA

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[Tony Lockhart]

Armand, thanks for initiating this. Count me in!

Is this the general idea for a bike route? See screenshot below:

[P W]

A westside classic route!

This seems like a lovely idea.

I’m heading North that weekend, but there’s a chance not until the Sunday. If so, I will try to make this!

As for bike shops… none would be open that hour anyway, so maybe best to plan the meetup at a coffee spot that is?

P. W.

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(917) 514-2207

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On Feb 16, 2026, at 7:28 AM, Tony Lockhart <alockh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Armand, thanks for initiating this. Count me in!

Is this the general idea for a bike route? See screenshot below:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/568e847f-e1e8-4bd0-8b28-99a4b84a8d60n%40googlegroups.com.

[Ted Durant]

On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 9:58:25 PM UTC-6 Armand Kizirian wrote:

When

• Saturday, April 4th, meet 7:30-45AM, roll 8:00AM. May be good timing for availability with the Easter holiday on Sunday?
• Other options include the two Sundays that follow, April 12th or the 19th. 
• Let us know what options work best for you

I might not be rolling into LA in time to do a ride on the 4th; the 12th or 19th would be better for me.

Route suggestions have been looking great!

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA 

[Ethan K]

I'm in,  any of the dates work for me. That route really brings back memories--broke my collarbone riding down Sullivan Canyon, circa 1994 (on a purple Specialized Rockhopper).

-_Eitan

[Patrick Moore]

I'm no longer in LA, but I recall riding this park with my brother over 25 years ago or so, riding there from his house on Keeshen Drive, altogether a very nice ride indeed. I forget what I rode, something borrowed from my brother, but we're close enough in size that I can get by on his bikes by lowering the saddle by 1-1.5". I recall the very, very steep pavement approach to the park through a residential neighborhood, and the wild downhill on the return through that same neighborhood at great speed, all the while fearing that someone would suddenly pull out of a driveway. I also recall my brother, much more confident in his descending skills, taking a steep, blind downhill dirt lefthander at high speed on the inside, suddenly coming face to face with an oncoming rider, and saving the situation with a violent swerve to the right, magnificently controlling the back wheel as it slid out. He used to beat full-susp mountain bikes (but late '90s/earyl augts tech) on his 23 mm tire Merlin road bike, tho' he did dent a wheel once.

Does anyone ride in the Malibu State Park? Do they let riders in there? I went to college across the street (Las Virgines Road).

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[Franky Guzman]

I'm in! Hopefully, my AHH will be ready to ride by then! 

On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 8:31:41 PM UTC-8 keith...@gmail.com wrote:

[Jerry Lynn]

Count on me joining in on this event!

Jerry Lynn

Imperial Beach, CA

[Armand Kizirian]

So pleased to hear there is so much interest already! 

Date Considerations - So far April 4th won't work for Ted and P.W., any objections to April 11th or 12th to get them in on it? 

Roll Call List - Me, Tony, Keith, Franky, Jerry. Pending: Ted, Philip. If you're curious to join, chime in! 

@Tony - Route looks about right. I'm gonna take a slightly different trail from Mandeville to the Nike site that bypasses some steeper grades. I'm also scouting more particular routes in the city both getting to Mandeville and leaving Sycamore, that runs through some special scenic neighborhoods. I'll make a RidewithGPS route when the time comes! 

As far as meetup location, WestLA Bicycle is a fairly new shop that opened up a few months ago, but they are by the Venice Pier toward the end of Washington Blvd by the beach. A bit far from highways/trails for those driving in, but they are the only shop I've found in the area that carries more of the "alt" brands that are akin with Rivendell and non-mainstream bike brands. On the plus side, although it will add some miles, I doubt many will complain about starting and ending the ride along the beach. Can explore the shop at the end of the ride when they are open with plenty of options to grab a bite in walking distance. A pending option! Will confirm with time. 

@Patrick - The trailhead you're thinking of is probably Westridge! https://maps.app.goo.gl/NEm18nKsQfwEPWsTA . Malibu creek state park is very much open to cyclists, and always a pleasure to ride/walk/hike through. Would be great to ride there but that is quite the day-long ride. Perhaps for a 2-day overnighter in the future. 

[Keith Paugh]

11th is good. 12th not as good.

k.

