Originally Posted by
genec
You get used to the mesas and canyons, the only real issue the canyons and mesas cause is that there may only be one road to access some area... and it may not be a bike friendly road.
But the So Cal car culture is pretty strong and motorists love to drive fast around here... sometimes you want to just brain the motorists that don't even bother to look.
The thing that really is nice is the weather... year round biking in little rain, and no snow... really this place should be biking heaven... except "nobody walks in LA..." the drivers can be hell on wheels.
I understand. I had some great commutes in San Diego. My commute between Kensington and Mira Mesa was a couple of steep hills in and out of Mission Valley and then a nice long flat zip up Kearny Mesa. Another went from Sorrento Valley to Kensington via Genesee. (
genec?) That ride was a great conditioner with Genesee's rolling hills. My commute from Ranch Penasquitos to Sorrento Valley was great, half of it down the center of the Los Penasquitos Nature Reserve. I don't think I'll ever top that one.
So Cal has a very enthusiastic car culture, but they aren't nearly as intolerant as Arkansans. I think they love their cars more, but they are more open to other lifestyles and more tolerant of bicyclists. Arkansas doesn't have quite the vibrant car culture, but motorists can't imagine other ways to get about and are less tolerant of lane obstructions. And the roads are older and narrower, so bicycles seem to be a greater obstruction than they do in So Cal.