Southern California - Van Nuys to San Diego - Jan. 27th

NOTICE: Ride Canceled due to Train Closure!!!!

The ride is now from UNIVERSAL CITY to San Diego

Saturday TBD - The Sandy Eggo Sesquicentury
Park at the Universal City Metro Redline Station
Ride to San Diego
Train back (6:20pm - 10:00pm): Amtrak from San Diego to LA Union Station, Redline to Universal.
Riding distance: 157 miles (approx)

Departure Time: 6:00am
Civil twilight begins at 6:19am and ends at 5:43pm that day, so we'll have plenty of riding time plus time for breaks, mechanical and traffic lights (which were extensive on the HB to Encinitas run).

Anyone interested, post here and let me know. If there are more than 3 or 4 of us, I'll put together a detailed route slip. But we'll plan to stay together regardless. And because I'm OCD, I'll have a route laid out with rest stops.

Note: there are a couple ugly stretches along the way (through Van Nuys to Sepulveda and in Wilmington/San Pedro) but we'll hit both areas early enough that it won't be too heavily trafficked.

P.S. Rain will cancel!!! As will sub-40 degree temps. But I'll make breakfast burritos.

Hmmm... I'll let you know.

Hmmm, maybe we can jump on in OC someplace. I'll check with Mel.

I'm in...unless it rains. :o

I most definitely will NOT be there. :)


However, as is my custom on the San Diego route, I'll ask if you're going to take the 5 rather than Pendelton. It's a good way to make good time. Actually, the only good thing about it is the good time you'll make with all the tailwind.

There's a bike path that goes through the valley, it's the Orange line Bus Line. That goes through Van Nuys to Sepulveda. I've never taken it, so I can't vouch for it. I imagine the roads will be deserted at that time of day anyway. Sepulveda certainly will be.

http://www.labikepaths.com/OrangeLine.html

If, for some reason, it gets postponed 1 or 2 Saturdays, I would definitely join you.

The part through the valley and over Sepulveda is O.K., but there is some real junk further south and you will find plenty of traffic, as many hours as you are going to be out there. I did this once years ago and don't remember the exact route, but don't care to repeat it.

I've ridden down there a few times along this route. Wilmington and Long Beach were really the only areas I didn't like. We should be past that by 10am. After that, most of it's not really too different from the HB to Encinitas ride we did last weekend. Just longer and one-way (and Torrey Pines to add a nice challenge at mile 130 or so).

San Diego is a bit hectic, but I'm looking at some of the bike lanes. Any recommendations from Torrey Pines to the Amtrak station would be great, for those who ride down there.

No one want to do Borrego?

No one want to do Borrego?

It's not that I don't want to, Voltman, but it may be a repeat of Stagecoach (not to scare you) since it is essentially in the same area and the weather may be the same! :eek: But you might get lucky. Anyway, if you already bought the registration, contact Julian to see if they will give you credit or if there is somewhere you might sell it. Sorry, but I just can't fathom riding in the cold, dry desert again in two weeks! :o

San Diego is a bit hectic, but I'm looking at some of the bike lanes. Any recommendations from Torrey Pines to the Amtrak station would be great, for those who ride down there.

I have the burrito century route slip, which (with some additional notation so as to avoid one slightly confusing spot) covers that territory well.

Let me know if you want it...

I have the burrito century route slip, which (with some additional notation so as to avoid one slightly confusing spot) covers that territory well.

Let me know if you want it...Definitely would help. I also pulled the Amtrak Century off of routeslip.com, so I'm collecting info. I know the area relatively well, I'm just trying to come up with the most comfortable route for folks.

You have it via e-mail or hard copy?

If you PM me your email addy, I'll send it your way.

EDIT:

See the link in post #358 of this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=231633&page=15

I can't believe I found it....

got it, thanks!

Right on. There's one slightly dicey turn onto the bike path that runs along the river, right after mission bay. It should have been obvious to me (it's very close to where the MS ride ends each year), but we managed to miss the turn. If you wind up routing us that way (per the burrito century slip), let me know and I can flag that spot.

I have the burrito century route slip, which (with some additional notation so as to avoid one slightly confusing spot) covers that territory well.

Let me know if you want it...

The Amtrak route is about as good as it gets. It avoids the nasty part of PCH from Old Town to Downtown.

Right on. There's one slightly dicey turn onto the bike path that runs along the river, right after mission bay. It should have been obvious to me (it's very close to where the MS ride ends each year), but we managed to miss the turn. If you wind up routing us that way (per the burrito century slip), let me know and I can flag that spot.

