East Coast Refugee Seeks Advice on San Diego Rides

[Kuma]

I'm on a business trip to San Diego at the end of this week and am trying to decide whether I can squeeze in a ride while I'm out there. I know the scenery is just beautiful, but I'll have a very limited window of time and no automotive transportation. I've checked out the other SD-related threads posted here, but none of them seem to answer the specific questions I have.

The only way I see this working is if I rent a bike at a local LBS on Thursday afternoon after I get into town, ride Friday morning starting really early, and then return the bike to the LBS and get back to my hotel (the Omni near Petco Park) before my 11:30 AM event on Friday. I'll have 3 hours of jet lag working for me, though, so I can start my ride at the crack of dawn.

The specific questions I have for all you San Diegans (and others who know the city) are:

(1) Can you recommend an LBS relatively near the Omni Hotel (e.g., within a walk or a short cab ride) that rents road bikes?

(2) Is there a good, relatively low-traffic route beginning near the Omni Hotel where I'd be able to get in 35-45 miles early on a weekday morning? I won't have a car. One of the earlier threads said that the scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway is really nice starting from about Torrey Pines and heading north, but is there a good (bike-friendly) way to get from Petco Field to there? Once I get there, is the PCH a high-traffic road? If that isn't ideal, any suggestions for an alternate route?

If the timing and logistics of this don't work, I'll just save it for another time. If I can do it, though, I'd love to expand my limited East Coast horizons to see what all you fine West Coast folks are always raving about. (Also, please forgive my cross-posting in the Road forum.) Thanks for any advice you can provide.

[Chucklehead]

I don't know of any bike shops in the downtown area, and from my perspective as a north county resident(30 miles north), there is no good way to get from downtown to the Torrey Pines area by bike.
You could always hop a train and ride that a little ways north to Solana Beach or Encinitas where there are a couple of very highly regarded shops. One of which(NYTRO) I know rents road bikes. I don't know if B+L does.

Sorry if this wasn't much help, but hopefully someone else here will read and have something better to add.

[Jancouver]

Not sure about bike rentals in downtown other than a beach cruisers but you can try Adams Ave Bikes in Hillcrest or B&L in Old Town. Ride the pacific cost highway to Point Loma or try the Balboa Park.

[Indolent58]

Bike Tours of San Diego http://www.bike-tours.com/ is walking distance from the Omni and they rent road bikes. The issue is that you are starting in downtown San Diego and the whole area is fairly urban. No matter which direction you go there will be traffic. From the Omni you could do an out and back that would just get you to Torrey Pines and the south end of Del Mar in about 45 miles - http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/131354. Much of this route is nice, but it's not the best of SoCal by any means. If you really want to experience PCH from Torrey Pine going north you probably don't have adequate time on this trip.

[Kuma]

Guys, thanks very much. This is extremely helpful. When I posted this thread I had my doubts that I'd be able to work out the logistics, but with all the information you've provided, I think I'll be able to swing it. I think I'm going to try indolent58's suggested out-and-back route to Torrey Pines or something similar, with a detour to Cabrillo National Monument if I have the time.

If you ever get into the DC area, please do let me know. I'd be happy to return the favor and show off our bike routes/shops around here! :)