1nterceptor

Hi folks!

I'll be visiting my brother for the 1st time since his family moved to
Temecula,CA; last 2 weeks of December. I think they might have an old
hybrid or roadbike I can use when I get there. Can somebody post some
links for local clubs/rides? I usually do C and B rides here with 5 Boro Bike
Club and New York Cycle Club. I'm also thinking of visiting Mexico by bike.
From Temecula take the bike on the 202 bus to Oceanside Transit, then
take Coaster train to San Diego. Will both these bus and train allow a bike
on board or on some kind of rack? Lastly, I would appreciate any local BF
member showing me around by bike, lunch/dinner on me?

bitingduck

De Luz Canyon is a really nice ride from Temecula-- just be careful of the stream crossings if it's wet because the algae can be pretty slippery.

hamster

All public buses I've seen have bike racks.

I would not advise visiting Mexico by bike unless you really know what you're doing.

Pamestique 

Agree 1000%. The Mexico that borders CA is not Acapulco or Cancun; its dirty and dangerous. Unless you are doing an organized ride like Rosarito I would scratch this off your list (just my opinion).

Lots of wonderful riding all around Temecula. 3 weeks ago I did a 50 miler with friends and went out into Wine Country. Not alot of traffic; nice quiet farms roads. Also lots of nice riding in the San Diego area. The big club down there is San Diego Bicycling CLub or sdbc.org. There are of course maybe clubs down there; you only have to google it.

agoodale

These are the groups you should look to for B & C rides in the Temecula/Murrieta area:

https://temeculavelo.wordpress.com/rides/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jax-Bi...715199?fref=ts

+1000

1nterceptor

Thanks for all of your tips and suggestions, keep 'em coming!

Re: Mexico, If I can't find somebody to go with me; I might just
take public transportation to the border and cross on foot. Then
take this tour. Either way I only plan on spending a few hours in
Tijuana for the experience and only visit in the daytime.

https://www.tijuanabiketours.com/eng/tours_and_times.php

felt1

Careful, Tijuana is Juarez with the caveat of, nobody's talking about it.

hamster

In this case, I'll just give you some pictures of what you're about to tour.

https://goo.gl/maps/Nmo66
https://goo.gl/maps/PBe0E
https://goo.gl/maps/Uy9aw
https://goo.gl/maps/BLkQ0
https://goo.gl/maps/2OpBB

Pamestique 

Interceptor: I believe most people who live in CA would recommend against going to TJ. It's not what it once was... now its just dirty and very dangerous, even in the daytime. If you do go please report back. I would be interested in your impressions. It's definitely "3rd world" and not to everyone's liking... Take a drive instead out to El Centro. You will still be in CA but its has a TJ influence...

hamster

I go there to get meds once in a while, but I don't stray more than a couple of blocks from the border crossing.

It all depends. A Latino-looking guy in jeans on a cheap hybrid/fixie might be fine. (Especially if you speak Spanish.) A cyclist in Lycra on a road bike would be a prime target for mugging the moment he leaves major tourist areas.

It would be faster to take a drive to Santa Ana. 95% Hispanic and more than half of them first-generation immigrants.

GP

There's a once-a-month evening ride to Tijuana that starts in SD. You'll miss the December one, tonight, and probably miss January one.

It doesn't seem dangerous but if I don't post here again after 5 pm today, I was wrong.

roca rule

is that tijuana or east los angeles?

bitingduck

That was my first thought, too. And from east LA it's not far to really good chinese food, too.

Rumpled

To get to O'side, get to Escondido (bus or get a ride - or climb some big hills on a bike) and take the Sprinter to the Coaster to get to San Diego.
From O'side, Amtrak is another option, food and drink available, power outlets, more comfortable, bike racks as well. Usually just a few $ more.

Here's some transit info
https://www.gonctd.com/

All the buses and trains have bike racks.

hamster

So what would you say to someone who wanted to tour east LA?

Might as well go straight to Oceanside. Temecula to Oceanside is 30 miles, flat or downhill almost all the way. Temecula to Escondido is 28 miles and a couple of big hills.

