Southern California - Good riding in Irvine...

Ok, folks, help me out here. My company just moved to southern Irvine (a few miles north of the Spectrum, near Alton and Irvine), from Anaheim. I live in La Habra.

Prior to the move, my drive home was short enough and I had enough time for a fairly decent after-work ride. Usually I'd hit the heights, and do anywhere between 25-40 miles (think Colima, West Road, East Road, and the like for those familiar with the area).

I've been working my ass off for the last week or so and by the time I get home I am beat up from the feet up and while there's time for a short ride (I'm off at 4:00 and get home around 5:15 or so) I have not yet been able to summon the fortitude to hop on the bike.

So I've been thinking of bringing my bike to work and riding as soon as I'm off down here in Irvine. What are some good routes that are equivalent to those I ride in the La Habra Heights areas? Any pointers?

Thanks!

Start here and take the bike trail to the back bay trail, around the BB and back again. We do the BB twice and it works out to 25.7 miles.

Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park
16 Civic Center Plaza
Irvine, Ca

We park at the corner of Harvard and Barranca.

PS You're welcome to ride with us, but sometimes we don't get gone until as late as 5:30 or so.:o

Tim there is a group that meet every Tuesday and maybe Thursday night in Turtle Rock and although the route varies it generally includes some nice climbs like Newport Coast, Ridgeline, etc. The cool thing about this ride is that you are never far from the start and for now, we ride close by but later, when there is more light, the ride will branch out.

Not certain exactly where you are but if close to any of the bike trails in Irvine (although some are closed due to construction) you can just about ride for 40 - 50 miles without even hitting the street (well maybe for some short distances). If you are ever near the City of Irvine Civic Center, pop and in and pick up a trail map.

I have to agree with 1955, favorite thing to do is pop on the San Diego Creek trail and cruise around Back Bay. This time of year, the ride is gorgeous and all on trail away from nasty afternoon/evening traffic. You can also vary the ride by riding North on the trail and then follow the sign to of the Mountain to Sea route. You can end up by Peter's Canyon, take the bike trail on Lower Peter's and hit Lemon Height and do Skyline and some hill climbing. Tons of options.

Have fun!

Don't know the comparable routes in your area. But if you wanted to get some riding in after work without putting the bike in the car, you could go east on Irvine Blvd, north up the hill on Bake, then east on Portola and do some sort of loop in Mission Viejo, coming back through Trabuco (which turns into Irvine Blvd.).

Or you could go west on Irvine Blvd, north on Sand Canyon, west on Portola, north on Jamboree as far as you want to climb, then turn around and go back the same way. I work in the same general area and that is essentially my commute route.

Asking "is there any good riding in Irvine" is like asking if there are any beaches in Hawaii. It's all over the place. From Irvine, Shady Canyon, Newport Coast to PCH, and even Santiago Canyon are nearby.

Tim, as others have said, there are loads of places to ride in Irvine.
I live about 3 minutes ride from San Marco Park on Harvard between Main and Alton, it's right on the SD Trail down to the Backbay, or turn right and you go towards Tustin.....
I've made some videos of BB rides etc...
http://youtube.com/Bollocks15

I often ride at 9pm at night after work, it's a great night time ride...

But in any case, Irvine is a great City to ride in, good Bike Lanes and reachable Cyclists Buttons on most of the Traffic lights, they often don't seem to work though....

Have fun!!

Tim, as others have said, there are loads of places to ride in Irvine.
I live about 3 minutes ride from San Marco Park on Harvard between Main and Alton, it's right on the SD Trail down to the Backbay, or turn right and you go towards Tustin.....
I've made some videos of BB rides etc...
http://youtube.com/Bollocks15

I often ride at 9pm at night after work, it's a great night time ride...

But in any case, Irvine is a great City to ride in, good Bike Lanes and reachable Cyclists Buttons on most of the Traffic lights, they often don't seem to work though....

Have fun!!
I hate those things.

Anyway University to Back Bay, to PCH. After that I usually head north towards Sunset Beach. During summer it gets kind of annoying since you hit tons of red light because of all the tourists crossing PCH.

Umney, that's my wife's Fave ride, we make a U-Turn at Starbucks in Sunset...it's a 49 mile round trip from our House, my wife always says she'll ride around the block to make it 50 but she never has....

Irvine is one of the more bike friendly cities. Although, there seems to be a fair amount of bike incidents and related deaths as well. As always, be careful...

Irvine is one of the more bike friendly cities. Although, there seems to be a fair amount of bike incidents and related deaths as well. As always, be careful...

That depends on how you define "bike friendly".

I've done Jamboree down to Back Bay a number of times; I don't know why I didn't think of that. Now I just need to find a quick and easy way to get from Alton and Irvine to Jamboree.

For some reason my internal direction sense takes a digger once I get off the 5. :)

Alton and Irvine to the Back Bay:

Go North/East on Alton and after crossing Harvard (before Jamboree) turn onto the bike trail. That is the Mtn to Sea trail that leads to the Back Bay.

Nice, flat, and wide lanes. You can also change it up for different scenery by taking Barranca the same direction. They are a couple blocks apart and mirror each other.

Is the Mountain to the Sea path road-bike-able? Or more of a cross trail?

You're at Alton and Irvine? Screw that wimpy MUP that goes through the back bay - go ride Santiago Canyon!

Take Irvine Towards Bake. Left Bake, right Portola, left El Toro. 15 miles of no traffic lights, with plenty of detour options for climbing. check out www.geoladders.com (http://www.geoladders.com) for some routes.

Umney, that's my wife's Fave ride, we make a U-Turn at Starbucks in Sunset...it's a 49 mile round trip from our House, my wife always says she'll ride around the block to make it 50 but she never has....

Yeah it's a good ride. Although it gets kind of monotonous when you do it 3 times a week, and variation of it on Sunday.

Is the Mountain to the Sea path road-bike-able? Or more of a cross trail?

Completely paved road trail.

Contact Bill Selin who works for the Irvine Recreation Department. He started the Bicycle Club of Irvine, knows all the routes, and was up in my area for the Tour of California. Say hello for me. Or just join that club until you know all of their routes. Ditto for the orange County Wheelmen.

Or just take a look at their ride bank: http://www.bikeirvine.org/ridebank.shtml