Bike Ride from North Hwd to Chinatown

Join us for a bicycle ride from the North Hollywood Metro Station to Chinatown.

The ride is very pleasant and is suitable for all bike riders who can ride at least 16 miles one way from North Hollywood to Chinatown on mostly flat terrain at 10 to 12 miles per hour. The ride is 32 miles roundtrip, but you can take the Metro back from Union Station (near Chinatown) to North Hollywood if you only want to bike one way.

When we get to Chinatown we will have lunch at Hong Kong BBQ Chinese Restaurant (formerly known as Sam Woo Restaurant.)

MEETING LOCATION:

North Hollywood Metro Station
5391 Lankershim
North Hollywood, CA 91601

MEETING TIME:

Arrive at 9:00AM to park your car, get ready, unload your bike, and add air to your tires.
Meet with our group at 9:30AM on the Plaza above the Metro Station to introduce yourself. We'll go over the ride plan and have a safety talk.
We depart promptly at 10:00AM.

GETTING TO THE METRO STATION:

You can either travel to the North Hollywood Metro Station starting point on your bicycle or by driving your car. There is free parking at the North Hollywood Metro Station. If you arrive by Metro, the North Hollywood Metro Station is at the north end of the Red Line. Please allow at least one hour or more for the Metro ride to the station.

BICYCLE RIDE:

From the North Hollywood Metro Station we will take a 16 mile leisurely bike ride to Chinatown. We ride from the North Hollywood Metro Station along the new Chandler Blvd. bike path - transitioning through a couple of peaceful residential streets to the Los Angeles River bike path. We will be passing by Griffith Park and the Elysian Park neighborhood, and suddenly after going over a bridge and then a sharp turn we will arrive in Chinatown! Since we are riding along the bicycle paths most of the way there is very little traffic to deal with, but there is some street riding and traffic on the route.

We will likely be traveling around 10 miles per hour. The bike ride will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes with a stop to use the restroom.

BICYCLE ROUTE:

- North Hollywood Metro Station to North Keystone Street along the Chandler Blvd. bicycle path (2 1/2 miles)
- North Keystone Street to West Riverside Drive (1 1/2 miles)
- West Riverside Drive to the Los Angeles River Bike Path (2 miles)
- Los Angeles River Bike Path to Riverside Drive (7 1/2 miles)
- South Avenue 19 to Pasadena Avenue (1 mile)
- North Broadway to Chinatown (1 1/2 miles)

DIRECTIONS:

Map with bicycling directions from North Hollywood Metro Station to Chinatown:  http://goo.gl/maps/RV62i

RECOMENDED:
- Comfortable bike, spare tire tubes in case you get a flat, small pump for tires to refill with air or CO2 cartridges
- Sunscreen
- Bike lock
- Water
- Small camera and cell phone
- $1.50 on a TAP card for return Metro ride
- Money for lunch  (Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant accepts CASH ONLY)

REQUIRED:

Please be advised that a helmet is required, and you must be at least 18 years old to come on this bike ride.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY:

We take no responsibility for any injuries nor accidents that may occur during events. By joining this bike ride you take full responsibility for your own safety. Please ensure that you are in good health before participating and understand that there is risk involved in your participation. 

Please adhere to the following rules:

• Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
• Make sure your bicycle is in good working condition with front and rear lights working, tires properly inflated and your bike chain lubricated prior to the ride.
• Bring food such as power bars to eat and water to drink.
• Bring spare tubes, a pump or CO2 cartriges, levers and a patch kit in case of a flat tire. Also bring a first aid kit if you have one.
• Learn and use standard hand signals for group rides.

LUNCH:

After 16 miles of bicycling (and to fuel for a possible additional 16 miles ridiing back,)  we'll have lunch at Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant. You can join with our group sharing the food family style, or you can order your own meal separately. We may try their rice porridge, noodle dishes, and a variety of other Cantonese dishes including roast duck, fresh Talapia fish, Chinese broccoli, and more.

ADDRESS OF THE RESTAURANT:

Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant

803 North Broadway

Los Angeles, CA 90012

See Yelp reviews of Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant at http://www.yelp.com/biz/hong-kong-bbq-los-angeles Last time we had a variety of dishes for about $14 per person (including tax and tip.)

Here are some of the dishes available at Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant:

Freshly Steamed Live Whole Tilapia Fish with Cilantro and Green Onions in a tasty sauce

Black Pepper Butter Shrimp

Preserved Veggies with Pork Belly

Whole Roast Duck

Chow Fun (Rice Noodles) with Beef and Tender Greens

Roast Duck Noodle Soup with Won Tons

Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce

Black Shiitake Mushrooms with Mustard Greens

Congee (Rice Porridge)

Mango Pudding

After lunch you can ride your bicycle from Chinatown to Union Station Downtown at 800 N Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 to return on the Metro on the Red Line to North Hollywood, or you can ride your bicycle from Chinatown back to the North Hollywood Metro Station the same way we came in the morning.

OPTIONAL TOUR:

After lunch join us on a Tour and Wine Tasting at San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles at 737 Lamar St., Los Angeles, CA 90031. If you join us for the Tour and Wine Tasting you can ride the Red Line Metro back to North Hollylwood from Union Station Downtown, or you can ride your bicycle with us from the San Antonio Winery to the North Hollywood Metro station.

DIRECTIONS:

Map with bicycling directions from Chinatown to Union Station Downtown: http://goo.gl/maps/uWQ05

Map with bicycling directions from Chinatown to North Hollywood Metro Station: http://goo.gl/maps/eRHEC

Map with bicycling directions from Chinatown to San Antonio Winery: http://goo.gl/maps/2E3FN

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Tour and Wine Tasting at San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles at 737 Lamar St., Los Angeles, CA 90031.

The tour of the winery will be first.

You'll get to take a look at the wine aging barrels.

After the tour you're invited to taste the wines.

After the Tour and Wine Tasting at San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles you can ride your bicycle to Union Station Downtown to return to the North Hollywood Metro Station via the Red Line Metro, or you can join us riding on your bicycle back to the North Hollywood Metro Station.

DIRECTIONS:

Map with bicycling directions from San Antonio Winery to Union Station Downtown: http://goo.gl/maps/rriXC

Map with bicycling directions from San Antonio Winery to North Hollywood Metro Station: http://goo.gl/maps/2hyWr