Searching for Bike Paths
 

I finally have the good fortune of getting my wife interested in cycling, and we've been doing short rides together. I bought her a bike about 3 years ago, but she didn't take to it at all. Now she is training with a fitness trainer who is a friend of ours and an avid cyclist (rides centuries, etc); and as part of her workout began to take Spinning classes. It's gotten her interested in doing more on a bike for herself.

The problem is that she isn't comfortable with riding in traffic at all (I can't say that I blame her),and would like to ride on bike paths to get more used to cycling before making the jump onto lots of city streets. We live in Southern California in a town called Redlands (Yes, there is a "Redlands Bike Classic" here, so it's a decent enough place to be). I purchased a rack to carry our bikes yesterday...and sort of realized that I notice paths all over, but never know where to park, how to get to them or where they go.

Has anybody got information or links that could lead me to paths in and out of this area, as well as over other parts of Southern California? I see some riders posting that live in the Claremont/ Pomona area, and that would be worth our drive if we could get plugged into to where to go. I've searched around the site here, and not found anything- if I missed an existing thread, a link to that would be just great too!

Also, are there coastal bike paths that run long distances, or do the paths mainly cover the distance of a beach or city?

The trails you speak of could be old rail systems. The internet lists what are called " Rails to Trails". They also publish books on the subject. Another suggestion is to talk to your LBS. Quite often they have lots of info. pertaining to trails. If all else fails, stop and ask someone riding on these trails that you see and ask them about trailheads.

In SoCal, there's a fairly extensive network of paths along the old rivers aka "flood control channels". I used to ride from San Gabriel to Long Beach on the Rio Hondo path. It's been a few years (uhhh... 25?) so I don't know how well they've been maintained or policed.

The beach bike paths are complete zoos. If your wife is frightened by traffic, they'll terrify her.

Tried http://www.labikepaths.com/index.html yet?

Try these:
http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/u...es/ca/redlands
http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/coun.../126/city/7390

Ask at your local bike shops:
Acme Bicycle Co.
419 E State St
Redlands, CA
92373-5236
909-793-9971


Redlands Cyclery
415 Tennessee St Ste A
Redlands, CA
92373-8160
909-792-2444

Thanks for all the input. I've book-marked all of them and begun to dig through them when I have time.

As for the local shops, I've bought two bikes from one of the shops, but don't feel welcome there...but was planning on searching out the other one to see what they are like.

At least I have someplace to look now!