Southern California - How's riding near UC Irvine?

Hi. I currently live in Tucson and am considering a move to the Orange County area.
How is the riding? Strong group rides? Hills to climb? Nice long routes for all day rides?

I may be offered a job at Sage Hill High School. If you happen to know about the school, I'd love to hear about that too.

Thanks!

http://www.clubs.uci.edu/bike/new2/routes.php

If you're a roadie, you've come to the right place.

Excellent. Yes. Yes - and real mountains a little bit to the north in LA. Yes.

I'm guessing Irvine is probably one of the top 5 cities when it comes to miles of bike lanes and dedicated bike paths. There are mild hills within a ridable distance, or steeper stuff in LA and San Diego counties.

Great! I'm a roadie. So, the next big questions:

1. What should I look to pay in rent for a studio/1 bedroom with about 500-600 sq ft. (guesthouse is fine)

2. Is there a Trader Joe's or equivalent in the area?

Great! I'm a roadie. So, the next big questions:

1. What should I look to pay in rent for a studio/1 bedroom with about 500-600 sq ft. (guesthouse is fine)

2. Is there a Trader Joe's or equivalent in the area?

A studio in irvine will run you $1000+ most likely. But yes, there is a TJ's across the street from uci, once upon a time I worked there.

While the cost of living in that area is nuts, it's worth it if you can swing it, especially if you're a cyclist. I miss hopping on my bike after class on a sunny spring afternoon and hammering...and then taking an hour break to lay on the beach before cruising home.

Great! I'm a roadie. So, the next big questions:

1. What should I look to pay in rent for a studio/1 bedroom with about 500-600 sq ft. (guesthouse is fine)


2. Is there a Trader Joe's or equivalent in the area?


Rents are the bad news. $800? with luck.

The good news is that there a a lot of Trader Joe's close by. Saw Pamela Sue in the Corona del Mar one. Cuter in real life than on TV.

the riding is as great as the rent is intolerable.

Well, I don't know anything about Sage Hill High School, but, if you take the job, you'll be right in the middle of some good climbing, as the high school is located halfway up Newport Coast Drive, a nice little climb, and there are other good climbs in the area (San Joaquin Hills, Ridge Park, Vista Ridge, Spyglass Hill).

I went to UCI and live in Irvine currently. You have Newport Coast which is a little less than 1000 feet to the top of Ridge Park depending on which way you approach it. If you're willing to travel 20 miles inland, you have Santiago Canyon which is about 3500 feet of rolling hills if you do some of the back roads.

As for rent, expect to pay $700-$1200 if you want to live across from UCI. Expect $700+ to live in Newport Coast or near the Back Bay. Generally, the farther away from the Ocean and UCI you go, the cheaper your rent will be. I currently pay $600 for my own room about 5 miles away from UCI. A studio would run you at least $1100 if you want to stay in Irvine. PM me if you have any other questions.

Well, those rental prices don't sound bad to me at all. When I think of the Irvine area, I think that most places are pretty nice and no real dumpy areas. So, for under $1000 rent I can deal with that. Or am I wrong and that $800 studio maybe in a crappy area?
Also, any other issues you might bring up for consideration?

I've lived and worked in Irvine for years, the only downside is that accomodation is deffinately not cheap. There are always a lot of places to rent here on the Orange County section of Craigslist to give you some idea. Here's some City of Irvine Bikeways info (http://www.cityofirvine.org/cityhall/pw/projdev/bikeways.asp) the Streets are very well maintained with Miles of Bike Lanes, most Traffic Lights have special Cyclist Buttons which are handily located next to the kerb. You can get pretty much from one side of the City to the other via offroad paved Bike Paths. There are several fast rides from a few locations in Irvine. Feel free to PM me for more info. I'm sure you will really like Irvine, the Climate is awesome which makes Roadbiking awesome too!!

Hi. I currently live in Tucson and am considering a move to the Orange County area.
How is the riding? Strong group rides? Hills to climb? Nice long routes for all day rides?

