Annual Featured Rides
Kick-off Century – January 1
Start the year with a century! Wheelmen believe that if you ride a century on the first day of the year, you are ready for a great year of cycling. This traditional ride is pretty easy as centuries go: north from Malibu and up the coast to Ventura and return. No support or sag, but none needed. No hills bigger than the ones along PCH. If a century is beyond your ability right now, ride part way and turn around. January 1st is a fairly quiet day on PCH because everyone is watching football or home with a hangover. Route sheets will available on the website before and on January 1. Start: Malibu Civic Center. Guests: Bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Rose Parade Ride – January 1 (unless that’s a Sunday, then January 2)
This is a Wheelmen tradition for folks who prefer a leisurely day. It starts at 7 a.m. but is only 14 miles with LOTS to look at. See the floats of the Tournament of Roses Parade at their staging area, just seven miles from the start. Then ride to a vantage point of your choice after 8 a.m. to see the floats in motion. Seeing the parade in person is a much different experience than seeing it on TV. This is the best way – free parking and no traffic hassles getting in and out of Pasadena! We are often joined by riders from the San Fernando Club and from Orange County. Start: Alhambra Park, Alhambra. Guests: bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Janus Sequential Centuries – January Weekend
Ride a century on Saturday and the next day on Sunday ride the SAME century in the OPPOSITE direction. January is the festival month of Janus, the ancient Roman god of beginnings and endings, gates and doors, and he looks both forward and backward, inspiring these routes. Here’s your chance to go both up and down each of these “popular” hilly grades. Norwegian Grade, Grimes Canyon, Dennison Grade, and Potrero Road. The countryside is scenic: Lake Sherwood, Hidden Valley, San Antonio Creek, Upper Ojai Valley, Sisar Creek, and South Mountain Road. Sequential Centuries are physically easier than a Double Century, but the mental demands are much greater, particularly on the second morning when the body would much rather stay in bed. No support. Private SAGs permitted. Riders are welcome on both days or either day. The Sunday ride is slightly easier. Check the ride schedule for start times and locations. Guests: bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Grand Tour – 4th Saturday in June
The Grand Tour is the oldest Double Century in California, tracing its origins to an LA Wheelmen Grand Fondo of sorts in October 1959, with 6 finishers (of 13 official starters), including one woman, the indomitable Marge Gall. In 1960 the course was lengthened to 200 miles and it was moved to the longest daylight weekend in June, where it remains to this day. For most of its history the start/finish was at various locations in Malibu, but it was moved to its current location in Port Hueneme in 2018, where it acquired a bona fide ride headquarters at the accommodating Holiday Inn Express.
Route adjustments continued during the early years, culminating in the introduction of the flatter “Lowland” route, which remains the more popular one, in 1967. The option to ride an additional 100 miles in 24 hours was added in 1972, hence the name change to “Grand Tour” that year. The option to ride 100 miles more, for a total of 400 miles in 24 hours, was added in 1975, and a small number of riders can point to this amazing accomplishment on their cycling resume.
An e-bike option was added in 2023, with one finisher. In 2024, the Double Metric (200 km, approximately 125 miles) was reintroduced to the Grand Tour course, replacing the Grand Tour Lite, which is no longer ridden.
Firecracker Special – July 4th
Celebrate our nation’s birthday! Show your patriotism in your favorite red–white-and-blue jersey or shorts! This annual Independence Day Ride begins in Long Beach and meanders through the area. Everyone lunches in Belmont Shores. Long is 47 miles and 800 feet of climbing on a run up Signal Hill. The 37-mile Medium skips the climb, and the short is 24 miles. Start: El Dorado Park Library Lot, Long Beach, just before Spring Street. Guests: bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Thanksgiving Ride – Thanksgiving morning
Every year we gather at The Corner and ride to the overlook in Pacific Palisades and back. Three options: Long 39 miles and 1,100 feet, Medium 36 and 1,000 feet, Short 27 miles. All routes are short and easy, leaving you plenty of time to go home and have a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Route sheets are available on the website before and on Thanksgiving Day.
START: The Corner: Le Doux Road at Olympic Blvd, 1 block west of La Cienega Blvd. Guests: bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Dead of Winter Double – First Weekend in December
This popular double was resurrected in 2013 after 20 years of hibernation. This low-cost ride is intended as a last-chance double for California Triple Crown candidates and fans of the Grand Tour. It begins on PCH in Port Hueneme and takes the Grand Tour Lowland Route, switching to the Highland Route in Ojai. Support is minimum: water and Hammer Nutrition products at all rest stops with roving SAG for the duration. The Dead of Winter is limited to 75 riders on each day to minimize cost and maximize attention to safety.
Christmas Day Ride – Christmas morning
If you opened your presents to find a new bike, you can ride it today! Route sheets are available on the website before and on Christmas Day. START: The Corner: Le Doux Road at Olympic Blvd, 1 block west of La Cienega Blvd. Guests: bring a signed waiver <link>. Free.
Waiver
Please bring the completed waiver to the ride leader or club officer at the ride start.
Corner Riders: One-time use.