On Feb 21, 2026, at 8:52 AM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:

So pleased to hear there is so much interest already! 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/930f3041-47ef-4348-aec9-50f067020ddbn%40googlegroups.com.

[Armand Kizirian]

Good point, I think Saturdays probably hit a sweet spot of availability for most. Will entertain April 11th as an option!

[Armand Kizirian]

Got a few more Rivendells and their owners to join that I know of off the google group. Bumping this up to see what other interest there is! 

[Ted Durant]

> On Mar 3, 2026, at 9:09 PM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Got a few more Rivendells and their owners to join that I know of off the google group. Bumping this up to see what other interest there is!
>
I will be in LA and plan to ride.

Ted Durant
Milwaukee, WI

[Tony Lockhart]

Armand, any chance you can post the RWGPS route soon? 

My students are on spring break later in March, so I'd like to do the ride while I'm on vacation....the view looks gorgeous. Thanks for organizing this.

[Armand Kizirian]

Still scouting neighborhoods for the city portion, but will text you the route, you had most of it on your google map link. Also welcome to just give me a heads up and I'll join you if I'm free.

[Taylor Kurosaki]

I should be in LA this weekend, so count me in! Just need to choose between my Susie and Atlantis!

[P W]

What day are you doing this again?

P. W.

~

(917) 514-2207

~

On Mar 5, 2026, at 8:31 AM, Taylor Kurosaki <taylork...@gmail.com> wrote:

I should be in LA this weekend, so count me in! Just need to choose between my Susie and Atlantis!

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[Armand Kizirian]

April 11th is the new, and looking to be final, date for the ride!

[Armand Kizirian]

Quick update! Official start and end point will be West LA Bicycle in Marina Del Rey: https://www.westlabicycle.com/

I spoke with Nate in person yesterday and he is fully on board for helping out. He recently opened the shop and it is safe to say this is the most Rivendell-esque bike shop on the west side. They are still in a soft opening and sorting lots of things out, but they will be an official Rivendell dealer by the Fall. We can peruse the shop after the ride, with plenty of options in walking distance for a lunch together, should we want to. 

GPS route will be coming soon, along with lots of other details! Any questions let me know.

[Eitanzkadosh]

Wow so excited to learn about this shop—right in my neighborhood!

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 29, 2026, at 12:18 PM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:

Quick update! Official start and end point will be West LA Bicycle in Marina Del Rey: https://www.westlabicycle.com/

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[Taylor Kurosaki]

Looking forward to this ride!

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/419138EB-8A6B-4557-B0ED-B5791241CEF1%40gmail.com.

[keith...@gmail.com]

Guys… Are we going to get rained out?
K.

[P W]

Yup!

P. W.

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On Apr 6, 2026, at 5:33 PM, keith...@gmail.com <keith...@gmail.com> wrote:

Guys… Are we going to get rained out?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a1472664-92a4-4000-a9a9-2bcbe4cc3dden%40googlegroups.com.

[Ted Durant]

On Monday, April 6, 2026 at 5:33:39 PM UTC-7 keith...@gmail.com wrote:

Guys… Are we going to get rained out?

The forecast I'm looking at now shows a slight chance of rain overnight Friday night, then no rain again until Saturday evening, so I think we should be okay.

What time are we meeting at West LA Bicycle, and is there a RWGPS route, yet?

Ted Durant

San Gabriel, CA USA (temporarily) 

[Armand Kizirian]

Excuse the crickets here. It's been an insanely busy week for me. 

But great news! The forecast has changed dramatically, with the storm entirely shifting to start on Sunday. Forecast for this Saturday shows clear sunny skies with a high of 67. The ride is very much on. 

We will be meeting at West LA bicycle at 7:30AM, rolling at 8:00PM. Expect a post this afternoon with GPS route and more details.

[Keith Paugh]

What’s the road to dirt ratio?

Wondering if I should swap tires.

k.

On Apr 10, 2026, at 7:06 AM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:

Excuse the crickets here. It's been an insanely busy week for me. 

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[P W]

Depending on your comfort levels, the dirt is absolutely doable on slicks.

I recently rode Sullivan Canyon on my Riv Road with 35s.

And hope to do so again on Saturday if it’s back from the bike shop in time!

