A few years ago I wrote a blog post about how to get starting cycling on PCH based on my own experiences after several years of training. Since then, a lot of people have found it very helpful so I thought now might be a good time to expand on some of my other thoughts and observations.
When training for Ironman Arizona, I relied on the stretch of PCH that extends from Malibu Canyon Park all the way north to Las Posas for the majority of my outdoor bike training. I did my best to ride on weekdays when I could (Thursday was my preference) and that made for relatively uneventful training (thankfully). However, weekends toward late summer became awful in terms of beach crowding and highway traffic to the extent that simply riding out on the road was very dangerous.
After a few close calls with inattentive drivers, I became desperate for alternatives. I wanted a local place where I could train easily on the bike but also get in a solid workout. Fortunately, cycling in Malibu provides plenty of options. I started riding in the canyons.
Background on Malibu
California is a very mountainous part of the United States, with ridges of mountains and hills spawned by the numerous shifting fault lines beneath the surface. The Los Angeles area in particular has plenty of beautiful mountain ranges, and an array of canyon roads built throughout. Cycling (or rather, climbing) on canyon roads can provide challenging workouts for cyclists, in terms of both strength and endurance. Here’s a quick overview of some of the canyon routes open to cyclists in the Malibu area. (Check back for a later article that discusses canyon cycling in other parts of Los Angeles)
Why Climb?
Climbing is a great way to build and sustain fitness and endurance. From a logistical standpoint, canyon roads in Malibu offer a nice respite from the chaos of PCH. Compared to the busy commuter and tourist traffic on the highway, canyon roads tend to be sparse and empty.
Some Disclaimers and Words of Caution
As with all activities that I discuss on this page, you are trying them at your own risk. Cycling can be very dangerous, climbing can be very dangerous, and descending can be dangerous. The routes discussed here are still parts of major highways and although cars are supposed to “Share the Road” they don’t always do so. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for cyclists to lose control, hit rocks, pot holes, gravel, snakes, random animals, etc, and crash as a result. Sometimes these crashes result in death. Be very very careful, and very very honest with your skill level as a cyclists before deciding whether or not to travel these routes.
Additionally, at the time of writing, the COVD-19 pandemic is still a part of daily life and a very real risk to health and safety. Keep these risks in mind if choosing to ride with a group.
Lastly, PCH has undergone massive construction over the past several years, making some parts of it extremely difficult to access for cyclists. I highly recommend doing as much additional route research as necessary. Consider taking a ride in a car along these roads before attempting them on your bike. Do some additional research to determine if these routes are accessible.
Okay, fussing over. Let’s get to the climbs.
Quick Guide to Climbing
Beyond words of safety, I do have some general words of advice for cyclists who may be new to climbing. I have a very embarrassing story to tell – when I first started cycling, I had no idea what climbing was. I figured that riding up an incline would be challenging, but I didn’t realize that it was nearly an entirely new sport altogether. My very first climb happened only a few weeks after getting my first road bike. For anyone brand new to cycling, I DO NOT recommend this. It’s a better idea to wait until you have some weeks (or months) of familiarity with your bike before taking on this sort of challenge. To make matters worse, I didn’t even realize that I had a small chain ring to shift to, so I attempted to ride all seven miles of a climb in a single gear. I don’t recommend that either.
When starting a climb, you’ll want to shift to the smallest front gear possible, which will in turn require less resistance (pedaling) to turn the crank. You’ll be making shorter pedal rotations which will in turn keep your bike going with less force. Because you’re riding up a steep incline, the amount of force you provide will feel multiplied, and using a smaller gear is the best way to make it sustainable. I learned all of this the hard way.
3 Popular Malibu Climbs – From Short to Long
Encinal Canyon Road (~5 miles)
Encinal Canyon is a beautiful, low grade road with gentle sloping curves. From a training perspective, it’s extremely easy to get to after a nice warm up ride along PCH. You have the option of parking at Zuma Beach (or Westward) for a warm up ride of about 5 miles before making a right turn onto Encinal (the sign is clearly marked). You can also park at Malibu Canyon Park (close to Pepperdine University) for a big longer of a warm up ride. Once you’ve made the turn onto Encinal, consider pulling over for a couple minutes to get situated – eat a gel or two, drink some water, make sure your bike is ready to go. Then, when you’re ready, get started!
The first image is a little tricky to see – but this is the turn off onto Encinal canyon when traveling north along PCH. From there, sit back and relax. It’s going to take a little time to get to the top. According to a few different websites, Encinal maintains an average gradient (steepness) of about 5.5%, making it one of the gentler canyons to climb in the Malibu area.
