Now that the heavy rains are behind us and things have dried out a bit, I had the chance to do my favorite road ride.
It starts at Stonehaus in Westlake Village at the corner of Lakeview Canyon Road and Agoura Road. It’s a perfect place to meet fellow riders because there is plenty of room to park, and you can grab something to eat and drink in a beautiful setting when you return.
The ride starts on the wide, well-designed Agoura Road and Westlake Boulevard bike lanes. Soon, the picturesque Lake Sherwood appears on the left as you head into Hidden Valley, where beautiful, wide-open spaces and flat roads stretch out before you.
After a short but steep climb up Treasure Hill and out of Hidden Valley, you find yourself spinning through Newbury Park, then coming to the steep and technical Portrero Road descent. If you take this route, be careful! Riding downhill is fun and exhilarating but not for novices. The trick is to go slowly and smoothly. Ironically, you don’t need to worry about cars because you can go faster than they can.
At the bottom, Cal State Channel Islands sits on the right, and riders hit their first rest stop just before coming to Hueneme Road in Camarillo. This is a good place to get something to eat and take selfies against plentiful natural backdrops.
Once rolling again, you’re in the heart of Camarillo farm country. I enjoy this area because it is always changing based on the time of year and what’s being grown. My favorite thing is to smell the cilantro and peppers in the spring and summer months. Though the terrain is not hilly, challenges remain here. Long, flat stretches would seem to be easy, but they can be just as hard because you’re going faster and have to be as alert and cautious as ever.
Before long, you find yourself at Point Mugu Rock, another great place to eat, drink and take more photos. After getting fueled up, it’s time to head down the Pacific Coast Highway on the prettiest part of the ride. You would think the road along the beach would be flatter, but be prepared for rolling hills and great scenery as you approach the big climb of the day, Mulholland Highway.
The unforgiving Mulholland Highway climb is 7 miles long with 1,500 feet of elevation gain at an average grade of 4 percent. That’s really steep, especially in the first mile from the beach. I only do this stretch in the spring or summer when I’m in top shape. One good thing is that the road invites little vehicle traffic. It’s also very scenic but desolate, so make sure you’re prepared with plenty of food and water.
Once at the top of Mulholland, all that remains are a couple of short, annoying climbs named the Three Stingers. Steep uphills can be painful, depending on how hard you push — but getting to the top is so satisfying. The Stingers are followed by another steep and windy descent down Decker Road. Before you know it, you’re back on the streets of Westlake Village and then at StoneHaus.
Sometimes, I ride with a club and follow the route they have planned. Other times, I organize my own rides and invite people along. Try to go with people who ride about the same speed and distance you do. It’s best to ride close together because the person in front breaks the wind, making it easier for the rider behind. We take turns in the front to spread out the hard work. There is no maximum size for a group, and a large group is good because there is safety in numbers.
Happy riding!
Ride Distance: 47 miles
Amount of Climbing: 3,361 feet
Rider Level: Intermediate to advanced
John Swanstrom is an Oak Park resident, a competitive mountain biker, and runs the MastersCyclingChannel. His website is https://cyclistsauthority.com/.