(Mandeville is even more slick friendly, imho)

P. W.

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(917) 514-2207

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On Apr 10, 2026, at 8:43 AM, Keith Paugh <keith...@gmail.com> wrote:

What’s the road to dirt ratio?

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[Armand Kizirian]

Ride Details for Tomorrow! 

Meet at West LA Bicycle at 7:30AM, roll out at 8:00AM. Nate, the shop owner, will be there serving espresso for us. I may bring some baked goods if I wake up early enough too. We should be back sometime between 12:00-1:30pm, we can hang out at the shop after, or grab lunch locally if we wish. Weather is basically perfect, ranging from 58-67 degrees, clear sunny skies. 

Please read everything below!

The Route: RidewithGPS link

• We will mosey our way from the beach to the mountains, with one of the most iconic views of L.A. at the Nike Missile site. The dirt section will bring a healthy dose of adventure. Different neighborhoods explored along the way to and fro.
• 32 miles with 2300ft of climbing
  
  • Most of the climbing is paved and a pretty mellow grade, steeper sections on dirt can be walked/hiked. 
• 80% Road, 20% Dirt
  • Min 40mm tires, ideally 48mm or more. 32mm if experienced with underbiking--durable slicks OK!
• Most of the climbing is paved and a pretty mellow grade. The steepest sections on dirt are less than a mile in length and can be walked/hiked as needed.
  • Sections of the dirt descent on Sullivan do get quite steep, if you've never ridden on dirt and have significant fear or concern around it, read below.
• BAIL POINTS: 
  • Mile 14 - Top of Mandeville. An excellent place to make the route an out-and-back, and avoid any dirt. 
  • Any point before then, once we hit dirt there isn't many other options than to complete the route or get picked up once we are back on pavement.

The Vibe 

• Rivendell ethos. We will take our time, ride leisurely, enjoy the journey as much as possible, and pause for anything worthy of our attention.
• NO DROPS. We will reconvene frequently and often to re-group. 
• Rushing or haste is prohibited. Brief spurts of spirited riding for the sake of joy is encouraged. 

What to Bring

• Water! Enough to ride 16 miles and 2000ft. The Nike missile site will have a water fountain and bathrooms. 
• Food! Assume you will want to eat lunch at some point on the ride. We will stop for a meal either at the Nike site or the big Oak tree on Sullivan depending on the time.
  • Bonus points if you bring things to share. 
• Gears! Preferably of the "granny" variety.
• Spare tubes in the right size and a basic set of tools. 
• Sensible layers. Anything else you may need to be comfortable, sunscreen, lip balm, etc. 

Who Can Come?

• Anyone and everyone that wishes to ride, no Rivendell required. 
• If you are concerned with the route being difficult, if you've ever biked more than 30 miles, or done a climb greater than 1500ft, you should be good to go! We will take our time. 

Any questions, let me know! I will be checking my e-mail before departing. DM me if you're running late and I will share my cell with you. 

[Ted Durant]

Beautiful ride - thanks for setting it up, Armand!

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA

[Eric Marth]

By golly I sure as hell wish I could have joined you fine people for this fabulous ride! 

[mm]

Armand, thanks for getting the LA RIVS together today. Great route, perfect conditions.

[mm]

[Armand Kizirian]

What a glorious day it was! Thanks for coming out (and also helping me get out). George made a nice lil' video edit of the day, check it out here: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO9EITmscCRdx17XQZcRqomSTrZFq4cuVsSi7LQiyZQASXwifQogfuCWZea64mBHA?key=cjNVdXhFeHlfeF9OVlhWckFqNmRuTFpheWlYbUdB 

[Armand Kizirian]

[Armand Kizirian]

E-mail me for the hi-res versions! 

[Keith Paugh]

Great video George!

Glad Ted got a little shimmy showcase of his downhill skill. 😘👌

Thanks for the photos Armand.

Super fun to meet or see everyone again!

k.

On Apr 12, 2026, at 4:38 PM, Armand Kizirian <kiziria...@gmail.com> wrote:

E-mail me for the hi-res versions! 

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[Ted Durant]

>
> On Apr 12, 2026, at 7:18 PM, Keith Paugh <keith...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Glad Ted got a little shimmy showcase of his downhill skill.

LOL … you caught that little skoot move. Not sure I would call that skill.

Ted Durant
Milwaukee, WI