Came In from Hawaii to Ride Coastal SoCal......

[catherine96821]

We are in San Clemente and want to head towards Solana Beach. Any issues? We can get on Pendleton...any great routes or good eats your ohana can share?

coast highway cool boutiques will not get laughed off as silly. I like shopping breaks evey ten miles or so.

[Grumpy Pig]

We are in San Clemente and want to head towards Solana Beach. Any issues? We can get on Pendleton...any great routes or good eats your ohana can share?

coast highway cool boutiques will not get laughed off as silly. I like shopping breaks evey ten miles or so.Don't do it tomorrow (1/20). The Carlsbad Marathon will have PCH closed until 1 or 2.

[Enzo Gucci]

No problems, either take the 5 freeway, or have an ID ready and head through pendelton. Both are fun, Pendleton is safer than the 5, though.

[rooftest]

I dislike riding the 5 due to the intense traffic noise. (unbelievably loud). You can always ride north, too.

[catherine96821]

thanks a lot

Don't do it tomorrow (1/20). The Carlsbad Marathon will have PCH closed until 1 or 2.



good to know, We can plan to get there latish.

[ken cummings]

On the other hand the Semis and other traffic give you a good tail wind in both directions and there is a rest stop with food in both directions. Best time is when Pendleton is having a night landing exercise. Go south, stop at the rest area and enjoy the Light Show.

[Brandy]

I dislike riding the 5 due to the intense traffic noise. (unbelievably loud). You can always ride north, too.

I have not found this to be true. Well yes, there is traffic, but that shoulder is HUGE! It also gets swept by a street sweeper and is usually very clean. I say it time and time again, I feel more comfortable riding that 7 mile stretch of the 5FWY (in either direction) than I do on PCH going through the beach towns in OC where I have cars whizzing by inches to my left and cars waiting to either pull out or door me inches to my right. Just my opinion though. I think that a lot of people have a fear of initially riding on the 5 FWY, as I did, but I did it once, I never bothered with the base again.

[Vireo]

I have not found this to be true. Well yes, there is traffic, but that shoulder is HUGE! It also gets swept by a street sweeper and is usually very clean. I say it time and time again, I feel more comfortable riding that 7 mile stretch of the 5FWY (in either direction) than I do on PCH going through the beach towns in OC where I have cars whizzing by inches to my left and cars waiting to either pull out or door me inches to my right. Just my opinion though. I think that a lot of people have a fear of initially riding on the 5 FWY, as I did, but I did it once, I never bothered with the base again.

I commute from Huntington Beach to Encinitas (65miles each way) about 2-3 times a week. I've been on the 5 freeway at various times from as early as 3am heading southbound to as late as 7pm heading northbound. I HAVE NEVER FLATTED. I have never been "buzzed" by a semi-- like I am on many backroads by angry motorists in there oversized pick-up trucks and SUVs.

The shoulder is very wide and much cleaner than many of the surface streets I ride. However, there are times when a disable vehicle is on the shoulder and I have to get around it. In addition, sometimes there will be a semi in the shoulder parked adjacent to the farms on the southbound side. It just takes a little timing and you can get around them safely. As far as the noise-- I wear headphones it doesn't bother me in the least.

[thomson]

I agree with Brandy and Vireo on freeways in general. I have only been on the stretch they are talking about once but it also holds true for the freeway portions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. To me they seem safe and I have never flatted on a freeway but, as rooftest says, they are just loud.

[Nachoman]

I don't like semi-trucks passing me at 70 miles per hour, even if it is four or five feet away. It sends a little chill up my spine.

[Indolent58]

I have gone through the base on I-5 numerous times. My experience on flatting has been different than Vireo's. The southbound shoulder seems to have more debris than northbound, and I flatted there 3-4 times, including twice on one ride. Haven't ridden there in a while so perhaps they are doing a better job of sweeping it now.

