Westside rides start everywhere from Santa Monica and Venice to Westwood. On weekends they split two ways: canyon climbs up the coast toward Malibu, or flatter spins on the beach path.
How group rides work on the Westside
Canyon climbs up the coast. The long rides go north on Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, then turn up into the Santa Monica Mountains for Latigo Canyon, Piuma Road or Mulholland Highway toward the Rock Store in Cornell. Closer in, Mandeville Canyon Road climbs north from Sunset Boulevard in Brentwood, a good shorter weekend option.
The beach path. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail gives you about 22 flat, car-free miles from Will Rogers State Beach down through Santa Monica and Venice to Torrance County Beach. It’s busy with walkers and skaters most of the day, so groups use it to warm up or reach the start, not to hammer.
Pick by start city. A ride card shows the city where the group gathers, not the canyon it climbs, so check the description or ask the club for the meeting spot before you drive over. Show up ten minutes early with a spare tube, a pump or CO2, tire levers, water and ID.
Lights once the clocks change. After daylight saving time ends on Nov 1, 2026, a late-afternoon ride can finish in the dark coming down a canyon. Carry a white front light and a red rear light or reflector: the descents off PCH are fast and unlit.
Drop or no-drop. Canyon rides often turn into a climb-at-your-own-pace effort with a regroup at the top, while flatter beach-path spins usually stay together. The ride cards don’t say which is which, so ask the club, or try a Mandeville lap before you take on Latigo Canyon.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Westside group rides go on the weekend?
Mostly up the coast. Rides head north on Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu and into the Santa Monica Mountains for canyon climbs like Latigo Canyon and Piuma Road, or roll an easier spin along the beach path. Check each ride’s distance to match it to your legs.
Is there a flat, car-free group ride option near Santa Monica?
Yes, the beach path. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs about 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades south through Santa Monica and Venice to Torrance County Beach, and groups use it for easy miles or to reach a ride start. It’s shared with people walking and skating, so ride single file and save hard efforts for the canyon roads.
Are the hills above Pacific Palisades open after the fire?
Not all of them. As of July 2026, California State Parks still listed parts of Topanga State Park as closed after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, including the Rogers Road, Rustic Canyon and Temescal Canyon trails. Road rides on PCH and the canyon highways aren’t affected, but check closure notices before any dirt ride from Pacific Palisades.
Do I need to sign up to join a group ride on the Westside?
No. You can see every ride without an account, and the RiderFinder app is free. Whether a ride needs an RSVP is up to the club organizing it, so check the ride or club page, or tap “Join the ride” in the app to let the group know you’re coming.