SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ABRIDGED. 

Welcome to the best American riding you’ve never heard of. The snarky, ironic hashtagged refrain from its denizens even reads “#LAsucksforcycling”. Indeed, it’s an untruth. Alternative fact. A lie. 

The Los Angeles basin, and points southwest, is one of the most accessible, stunning, and challenging cycling hotbeds in the country. While its diverse population stews in the broth at the bottom of the bowl, RAID’s Southern California-Palm Springs edition skirts the rims, visiting jaw-dropping climbs from the broad valleys, to cresting the towering San Gabriels, and exploring the untamed corners of the megalopolis and finishing with a heated descent along the Pines to Palms Highway into Palm Springs. Mated to its unknown riding, this departure visits cultural and culinary diamonds in the rough, true gems most wouldn’t ever associate with the beaches-and-traffic reputation of LA. This fall, we’ll explore the truth behind the myth of Southern California Abridged.

Day 1: ARRIVAL PASADENA 

STAGING

Today we stage amid the sunshine and mountain backdrop of Pasadena. Upon your arrival we will greet you at the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) for a short transfer to our arrival hotel, The Courtyard L.A. Pasadena/Old Town. Pasadena is about 30 miles from LAX and 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, but it’s the proximity to Angeles National Forest and it’s well-known cycling routes entice many European pro teams for winter and spring training. Art lovers will want to see the Norton Simon Museum which boasts works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Rembrandt, and more, as well as the Huntington Library, Art Collection. Pasadena is also a dining destination, with hundreds of restaurants from casual bistros to upscale and historic. It’s Bone Kettle for us tonight, as it’s just the place for a fine glass of wine and south east Asian food in Pasadena.

Day 2: PASADENA — CLAREMONT 

71.6 mi / 8,000 Ft   

There isn’t an American pro cyclist that hasn’t trained on these roads.  The famed Montrose Bike Ride passes each week through Pasadena and along the Rose Bowl. Our ride starts out casually, as we head east towards Glendora before we attack Mount Baldy, a main stay feature of the Amgen Tour of California days gone bye. Spend the day deep in the heart of the remote Angeles National Forest. 

Day 3: CLAREMONT - LAKE ARROWHEAD

101 Miles / 14,060 Feet   

We depart early this morning, before the heat of the day, making our way back into the Angeles National Forest past the San Gabriel reservoir. We climb steadily for 25 miles before summiting the heavily forested mountain range high above the valley. We pass through the mountain village of Wrightwood, before our descent of Lone Pine Canyon Road at the summit of Cajon Pass. Cajon Pass marks the dividing point between the Mojave Desert and the Greater San Bernardino Area.  We climb gradually, stopping just shy of Big Bear, along the shores of Lake Arrowhead.   

Day 4: LAKE ARROWHEAD - IDYLLWILD

118 Miles / 12,000 Feet   

We leave the shores of Lake Arrowhead for the higher shores of Big Bear Lake. Surrounded by the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake sits at nearly 7,000ft and is exactly 100 miles from Los Angeles. Snow is common at this time of year so we will be prepared for cool weather. We then summit Onyx Pass, at 8,440ft, before descending into the San Gorgonio Pass. A gap on the rim of the Great Basin desert between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Jacinto Mountains, it was created by the San Andreas Fault and is one of the deepest mountain passes in the US. From Banning, we begin our 30-mile approach to Idyllwild, along the Panoramic Highway.

Day 5: IDYLLWILD - PALM SPRINGS

567 mi / -7,000 Ft   

We leave the San Jacinto Mountains and the Strawberry Valley, heading towards the warm desert along the Pines-to-Palms Scenic Byway. After 7,000 feet of glorious descending into the Coachella Valley, we will wind our way through the historic locales lined with mid-century modern homes, glistening pools under palm trees, and endless miles of golf courses. Welcome to what the Spanish explorers called La Palma de la Mano de Dios (The Palm of God's Hand). 

Day 6: PALM SPRINGS

No Riding - Departure 

No need to scurry home too quickly this morning, there is ample time for a bit more exploration seeing we are only a few hours from Los Angeles.  For breakfast this morning embrace the retro vibe of Palm Springs by visiting King's Highway, a roadside diner and former Denny's restaurant that's now apart of the Ace Hotel and Swim Club. Following breaky, we will sneak away to Sunnylands Estate, previously owned by Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg, it has become one of Palm Springs' most iconic mid-century modern homes. On our way out of town, we can explore the grounds, wander through the sculpture and cactus gardens on the vast 200 acres property, or grab a coffee at their outdoor cafe.

You can elect to remain in Palm Springs and depart from the nearby airport or carry on to Los Angeles where we will deliver you to your hotel or L.A.X for your return home. 

L.A. TO PALM SPRINGS RAID
6 DAY
 

DATE
OCT 30, 2022 to NOV 4, 2022
                               

START/FINISH
Los Angeles / Palm Springs / *LA
 

TOTAL DISTANCE
860 miles
 

TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN
35,500 feet
 

KEY CLIMBS
Stunt, Piuma Canyon, San Gabriel Canyon, Glendora Ridge Road, Mount Baldy, Hwy 39, Palms to Pines