Southern California - Bike Forums Orange County, CA Group Ride?

Hello Southern Cali,
I've had an idea lately of trying to put on a group ride in Orange County for any interested Bike Forumers. Distance would probably be somewhere around a metric century ~65 miles with some mininmal climbing (~2500'), I'd like to provide a route that would be suitable for riders of all abilities. The route would probably start either at UCI, Tustin Marketplace or Mile Squre Park and go through Santiago Canyon, Laguna Canyon or Dana Point and up the coast and back to the start. It would be fun to meet some of you and maybe find new ride partners and routes.

Let me know what you think. Also post what dates, distances, routes, starting points etc. work out best. I don't mind putting together and providing route slips and doing the leg work.

I would love to do it if it was not in the very near future... I am definitly not ready for a metric until I get doctors clearance and rebuild fitness. I have riden in that area and it is definitly a nice area to ride in for sure.

Ye gads, I'd love to go, but I don't know that I'm ready for anything close to a century -- metric or not. I've only been back in the saddle for about 2 months following a 10 year haitus, and ~25 miles has been my average "long ride".

Tim.

Sounds similar to the Dana Point loop that a lot of the Como St. group does in the winter when everyone is riding long, steady (not fast) miles.

I would love to do it if it was not in the very near future... I am definitly not ready for a metric until I get doctors clearance and rebuild fitness. I have riden in that area and it is definitly a nice area to ride in for sure.
I'm not really sure of the time frame or distance. I'd like to do it before the end of the year. I suggest a metric because I know that a lot of riders on this forum wouldn't be into a full century and thought a metric would be distance that most of us can handle. Let's see what happens, if we can get a ride together and it's a success, maybe we could do it every few months?

BTW, I've followed some of your recent threads, I can't imagine what you're going through. Stay strong and hang in there, things will sort themselves out over time.

Hello Southern Cali,
I've had an idea lately of trying to put on a group ride in Orange County for any interested Bike Forumers. Distance would probably be somewhere around a metric century ~65 miles with some mininmal climbing (~2500'), I'd like to provide a route that would be suitable for riders of all abilities. The route would probably start either at UCI, Tustin Marketplace or Mile Squre Park and go through Santiago Canyon, Laguna Canyon or Dana Point and up the coast and back to the start. It would be fun to meet some of you and maybe find new ride partners and routes.

Let me know what you think. Also post what dates, distances, routes, starting points etc. work out best. I don't mind putting together and providing route slips and doing the leg work.

If you're OK w/ some LA county vermin joining in, then count me in. I just moved to LA so I'm not familiar w/ "The OC", or much of anything in SoCal. But I've got a car and a bikerack, so I'm pretty mobile.

The next 2 weekends I'm booked, but the 2nd weekend of November should be good. Hah! That's right all you cold weather shmucks, I'll be riding throughout the Winter! :D

If you need any references *joke*, I can get them as I've ridden w/ other BF members in Massachusetts.

I'm in the "other" Orange County, in North Carolina. But there are plenty of group rides around here, including one that starts out at Performance's main shop.
Good luck getting this rolling.

Im down to go, I think metric will be good as a starter, I doubt people will be showing up to do centuries(unless people want to show themselves off in 400w mode)

Let us know when you have it structured :D

Sounds similar to the Dana Point loop that a lot of the Como St. group does in the winter when everyone is riding long, steady (not fast) miles.
That's what I've been doing on Sundays and what I had in mind. Although I would prefer to go through Santiago towards Cook's corner and then head towards the coast.

I'm not familiar w/ "The OC",
Don't you watch TV? It's just like the show :D . I'll be on my Land Rover road bike. Of course LA vermin is welcome. I was thinking about the 2nd or 3rd weekend in Nov or after Thanksgiving.

We could put 2 routes together, a shorter 30 mile version and a longer route. They would start together and then split off. Keep the responses coming...

We could put 2 routes together, a shorter 30 mile version and a longer route. They would start together and then split off.

I'm down with that plan; depending on how I feel, I could bail out after the 30 miles or keep going.

Tim.

Count me in once I return to Orange County from my trip to SF. Maybe we could just set a date and go from there? If only a few people can go at least it's a start. It will probably be hard to find a date that works for everyone rather than just trying it out with some smaller rides.

