Southern California - Santa Ana River Trail Adventures and Journal

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.648565,-117.954884&spn=0.051444,0.066004&z=14&om=1&msid=100488868531686115216.00043fcc81066c419b4f5

Link to the Beach entrance or SART.

Decent map with overhead views and mileage points:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Santa-Ana-River-Trail-to-Newport-Beach-Pier

SAturday Dec 1st. Cold and WINDY. Short 32 mile ride on the rain bikes since we're not sure if it will come again! No rain, just lots of wind.

Palm trees blowing in the wind and nobody out there but us chickens!

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/A-1.jpg

Wind? I'm sucking wheel!:p
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/AA-1.jpg

Some on the ground photo tactics, hoping I don't get run over!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/AAA.jpg

I was on the path this morning myself as well. BRRRRR is all I have to say. I was in my rain jacket and knee warmers and still was cold. Also got soaked from the water on the trail. Was fun to take a road bike through the huge puddles/lakes in the middle of the trail though :D. Cleaning it on my lunch was not :rolleyes:

What was I thinking? I should have driven today.:p

BD, we started about 10 am. There was one very large pool covering the path near the north end of the golfcourse, near the mirrored buildings ( I like to wave at myself as I pass:D).

On the return, it had dried enough so that we could pass without a roostertail! So hopefully it will be nice and dry tomorrow. Not sure about the cold!:p

Yep, I hit that big one. I live right by Anaheim Angels Stadium and started my morning with that bute :D

Sunday 12/02. 42 mile breezy ride to HB from Imperial. Ran into a few members at the beach. Team Wheaties and GregK.

Team Wheaties without the Wheaties!:D
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/JohnFamily.jpg
I can't figure out who has the purtier smile, Mrs. Wheaties or GregK!:p
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/GregK.jpg

Still a big puddle at PCH underpass on Sunday. Right there you gotta wonder if that is partially salt water or just plain rain water. I can't imagine what ocean salt water will do to my wheels and spokes, bottom bracket, etc.

Im not sure about that water either. I use the trail that connects brookhurst and the SART when that area is flooded. Its inbetween the marshlands and the Water Treatment Plant. I use that when I ride home, when going S on PCH, make a left onto Brookhurst and its about 200ft from the intersection on your right. That will take you to the trail.

Im not sure about that water either. I use the trail that connects brookhurst and the SART when that area is flooded. Its inbetween the marshlands and the Water Treatment Plant. I use that when I ride home, when going S on PCH, make a left onto Brookhurst and its about 200ft from the intersection on your right. That will take you to the trail.

I used that little connector trail to Brookhurst on Saturday, and there was broken glass the entire way. I was test riding a brand new bike from the shop, and was pissed that I put a bunch of cuts into the tires. Next time it's flooded, I'll take PCH and make a U-Turn.

Missed you this week Beanz, but I did have some fun when someone got a little jumpy on me on Saturday ;)

I used that little connector trail to Brookhurst on Saturday, and there was broken glass the entire way. I was test riding a brand new bike from the shop, and was pissed that I put a bunch of cuts into the tires. Next time it's flooded, I'll take PCH and make a U-Turn.

Missed you this week Beanz, but I did have some fun when someone got a little jumpy on me on Saturday ;)


You sure it was glass, I see nuttin' but sea shells on that strip.:eek:

Saturday was windy, I bet whippin' that frog was lots of fun in the wind!:D

You sure it was glass, I see nuttin' but sea shells on that strip.:eek:

Saturday was windy, I bet whippin' that frog was lots of fun in the wind!:D

It was pretty fun, normally I don't play that game, but I was test riding a new TT bike, and needed to give it a push.

Well that was fun, weather was great could not have asked for better. . Gabriel is getting strong he past my up on the last, all I heard was "on your left". Too damn funny, passed by a 10 year old boy.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/2083256668_4f393c7baf_b.jpg



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2083242706_3c4735a401_b.jpg

Funny thing about the flooded underpass at PCH. I figure the SART is the biggest flood control system in Orange County and I get stuck because the drain doesn't work there for a week after a rain fall.

It was a beautiful day today on the SART. First time riding that trail since getting my first road bike 3 weeks ago. I was surprised that angels stadium wasn't as far as i had expected. Road from the beach to angels stadium and back.

It was a beautiful day today on the SART. First time riding that trail since getting my first road bike 3 weeks ago. I was surprised that angels stadium wasn't as far as i had expected. Road from the beach to angels stadium and back.

Cool, welcome to the roadie world!:D.... It's about 12.5 to the stadium. 25 1/2'ish roundtrip miles. If you continue on for another 1 mile or so, you will hit the Honda center. Trail will lead you to the other side of the river where they have decent restrooms and a water fountain. Some homeless dudes hang out there but don't bother you. If they do, tell them Gina's going to kick their butts while Fred takes pics! They'll back off!:D

I wussed out. Rain started to come down right after I crossed the bridge today, so I turned back. I tried to outrun the clouds on the way back, but they were too fast!

