Rapid Cycler, I've done the L.A. Marathon ride, and I don't think I would do it again. Most of the riders are not experenced and, unless you start at the front of the pack, there are so many riders that you end up walking for the first couple of miles. Everyone is so packed together that there is just not enough room to get on the bike. There are also a lot of kids who just zoom in and out between bikes and it is not safe. If one person goes down, aboout 50 other bikes follow.

A better ride is the Volvo Tour of L.A. Fun Ride which is held in April. It is well organized and much safer. There are no real hot shot "professionals", but all are generally careful riders (like us) and everyone is respectful of one another. They have changed the route the past couple of years and the ride begins and ends on the hill that goes up towards Dodger Stadium (Stadium Way) from the Southbound I-5 freeway. I haven't done it since they changed the route, but that is a pretty steep hill. Another good ride is the Tour de Palm Springs in February. You can choose options of a century, or lesser distances. The bikes are not all packed together. Another good ride is the bike-only portion of the L.A. Triathlon which is held in September. It starts at Venice Beach and ends up at the Convention Center. The bikes are not packed together and it is a really good ride. The Cool Breeze in August from Ventura to Santa Barbara and back is also a good ride. You might check out these rides on the internet.