Count me in once I return to Orange County from my trip to SF. Maybe we could just set a date and go from there? If only a few people can go at least it's a start. It will probably be hard to find a date that works for everyone rather than just trying it out with some smaller rides.
I think you're right, but I thought I'd try to get an idea of dates and ride lengths that work the majority of those interested. I'm good for just about any weekend or ride length.

How does Sunday Nov. 20th sound?

I wouldn't mind tackling a ride like that. I'm not a really fast rider and I haven't pushed myself that kind of distance yet but I've been itching to increase my mileage. Trouble is, I'm pretty booked for the next couple weekends. Maybe we could do a ride on the Friday after Thanksgiving?

I'm in. Just no one hurt me.

I'll wear my red jersey so that everyone recognizes me right away...lol

I think a metric would be a good start, We can always bail if people are getting overly tired.

Plus we can stop somewhere halfway for a break and remotivate everyone

Good idea OC!

I'd be up for it - a good excuse to get me back on my road bike (my mountain bike and fixed gear have been hogging all my time lately).

Count me in... Any route is okay with me...

Ye gads, I'd love to go, but I don't know that I'm ready for anything close to a century -- metric or not. I've only been back in the saddle for about 2 months following a 10 year haitus, and ~25 miles has been my average "long ride".

Tim.


Your ready... trust me.. just make sure to eat and draft...

I hope to try to ride again in about two weeks or so. I haven't been on the bike since I broke my pelvic bone Sept. 24th. The doctor says he doesn't need to see me again and to let pain be my guide as to sitting on the bike (the bone that broke is the one in the crotch!) so I'm going to try it out soon. Others are right, there's no way to arrange it so we all can ride together all the time but if we start a general ride most will eventually get to ride with each other and regular rides might come out of it. The guys I ride with send out an e-mail about the ride coming up on some regular days and the people that can come on that day show up and ride. I have my daughter on more than every other weekend so I can only participate when I don't have her. But like everyone else with a busy schedule, I’m in…as soon as I’m healed.

I've actually pledged to ride what amounts to a metric century on or near my birthday (Dec. 31), on a thread on the 50+ forum. It'd be fun to do it in company, even driving to Irvine for the pleasure.

But hills kill me, so unless the route is pretty flat. . . .

Don't you watch TV? It's just like the show :D . I'll be on my Land Rover road bike. Of course LA vermin is welcome. I was thinking about the 2nd or 3rd weekend in Nov or after Thanksgiving.

We could put 2 routes together, a shorter 30 mile version and a longer route. They would start together and then split off. Keep the responses coming...

Actually, my 30 year old Zenith boob tube doesn't get too much use. But if you see Melinda Clarke in your neck of the woods, tell her I love her.

I'm out of state the 1st weekend in November and the entire 4 day Thanksgiving weekend. If Thanksgiving weekend is better for others, then I can wait 'til later. Having a 30 miler and a longer route (metric century?) sounds ideal. How about one 30 mile loop, then having the option of repeating the loop? That may sound kind of boring, but it may make things easier to organize -- just a thought.



Count me in once I return to Orange County from my trip to SF. Maybe we could just set a date and go from there? If only a few people can go at least it's a start. It will probably be hard to find a date that works for everyone rather than just trying it out with some smaller rides.

Good idea. Even if just a few can make it, it at least gets the ball rolling.

I've actually pledged to ride what amounts to a metric century on or near my birthday (Dec. 31), on a thread on the 50+ forum. It'd be fun to do it in company, even driving to Irvine for the pleasure.

But hills kill me, so unless the route is pretty flat. . . .

Will you be 50+ on the 31st or 50? I turn 50 on November 26th but will be with my daughter that day.

Ralph

I'm still scared to do a Lilac ride with the OCRR.

I'm still scared to do a Lilac ride with the OCRR.

iceberg... the lilac is a cakewalk... don't sell yourself short... Have you ridden with OCRR yet?

Will you be 50+ on the 31st or 50? I turn 50 on November 26th but will be with my daughter that day.

Ralph

Actually, I'll turn 67 on Dec. 31. The pledge was (is) to ride your age in miles on or about your b'day. A metric century is close enough to 67 miles, so the proposed ride would be pretty cool, provided I can handle the hills. If I do it alone, I might be really cowardly, and do a round-trip ride from Azusa to Seal Beach on the San Gabriel River Bike Path. But I'd despise myself inwardly.

iceberg... the lilac is a cakewalk... don't sell yourself short... Have you ridden with OCRR yet?