Sunday the 9th of December. Geez it was a tough ride today. It was flat but WINDY!:eek:...I'd have to say that this might have been my 3rd or 4th toughest ride this year. First tandem ride in a while. I knew it was windy so we cruised down to HB. On the first stretch of the return we were struggling to hold 11mph. After a while we were at 13 and I was happy. Last few miles were at 9 mph. I was hoping the wind would die out but kept getting stronger as the day progressed. Gina's hamstring was hurting and I had pains in places I didn't know I had!:D...Good mental training though!

Tough to get a tandem pic!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/Tandem1.jpg
Happier times..before the return!
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/tandem2.jpg

Fred, I just dropped in here to take a peek, and I love the pics (of you, Gina, Team Wheaties and GreggK). :beer: If I lived closer, I'd come join you guys and I think it's great you have this thread going to chronicle your rides out on that path. :)

PS. You should rub Gina's sore hamstring....you know what I'm sayin' ;););):p

Fred, I just dropped in here to take a peek, and I love the pics (of you, Gina, Team Wheaties and GreggK). :beer: If I lived closer, I'd come join you guys and I think it's great you have this thread going to chronicle your rides out on that path. :)

PS. You should rub Gina's sore hamstring....you know what I'm sayin' ;););):p

Funny, I was just at your thread wishing I lived a bit more west. You guys seem like you always got something going!:D

I was down there yesterday lookin' for the Beanzmiester......
Shoulda done it today instead!

I was down there yesterday lookin' for the Beanzmiester......
Shoulda done it today instead!


Not many at all today. We saw about 2 riders on the return 21 miel portion. Maybe the wind? Yesterday was wet wet down here so we went out to breakfast instead! Gina was asking about you on today's ride. She asked, what ever happened to that TDF rider?.:D

Not many at all today. We saw about 2 riders on the return 21 miel portion. Maybe the wind? Yesterday was wet wet down here so we went out to breakfast instead! Gina was asking about you on today's ride. She asked, what ever happened to that TDF rider?.:D


with all the doping scandals going on, I thought I'd lay low....:rolleyes:

I was thinking the same thing. need to get out and ride with you again.

I hit SART today around 11:00am, with ~70 windy miles already in my legs. I barely limped home, was in the drops with my heart rate at 160, doing 13-15 mph, finally got up to 17-20 after the wood bridge, but only for a minute, before the wind killed me again. 75 miles and the wind seemed like it was only on my back for a few of them. I had my eyes open for Beanz and Gina, but with the tailwind you had on the way out, you were probably already at the Beach when I hopped on. Overall, a rough day, but one of those ones that makes you stronger :)

Mr. & Mrs. Beanz, while riding on the SART, have you had chance encounters with riders of fame? It doesn't have to be cycling, just interesting personalties.

Mr. & Mrs. Beanz, while riding on the SART, have you had chance encounters with riders of fame? It doesn't have to be cycling, just interesting personalties.

They've met a couple TDF riders..

Mr. & Mrs. Beanz, while riding on the SART, have you had chance encounters with riders of fame? It doesn't have to be cycling, just interesting personalties.


We met one guy that said he rode with Lance. I can't remember his name but wears an Ireland jersey. BEAUTIFUL Trek bike. Top of the line stuff. Ran into him twice. First time listened to his stories. I posted
the encounter on this forum. Nobody knew who he was. He did have the same name as a TDF journalist though. Maybe he meant to say he was a 'writer' but came out as 'rider'!:D

Second time we met, I figured he was playing me so I kind of ignored him. AND I only looked at his bike when he didn't notice!:p

Said his name was Seamus Kelly.

One other rider that claimed to be a TDF rider, Drew 'sumthin' if I remember correctly!:D

Other than that, nope!

I was riding in the summer, maybe two summers ago and came up to a rider eating a banana. So I started talking with him and he said he was a pro rider for the Monex team. Never heard of them. But he was Italian. I asked where he started and he said Manhattan Beach.

For you former O.C. track stars, I met Mike Eck the half miler from CSUFullerton on the SART. That was like 2 years ago when he turned 60. He still runs and rides a GT road bike. Nice chatting with him, about all the runners and coaches, little Mary Decker from Garden Grove.

I spoke with the former Chief Financial Officer of Orange County, Gary Burton, and he rides the SART. He was CFO after the County bankruptcy thing started with Bob Citron.

Back in May this year, I stopped at Katella and met John Watt who was riding an old Trek with downtube shifters. He was a CAT 2 rider and rode with Greg Lemond around here when Greg was about 16 years old. John said even then, Greg was good. John and his wife hold some kind of title for tandem riding. He quit racing in his late 30's.