• Home
• Calendar
• Photo Gallery
• What's Included
• Bike Rental
• Registration
• Contact Us

California Cycling Climbing Camps

Santa Monica Mountains

5 Days • 287 mi • 30,000' Elevation Gain • $695.00

Celebrating 20 years of Cycling Camps in the Santa Monica Mountains! Why spend the winter spinning on a trainer or riding in the cold when you can join our cycling training camp in the mountains of southern California! Climb all day in warm weather and blue skies.

Scroll Down For Itinerary

Many pro cycling teams are using the Santa Monica Mountains in California for their winter and spring training camps and now you can too.

The Santa Monica's tower above Malibu and the Pacific Coast like a jewel carved just for cyclists. We climb all the classic passes from Westlake Village and Calabasas to Malibu and back. The climbs range from 3-10 miles with grades averaging 6-7% and sections of 8-15%. Each day choose between an A or B Route for difficulty.

This California Cycling Camp includes all our great SAG support during the ride, all the snacks and drinks you want in our Trailer, unlimited energy products, a lunch stop, route slips, guides and van support. Riders are responsible for booking their own hotel, and meals when not riding.

All rides start and end at the Westlake Village Inn. Choose your own basecamp for the week. See the hotel and dining links on the left sidebar to plan your week.

Westlake Village Inn is the nicest hotel in the area, and is also the Host Hotel for the Camp. It sits on a lake and golf course, and all rooms face the ouside, so you can ride right to your door. For Registered Riders on the Camp the rate is $209-$259 (normally $359+).

There are many other nearby hotels, links to the Left. The Hampton Inn is 2 miles from the Westlake Inn. Homewood Suites & Residence Inn have kitchens and are about 1-3 miles away.

LAX is the biggest airport in southern California, although Burbank is closer. Drive time from LAX to Agoura Hills is about 45 minutes - 2 hours with traffic. Plan your arrival time accordingly. Riders need to arrange their own shuttle from the airport (see link on the sidebar). We recommend renting a car for the week in order to sightsee and meet the group for dinner.

Monday - Meet in Westlake Village, California

We'll meet in Westlake Village Monday morning at 8:00am. First we have a brief orientation where we'll provide an overview for the week, hand out route slips, make introductions, and answer any questions you have. We begin riding by 8:30am.

Sample Schedule

Monday
8:00am             Orientation (Hotel)
8:30am             Ride Start (Leave from Hotel)
2:00pm             End
5:00pm             Dinner

Cycling Camp Day 1 - Rockstore / Yerba Buena / Decker

Our Cycling camp starts off with three famous bike climbs in the area: Rockstore on Mulholland, Yerba Buena and Decker. Yerba Buena is a gradual climb on a quiet canyon road to the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. Decker includes a 1/2 mile section with grades up to 16%. There is an optional 5 mile additional climb for those feeling fresh. Did we mention you might want to have a compact with at least a 28-32 cassette?

58 miles / 6,800 ft. elevation gain

Day 2 - Piuma / Old Topanga / Fernwood

Piuma may be one of the most scenic bike climbs in all of southern California. It follows a thin ridge up the mountains to top out with 360 degree views all around. It's also 5 miles of 6-10% grades. Rest up on the descent because Fernwood is another 5 mile bike climb that starts with 10-12 % grades.

59 miles / 7,000 ft. elevation gain

Day 3 - Potrero / Pacific Coast Highway / Mulholland

Potrero road winds through horse ranch country on it's way out to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). From here we cruise south down the coast of Malibu along the Pacific Ocean for 14 miles of beautiful beaches before climbing up Mulholland Canyon to the top of the Santa Monica Mountains. From here it's an easy cruise back to the start for a 50 mile, 3,500 foot climbing day. Or if your feeling strong, drop back down to sea level and hit another climb before calling it a day.

50 miles / 3,500 ft. elevation gain

Day 4 - Santa Monica Mountains Traverse

This is the big ride. We'll cycle Mulholland all the way out to the Pacific Coast Highway, then hit most of the classic climbs from a central staging area. During the course of the ride we'll summit Rock Store, Mulholland and Yerba Buena. And if you have the legs for it, you can add Latigo Canyon to the feat, a local favorite. You just completed day four of your California Cycling Camp and it's bigger than most one day events.

3 Choices: 47 miles & 4,800' OR 75-80 miles & 8,000' - 10,500' elevation gain

Day 5 - Westlake / Zuma Beach / Latigo Canyon

Westlake starts with a short 18% pitch. Enough said. After the climb, cruise down the coast along Zuma Beach and out to the cliffs of Point Dume. Latigo Canyon is one of the classic cycling climbs in the area, at just over nine miles in length, with steady grades and constant views of the Pacific Ocean. Many cyclists consider it their favorite climb in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's also the last climb on this Epic Camp!

45 miles / 4,600 ft. elevation gain

Check out our Trail Running Camps