I generally recommend stopping about 5 miles up the mountain, at the turnaround point listed below. Of course, there are cyclists who choose to go further or to descend different canyons, but for a beginner climb, this simple 5 mile route will yield a feeling of accomplishment.
The best thing about climbing a moderate gradient is getting to descend a moderate gradient. I’ll have more to say on how to descend at the end of the article.
Mulholland Highway (~7 miles)
Next up on the list is Mulholland Highway. Now, back to that embarrassing story – Mulholland was actually the first canyon I ever climbed. There were giant portions of it that I actually walked (yes, ugh). It was awful then, but in hindsight, Mulholland has become one of my preferred cycling routes off PCH.
The entrance to Mulholland is yet another right hand turn off of PCH (when traveling north). It’s situated just north of Leo Carrillo State Beach (and campground), about 8 miles north of Zuma Beach, and just about 1 mile south of Neptune’s Net. Mulholland starts off on a nice easy gradient for slightly longer than Encinal, then through a series of winds and turns slowly starts increasing in steepness.
Although Mulholland is slightly steeper than Encinal, I personally feel that it offers prettier views of the surrounding landscape and scenery, making it an easier task to take your mind off the work at hand. I generally recommend stopping turning around after traveling about 7 miles up. Personally, I tend to remember Mulholland as a slightly trickier descent than Encinal, so be sure to stay focused all the way down the mountain.
Latigo Canyon Road
While Encinal and Mulholland are adequate beginner climbs, Latigo starts to feel like one of the big boys. It’s certainly more challenging, although not totally impossible. Although the gradient isn’t much sharper than the first two, the road twists and turns, requiring a bit more technical skill than the other routes. Additionally, the road is narrower, so it may feel a little more stressful to navigate with cars sharing the road so closely. Still, any survey of Malibu Canyon rides would not be complete without at least a passing reference to Latigo Canyon.
Latigo is positioned south of Zuma, so if you park there, you’ll need to go south and then actually turn left to reach it. However, if you parked at Pepperdine, you can still make a right hand turn as you travel north. While ascending, you’ll reach what feels like a summit after about 6 miles. It can catch you by surprise, but go ahead and enjoy the quick bit of rest. Once the break is over, you’ll continue the climb to the actual summit, which connects first to Kanan Dune and then to a deeper section of Mulholland (past the point where I recommended the turn around).
A Word on Descents
The opposite of climbing is descending (what a concept!) where you turn around and go back down the mountain. Personally, I prefer to descend the way I came up, since I already know what the route is like and if there are any gravelly spots or rough patches to be on the lookout for. Additionally, I’ll also have an idea of the shape and curve of the routes which will help me to avoid surprises. However, the more experienced and familiar cyclists make choose to climb one particular route and then descend another. Do whatever makes you feel the safest and the most in control.
Be Safe!
Not to belabor the point but I will say one more thing on safety. Just remember that in contrast to what may have felt a ridiculously slow climbing pace, you will descend at speeds that can rival a car (even though you are unprotected and just on a bike). This means your reaction time is reduced for objects that may suddenly appear in your way. Don’t be scared to ride the brakes (I have, many times!). You’re not racing a mountain stage in the Tour de France, so there’s no go any faster than you need to. The good thing about descending (no matter the speed) is that it’s solid training for learning how to navigate particularly technical courses. There are several Ironman and Half Ironman races (not to mention plenty of smaller events) that include some level of climbing as part of the bike course, so you’ll definitely want to get in some practice ahead of time.
Obey the Speed Limit on Curves
There are several speed limit signs posted along sharp curves. Although these are technically posted for cars, they aren’t a bad recommendation for you either. If a sign says to take at turn at a maximum speed of 15mph, go ahead and slow down to make sure you’ve got it, especially if you’re already traveling at speeds of 20 or 30+ mph.
Be a Responsible Rider
Climbing can be exhausting if you’re not used to it. That’s no excuse to get lazy. Keep your line, stay to the right side of the lane. It’s easy to get complacent because canyon roads are so infrequently travelled. While ascending the beautiful majesty that is the California coastline, it’s easy to feel like you have the whole world to yourself. You don’t. There are still cars and motorcyclists (and worst, sports car enthusiasts) who try to use these canyon roads as their own private playgrounds. While the local residents are used to watching out for cyclists, many tourists aren’t and may not try to accommodate you.
Enjoy the Process!
That’s all for now – with those new routes in mind, you’ll now have several tools for how to spice up your Malibu cycling training. As you get used to each of the canyons, you’ll be able to mix and match, choosing to ascend one and descend another (or double back on both if you really love the pain). There are still plenty of canyons to choose from, so stay tuned for additional posts!
What are your favorite Malibu Climbs? Let me know in the comments!
