Southern California - Old Town to Seal Beach Route?

Can anybody explain how to do this and how long it would take, aproximately?

..thanks

Old Town where? There are several areas considered "Old Town."

Oh..sorry, Pasadena: Raymond and Colorado to the Naval Weapons Center at Seal Beach.

There are many reasonable routes. From the points you mentioned, I assume you're riding for recreation or training, not as a commuter interested in minimizing travel time.

I would consider the San Gabriel River trail, which terminates in Seal Beach, for at least part of your journey. It's almost completely grade-separated from road and railway crossings and in generally good condition, provided there haven't been recent heavy rains.

The paved path runs along a flood-control channel and is somewhat isolated from the communities through which it travels, so the usual caveats about being aware of your surroundings apply; I wouldn't be too concerned about riding it in daylight on a weekend, though.

To reach the trail from Pasadena, one possible route (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=7199153139013035850,34.140570,-118.148453%3B3019317338118334927,34.142270,-118.074360%3B2886732278316442077,34.146300,-118.071540%3B6452262205534058189,34.145549,-118.027648%3B16147861167912261561,34.145989,-117.993678&saddr=Raymond+Ave+at+Colorado+Blvd,+Pasadena&daddr=E+Del+Mar+Blvd+%4034.140570,+-118.148453+to:E+Del+Mar+Blvd+%4034.142270,+-118.074360+to:E+Colorado+Blvd+%4034.146300,+-118.071540+to:E+Colorado+Blvd+%4034.145549,+-118.027648+to:E+Colorado+Blvd+%4034.145989,+-117.993678+to:34.143209,-117.954798+to:Encanto+Park,+751+Encanto+Pkwy,+Duarte,+Los+Angeles,+California,+United+States&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&dirflg=h&sll=34.148394,-117.954454&sspn=0.065918,0.078707&ie=UTF8&ll=34.147187,-118.043289&spn=0.131838,0.224018&t=p&z=13) (Google map) of about 14 miles would follow Del Mar Boulevard (to avoid the heavier traffic on Colorado in Pasadena), then Rosemead Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard (not Colorado Place), Shamrock Avenue, Royal Oaks Drive, and Encanto Parkway. Just south of Encanto Park, a bicycle bridge crosses the San Gabriel River and provides access to the trail. Obviously this isn't the shortest possible route, but you will see more of the trail, including a section along the top of the Santa Fe Dam.

Not knowing your average speed or the frequency or duration of stops, it will be difficult for anyone here to estimate how long it will take you to travel. To plan my own rides, I assume an average speed (including all stops) of 10 miles per hour, with actual sustained speeds, when moving, between 15 and 20 mph.

Traveling toward the coast, you should be prepared for headwinds; the onshore flow can be quite challenging, depending on the weather and season.

If you haven't already, you might want to refer to the LA Metro Bike Map (http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/la_bike_map.pdf) (PDF); you can also call 1-800-COMMUTE to receive a free paper copy.

Other good resources, which have photographs of the San Gabriel River and other trails, are the LA Bike Paths (http://www.labikepaths.com/) web site and Dan Slater's pages about Southern California Bicycle Trails (http://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports/bike/index.htm).

Thanks for taking the time to bang that out.

JB is commuting to work and we just *moved* here for awhile....

Trying to figure out a lot at once so I appreciate your help!

Hey Catherine Hi !!

You made it to Old Town!

Catherine -

Anon's route is probably the one I would take, too. Although I would ride on Walnut to Foothill to Mountain to Royal Oaks instead of Colorado. For me, it's a bit more comfortable (traffic-wise).

But there's a shorter route that gets you on the SGRT, too. If you take a look at the bike map link, you can ride Foothill to 2nd St. in Arcadia, then 2nd to Live Oak, which takes you to the Rio Hondo bike path. Rio Hondo links up to the SGRT (with a short stretch on the street) and gets you to the same place. Probably a few miles shorter, although some hard to notice turns on the bike path.

I've never ridden down 2nd St. there, so I can't speak to how much traffic you'll hit, but it'll cut a few miles off the route Anon shared.

If you're interested in trying Rio Hondo, I can give you more detail.

Please be very careful on the bike path, especially if you are riding alone , ride safe

http://www.laag.us/2008/06/bike-jacking-trend-continues-on-san.html

Your other option is similar to what I posted above, but stay on Rio Hondo to the LA River bike path to Long Beach, then head over to Seal Beach.

Longer route, but it avoids many of those tunnels and underpasses on the SGRT if they concern you.

thanks you all.

Alice, we are! In hope to finally get some loops in at the Rosebowl maybe. Kind of an easy town to ride in if you just do circles, lol.


http://www.laag.us/2008/06/bike-jack...es-on-san.html (http://www.laag.us/2008/06/bike-jacking-trend-continues-on-san.html) http://www.laag.us/2008/06/bike-jack...es-on-san.html (http://www.laag.us/2008/06/bike-jacking-trend-continues-on-san.html)
ugh...thanks The land of keys and shoes, eh?

Yea, that would freak me right out.

Jacking bikes at Carson on the SGRT makes sense because it is just a two minute ride from there to Hawaiian Gardens.