Southern California - Laguna Niguel/ Dana Point

I'll be there for the weekend. Any ride reccomendations? Place to rent a decent bike?

Gigantic step up from Barstow. Enjoy your stay!

You can ride PCH up or down the coast and get some great beach views.

http://revocycles.com/articles/rental-information-pg60.htm
Never rented from them, but they're a decent shop in Dana Point. I enthusiastically recommend the ride South through San Clemente, through Camp Pendleton, down to Del Mar and back. Not much climbing, but riding through Pendleton is great! Scant few stop signs/lights, light (polite) traffic, and the road quality is mostly good. But Camp Pendleton is not public roads, so be sure you have your helmet and driver's license to show the MP gate guards.

Click for route recommendation (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=N+Torrey+Pines+Rd&daddr=33.1143765,-117.3233833+to:CA-1+N&hl=en&ll=33.235242,-117.320251&spn=0.951083,1.783905&sll=32.941844,-117.215881&sspn=0.477133,0.891953&geocode=FUKm9QEdhgAD-Q%3BFQhJ-QEdickB-Sn50nS353LcgDFXZtvBfXIMGA%3BFUSs_gEdZBX8-A&vpsrc=6&dirflg=w&mra=mrv&via=1&t=h&z=10).

And once you get to Carlsbad, riding Pacific Coast Highway to Torrey Pines is a dream-come-true. (Except in Leucadia, where the road is just terrible for some reason.)

Have fun! And let us know if you'd prefer a route with more climbing; we've got those too!

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/051030-cardiffsign.jpg
http://www.calamarichris.com/junk/051027-pch.jpg

I'm doing Tour de Poway (a century) on Sunday, but if you PM me, I'll give you my phone number, in case you need roadside assistance.

The coast is cold and dreary. The sun has been out for 1 hour in September.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6195053807_0e782ddd14_z.jpg

I'd ride GMR or Mt. Baldy Rd.

You might consider checking with Patrick at Laguna Cyclery. I know they rent out nice bikes. Patrick can also give you ride suggestions.

Suggest you check out the BCI website. They do alot of rides in the area. My favorite is called Wood Canyon. Lots of climbing but really lovely - all in and out of Laguna Niguel. Also look for the Tour de 5 Cities which goes through Laguna Niguel, Laguna, Dana Point, etc. website is bikeirvine.org. Look for ride slips.

PCH south all the way to Old Town San Diego, around 65 miles. You can catch the Amtrak at several places along the route and head back to San Juan Capistrano. Here: http://www.efgh.com/bike/routes.htm are some great maps.

Thanks guys.

Thanks guys.

Were you able to line up a rental? If yes, could you let us know from which shop and the bicycle make/components?

Thanks.

Got a Pinarello Paris with DA group set and DA wheels from Laguna Cyclery. It's the best rental bike I've ever gotten. Did a short ride. Down the PCH this afternoon. I'm going to head up into the hills tomorrow.

Sorry, nothing to add here- but welcome and enjoy your stay!

The coast is cold and dreary. The sun has been out for 1 hour in September.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6195053807_0e782ddd14_z.jpg

I'd ride GMR or Mt. Baldy Rd.

Depends upon what you're used to. Having lived on the coast for nearly 50 years, we've yet to see a day that wasn't great for riding! (Well, the few rainy days must be acknowledged as the exception.)
Enjoy your time in paradise!

As soon as I posted the picture, the sun came out. Beautiful now.

Sorry, nothing to add here- but welcome and enjoy your stay!

I'm reading through a thread and I see that a member named knowledgdropper has posted. I pull out my note pad because I'm convinced that this will be valuable info. Then you give us this? You have some ground to make up.