I may be offered a job at Sage Hill High School. If you happen to know about the school, I'd love to hear about that too.

Thanks!

Sucks. Glad to be back in Bay Area. :lol:

^Bay Area is another consideration on my list. It looks like your joking but can you give me perspective on the differences in riding?

Riding is not going to be a problem. The entire coastal to mid orange county area is excellent for riding. You don't have to drive inland to do Santiago, you can ride to Santiago and back to the Coast. That's about 60 miles round trip.

As to rents... I would be interested to see what you get. Irvine is pricey; not so much anymore because its nice. It got trendy and is now the land of high density housing and people with questionable credit. It used to be a place where you could buy a nice house; its now become, because builders got greedy, especially in the newly developed areas, land of multi-story high rise apartments. More apartments means more people and cars especially since those apartments may contain multiple occupants and/or familes.

If you were offered a job at Sage Hill, I suspect you will enjoy it. It's in a lovely area (Newport Coast) and is, as you know, a high end private school. Students and parents are very involved. You might ask around and see if someone at the school knows someone willing to rent a room up on Newport Coast. Alternately places to seek apartments/rooms that are cheaper but areas as nice may be Costa Mesa, Tustin and maybe parts of Santa Ana or Huntington Beach.

Good luck!

Edited to add: OC is the land of group rides. numerous clubs to choice from - when you are ready just ask.

Thanks Pam

^Bay Area is another consideration on my list. It looks like your joking but can you give me perspective on the differences in riding?

I really wasn't...
There is easier access to the mountains, shorter distance to drive/ride to get out of the burbs. If you want to do a long ride you are not limited to MUPS or navigating city streets, or the PCH with all it's beach towns and lights. Racing scene varies, there are actually variety of Road Races. I think pollution is less. Specially if you choose to ride on PCH. In general if you are a MUP rider you would like Irvine area more, if you enjoy variety and riding on roads then I think Bay Area is better. Also there atmosphere/attitude, and this is probably personal thing, somehow it's just better here. The "downside" is the weather. If you are fair weather rider then SoCal is better for that. If you don't mind rain or colder weather then riding here in the winter is good.

I have an apartment at one of the nicest complexes in Irvine, just down the hill from Sage. One bedroom = $1,475/month. That's pretty much the top of the market, literally and figuratively. Rents in the area depend on whether you are in an Irvine Company complex, which tend to be higher end and more expensive, an Arnel apartment, which are a bit more downscale and a bit cheaper but farther from UCI/Sage, or in a unit from a smaller company or private individual. The corporate-owned complexes are pretty well run but really tight-assed. Individuals obviously vary. There are some areas of Irvine that are nicer than others, but none that are particularly bad.

The riding in Orange County fantastic. There is plenty of variety and you can ride almost every day of the year, any time of the day.

I am a fast paced rider, looking to get into racing. I am laid back, not into material things per se: I drive a beat up '85 toyota pickup. I am an avid reader, hiker, runner, and love great weather. I hope that the upscale attitude isn't a turn off for my type. I seriously would take up surfing if I am close to the ocean too.

I grew up in PA, so NorCal cold weather does not scare me. I sent an email to Marin Academy in San Raphael and am waiting to hear back from them.

^Do you know this area??

I have my follow up phone interview tomorrow with Sage, so I made the first cut. Wish me luck!

[QUOTE=2intune;12342463]I have an apartment at one of the nicest complexes in Irvine, just down the hill from Sage. One bedroom = $1,475/month. That's pretty much the top of the market, literally and figuratively. .

QUOTE]

In comparison, I rent a 2 bedroom apartment, in north tustin - it's an older complex but the apartment is garden style, single level with a large yard and a garage. 1400 sq ft. I pay $1,555./mo. My trade off is I don't have a fire place or laundry facilities in my apartment. It's also not a gated community but is in an high end area, although away from the beach. I'm about 15 miles away.... easy peasy by bike!

