terrymorse 

I'm planning to do a mid-Winter tour in the San Diego County area and am looking for ideas. The plan is for the multi-day trip to be an escape from the wet, cold, and possibly snowy regions. So the warmer and drier, the better, and the San Diego County seems to have the best Winter weather in the state.

Any recommendations of spots that have a combination of good weather and great riding? I plan to check out Borrego Springs, which surely will be dry and have quiet roads. But where else in January or February? Is Julian too high to have decent weather then? Then there's the whole Escondido-Ramona-Valley Center-Pauma Valley region. Looks good on the map, but no idea what the traffic is like. I'm toying with the idea of finishing the trip in La Jolla, since it looks like there are some quiet roads that lead there.

Thanks for any tips you can give me.

jschen

What's this winter thing that you speak of?

Last January, some BikeForums members did a century featuring Palomar. We're doing it again in November and adding in an out and back to Julian for the faster climbers. That area is beautiful and relatively quiet. If you're lucky, weather won't be a problem.

I'm sure the SoCal people would be happy to help you route your tour once you get your gross itinerary nailed down.

eandmwilson

Oxymoron.

urbanknight

Temecula is a great place to ride. I did a stage race there once, and there is nice scenery with moderate hills. There is a good amount of wind, though, and if it's raining, some roads will have creeks trickling across them, but other than that it was great... except the hail in April but that was freak weather for them.

Hipcycler

I hate you both.






Any radio talk show host openings there?

jhglaw

The Wells Fargo Stagecoach Century is in January. It is an out and back course with a tough, unpleasant out and a glorious back. Ocotillo Wells to Ranchita and back to Ocotillo Wells. On the back, 90% is a slight downhill with a mild prevailing tailwind. There are two short steep uphills but well within your capability.

RickWG

The best time to ride or be outside is in December. Don't tell the tourists! Everyone comes here in the Summer for the sunshine and it's foggy as He!!.
I live in Rancho Penasquitos and can ride to Ramona in the winter and the coast in the Summer. Just a ride down Historic 101 is a fun ride I do alot. Down the 56 bike path to the 101 and up to Oceanside or on through Pendleton to San Juan Capistrano for a longer ride. Along PB boardwalk if you got a cruiser. From RP to Ramona along the 67 and take the 78 to Lake Henshaw. If you want some ideas let me know as I've riden tons out here. Mostly desert so bring two bottles. The Tour de Julian is November 11th in..wait...Julian. Hilly and tough so I hear. Goes up to Sonrise highway and back to the winery. (Google it to find the routes.)

Just did the Tour de Poway Oct 1 and had a ball. How long ya staying?

jschen

Terry is a Climbing Fool. He definitely should hit Palomar. Highland Valley and Wildcat Canyon should be on his itinerary, too. Julian and the eastern desert, definitely. And for the La Jolla area, hit Mt Soledad from the north side to take in the view from the small park at the top. And of course, no trip in the SD area is complete without at least some coastal riding.

Chucklehead

hey terry, you should try to make it down here for the pie ride and do some scouting for yourself.

jschen

Or just let us know what day you want to do the Pie ride and we can hold the event again.

taddyangle

You gotta ride the coast. I live in Rancho Penasquitos and ride the SR 56 bike route to Del Mar then head up to Oceanside. It is a flat and easy ride, with ocean views all along the way, once you get to Del Mar. I would ride from Oceanside down to La Jolla. There is a tough hill at Torrey Pines, but in total it is only about 32-35 miles.

Chucklehead

i'm pretty sure oceanside to la jolla is less than 30 miles. last time i measured, it was 25 miles from my front door to the top of torrey pines.

dddave

i love the torrey pines grade!

come up to fallbrook, there are some pretty killer hills and back roads out in the sticks and you can easily ride to escondido or oceanside and go from there.

RickWG

Too bad they discontinued the Guacamole Grande. I grew up in Fallbrook and looked forward to that one every year. Yep. Some killer hills in Fallbrook area.

here and there

Heh, ain't that the truth. From March through July and sometimes late into August it's usually cloudy and/or foggy along the coast. September is probably the best month to visit for fans of the hot beach weather...very little clouds or fog then.

December sure is nice though...heck all of fall/winter is except for the Santa Ana weather, ugh.

bitingduck

I'll use this as yet another chance to push my favorite winter tour: HI-AYH Christmas Trip

It runs dec 26-31, and even if you don't do it, it give you some idea of where to ride in the winter in SoCal. Be aware that there can be nasty weather at all the high elevations in the winter. I've seen wicked snow (almost typed "snot", which would also have been appropriate) going over Sunrise Hwy out of Pine Valley and also going through Mountain Center (between Palm Desert and Hemet). It can also be sunny and beautiful, so if you're just hanging around for rides it pays to be flexible, or at least have a variety of clothes ready.

My favorite day of the ride is probably day 3 from Warner Springs to Palm Desert where we descend Montezuma Grade (a blast) through Borrego Springs (almost always beautiful, and where we dump wet clothes in the sag) and usually organize a decent sized double paceline through the desert, where traffic is really light and the scenery is amazing.

Chucklehead

you can still ride the route. i do it all the time.

xrazer

I ride mostly in east San Diego County. There are nice mountain roads going east from El Cajon, Rancho San Diego or Otay lakes area (close to the Olympic training center). Popular bike routes are Willow Glen to Dehesa Rd to the Alpine area. Further out and higher goes Japatul Rd-Lyons Valley Rd-Skyline Truck Trail. There is relatively little traffic on these roads except on Dehesa going to Sycuan casino. Some people ride from Descanso (east of Alpine) on 79 (going to Julian) and Boulder Creek Rd. Additional rides can be found further east in the Pine Valley area.

If the weather is bad it can be really cold and rainy here in Jan-Feb, but can also be very nice, warm and sunny.