Southern California - Riding in San Diego & Huntington Beach

....i'm off to California for a family wedding, but have important races coming up, so need to keep riding (oh boy!).

Anyways, the bike is strapped to the roof, but i'm attempting to find place to ride.

Does anyone know of any long stretches of road without stoplights/stopsigns (or with as few as possible) in both the San Diego area (near Rancho Bernardo/Poway, but I can drive/ride to the place if it's not), and near Huntington Beach? Alternatively, any nice scenic rides would be cool too!

Thanks, you guys rock!

(sorry, this is reposted from the roadie forum)

How long is long? There is a bike path that runs along Hwy 56 from Ranch Penasquitos to I-5. The path is about 10 miles with a couple stop lights. From there you are just a couple miles from Torrey Pines State Beach and Coast Hwy. Heading north on Coast Hwy is a nice ride, but it has a lot of lights.

This should show you the start:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Rancho+Penasquitos+Blvd.+and+Carmel+Mountain+Rd.,+San+Diego,+California,+United+States&sll=32.957329,-117.11194&sspn=0.029312,0.058365&ie=UTF8&ll=32.962046,-117.115417&spn=0.014655,0.029182&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1

Ideally, something long enough to fit a ~5 minute interval in while in San Diego, and somehow fit a ~15 minute interval in while in Huntington Beach -- i'm thinking that's not gonna happen and i'm gonna have to ride the trainer :(

There are no lights on Palomar. Meet us at the Harrah's Rincon casino in Valley Center on Saturday at 7. 38 miles and we'll be done by 11.

There is one stretch of a few miles without lights. After the first light (at Black Mtn Rd.), the other lights have little cross traffic and you could ride through the intersections if careful. A lot of this area is just getting developed, so traffic near there is relatively light. The bike path is hilly, which you may or may not want.

Huntington Beach: Santa Ana River Trail begins at the south end of H.B. and goes up to the next county, Riverside County. Most riders will stop at Green River Golf Course and turn around. That's about 60 miles round trip. No traffic crossings.

Some people park their cars near the H.B. pier, on Main Street near the public library where some streets do not have parking meters. The Pier is about 3.15 miles from the Santa Ana River trail. So when you come back, you can stop by the Jamba Juice on Main St. or the Wahoo for a fish taco or something. This weekend starts the surfing championships so you'll see all that too.

Try Google Earth to get a feel for the ride.

If you want a training ride it would be hard to beat the Swami's rides in North County SD.

http://www.swamis.org/rides.cfm

If you can't make it for their Saturday high intensity ride, the route they use is still a good workout as well as being scenic.

BTW: I just do the route, not the ride.:D

Thanks a ton! That really helps! Any idea where the best entrance to the Santa Ana River Trail is?

...now to just avoid getting killed for wearing a Texas jersey in SoCal...

off of PCH between HB and Newport Beach is the best place to access the Santa Ana riverbed....

...now to just avoid getting killed for wearing a Texas jersey in SoCal...You won't. You guys have more guns! :D

For SD area:
If you just want to ride, the SR-56 bike path is pretty good as others have mentioned. Very few lights and not that many people. What I have began doing is to drop down Black Mountain Road every time I hit it along the SR-56 bike path (downhill then U-turn back up). However, SR-56 is not very scenic.

Alternatively, I sometimes park at the bottom of Torrey Pines and do hill repeats.

Heading north from HB there is some longer stretches of PCH that don't have stoplights and you should be able to get about a 10-15min sprint out of it.

There is also Santiago Canyon, but that is a ways away from HB (about 20 miles)

I new route for me too! Cool.

If you're in SD on Saturday, Swami's should work you over pretty good. I'll probably be doing that on Saturday. If all you want is a flat road to do intervals, cruise down to Fiesta Island - (search for it w/ google maps). I think it's designated the flattest TT course on the continent. And you won't ever have to stop. Unless you die of boredom.

Is wind an issue on Fiesta Island?

Also are there speed limits and/or traffic on the Santa Ana river trail?

If you want climbing, and your starting in Rancho Bernardo...do Highland Valley Road. (http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=YBFGXFRKELCMBTA) From Pomerado Road to Ramona there's exactly zero stoplights or stopsigns...14 miles or so, with about 2,000' of climbing.

Or you can do Highland Valley, drop into Bandy Canyon, then climb the 78 to Ramona (http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=ALQMSLFQIIEKUOD). You'd have, uh, 1 stop sign in about 17 miles with about 2,500' of climbing.

Both route distances are one way

Or, from Rancho Bernardo, you can do this loop (http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=LUTOEXFPGQTOQLT), which incorporates plenty of the Swami's ride, but doesn't make you drive out to La Costa to start. The route out of Rancho Bernardo is approximate, and shows you getting on the I-15 for a while. If you're interested, I can give you better roads if you give me your actual start point. That's a 40 mile loop, and pretty much all rolling terrain.