Rob - good luck on Sage... I mean it. Several friends of mine have children there or have graduated from there. I believe its a great school.

I also spent time in the Marin area. Totally different than So Cal, as one would expect. Prices are higher and weather is colder and foggier. Riding is different as well. Lot more wide open spaces here... there you are basically riding in the hills unless you travel outside the country. Either way, Cal's riding is nice... now the politics - another story!

One bedroom = $1,475/month.


I pay $1,555./mo.
Holy crap that's expensive.

Get a cheap apartment near the Costa Mesa/Newport blvd, within riding distance of Back Bay, PCH and the Santa Ana River Trail. I live in a 2 bedroom, split rent, so I pay 637 all utilities included.

ThatFood:

Wow: I can manage that.

Pam:

Have you spent time riding in the Bay Area then? I really like tough mountainous rides but any riding is great.

Hey: wish me luck!

Get a cheap apartment near the Costa Mesa/Newport blvd, within riding distance of Back Bay, PCH and the Santa Ana River Trail. I live in a 2 bedroom, split rent, so I pay 637 all utilities included.

+1. Irvine isn't the place to look for an inexpensive apartment. IMO, you'd be better off living on the Newport Beach peninsula for that kind of money. Fortunately, Orange County is a big place.

Basically, I want to be able to commute to work by bike, preferably 15 miles or less if possible.

I have ridden around San Rafael/San Anselmo area. It has some nice roads, great for mountain biking also. Not sure what the rent situation there is like thought. I think a good portion of people who live there commute to SF for work. It's near Mt. Tam, and short drive across the bridge is Mt. Diablo.

I am a fast paced rider, looking to get into racing. I am laid back, not into material things per se: I drive a beat up '85 toyota pickup. I am an avid reader, hiker, runner, and love great weather. I hope that the upscale attitude isn't a turn off for my type.

None of that describes Irvine. :lol:

hint: looks like someone has an axe to grind.

hint: looks like someone has an axe to grind.

hint: not really. :lol:

hint: not really. :lol:

Right. It's normal for someone from the Bay Area to be trolling the Southern Cal forum, and trying to convince a complete stranger to move up there. :rolleyes:

Right. It's normal for someone from the Bay Area to be trolling the Southern Cal forum, and trying to convince a complete stranger to move up there. :rolleyes:

I lived, cycled daily for commuting, training, and racing in Irvine and surrounding area. I lived in Bay Area before that, now I am back in Bay Area. OP asked for opinion about cycling in Irvine, I am just giving my perspective. Take that as you will.

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.

Weather is great in SoCal no denying that. Even when Santa Ana winds pick up. Really there is no excuse not to ride as far as weather is concerned. As far as rent goes. Comparing Santa Clara/South Bay to Irvine/OC I would say about the same. Not sure what the situation is in San Rafael/Marin thought. House prices are certainly not cheaper.

Well, I made it through the second round. Sage is flying me out next week for the final cut!

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.
Basically my summation of Irvine (have been attending UCI the past few years, moved from Ventura area). Lack of soul, but great weather. If only we could have it all :)
I don't think there's anywhere within 20 miles or so of UCI that I wouldn't feel comfortable riding to. Good roads, bike lanes and bike paths.

Good luck!

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.

The rent is going to be the biggest issue in both places. It's usually HIGHER in Nor Cal than South. I had many opportunites to take jobs near SF but could never afford the housing. OC is cheaper. You do realize Marin County is ultra expensive so don't expect to be within 15 miles of riding. Affordable housing will be out in Oakland or thereabouts.

Irvine is an intersting place. Way back when when I moved to OC, its was very rural and very "white bread" (and yes lacked a soul). It was sort of the place upper middle class working folks aspired to. That image is long gone. Irvine is now 65 - 70% hispanic/asian/middle eastern. It has a multi-ethnic type soul...lots of pan-asian/indian restaurants, lots of mexican restaurants. Average income dropped when they started building high-density apartments and housing. What Irvine used to be you will find up on Newport Coast with the influence of middle eastern and pan asian cultures.

