Carloswithac

Hey all, I recently moved to East County San Diego, and would like some suggestions for bike rides/routes. I used to live in Pacific Beach, and usually ventured into North County for my rides.

I explored Lake Murray this morning, but wasn't sure where to go.

Any East County shop rides?

Thanks,
Carlos

hamster

I'm not very familiar with East County, but, generally speaking, you don't have a lot of choice, there are basically no through bike-friendly roads between Alpine and Ramona, and only a few south of the 8. There is a fairly popular clockwise loop via Dehesa Road, Lyons Valley Road and Skyline Truck Trail. The counterclockwise version is less popular, mainly, I think, because it has a couple of long 8-9% stretches. If you want more mileage, you can get from there to highway 79 and onwards to Cuyamaca or Laguna.

CommuteCommando

There is a club called Major Taylor bike club that rides out of Bonita.

markg

Trek La Mesa has a shop ride. Great Western Loop https://www.themappything.com/club/90-great-western.html is a very popular east county route. I have friends that do their hill repeat workouts on Mt Helix (Alta Dr).

robertkat

Wrong. There is a massive amount of cycling to be done out east. I large portion of our local brevets happen out there. Old Highway 80 is nice ride to get out there. Lyons Valley, Honey Springs, Otay Lakes. If you go north up to Ramona, then head out east via Old Julian Highway to Santa Ysabel. Hwy 67 out of Ramona is plenty bike friendly with a nice shoulder. Down into Lakeside, it's a quick jog through town to hit Old 80. I could go on. Just depends on what you are looking for. It's true that if you are a city cyclist or prefer something more urban and few miles between services, and perfect roads with bike lanes and big shoulders, east county has none of that. But if you're looking for some of the best cycling in San Diego, it's all out there.

hamster

Actually I was just on Old Julian Highway this Saturday. Rode Highland Valley Road -> 67 -> Old Julian Highway to the junction with 78 and back, 60 miles without seeing a single other cyclist. But I don't think of Ramona as East County. I was talking about the areas along the 8 and further south.

markg

Unfortunately Barona Casino ruined one of the best rides in East County - Wildcat Canyon. That used to be THE way to get to Ramona and parts east. However the crazy casino traffic on a narrow 2 lane road have turned it into an "avoid at all costs" road :-(

diphthong

robertkat is correct...there is a ton of east county cycling south of the riverside/sd county line to the mexican border and nearly all of it is challenging. not that many flat stretches to be had (until you hit anza-borrego state park) and east county gets pretty hot out there this time of year. either go real early or seek out the higher elevations of the laguna, cuyamaca & palomar mtns. biggest difficulty besides the heat (may-oct) and challenging terrain is support. stores out there are pretty spread out so make sure you have all the tools/food/drink you need. all the makings of epic rides are out there!

heresy

I ride this route, but I stay on Lyons Valley instead of turning on Skyline Truck Trail.