NEW RIDER ?
Thread started by
moi at 08.8.07 - 9:31 am
as a new rider...I live in Venice and want to go on the clown ride. How do I get mine and my friends bikes downtown at the starting point (it may be too far for us beginners to ride there and back) any suggestions?
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or, it may not.
Why are you going to do this to us? Are you a troll?
Think about it, how are you going to get you and friends bike from Venice to Downtown?!
Ahh shit, I say, take the gondolas
sexy08.8.07 - 9:36 am
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some might disapprove... ("5 dollars... and i still ain't got no seat")
mta.net
ontherocks08.8.07 - 10:10 am
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This ride starts in Los Feliz/Silverlake
it's about 6 miles from downtown which means it's about 6 miles closer to Venice
quidam08.8.07 - 10:42 am
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aye, if you feel that 12 miles is to far to ride to the start of a ride, ride yo bike on up to the landside end of the santa monica pier and catch the 720, it's a rapid, runs straight up wilshire, then either get off when it gets to the top of the hill above downtown and ride over or get of at wilshire/western (bus lets off in front, but you'd ned to change trains) or 7th/metro (bus lets off between 6th and hope and 6th and grand) and take the red line closer or something...
FuzzBeast08.8.07 - 12:20 pm
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If you have the time I suggest you try to ride or bus there. I don't object to people driving to these events, but really it's more fun and satisfying to try and get there without your car. You'll know Los Angeles better and you'll have a sense of accomplishment that goes with swimming a bit upstream and conquering this supposedly unbikeable city!
And yes, the 720 is a nice fast bus. I like the 704 and 4 too, that will take you almost all the way there on Santa Monica Blvd.
Here's a good route, with thanks to the many people who have helped me come up with it. It uses almost all small streets that go through or are protected by lights. You are always close to big streets in case you want to bus it, and it works pretty well going in both directions:
Santa Monica to Los Feliz Village
cabhauler08.8.07 - 1:01 pm
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Washington's not too bad either, if you're coming from Venice, It's a major artery but it doesnt have much traffic, and as the busses tend to run more on Venice Blvd and further north, it's in decent shape, and probably the flattest route to and from the beach.
FuzzBeast08.8.07 - 1:07 pm
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lie, beg, borrow, steal
car, bus, bike...
get there any way you can
and yes, a 20 mile trip for a beginner could be a pain
adrian08.8.07 - 1:09 pm
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You can ride it, if you want to.
When I was your age I used to ride 60 miles through the snow--- backwards!
kyber08.8.07 - 1:23 pm
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up hill both ways with flat tires and a squeaky freewheel!
FuzzBeast08.8.07 - 1:37 pm
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I guess if I was a true newb riding in jeans with flat pedals and a rickety bike, the prospect of riding 17 miles, then riding another 20+, then riding 17 miles back would be a bit daunting.
I still say: Take the bus there and back! The bike makes the bus truly useful, since you don't have to waste so much time walking to stops. Look up the timetables on the mta.net site. The 720 doesn't stop till 2 a.m., I think the 4 runs 24/7.
cabhauler08.8.07 - 1:42 pm
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if we are going to get real here. When i was that pups age, I would ride 11 miles in the smog, put that in your corncob pipe and choke on it.
sexy08.8.07 - 2:02 pm
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I'm in Venice, I ride Venice blvd all the way east it's not so bad. When i want to go north I head up redondo > la brea > 4thst > Vermont it's about 1hr 10min to Silver Lake.
franz08.8.07 - 3:39 pm
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Wait, doesnt the clown ride begin at rite aid on wilshire and 3rd? What ride starts in Los Feliz?
DeKadenzy08.8.07 - 4:06 pm
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From Venice? If you're not riding, take the 33 to Vermont, then either ride up Vermont to the start point or take the 754 Rapid or the 204 north.
FRANZ! YOU'RE ALIVE! We've been looking for you. Portland, remember?
PC08.8.07 - 4:06 pm
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hey New Rider... the ride starts at Hollywood and Vermont not downtown..... If your intention was to get downtown and then take the redline to the start, your better option would be to take the Wilshire bus to vermont and Wilshire and take the north hollywood bound redline to the sunset and vermont exit. Proceed north on Vermont about 2 blocks north to Hollywood and Vermont.
NOTE TO EVERYONE
NO PARKING AT THE RITE AID LOT
Last time they threatened to TOW people who parked there for the ride.
There is plenty of parking in the surrounding and adjacent streets.
Roadblock08.8.07 - 4:23 pm
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You got it pretty easy where you're at.
Even for beginners, you should just leave a little early and keep a healthy pace. 7-12MPH should be doable for anyone.
Wish I had those conditions to work with everyday.
Instead, it's 20+mph headwinds hitting me from all corners.
These are on my solo rides anyway.
bentstrider08.8.07 - 4:47 pm
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I Think Roadblock has the clearest instructions. Newbie, ride to Santa monica pier catch 720 commerce exit wilshire/western and just ride up north to 3rd street. 1.25 per person each way, pretty cheap. My advice on Metro is... sometimes its hard to have 2 bikes go together on the bike rack, due to limited space. If one is availiable, let one rider go and the other catch the next bike space on the next ride, otherwise you can be waiting quite a while out there... its happened to me. Keep track with cell phones.
For more better route info, log onto metro.net and give starting points and ending points.
DeKadenzy08.8.07 - 4:47 pm
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Sorry exit wilshire/Vermont... not Western.
DeKadenzy08.8.07 - 4:50 pm
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thanks for the heads up on the parking, i gotta come directly from work so i dont have time to bike it there. & i sure as hell dont wanna get towed!
new08.8.07 - 8:08 pm
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Even though "new" is not riding, just in case someone else is, Vermont north bound is under construction. I don't remember exactly where but it's north of Wilshire and south of Sunset. I would suggest an alternate route if you're riding.
Anyone know the specific blocks under construction?
laoxue08.9.07 - 8:52 am
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Ridazz Roulette!