But I love So Cal riding... for now that is what's keeps me here. There are more beautiful places to ride but not where I can live and work.

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.


Oh puleeze, I've heard all sorts of bad stuff about living in Irvine. I lived here back in the 90's when I went to UCI. Then moved to Long Beach and Whittier (just outside East LA). Never thought I'd be back in Irvine.

When I was younger, I hated living in Irvine, and held most of the same views - ie superficiality and lack of soul, homogenous.. But 10 years later, I realize how uninformed and prejudiced I myself was back then. Back then my opinions were closed minded, and I never went out of my way to fully understand my neighbors.

Irvine of today is VERY ethnically diverse. To most people in Los Angeles county and Northern California, "Ethnically Diverse" means "black or Mexican". Ethnically Diverse in Irvine means - Indian, Iranian, Asians of all kinds, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian..you name it, we have it. You only need to "scratch the surface" and get to know your neighbor and you will understand that these opinions about this area being "superficial and lacking of soul" are completely without foundation.

Now, a place like Newport Beach on the other hand....... Superficial, right wing, and lacking of soul - completely.

Oh puleeze, I've heard all sorts of bad stuff about living in Irvine. I lived here back in the 90's when I went to UCI. Then moved to Long Beach and Whittier (just outside East LA). Never thought I'd be back in Irvine.

When I was younger, I hated living in Irvine, and held most of the same views - ie superficiality and lack of soul, homogenous.. But 10 years later, I realize how uninformed and prejudiced I myself was back then. Back then my opinions were closed minded, and I never went out of my way to fully understand my neighbors.

Irvine of today is VERY ethnically diverse. To most people in Los Angeles county and Northern California, "Ethnically Diverse" means "black or Mexican". Ethnically Diverse in Irvine means - Indian, Iranian, Asians of all kinds, Greek, Russian, Bulgarian..you name it, we have it. You only need to "scratch the surface" and get to know your neighbor and you will understand that these opinions about this area being "superficial and lacking of soul" are completely without foundation.

Now, a place like Newport Beach on the other hand....... Superficial, right wing, and lacking of soul - completely.

Someone somewhere in Newport Beach is saying exact same thing, but exchange Irvine for New Port beach. :lol:

Someone somewhere in Newport Beach is saying exact same thing, but exchange Irvine for New Port beach. :lol:

Exactly, haha..

Forget neighborhood, etc.
Best sets of bike lane in s.cal.
Just google map and layer up the bike lane option... you will see.

In my adult life I've lived in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Monica and now Irvine. I've been in Irvine for 17 years. I get such a kick about the no-cluture souless comments. We are homeowners and here are the ethnicities of our direct neighbors: Chinese, Mexican, Persian, Indian, African-American and Caucasian. My kid goes to school with every race that exists. We were marveling at his class the other day when we went to bring him lunch for a parent-kid lunch outing. The kids he was sitting next to were using chopsticks to eat, some were eating burritos, some curry rice, Korean BBQ, etc. It was fascinating to see the diversity.

Yeah it was SO much more cultured in Santa Monica. Oh it was hip, alright. There were also homeless people relieving themselves on our building, fights all the time, muggings in Venice, gang warfare, grafitti, our car was broken into 4 times in 3 years, etc. So cultured that I couldn't have my wife walk anywhere alone past 6pm. Here in Irvine she goes out to the bike path and walks for an hour at any time of night.