I agree that the freeway isn't bad, but I only would use it when I am concerned about making time, as it's definitely quicker than going through the Camp. Still, there can be no doubt that riding through the Camp is more pleasant.

[catherine96821]

Why did I think it was illegal to ride on freeways?

....oh cause I live on a rock, under a rock.

I recently really wanted to ride the H3, anybody familiar with Hawaii. I called the police and begged a bit---this road is through some ancient burial grounds, sits above the terrain, has a huge shoulder, views of waterfalls.

They told me no go, big da kine ticket. Are these state laws even though they are federal roads?

[ovoleg]

I have not found this to be true. Well yes, there is traffic, but that shoulder is HUGE! It also gets swept by a street sweeper and is usually very clean. I say it time and time again, I feel more comfortable riding that 7 mile stretch of the 5FWY (in either direction) than I do on PCH going through the beach towns in OC where I have cars whizzing by inches to my left and cars waiting to either pull out or door me inches to my right. Just my opinion though. I think that a lot of people have a fear of initially riding on the 5 FWY, as I did, but I did it once, I never bothered with the base again.

i agree with the above

[herbm]

Why did I think it was illegal to ride on freeways?

....oh cause I live on a rock, under a rock.

I recently really wanted to ride the H3, anybody familiar with Hawaii. I called the police and begged a bit---this road is through some ancient burial grounds, sits above the terrain, has a huge shoulder, views of waterfalls.

They told me no go, big da kine ticket. Are these state laws even though they are federal roads?

For the most part it is illegal to ride the freeway. But there are certain parts where there is no other way to get thru so its legal...I-5 near Pendleton, when the base is closed due to an alert there is no other way.
101 in north Ventura to Carpenteria
some parts of 101 north of Santa Ynez...
I am sure there are many others...

[catherine96821]

thanks.

We will go both ways and give an impression report from a hyper freaked newb and a triatholon IED deaf combat grunt, lol.

[herbm]

I have not found this to be true. Well yes, there is traffic, but that shoulder is HUGE! It also gets swept by a street sweeper and is usually very clean. I say it time and time again, I feel more comfortable riding that 7 mile stretch of the 5FWY (in either direction) than I do on PCH going through the beach towns in OC where I have cars whizzing by inches to my left and cars waiting to either pull out or door me inches to my right. Just my opinion though. I think that a lot of people have a fear of initially riding on the 5 FWY, as I did, but I did it once, I never bothered with the base again.

I have to try this next time I am down there...I do the 101 all the time (the part Cool Breeze uses) and it doesnt bother me at all..I think its actually kinda cool ( maybe I am wierd)...

[Grumpy Pig]

Don't do it tomorrow (1/20). The Carlsbad Marathon will have PCH closed until 1 or 2.I had to get to Palomar Airport Rd this morning so I thought I'd see if they'd let a bike through. There was a big sign that said CHURCH TRAFFIC ONLY so when the cop asked where I was headed, I said "St. Patricks on Tamarack and 5. So I'm tooling along next to the runners until another cop comes running across the street and yelled at me to get off the course. I told him I was on my way to Mass and about the first checkpoint. He said, "He must have thought you said St. Michaels" and let me go. I'm going to burn in Hell.

[catherine96821]

Jello girrrl did not have the guts to do the freeway, tho you made compelling cases. We did enjoy the scenery on the base and JB showed me around a bit. We rode to the airstrip (patch?) and ....excuse me the expeditionary air field and under the tank tunnel, and up some hills that were about all I can do at this point----to Oceanside harbor.

Great ride. I got better at anticipating my gear needs mo bettah.

Kinda chilly. What layers would you all wear for 50's? I had to stuff toilet paper in my ears from the rest area, he he.

next time, I'll do the 5, I wanted to today but the base was calling. (food store)
I decided I like Cliff Bars (hate most of that stuff) and that San Clemente Cyclery guys are very friendly, helpful even if you are not buying anything.