Wulf

Just go to Olvera Street in LA. It has all the tourist stuff of TJ (except boystown) and its fairly clean and safe. East LA is just like regular LA except the signs in the windows are Spanish. Santa Ana has a Mexican shopping district near downtown. They also have an artist colony there with shops, galeries and lofts.

roca rule

East Los Angeles clean? Cleaner than Tijuana yes, but that is fast from fairly clean. Safer that Tijuana but still not safe enough

hamster

Looks like GP did not make it back from Tijuana

Mugre

That bike tour sounds like a blast. I'd go in a heartbeat. I've lived in Los Angeles all my life (55 years) and am a veteran of probably 25 trips to Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate and points further south. I've also lived in Guadalajara for two months and visited Guanajuato and Michoacan. About 135 American citizens were killed/murdered in ALL of Mexico last year. That includes american born latinos who were involved in the drug trade and ex-pats engaged in various and sundry nefarious activities. In comparison, 610 people were killed just in Los Angeles County in 2011. Guess where I feel safer. Yes, there are some terrifying stories but the OP is neither a narco or a cop/politician and since these are turf wars, tourists are not targets.

Tijuana is a large, busy metropolitan area. Like any such metropolis there are some sketchy areas where you as a foreigner would stick out as a stranger just as tourists who get lost trying to get to Miami from the airport have been targeted. For this first trip, stay in the tourist zones. Don't dress flashy. Don't flash cash and stay on busy streets or in the tourist zones between the beach and the Zona Rio commercial district. Stay out of the east side and the area near the airport. This is where the narco violence tends to be. If you want to drink, do it in bar/restaurants or hotels and don't get silly drunk.

I have ridden my bike over the last 15 years in every corner of the city. East LA, south L.A., Inglewood, Downtown. I have come back from Palos Verdes (to Culver City) twice by coming straight up the length of Crenshaw Blvd from Carson to Washington Blvd. Both of those times I was in full bike dweeb lycra kit. I had a microwave burrito lunch in a gas station at Century and Crenshaw. Whatever happened to me? Nothing. Never robbed. Never hassled. The wife and I have been riding our tandem east along the expo corridor to Figueroa and back. We frequently ride up and down the north/south side streets to look at the cool craftsman and victorian houses. We get many waves and smiles and answer a lot of questions about the tandem. I think we get a lot of respect for being whites that aren't afraid to meet and interact with the the Los Angeles of the 21st century. It's a lot more fun and enriching than never going east of La Brea or south of Slauson.

GP

Got lazy and didn't make it.

I don't know why people are afraid to go to Tijuana. As long as you use common sense, remember that you're a guest, don't drink too much or act like an *******, you're as safe as anywhere in the US.

rooftest

I'll throw in a "third" that you shouldn't worry about visiting Tijuana. Especially if you go during the day, you'll be fine. That organized tour looks fun.

I've never thought it was a good idea to drive into Mexico however - you've got the right idea with walking across the border.

1nterceptor

Thanks to all who gave advice, pro and con about going to Tijuana, Mexico. I'm a bit adventurous and have traveled to nice places and
also 3rd world countries, some places I had to use a hole on the floor with no running water as a bathroom(Africa, Asia). So even if
everybody was against it, I probably would have still gone. My sister in law offered her car so I didn't have to take public transportation.
Took Interstate 5 to the last exit and parked the car in one of the numerous lots available, $7 for 10 hours. Walked on a short path, thru
a turnstile and I'm over the border. First order of business is a local map, the Tijuana government had a guy helping out tourist with
where they wanted to go. The map was very useful, pointing out monuments, museums, shopping areas, etc. But for me that gets boring
fast, after awhile I deviated from the main tourist drag(Revolution Av) and went on some side streets. So now I get to see the real Tijuana.
Markets where the locals shop, restaurants where the locals eat. I sit down in a taco place that looked busy, looks like I'm the only non local.
The tacos were the best I've had The place for the bike rentals/tours were closed, no riding done. So long story short, I didn't get shot, robbed, drugged and had my kidney removed, etc. I had a nice time and would go back again if I have the chance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjt3nH3z2M

cruiserhead

They just do that to lull you into a sense of security. Next time they'll take the kidney.


Mexican Michael Jackson was awesome, I gotta go just to watch him!

Gallo

TJ is what it is. Like any border town it has its good points and it bad points. While I have no fear of going there I would not take my children. The big hassle of TJ is getting back. Long lines even for pedestrians can sometimes take a couple of hours to cross back.

Glad you had fun in TJ and welcome to So Cal.

1nterceptor

Not only was he a good performer, he was a super nice guy!