South Bay rides start anywhere from Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo beaches to Torrance and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Weekends center on the PV loop and the Donut Ride; weekday rides leave early from the piers.
How group rides work in the South Bay
The Donut Ride and the PV loop. The Saturday Donut Ride has gone around the Palos Verdes Peninsula every week since the 1980s: about 43 miles and 4,700 feet of climbing, out and back from the beach cities. It’s an open ride, not a club ride, so most South Bay riders learn the Palos Verdes Drive loop and its climb up to Crest Road before they jump in.
Weekday pier rides. The midweek fixture is the New Pier Ride, which leaves the Manhattan Beach Pier early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before work. Club rides starting at the piers or in Torrance show up here with their start time and distance.
Pick by start city. A ride card shows the beach city where the group gathers, not where the route climbs on the peninsula, so read the description or ask the club for the exact spot. Roll up ten minutes early with pumped tires, a spare tube, a pump or CO2, water and ID.
The Strand is a warm-up, not a race. The Strand, the Hermosa Beach section of the beach path, is flat and busy with people walking, and ends at Torrance County Beach at the foot of the peninsula. Groups spin it to the hills and back and save the hard efforts for Palos Verdes Drive.
Lights after Nov 1. When daylight saving time ends on Nov 1, 2026, the early pier rides roll out in the dark, so run a white front light and a red rear light or reflector before sunrise. Traffic on the coast road moves fast early, one more reason to be lit up at the piers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Donut Ride and when does it go?
It’s an open Saturday-morning ride from the South Bay beach cities around the Palos Verdes Peninsula, held every week since at least the 1980s. The full ride is about 43 miles with roughly 4,700 feet of climbing, and it isn’t a club ride. Learn the Palos Verdes loop and its climbs on your own before you join it.
Where do weekday group rides start in the South Bay?
Along the coast. The New Pier Ride leaves the Manhattan Beach Pier early on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, before work. On Saturdays, rides from the beach cities head south to Palos Verdes.
How hard is the Palos Verdes loop by bike?
It’s a steady grind rather than a wall. A lap on Palos Verdes Drive is about 24 miles with roughly 1,800 feet of climbing, and the full circle runs about 27.5 miles. The main climb, Palos Verdes Drive up to Crest Road, is about 5.1 miles and 1,165 feet at a 4.4% average.
Do I need to sign up to join a group ride in the South Bay?
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.