Honorable mention: “Rejuvenation.” photo by Jamie Grant “An average Joe’s first ‘Century Ride’.” story by Elliott Wright
Marina del Rey to Surfside Seafood just happens to be 51 miles
by Elliott Wright
After riding a second-hand, brakeless, fixed-gear bike with mismatched wheels for over a decade, I decided to treat myself to a new bicycle this past January. I’ve never considered myself a serious cyclist, but I wanted something that would open the door to more challenging routes around my hometown of Westchester. Adding brakes and multiple gears would significantly switch up the riding experience.
Planning a bikeable, 100-mile route around LA’s gridiron streets is no small feat. From a scenic standpoint, riding north along Pacific Coast Highway seemed as good an option as any. Looking at the map, I discovered Oxnard was just shy of 55 miles from Marina del Rey, which would be the starting and ending points of my journey.
At 7 a.m. on a Friday in late March, I hopped onto the Marvin Braude bicycle path, which weaves along the docks of the marina. The rain the night before had left the morning air clear and crisp and the sky cloudless and blue. I rode briskly to Venice, took Dell Avenue over the canals, and continued into Santa Monica. The path terminates at Will Rogers State Beach, where I merged onto Pacific Coast Highway and rode along the shoulder for 35 miles.
The constant winter downpours and resulting erosion hammered the Malibu coastline. There was one stretch where I had to ride on the single-lane highway, looking upwards to the unstable cliffside to spot falling rocks. I noticed the sound of running water, and was amazed when I glanced to my right and saw a full-on waterfall on the side of the road.
After I passed Zuma Beach, PCH became much quieter. When I stopped for a coffee at Trancas Market and consulted my phone, I realized I had already ridden halfway to Oxnard, and it was only 9 a m. I continued on my way, but not before stopping at Leo Carrillo State Beach to snap a photograph.
The route between Sycamore Cove and Point Mugu Beach was largely uninterrupted, apart from one section that was undergoing construction due to a landslide. Once I approached the Naval Base at Point Mugu, I turned left at Los Posas Road where I was able to find a bike route that ran alongside PCH. By this point, I began pushing a little harder because I was ready to make it to Oxnard and seek out some proper sustenance.
By 10:45 am I pulled into Port Hueneme, just south of downtown Oxnard. Next to the fishing pier, Surfside Seafood glimmered like a mirage in the morning heat. I had found the restaurant online the previous day, conveniently located 51 miles from where I started riding. Since it opened at 11 a.m., I took some time to use the public facilities, stretch, and rehydrate. The first customer of the day, I ordered the Alaskan pollock and fries, which came with a refreshing side of coleslaw. Being British, I’ve had my share of quality fish and chips. I can confirm that Surfside Seafood’s take on the classic dish is delectable. I asked Justin, who was working behind the counter, to take my picture before I headed back home.
My return journey felt just as strong as the first half of the trip. With it being a Friday, I wanted to get back through Malibu and onto the bike path before traffic got too heavy. Other than pausing for a quick cold-brew coffee and coconut water, I rode non-stop, attacking the inclines that had been wonderful downhills a couple hours earlier. I rolled back into Marina del Rey at 3:45 pm, completing the second half of the day in the identical amount of time as the first.
I am proud to have successfully made it through my first century ride without any major issues. To residents and tourists of Los Angeles – I highly suggest my route if you would like to tackle 100 miles with a view of the vast Pacific Ocean along the way. ER