No, but I have just started riding, and I jsut dont have a lot of confidence, especially when it comes to hilly terrain. The longest ride I've done so far is 13 miles. Physically I am not in the greatest shape, I've got over a year of sitting on my duff doing nothing due to a surgery, so I'm still working on my stamina.

Okay, here's the two routes I'm thinking, let me know what you guys think.
Short Route- approx 32 miles with 1850' of climbing
Start at Tustin Marketplace and do Santiago Canyon loop from Jamboree towards Cook's and return via Irvine Blvd or Trabuco.

Long Route- 60-70 miles (still figuring it out) ~3500' of climbing
Same as short route, but spilt off at Santa Margarita Pkwy and El Toro and head towards Dana Point via Antonio Pkwy to Ortega Hwgy (or Crown Valley Pkwy). Return via PCH to Newport Back Bay and either MUP path or city streets.

If the long route seems like too much climbing, we could skip the canyon and head down Irvine Blvd, this would be the same route as the Como Street/Dana Point group. Personally, I like Santiago Canyon.

Does anyone know the route (by street names and turns) from Ortega Hwgy to PCH? Also, any objections to using the MUP path from Newport Back Bay back up to the start point?

How about a poll on these two weekends?

Sat or Sun Nov 19/20th
Sat or Sun Dec 3/4th
Sundays are easier for me, but I think any of these will work.

Any suggestions from those familiar with the area? For the long route, I thought it would be nice to mix it up between semi-hilly and coastal.

I vote for the November weekend, for the sole reason that I'll be on the east coast the first weekend in December. Saturday or Sunday is fine by me.

I'm game for either weekend, but would just like a few weeks notice on the date, so I can plan other stuff accordingly. I'd prefer a Saturday, so I can drink beers and watch football on Sunday. But since I'm a Dolphins fan (and I'd just end up watching them LOSE), a Sunday ride would be fine too.

Short or long route will be a game time decision for me. If I'm feeling good enough for the long route, mixing it up between semi-hilly and coastal, as mentioned by OC, sounds great.

Sat or Sun Nov 19/20th
Sat or Sun Dec 3/4th
Sundays are easier for me, but I think any of these will work.

Any suggestions from those familiar with the area? For the long route, I thought it would be nice to mix it up between semi-hilly and coastal.

Both routes sound fine with me, whether or not I'll be up to it by then remains to be seen. Those are also weekends I have my daughter, but I could switch with the X for one those days.

Ralph

I'm leaning towards Saturday Nov19th, unless that's a bad day for too many of you. I guess I better double check it with the boss lady :p

OC Roadie, tandem's OK? The long ride is a bit longer than we've been going but I want to get our mileage up so this would be a good excuse! The Nov. date would probably be better. We wouldn't be able to make the 4th but we could do the 3rd.

You may want to do an official sign-up thread and ask a mod to make it a sticky once you pick the date.

JD

Yea Nov date sounds good!

The date's fine. Question is the engine, and those hills. All detailed info welcome. Roadie, this is a great idea.

OC Roadie, tandem's OK? The long ride is a bit longer than we've been going but I want to get our mileage up so this would be a good excuse! The Nov. date would probably be better. We wouldn't be able to make the 4th but we could do the 3rd.

You may want to do an official sign-up thread and ask a mod to make it a sticky once you pick the date.

JD
Tandems are great, in fact I thought about trying to drag my wife out on our Santana for this one. She hasn't really been on the bike lately, so she may be hitting me and yelling at me the whole way. I figured I'd do something like a sign-up thread once it liked like a go and we had some details (like a date an route) figured out. I'm looking forward to this!

Depending on the date that gets settled on I may be in. OC is kinda a long drive but if I don't have anything else going that weekend it would be worth it.

The date's fine. Question is the engine, and those hills. All detailed info welcome. Roadie, this is a great idea.
I think about 1/2 of the climbing is in the first 15 miles, from there it mostly flat and gentle rolling terrain until a few steeper rollers through Laguna Beach. If you can grind out a couple of climbs (nothing really more than 6-7%, or longer than a mile) you'll do fine. We'll be there to encourage you along ;)

November 19th is good for me... Saturday is best....

