Southern California - Anaheim based rides?

Hey SoCalers, I will be staying near the Anaheim convention center next week from Sunday until Wednesday night and plan to ride all day most of the time (hopefully!).

The search function didn't yield much; any suggestions for good weekday club/bike shop rides in the area or route suggestions for solo stuff? Anaheim seems to be smack dab in the middle of the metropolis and have no access to a car to get to outlying areas.

If there was some nice canyon/pass riding within a reasonable distance I could do 70-80 miles solo fairly easily including some nice climbs. I'd like to get in some nice training for the early season Oregon races when I get back!

Hey SoCalers, I will be staying near the Anaheim convention center next week from Sunday until Wednesday night and plan to ride all day most of the time (hopefully!).

The search function didn't yield much; any suggestions for good weekday club/bike shop rides in the area or route suggestions for solo stuff? Anaheim seems to be smack dab in the middle of the metropolis and have no access to a car to get to outlying areas.

If there was some nice canyon/pass riding within a reasonable distance I could do 70-80 miles solo fairly easily including some nice climbs. I'd like to get in some nice training for the early season Oregon races when I get back!

Santiago Canyon Road is about 11ish miles from the convention center and it's a good ride. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the streets you would need to take to get there and don't have any suggestions for what route might be the safest. Hopefully someone else can chime in!

As Brandy said, the standard Orange County ride is Santiago Canyon. Hop on Chapman, head east, and it will eventually turn into Santiago Canyon. At the end of Santiago Canyon, take Live Oak Canyon to continue the fun, or turn on Glen Ranch for extra credit. To make a loop of it I would head back by way of Irvine Blvd, Irvine Center/Edinger, Alton, and/or Barranca/Dyer/Segerstrom and generally make my way back to the trail.

You are also fairly close to the Santa Ana River Trail. Head east on Chapman, Katella, or Orangewood and turn onto the trail. The trail will take you down to the beach or out to Green River on the edge of Corona.

Another good ride would be to do a loop of Carbon Canyon and Brea Canyon. From you location, take the trail north to Tustin Ave/Rose Dr, then ride through Carbon Canyon, take Chino Hills, Grand, and Diamond Bar to Brea Canyon, then get back to the trail by State College, Lambert, and Kraemer.

The only weekday group rides I'm aware of are the Coffee Crew rides at 6:15am Tues. and Thur. from the corner of Campus and University (near UCI). It's a very fast group, but the bigger problem will be just getting to the ride.

+1 for SART (Santa Ana River Trail). It's good but flat (but also very long). A round trip on the entire trail is about 64 miles. Fortunately it's not the typical MUP so you won't see very many pedestrians walking around to worry about. :)

As Brandy said, the standard Orange County ride is Santiago Canyon. Hop on Chapman, head east, and it will eventually turn into Santiago Canyon. At the end of Santiago Canyon, take Live Oak Canyon to continue the fun, or turn on Glen Ranch for extra credit. To make a loop of it I would head back by way of Irvine Blvd, Irvine Center/Edinger, Alton, and/or Barranca/Dyer/Segerstrom and generally make my way back to the trail.

You are also fairly close to the Santa Ana River Trail. Head east on Chapman, Katella, or Orangewood and turn onto the trail. The trail will take you down to the beach or out to Green River on the edge of Corona.

Another good ride would be to do a loop of Carbon Canyon and Brea Canyon. From you location, take the trail north to Tustin Ave/Rose Dr, then ride through Carbon Canyon, take Chino Hills, Grand, and Diamond Bar to Brea Canyon, then get back to the trail by State College, Lambert, and Kraemer.

The only weekday group rides I'm aware of are the Coffee Crew rides at 6:15am Tues. and Thur. from the corner of Campus and University (near UCI). It's a very fast group, but the bigger problem will be just getting to the ride.

Thank you. I found the orange county bike map and see the canyon ride and river trail. Those look great. Is there good riding along the ocean via the river trail ? Also, can buses accomodate bikes to make it possible to get to outlying areas and some of the mountain climbs or are those just too far? Baldy, etc... (probably snowed ini tho anyway)

Once you get to the beach, there is great riding along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). Head north for a flat, fast, uninterrupted loop around the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. Head south for rollers and access to some good climbs. As you head south on PCH, the rollers will start just south of downtown Newport Beach and gradually build all the way through Laguna Beach and into Dana Point. Between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach are the challenges of Newport Coast. There are three ways up to Newport Coast: Newport Coast from PCH, Newport Coast from Bonita Canyon/Culver, and San Joaquin Hills from PCH by way of Marguerite, Jamboree, or MacArthur. Once you get to the top of Newport Coast, consider the bonus up to Signal Peak by way of Vista Ridge (the easy way) or Ridge Park (the fun way). I spend quite a lot of time playing on Newport Coast and Signal Peak.