Dana Point Revo bikes we thought had great apparel and an excellent shop. Love that window display! Very modern. My rental not as wonderful as my new Look 555 back at home WAAAAAA. But too cheap to fly it.

SOMEBODY told me that "Hank" rents those 500 dollar tri shipping boxes for 5 dollars a day. I might try and weazle our Oahu shop into getting one of those, what a great situation that would be.

[twowheeltom]

For the most part it is illegal to ride the freeway. But there are certain parts where there is no other way to get thru so its legal...I-5 near Pendleton, when the base is closed due to an alert there is no other way.
101 in north Ventura to Carpenteria
some parts of 101 north of Santa Ynez...
I am sure there are many others...

Any experience with Route 395 by chance? Ever since I saw cyclists on that freeway near Mammoth, I wondered how nice it would be if they allowed bikes on the stretch between Hesperia and Nevada.

[LCI_Brian]

Any experience with Route 395 by chance? Ever since I saw cyclists on that freeway near Mammoth, I wondered how nice it would be if they allowed bikes on the stretch between Hesperia and Nevada.
Although 395 looks like a freeway in places, it is classified as a divided highway so bikes are allowed for the whole stretch.

(In anticipation of the next question - even though they may look the same, what's the difference between a divided highway and a freeway? If it's a divided highway, an adjacent landowner can access his land directly from the road, just like any other road. But Caltrans needs to have acquired all rights of access for it to be a freeway - i.e. adjacent landowners can't put a driveway up to it, they can only enter and exit at designated places.)

[mateo44]

I had to get to Palomar Airport Rd this morning so I thought I'd see if they'd let a bike through. There was a big sign that said CHURCH TRAFFIC ONLY so when the cop asked where I was headed, I said "St. Patricks on Tamarack and 5. So I'm tooling along next to the runners until another cop comes running across the street and yelled at me to get off the course. I told him I was on my way to Mass and about the first checkpoint. He said, "He must have thought you said St. Michaels" and let me go. I'm going to burn in Hell.

I'll see you there, Frank (I would have done the same thing you did).

[Brandy]

Kinda chilly. What layers would you all wear for 50's? I had to stuff toilet paper in my ears from the rest area, he he.


Catherine,

I am totally hooked on wool right now. I wear a Woolistic base layer (http://www.vintagevelos.com/baseLS.html) under a wool jersey and then typically I take either my Descente Velom jacket (which I can't find right now...grrrrrrrrrr) or another wind breaker. It was in the low 40's when I left San Diego on Saturday morning and by the time I reached Huntington Beach just before noon, it was in the lower 60's. This combination worked perfectly for my upper body. I ended up shedding the windbreaker at the rest stop on the 5 FWY, then shedding the base layer when I stopped in San Clemente to refuel. My feet were frozen early in the ride...I forgot my booties. :(

[catherine96821]

Brandy,
SD to HB? You ninja girl. I bow down in awe.
Thanks, I'll try the wool, I think I have some silk/wool undie things from skiing that might work for now. I am told by the Marines I have a "narrow comfort zone"


Crappy images from my camera phone from yesterday...three years I have never used it, dirty lense.

Thanks to the SD/OC ohana for the advice and help ! !

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h113/catherine96821/JBBikester.jpghttp://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h113/catherine96821/CJbikster.jpg

[twowheeltom]

Although 395 looks like a freeway in places, it is classified as a divided highway so bikes are allowed for the whole stretch.

(In anticipation of the next question - even though they may look the same, what's the difference between a divided highway and a freeway? If it's a divided highway, an adjacent landowner can access his land directly from the road, just like any other road. But Caltrans needs to have acquired all rights of access for it to be a freeway - i.e. adjacent landowners can't put a driveway up to it, they can only enter and exit at designated places.)

Very cool, thanks. I think I will give this a shot once I figure out the logistics and can find a way to sustain myself during the ride.