Seems like Saturday Nov 19th is working pretty well. Let's make that the date. How about a start time? 7:30 - 8:00am? Earlier the better for me, but I don't want to make this too rough on the LA Vermin ;)
For those of you unfamiliar with the start location, Tustin Marketplace is right off of the 5 Freeway at Jamboree. I'll have to pay attention next time I ride through and pick a landmark for the start (it's the parking lot at Bryan and Jamboree).

I think about 1/2 of the climbing is in the first 15 miles, from there it mostly flat and gentle rolling terrain until a few steeper rollers through Laguna Beach. If you can grind out a couple of climbs (nothing really more than 6-7%, or longer than a mile) you'll do fine. We'll be there to encourage you along ;)

I want all the drop'ers to show up. I have heard many people saying they want to drop the red jersey, I want to see this happen :D, j/k

I'll actually go for the more casual one, I like miles, but I don't want this to be any kind of competition or anything. Just a friendly ride with BF'ers :D

I want all the drop'ers to show up. I have heard many people saying they want to drop the red jersey, I want to see this happen :D, j/k

I'll actually go for the more casual one, I like miles, but I don't want this to be any kind of competition or anything. Just a friendly ride with BF'ers :D


When was the last time you rode with anyone and it didn't turn competitive? :rolleyes: I too hope it'll be a friendly ride, but of course everyone will be on there best behaviour the first time out. The ride should be easy enough not to drop me and yet hard enough to be pushed a little. :D

Ralph

I want all the drop'ers to show up. I have heard many people saying they want to drop the red jersey, I want to see this happen :D, j/k

I'll actually go for the more casual one, I like miles, but I don't want this to be any kind of competition or anything. Just a friendly ride with BF'ers :D
I'd like to try and keep this casual and non-competitive. You've got the right idea, friendly and fun ride with fellow BF'ers. We can do the show off hammerfest on a different ride, and I'd be happy to drop the red jersey :D (or at least try). You can do the long route without turning it into a competition.

Seems like Saturday Nov 19th is working pretty well. Let's make that the date. How about a start time? 7:30 - 8:00am? Earlier the better for me, but I don't want to make this too rough on the LA Vermin ;)
For those of you unfamiliar with the start location, Tustin Marketplace is right off of the 5 Freeway at Jamboree. I'll have to pay attention next time I ride through and pick a landmark for the start (it's the parking lot at Bryan and Jamboree).

11/19 works for me. Early sounds good too because the Hummer driving road hogs in LA don't seem to get up early on weekends (I think Starbucks may open later on weekends).

Good job OC.

This site has driving directions (towards the bottom of the page) for the meeting point.

http://www.shopthemarketplace.com/#

No, but I have just started riding, and I jsut dont have a lot of confidence, especially when it comes to hilly terrain. The longest ride I've done so far is 13 miles. Physically I am not in the greatest shape, I've got over a year of sitting on my duff doing nothing due to a surgery, so I'm still working on my stamina.
You could get a ride to the start and pull off in Dana Point to keep it shorter? :)

Roadie...I'll take a cut at some routes this evening (I like how you're thinking). I'm pretty good with street names and stuff and I want to work in the regroup places as well as refueling stations.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can do 11/19 but I'm happy to help and will be there in spirit!

Cool progress for one day, especially since I'm "working" ;)
As it stands it looks like we'll do this on Saturday Nov. 19th around 7:30ish. As soon as I get some route slips worked out (I think CJBRUIN may help out) I'll start a new thread with more details and hopefully a link to downloadable route slips.
So as of now, here's who claims to be in, or least interested:
Myself
Cjbruin
Iamtim
Ovoleg
Stinkyonions
Sdrider
Voltman
Hawkear
Dahvaio
1955
Bernmart
Johnnycool
Jave

Keep the replies and/or suggestions coming, let's see if we can rally up at least 20 for this. Feel free to contact me via PM if you have any questions or suggestins. Take Care...Pat

Roadie...I'll take a cut at some routes this evening (I like how you're thinking). I'm pretty good with street names and stuff and I want to work in the regroup places as well as refueling stations.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can do 11/19 but I'm happy to help and will be there in spirit!
If you can't make it, maybe we could come up with the route and pre-ride it for a test ride in the next couple of weeks and make sure it's accurate. I'm usually doing something similar to this every Sunday.

i'm in if you're accepting LA county applications!

You could get a ride to the start and pull off in Dana Point to keep it shorter? :)

Let me see how the route turns out. </wuss>