That's perfect! I was actually looking at Google maps, and thinking Highland Valley Road would be good, so I think I may try that for the intervals.

Thanks a bunch for all of the help!

There's a race in long beach Sunday. Check socalcycling.com.

In San Diego, most roads east of I-15 are your best bet for un-interrupted sections for doing intervals. There is a great hill about 5-miles east of the I-15 in Poway that I use for doing hill repeats and interval training. This two-mile hill has no lights or stops, has a very consistent grade and a really nice wide bike lane. Before the hill there is a long straight stretch with only one light that is good for steady state intervals. Here is a google map of the area:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=san+diego,+ca&ie=UTF8&ll=32.949623,-117.037182&spn=0.083837,0.138531&z=13&om=1

You may also want to check out the SDBC (San Diego Bike Club) Saturday Ride. The ride leaves every Saturday at 8:30 from the UC Cyclery Bike Shop just off the I-5 in La Jolla - this about a 15-minute frive from the area you are staying. The ride is open to anyone and we have rides for all different levels of fitness/ability. Lately we have been running four different rides (A, B, C++, C) with about 200 riders total. We often have visitors that will drop in to the ride. The C route is about 35 miles and the others all about 50 miles – we wind through some really nice scenery and spend quite a bit of time winding down the coastline. More details here:

http://www.sdbc.org/html/satride.html

Thanks a ton! That really helps! Any idea where the best entrance to the Santa Ana River Trail is?

...now to just avoid getting killed for wearing a Texas jersey in SoCal...

You can access the SART at any cross street and then go either way. That's a choice of about 50 or so entrances from the beach at HB to the Green River Golf Course. So depending on where you're at, you can easily get on the trail. Using Google Earth you can see just where is goes, it starts at the border between Newport Beach and Huntington Beach on the NW side of the river bed (you can see our pathetic "river" there) and goes generally N. to NE. Even on GE you can see the trail. Good luck.

If you want a training ride it would be hard to beat the Swami's rides in North County SD.

http://www.swamis.org/rides.cfm

If you can't make it for their Saturday high intensity ride, the route they use is still a good workout as well as being scenic.

BTW: I just do the route, not the ride.:D

2nd the Swami's ride route.

Was down there for a couple days in early June, and got directions (and a nifty map) from the guys @ B&L in Solana Beach. Ended up getting about 5 1/2 hours in on the second day, which included the Swami's ride route, plus a bit extra. Had a good ride.

Haven't done the group ride.

-Trevor

That's perfect! I was actually looking at Google maps, and thinking Highland Valley Road would be good, so I think I may try that for the intervals.

Thanks a bunch for all of the help!

I've done intervals on Highland Valley a few times, and in my opinion its OK for 5 minute intervals, but not ideal. On the bottom of the climb you can get a good 5 minutes before it levels off, but I have a hard time getting a rhythm. The road starts around 7% and has a few switchbacks that pitch up to 10% or more. The upper part of the climb rolls a lot and is no good for intervals.

I would turn onto Bandy Canyon. You can easily get 5 minutes of very slightly uphill (will small undulations) and less traffic than Highland. There is also a short climb where you might be able to get 5 minutes worth of effort, but I've only done 1 minute efforts on it so I'm not certain.

Is wind an issue on Fiesta Island?

uh, is wind not an issue somewhere? Just go early :D I'll do laps with ya.

where is there parking on fiesta island? and it is open to the public correct?
also does anyone ride the mission bay bike path?

where is there parking on fiesta island? and it is open to the public correct?
also does anyone ride the mission bay bike path?

Correct, Fiesta Island is open to the public and parking is insanely easy. You can park in the dirt lot at the entrance, anywhere on the island, or at any of the 10+ parking lots along the bay.

Also, just north of Laguna Beach, Laguna Canyon Road (State Route 133) between I-405 and the 73 toll road. No lights, and although it's two lanes each way with 65 mph speed limit, it has 8 foot shoulders.

Also, just north of Laguna Beach, Laguna Canyon Road (State Route 133) between I-405 and the 73 toll road. No lights, and although it's two lanes each way with 65 mph speed limit, it has 8 foot shoulders.

Just note however, this time of year the road is very busy due to the Laguna Art Festival.

also does anyone ride the mission bay bike path?

The mission bay is a multi use path MUP. Lots of walkers, roller bladers, kids... This is not a good place for a road bike really. However, I will park in mission bay and ride slowly to get to Fiesta Island.

Just note however, this time of year the road is very busy due to the Laguna Art Festival.
True, but the part I'm talking about isn't as busy as the part near the beach. But it's fair to give a warning for the original poster.

. . .also does anyone ride the mission bay bike path?

Don't bother. Too many children, skate borders, strollers, walkers, joggers, and runners. I think there are even signs posted restricting speed to 8 mph.