Matt, I'm going on this ride and I remember that odd bike path turn well. In fact, due to the "drama" ;) that ensued, I doubt I'll forget it! :D

I still can't believe I messed it up. I've done the MS ride 6 years in a row, each time making that little turn.

I guess it was a case of mile-80-something psychosis, coupled with the fact that I had never actually ridden to downtown SD. One tiny additional phrase on the route slip will eliminate the problem.

I still can't believe I messed it up. I've done the MS ride 6 years in a row, each time making that little turn.

I guess it was a case of mile-80-something psychosis, coupled with the fact that I had never actually ridden to downtown SD. One tiny additional phrase on the route slip will eliminate the problem.
You didn't mess it up, Matt! It turned out just fine and now any of us who have ridden it - we'll remember where that turn is! :D

This is a tad long for me, and I'm doing Northridge to Mission Viejo this Sunday, so I'll probably sit this one out. I'm curious how you're getting from the Valley to Newport (where I turn off to get to MV). Here's how I did it last time.
1. Woodley to Victory bike path
2. Bike path to Sepulveda
3. Sepulveda up and over the hill
4. Continue on Sepulveda past Washington and Jefferson (jog right at Jefferson)
5. Around mile 26 turn left on Century/World Way (I would handle this differently next time; perhaps turning left at Westchester Pky and then right on Aviation).
6. Century about 1 mile to Aviation—right onto Aviation
7. Stay on Aviation 7 miles and it then heads west toward beach
8. Aviation hits PCH around mile 33—turn left/South onto PCH
9. To the pier and find the bike bath and get on bike path—left
10. Stay on PCH—at around mile 40 it heads dead East
11. Around mile 42 turn right at Western
12. Quick left at Anaheim
13. Go about 7 miles over under 710 and over river to Magnolia—right
14. to Ocean (about mile)—left
15. TRICKY PART! Around mile 52 Ocean splits—go left onto Livingston
16. Right onto East 2nd
17. Continue over 2 bridges
18. Right onto PCH
The time before that I followed the route in the Bicycling the Pacific Coast book, and it was way too complicated, with too much reliance on the bike paths (bad option). The Sepulveda route has some ugly and narrow sections, but at the time of day you're talking about I think it's worth it.
Oh, and as others have said, assuming you use Mateo's route (similar to one I did a couple months ago), if you cross Sea World Dr. at Friar and have gone more than 1/8th of a mile or so without getting on the bike path, you've gone too far. Turn around and find the bike path.

I may be following the same route from here to SD on that day, but I'll probably be leaving before you guys get to the Seal Beach area (where I hit PCH and head south). Also, my plan is for no "rest stops" per say, only stopping when absolutely necessary.

I downloaded the routeslip from the Burrito Century and would appreciate any updates or corrections.

I'll be sure to keep an eye on this thread and see what the plan is though.

hey joel...i may be able to do it...gotta check in at home...if you want i have my little adventure cycling maps down here and they have some really good ideas on how to get around out fair state...bldg 2315, if ya want!

Someone put together a route slip. I think there is enough interest here :)

I have a birthday party to attend that evening with my wife. If I can somehow wiggle out of it I can do this ride. :D

Someone put together a route slip. I think there is enough interest here :)

Evidently so! I figured I'd be lucky to get more than 2 people up for it!

Route slip in progress (I mean, when I'm not working and all).

hey joel...i may be able to do it...gotta check in at home...if you want i have my little adventure cycling maps down here and they have some really good ideas on how to get around out fair state...bldg 2315, if ya want!
Cool, thanks -- I'm booked solid today. Maybe I'll pop down there tomorrow. If so, I'll give you a shout.

right on...ill be here

Damn, routeslip.com is kind of a pain to use. Not being able to go back and add points mid-ride is a major PITA. But it's a cool site, once they expand the features a bit.

Really looking forward to this one. I'll have more details on route this weekend, once I have time to put it all together. I'm trying to ensure there's a balance of beach path & bike routes and road, so that it's fast but comfortable.

We've got essentially 11 hours to do the route. With breaks, quick lunch, stop lights, etc. we'll have just over 9 hours of riding time, so we'll need to be averaging 17 mph. Nothing too fast but there won't be a ton of time to linger (most of the route is pretty flat - Sepulveda over the hill & Torrey Pines are the only climbs of any real substance).

Working on stops that have plenty of facilities so we can keep the breaks tight.

Okay, I'm gonna need commitments one way or another by Sunday night. The plan's gonna be slightly different if we have more than 4 folks joining in.

I'm also making slight adjustments to the route to make it faster with fewer stops and turns to ensure we can get to SD before sundown while still leaving enough time for breaks.

