For the second day in a row, I climbed Griffith Observatory. I did it because I’ll be heading to Dallas soon and won’t be back until January. Having just gotten a new bike to dive into cycling, I felt compelled to ride.
I was introduced to the sport by my friend Coop at USC. Coop, who was part of the NYU Cycling Team during undergrad, has completed some impressive tours—Tibet and Trans-America, for example. As an avid cyclist, he took me to the USC Cycling Club and rode with me a couple of times. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with the sport, and soon after, I decided to buy my first road bike: a Specialized Allez.
Griffith is a hard yet rewarding ride. The route I take begins with a long stretch of flat land, circling around the base of the mountain. As you approach the foot of the climb, the road ends for cars—a gate blocks their path. Cyclists and hikers, though, can easily go around it. I like to rest a little at this point because the first third of the climb is the most brutal.
The road is steep, and it’s easy to feel tempted to turn back. You gain most of the elevation in a short period of time. Then, all of a sudden, the steep uphill becomes a descent—a welcome reprieve. The downhill section is short but sweet, with a few good curves to enjoy.
After that, the road begins to climb again, but this time it’s less steep. You spend about a third of the ride on this more manageable stretch. It gives you time to find your rhythm and mentally prepare for what’s next.
The final third turns steep again, and once more, it feels as though all the oxygen is being sucked out of you. Yet, strangely, this part feels easier. You’re so close to the top that turning back is no longer an option. The summit feels inevitable, and that knowledge alone carries you forward.
