Introductions - SoCal for now, but not for long:)

Currently in Orange County California. Came here last August for Grad school- hated the school, the area, the roads, the strip malls, the housing developments, the traffic lights, and, lets be honest, 99 percent of the people. Needless to say, in 35 days time I'll be heading back Northeast (Vermont) for better biking and a better life. Advice for those considering moving to SoCal- Don't.
Although I gotta admit, the mountain biking out here is pretty sweet. The one thing I'll miss.
Currently riding a Scattante CFR on the road and a Specialized Rockhopper on the trails.

Currently in Orange County California. Came here last August for Grad school- hated the school, the area, the roads, the strip malls, the housing developments, the traffic lights, and, lets be honest, 99 percent of the people. Needless to say, in 35 days time I'll be heading back Northeast (Vermont) for better biking and a better life. Advice for those considering moving to SoCal- Don't.
Although I gotta admit, the mountain biking out here is pretty sweet. The one thing I'll miss.
Currently riding a Scattante CFR on the road and a Specialized Rockhopper on the trails.


Don't hate. I admit OC is a little akward, I went to school there for 5 years. So Cal has so much to offer.
Riding all of the different beaches, mountains, through Pasadena, the San Gabriel mountains. More importantly you can ride 365 a year.

yo Oookie...

Too abd.. you probab;y just aren;t riding the right roads... Oc is where it's at.. one of the best places in SoCal for roadbiking.. especially in the Irvine are.. nice wide bike lanes... semi-conscious drivers...

have fun in the snow though !

jeff

Yeah I don't know. I guess I grew up in a rural area, so there were tons of quiet, paved country roads and I got spoiled. I came to Orange County and had a major culture shock. Bike lanes are nice, but as they're generally attached to six-lane roads with 60mph traffic theyre no substitute for a nice carless trip through farm country:) I've rode all over the county, well mostly from Irvine southwards. Santiago Canyon is the closest I can get to what I'd call really nice riding. It's hard to describe- the environment here feels so hostile to me. Giant roads, huge intersections all over the place, homicidal drivers- it seems like a giant undertaking to get anywhere on a bike. I suppose if you grew up with it you're used to it, but it was a total shocker for me.
I will miss the nice year-round riding weather, but that just means I'll just have to brush up on the icebiking skills:) Thanks for the replies.

Yeah I don't know. I guess I grew up in a rural area, so there were tons of quiet, paved country roads and I got spoiled. I came to Orange County and had a major culture shock. Bike lanes are nice, but as they're generally attached to six-lane roads with 60mph traffic theyre no substitute for a nice carless trip through farm country:) I've rode all over the county, well mostly from Irvine southwards. Santiago Canyon is the closest I can get to what I'd call really nice riding. It's hard to describe- the environment here feels so hostile to me. Giant roads, huge intersections all over the place, homicidal drivers- it seems like a giant undertaking to get anywhere on a bike. I suppose if you grew up with it you're used to it, but it was a total shocker for me.
I will miss the nice year-round riding weather, but that just means I'll just have to brush up on the icebiking skills:) Thanks for the replies.


I hear ya Ookie... I live off of Chapman in Orange. at the north end of Santiago Canyon.. believe me... I'd love more rides like that... I work with a couple guys from Vermont. one is just waiting for his home value to get a little higher then he is on his way back to Vermont ! See ya around... how much longer you gonna be in OC ?


jeff

I hear ya Ookie... I live off of Chapman in Orange. at the north end of Santiago Canyon.. believe me... I'd love more rides like that... I work with a couple guys from Vermont. one is just waiting for his home value to get a little higher then he is on his way back to Vermont ! See ya around... how much longer you gonna be in OC ?


jeff

I was born in Riverside (1948). Nothing but good memories of SoCal. Back then when you went to the beach it was nothing but agricultural - lots of orange groves. I've since lived in Irvine, Hunt. Beach, Fullerton, San Diego and now Folsom, by Sacramento. This area is booming like SoCal did - kind of makes me sick. The plus side is that there are bike trails all over the place for roadies and dirt riders. I do both and definitetly take advantage of what this area has to offer. Of course, I'd be will to try Vermont --- in the Summer!! ;)

I will miss the nice year-round riding weather, but that just means I'll just have to brush up on the icebiking skills:) Thanks for the replies.

http://users.rcn.com/icebike/ :D