Southern California - First Century -- Redlands to Balboa Pier

The route I'm looking at taking:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=redlands,+CA&daddr=balboa+pier&mra=cc&dirflg=h&sll=33.83357,-117.55602&sspn=0.803071,1.277161&ie=UTF8&z=10&om=1

I'm asking about the proposed route in this forum, as I figure people from Southern CA would be most likely to be familiar with the route. What's CA 74 like? It looks like it goes over some pretty green areas somewhat hilly areas. Would those hills be like riding up the 18 to Lake Arrowhead or are they pretty tame hills?

I've never ridden on Hwy 74, but from my memory of the last time I've driven on it it wasn't the most bike-friendly and it had a lot of fast-moving traffic.

I've only ridden the last stretch of it towards PCH. (not too bad.) I would advise driving it yourself beforehand. What one person's comfortable with, you may not be.

Ortega Hwy (74) is not recommended. Traffic/motorcycles may be too dangerous. Nice area though. A route through Temecula/Fallbrook into Oceanside would be a good ride.

Ortega Hwy (74) is not recommended. Traffic/motorcycles may be too dangerous. Nice area though. A route through Temecula/Fallbrook into Oceanside would be a good ride.

Ditto.

I used to drive over the 74 all the time and it was quite often that it would be blocked off for hours to get a helo in to recover some motorcycle street racer from the bottom of a cliff. No shoulder to speak of and very tight and twisty. If the road could be closed to cars I would love to ride it, but until that happens...stay off that Hwy.

If this is your first century I would not recommend going that route. I would take Cajalco through Perris to Temescal Cyn in Corona up Foothill to Lincoln to Ontario to Green River to the river trail (SART), It's not as scenic but you sill be more safe and if you have never done it before it will be an adventure anyway.

edit: this will not be a century but you can always make changes to it to make it a full century

Ditto.

I used to drive over the 74 all the time and it was quite often that it would be blocked off for hours to get a helo in to recover some motorcycle street racer from the bottom of a cliff. No shoulder to speak of and very tight and twisty. If the road could be closed to cars I would love to ride it, but until that happens...stay off that Hwy.Double ditto.

From Redlands to Riverside on the SART will be about 15 miles. If you weave through Corona / Norco to Green River Rd., then get back on the SART, that should burn up another 55 miles. Maybe just do an extra loop to start in Redlands or through Riverside to add the extra miles you seek. I've not done the one day turn-around from Riverside to NB (yet - trying to find the time to do it soon) but I understand it's about 57 miles from the Canyon Crest area to the end of SART.

Definitely avoid SR 74.

I would recommend the below suggestion. Maybe you want to go up or down the coast a little to add miles. You could also swing up San Timeteo to Redlands Blvd and then down Allesandro towards Victoria. That would take up more miles than a straight shot and not be too bad if you hit Allesandro early in the am.

Also note Cajalico is now so bad that NONE of the local riders that used to use it do so anymore (I have been riding in the area for 20 years). I used to catch a small section of it to get to Lake Mathews Drive but don't even do that anymore after I was clipped by a mirror. To put things in perspective on that route the local transit agencies have just approved converting most of it into a multi lane highway because it is such a highly used coridor.



From Redlands to Riverside on the SART will be about 15 miles. If you weave through Corona / Norco to Green River Rd., then get back on the SART, that should burn up another 55 miles. Maybe just do an extra loop to start in Redlands or through Riverside to add the extra miles you seek. I've not done the one day turn-around from Riverside to NB (yet - trying to find the time to do it soon) but I understand it's about 57 miles from the Canyon Crest area to the end of SART.

Definitely avoid SR 74.

What's the SART?

What's the SART?

Santa Ana River Trail