If you make it down to Laguna Beach and really wnat to test out your climbing legs, let me suggest Park Ave, Thalia/Temple Hills, Blue Bird/Summit, and Nys Place. These climbs are also part of an evil ride known in good times as the "Seven Sisters". Here is a link to the route from UCI, but feel free to modify it as needed: http://spirit.dos.uci.edu/bike/routes.html

Baldy is a great climb and is not snowed in. Most riders actually prefer to tackle it by way of Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) and Glendora Ridge Road since GMR is still closed to cars and is not as much of a long slog as Baldy Road itself is. The final 5 miles from Baldy Village up to the ski slopes is the best (worst?) part of the ride. There is a very nice century route starting near you that goes up Mt. Baldy.

All the buses have bike racks, but I know nothing about thier routes.

Hey SoCalers, I will be staying near the Anaheim convention center next week from Sunday until Wednesday night and plan to ride all day most of the time (hopefully!).

The search function didn't yield much; any suggestions for good weekday club/bike shop rides in the area or route suggestions for solo stuff? Anaheim seems to be smack dab in the middle of the metropolis and have no access to a car to get to outlying areas.

If there was some nice canyon/pass riding within a reasonable distance I could do 70-80 miles solo fairly easily including some nice climbs. I'd like to get in some nice training for the early season Oregon races when I get back!

Check out bikeirvine.org. Bike Club of Irvine is one of the county's largest clubs. They have group rides Monday, Tuesday, Wed, Thur and Friday (plus Sat and Sunday). Also most of the rides are posted (go to rides, day - saturday or sunday) so you can find a route slip to suit you.

Also check out the OCRR (Orange County Rebel Riders). I think they have the route slips to Tom's Farm. That would be a good Canyon ride for you. Other than that, if you ride towards the hills (like Weir, Serrano, Canon, Nohl Ranch) you can find plenty of tough hills for climbing. Good Loop is Santa Ana Canyon to Nohl Ranch, turn left, take Nohl Ranch to Serrano or Weir (I forget which one) turn left and back to Santa Ana Canyon.

NOTE: You said you will be near the Convention center - that smack dab in Disneyland tourist traffic. Not really any good safe riding around there unless you can make it over to the River trail. Best bet (ask the hotel for a map) is to find Lampson or some street between Katella and Garden Grove Blvd and travel east to the river trail. Once on the trail go North towards the hills.

As Brandy said, the standard Orange County ride is Santiago Canyon. Hop on Chapman, head east, and it will eventually turn into Santiago Canyon. At the end of Santiago Canyon, take Live Oak Canyon to continue the fun, or turn on Glen Ranch for extra credit. To make a loop of it I would head back by way of Irvine Blvd, Irvine Center/Edinger, Alton, and/or Barranca/Dyer/Segerstrom and generally make my way back to the trail.

You are also fairly close to the Santa Ana River Trail. Head east on Chapman, Katella, or Orangewood and turn onto the trail. The trail will take you down to the beach or out to Green River on the edge of Corona.

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You really do not want to ride Chapman anywhere near Harbor or the Convention Center. Chapman is not really safe until you start the climb up Chapman grade near Orange Park Acres (so about 18 miles from where you are staying). Before then there is no shoulder, it's heavy traffic and you have to negotiate the Orange Circle.

Ask for a map and try and find small side streets that run along Chapman.

You really do not want to ride Chapman anywhere near Harbor or the Convention Center. Chapman is not really safe until you start the climb up Chapman grade near Orange Park Acres (so about 18 miles from where you are staying). Before then there is no shoulder, it's heavy traffic and you have to negotiate the Orange Circle.

Ask for a map and try and find small side streets that run along Chapman.
While I've never ridden Chapman west of the the river trail and can't speak for it, I still occasionally ride Chapman east from the trail to the hill, done repeats on the hill, and back to the trail. My only real complaints are that Chapman is all too flat and boring, and that the lights at the top and bottom of the hill some time take too long to turn when I'm trying to make my U-turns.

Wandering... since you are riding through Old Orange to the top of the hill, you don't find the road narrow, traffic heavy and streets in poor repair? Although I have ridden Chapman time and again, it's never my favorite street to ride at least anywhere below Cannon.