Also, the 10 day forecast is showing showers right now. So, if that doesn't go away by Wednesday, I'll reschedule for sometime in late Feb/early March (sorry it won't be able to be a Butterfield training ride if we have to move it).

Depending on the schedule and rest stop location, I may join up in San Clemente or Oceanside.

And we may join up in OC someplace. Gotta check our rock-star-like social schedules.

In for sure. And I'm going to beg Tiffanie to do her anti-rain dance. Hell, I may even do a jig, if that's what it takes! :D

I really want to do this ride, but since the Burrito Century (my first Century) I haven't been on any rides thats over 60 miles, don't want to slow the group down.

I really want to do this ride, but since the Burrito Century (my first Century) I haven't been on any rides thats over 60 miles, don't want to slow the group down.

That's no excuse!

I really want to do this ride, but since the Burrito Century (my first Century) I haven't been on any rides thats over 60 miles, don't want to slow the group down.Anyone from OC wants to join in, I'm looking for a stop/get-together point in HB (along the PCH).

Any recommendations - with multiple facilities and a place to pick up fluids & snacks?

We'll be there between 10 and 10:30.

I'd like to join as well if the weather co-operates. I have a friend that is interested in going too, but he would like to see a route slip before he commits. A 17mph avg pace may be a little too much for him over the 160 miles.

I'd like to join as well if the weather co-operates. I have a friend that is interested in going too, but he would like to see a route slip before he commits. A 17mph avg pace may be a little too much for him over the 160 miles.

thats what im kinda starting to think as well...

I'd like to join as well if the weather co-operates. I have a friend that is interested in going too, but he would like to see a route slip before he commits. A 17mph avg pace may be a little too much for him over the 160 miles.
Joel doesn't realize how strong a rider he is (that or he has the humble act down pat!). I've already pleaded with him to think more along the lines of 15 mph avg max. That or he has to pull an "Extort" and bring a tow rope. :D

Joel doesn't realize how strong a rider he is (that or he has the humble act down pat!). I've already pleaded with him to think more along the lines of 15 mph avg max. That or he has to pull an "Extort" and bring a tow rope. :DWorking on it -- work's just been a bear lately.

I can definitely slow the pace down, the sacrifices are a) slightly earlier starting time - probably 6:00, b) shorter breaks and c) more direct route (ie. taking the I5 instead of Camp Pendleton and staying on PCH rather than taking Palos Verde Drive North.

I'm not trying to race, just want to ensure we don't run out of daylight (we've got until about 5:30). Honestly, 16 or 17mph isn't that bad on this route. It's mostly flat, usually a tailwind and other than going through the beach communities, there are long stretches without stoplights.

It doesn't have all of the turns & breaks noted, but here's the initial pass I did (never used routeslip.com before). Will give you a feel for the basic plan, but may change a bit.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/19038

Hey, Joel, I can take a crack at typing up the route slip for you. I've done it for others (no names will be mentioned :p ) and I'm happy to do it for this route. So, I'll start that this evening if you're okay with my doing so.

Hey, Joel, I can take a crack at typing up the route slip for you. I've done it for others (no names will be mentioned :p ) and I'm happy to do it for this route. So, I'll start that this evening if you're okay with my doing so.
If you're up for it, it's fine by me!

If you're up for it, it's fine by me!
Shall do. I should clarify though, I charge by the hour. :p ;)

Shall do. I should clarify though, I charge by the hour. :p ;)

:eek:

Shall do. I should clarify though, I charge by the hour. :p ;)

Then it better be good! :D

Shall do. I should clarify though, I charge by the hour. :p ;)Do you get plugged into a standard outlet or can I use a car charger?

Do you get plugged into a standard outlet or can I use a car charger?
:eek: Oh...wait...for a second I read that as "do you get it plugged into your standard outlet or can I use a car charger?...:p I'd charge far more for that.

But for typing your routeslip (no euphemism, I swear), I charge the fee of "you providing me a gel" should I run out along the way! ;)

Now, let's see how long this post stays before it magically "disappears." :rolleyes:

I'd like to join as well if the weather co-operates. Down to 10% chance of precip and 70 degree high for next Saturday now (in HB). Keep your fingers crossed and the anti-rain dances coming.

:eek: Oh...wait...for a second I read that as "do you get it plugged into your standard outlet or can I use a car charger?...:p I'd charge far more for that.

But for typing your routeslip (no euphemism, I swear), I charge the fee of "you providing me a gel" should I run out along the way! ;)

Now, let's see how long this post stays before it magically "disappears." :rolleyes:

:eek: