HBCruiser1

San Diegans,

Heading to San Diego, I'll be about a mile east of Mission Bay so I'm looking for a ride that heads east (loop, out and back, either way).

Need to make a stop out in Tierrasanta for about an hour so anything that incorporates that area as well.

40-ish miles and moderate climbing is OK but don't want to overdo it. 3k or less elevation perhaps.

Thanks!

calamarichris

That's one of the more bike-unfriendly regions to embark toward. My perspective may be skewed, because I'm spoiled and live North of there.

Two good options I can think of, neither involve riding East from there:
~

Ride North up to Oceanside or Carlsbad, and back south along the coast

. Or it might even be better if you jumped a train to Oceanside and rode back down, that way you could ride on the more pleasant Southbound lane, closest to the ocean and upwind of any tailpipes.


~

Ride out to Cabrillo National Monument, then to SD Harbor, take the Ferry to the Coronado and ride around the SD Bay thus

.

Good luck and have a fun weekend!

Ackk! Google maps no longer let us link correctly?! You might have to put those destinations mentioned in my suggestion into Gmaps yourself and select the bicycle option, because these maps are showing the stupid car version on the freeway.

HBCruiser1

Thanks Calamari, indeed the coast is the best (and Carlsbad is my favorite stretch!)but figured I've done that several times so I thought I'd go inland since I have to go out to Tierrasanta anyway. I'm tight on time so I'll have to ride from Mission Bay and try to maximize time on the bike.

For your suggestion of going north, Google maps suggests Kearny Villa, Miramar, Carroll Rd. and Sorrento Valley Rd. Are those all pretty good options?

calamarichris

If you click "MORE OPTIONS" on the top north-bound map above, it should open the Gmap up (in car mode ) but then you can change that to bicycle mode and see the correct route.
It's a little tricky to navigate if you're not used to it--a couple of little hidden on-ramps to bike paths; and if you miss them, you end up riding in the worst part of San Diego for bicycling.

TrojanHorse

Miramar road sucks. I don't know how they managed to get frost heaves in that road in an area with no frost, but that's what it feels like. Of course, Alesmith is right off Miramar, so there's that. Terrific beer, great tasting room.

I used to use Morena blvd (and I think I connected to Santa Fe st) to commute from university city area to Pt Loma and back, it puts you on a little bike path that spits out in a neighborhood near that Mormon ice palace. You can take Nobel over to Miramar - your bike should tolerate that road much better than mine, frost heaves or no.

calamarichris

Here's the lower half of that southern Bay ride I mentioned before (if this buggy darn forum doesn't screw that up too.)



Or if you still want to make your way East, you can take the terrific Ted Williams Bike Path. Just go north to Del Mar and hang a right...

HBCruiser1

Yep, balloon tires are good! TJ, how come it's all about the beer with you?!


Calamari-
I like the Ted Williams bike path idea, I'll have to map that out and see how far that is, it might be a tad too far. We'll see. Of course Coronado is awesome, done that and maybe a bit to far by the time I get out to Tierrasanta and back to Mission Bay, and of course you have to time the ferry just right.

Thinking about incorporating this one: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/4173089

TrojanHorse

Two reasons

1) San Diego and north county are littered with awesome craft beer
2)
3) Do you need recommendations on your posted route?

HBCruiser1

Indeed, and thank you!

Unfortunately I had to quit years ago.

Nachoman

Except for a small portion of this route, at the very tip of point loma (which you'll be unable to access because it's on a restricted base), this route is okay, assuming you're not going to take a beautiful ride up or down the coast. It ends and loops through mission trails park which is nice.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13321490

HBCruiser1

Nachoman that looks interesting, was thinking of heading out in that direction but schedules changed so I just ended up shooting up to Solana Beach and back. Who doesn't love Torrey Pines?! At the end I had to head up Garnet/Balboa, crap that was actually harder than Torrey Pines.

Rose Canyon trail is being redone (at least the upper section), the lower still sucks.
Check out the photos: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/10988437

Nachoman

Nice job climbing Torry on the beast!

HBCruiser1

Thank you. Love that thing and the challenge of riding it. Torrey Pines wasn't too bad, slow but 6-7 mph most of the way but Garnet/Balboa, damn I was down to 4 in several sections!

Cykilist2

I'd agree about it being "bike unfriendly" getting from Mission Bay to Tierrasanta, but here's a route for you.
Linda Vista is a steady climb. Aero Drive is pretty free of stop lights, and has a wider bike lane. Take that all the way to where it dead ends into Santo, and you're pretty much in Tierrasanta!
I would highly recommend staying off either Balboa or Clairemont Mesa. Those streets are death wishes.
The only hills you deal with are Linda Vista and the climb out where 15 & Aero are. Within your 3K climbing limit. :-)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17800565