You'll love it here. People are people. There are idiots and elitists everywhere. I put about 200-300 miles a week into the roads here. I can jam from my place in Irvine to the bike path to warm up, hit the Back Bay and then burn down PCH for 30 miles and turn around and get a nice 70 mile ride in along the beach. The weather is absolutely awesome. Winters have highs in the 70s and summers have highs in the 80s. People always seem to concentrate on how warm the winters are but what is almost more important to me are how cool the summers are! There might be two or three days that bump into the 100s in the summer and most are around 85 which makes riding at any time acceptable. No humidity. Bike paths are huge. You can climb in the mountains and ride along the sea all in the same ride. Some of the best PUBLIC schools in the nation so you won't be dropping $800 a month for your fourth-grader to learn the names of the states. Always voted the safest city over 100K population in America. Road cyclists are so commonplace that drivers in Irvine almost grow up seeing them. On a weekend it's not uncommon for a group of four of us to be stopped at one stoplight and see a group of three or four going the other way - and I'm not talking about people that ride together - I'm talking about people on solo rides that are all stopped together. If you think you're fast and in shape and can run with the big dogs just head out to PCH on a Saturday or Sunday morning. You'll get buried - I don't care who you are. There will be a group that will bury you with a 32mph paceline heading into Long Beach. If you think you're a climber I implore you to ride the 7 miles up into Santiago Canyon and climb those hills and hang with the big boys. There's plenty of competition. I seriously consider it the biking Mecca of America.

Good luck! Hey Sage School rocks! I have friends whose children go there and they all rave about it. I wish you the best!

Yes, please give me your opinions. I have been reading a lot of web reviews talking about the superficiality of the area and the lack of soul. But, I do have a friend at UCI and he says that I'd love the weather, the ability to do all kinds of outdoor activities, but the rent is the biggest issue.

I spent a lot of time in San Francisco and have lived in Orange County all of my 49 years. Places are not superficial and lacking in soul, only people. The smugness & provincial attitude in San Fran got old quick. Got a lot of flak from the folks up there because of my hometown. I noticed they watched the same TV shows and discussed them with the same intensity that that blondest & most vapid OC cheerleader did. You will create your own circle of friends who will reflect your personality.

And besides, blond cheerleaders are people too. Very often good people.

Back to the topic: Live in Costa Mesa, Irvine's neighbor, (like me), ride where you like, enjoy life. Good luck!

I grew up in Norcal (spent most of my time in the south bay, east bay, peninsula) and currently live in Socal (spend my time in LA, Irvine). There are definitely pros and cons in every place I've lived/ridden. Irvine (OC in general) is nice for competitive and recreational group riding, although the "epic" Socal climbs are about an hour away (driving). The most scenic routes involve canyons and beaches. Norcal is more laid back, less populated, slightly cooler weather (I consider this a pro not a con), a lot of scenic routes that go through redwood forests and (sometimes) fog, and arguably more climbing options as there are mountains that stretch from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and another set of mountains in the east bay. I can't really comment but my sense is that the road racing/group riding scene isn't as big in Norcal as it is in Socal.

Places are not superficial and lacking in soul, only people.

Hit it on the head. "lacking in soul," really? That's not something you can be told by a stranger - you have to visit and decide for yourself.

Wow, so much controversy. Some other things to add about me:

1. academic (obvious I guess since I am a teacher)
2. not into the hipster scene : I think that the Bay Area would have more of this type of pretentious population
3. Single, no kids
4. I live in Tucson now: pros: laid back, cheap, liberal cons: hot as hell, many run down areas of the city, low salary
4. I can easily move in a few years if need be

So with the last point, I have pretty much made up my mind already that if the salary is good enough, I am going to do it. This is all based on the assumption that I get offered the job. I figure that I have a good chance in that they are flying me in without even letters of recommendation on hand, though I have those en route. Oh boy, I am excited!

Just remembered something... be ready for VERY enthusiastic parents...
There is a reason why public school API score in Irvine is higher than just about most places in America...

http://www.clubs.uci.edu/bike/new2/routes.php

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it but if your looking for a strong group ride do the Coffee Crew ride on Thursdays. I know it's a bit early but I've done it once and from what I hear it's one of the fastest group rides in the Irvine area.

Thanks again everyone.

So, it looks like I could commute on a bike from parts of Costa Mesa or newport beach. How are these areas for living?