I recall looking at some site that claimed it could find the best route to take if you were traveling by bike as listing Chapman as the safest choice when going from Cypress to Orange. I generally just go the long way down Coyote Creek/SGRT to PCH to SART though.

I wonder if anyone on the survey actually rode Chapman from Cypress to Orange; it is by no means safe (especially as you approach the Anahein/Disney area). I work in the Block off Chapman and have been trying to fine a route from my house in Tustin for years. I've got something worked out but using Chapman is not part of it. The few times I tried that I almost got nailed by cars. But then again, maybe I'm a wuss...

I've never thought of Chapman as a dangerous road. No, you can't just put your head down and hammer like you can on, say, PCH, but it's never bothered me. I should probably admit that I lived in New York for 4 years before coming out here, so maybe my views are still a little skewed.

Well that explains everything!!!! :rolleyes:

Good suggestions all... I will try to stay off Chapman as much as possible as I'm not familiar riding high volume streets.

somewhat off topic, but does anyone know when GMR will reopen to traffic? last tiem i rode it a month or so ago, that stretch of road that was washed away looked pretty much done.

Are you going to be riding next Wednesday, if so what time I may be able to meet on SART and ride down to the beach. I can hopefully meet you by 1:30pm

Our flight leaves 7 PM Wednesday night and I have to pack my bike up so if I ride Wed it will need to be early. Thanks for the offer though. Are you are anyone else able to ride during the week or Sunday afternoon/evening?

I wonder if anyone on the survey actually rode Chapman from Cypress to Orange; it is by no means safe (especially as you approach the Anahein/Disney area).
I have done this, commuting from Orange (near the 55) to Long Beach. No, it's not the ideal cylists road, but if you're comfortable with traffic, it's very rideable. West of the 5, there is a bike lane most of the way.

I think the section of Chapman east of the 55, that goes toward Jamboree, before "Chapman Hill" is sketchier... No bike lane, businesses and shopping centers the entire way. But again, I've done it dozens of times. Pedalmasher, I could probably map you side streets if you want to avoid Chapman. Getting out of Disney area will be hectic, though, no matter what.

Saturday and Sunday rides for me... and both in the morning. I am attaching a century route to the top of Baldy, just to give you a cool route slip (it has Carbon Canyon and Brea Canyon on it).

As for GMR, I asked one time and the construction guy said two years.... realistic? no, but I can dream, can't I?

I have done this, commuting from Orange (near the 55) to Long Beach. No, it's not the ideal cylists road, but if you're comfortable with traffic, it's very rideable. West of the 5, there is a bike lane most of the way.

I think the section of Chapman east of the 55, that goes toward Jamboree, before "Chapman Hill" is sketchier... No bike lane, businesses and shopping centers the entire way. But again, I've done it dozens of times. Pedalmasher, I could probably map you side streets if you want to avoid Chapman. Getting out of Disney area will be hectic, though, no matter what.

If you could map out side streets, it would be much appreciated! Any help is great.

Saturday and Sunday rides for me... and both in the morning. I am attaching a century route to the top of Baldy, just to give you a cool route slip (it has Carbon Canyon and Brea Canyon on it).

As for GMR, I asked one time and the construction guy said two years.... realistic? no, but I can dream, can't I?


Thank you, I might try that route.

Just got back from my socal trip. Thanks all for the recommendations - it was a great 4 days of riding. 225 miles altogether including a 80 mile day of Santiago Canyon incorporating a getting lost loop in Irvine - Mission Viejo (?), which was interesting.

Traffic was very light near Disneyland and got worse the further out I went, although Orangewood was a nice side street with a bike lane for a mile or two. I was surprised how easy it was to negotiate traffic as even the busy roads were wide enough not to be buzzed after stoplights. The SART was good but super boring south of Chapman heading to the beach. The miles and miles of concrete started to wear on me a bit. Loved Newport/Laguna Beach, but I will have to remember the winds that kick up in the afternoon next time. I would have also liked to ride farther south. I never did make it up to Mount Baldy or Carbon Canyon as I was getting tired of traffic and yesterday was a light day. A few pics.

All you socal'ers are definitely spoiled this time of year but it disappointed me to have to wear arm warmers Wed morning and I even had to ride in the fog before it burned off! Felt like it was April in Portland! ha

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http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9296/img0319zj0.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0319zj0.jpg)http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5273/img0324rr0.th.jpg (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0324rr0.jpg)