Cycling in Orange County (Irvine/Lake Forest area)?
03-09-17, 08:34 AM
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Cycling in Orange County (Irvine/Lake Forest area)?
I'm moving down to the Irvine/Lake Forest area next month. However, I'll initially only be able to bring two of my bikes with me. So my question is, what kind of riding is there in that area? I've decided for now that I'll bring my Specialized Epic 29er and my super light CX bike which can double as a road bike with another wheelset, but which of my bikes that I'll actually bring depends upon the riding there.
I'm a big mixed surface and gravel rider. Is there enough gravel/easy dirt over there to warrant bringing the CX bike? Or am I better off just bringing my road bike?
And how are the MTB trails over there? Are they super technical and rocky enough to warrant a full suspension bike, or can I get away with a hardtail?
Thanks!
I'm a big mixed surface and gravel rider. Is there enough gravel/easy dirt over there to warrant bringing the CX bike? Or am I better off just bringing my road bike?
And how are the MTB trails over there? Are they super technical and rocky enough to warrant a full suspension bike, or can I get away with a hardtail?
Thanks!
03-09-17, 09:46 AM
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def bring the road bike-a good mix of flats and hills. as to bringing a mtb or cx bike, i'll let someone else answer that. plenty of trails to ride in the nearby santa ana mtns and the hills behind laguna beach but have only hiked those areas-not ridden them.
03-09-17, 09:59 AM
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I don't live there, but I have a brother in Mission Viejo. I'm not aware of any easy dirt trails, it's all up in the hills, steep rocky stuff. The less extreme terrain is all built-over already. I stick to the roads.
03-09-17, 10:12 AM
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Wide variety of trails ranging from fire roads to technical downhill
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/312...ing-ranch-loop
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7004137/the-luge-loop
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/312...ing-ranch-loop
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7004137/the-luge-loop
03-09-17, 10:26 AM
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I live in Lake Forest. I'm a roadie but I've done a little MTB on my rigid bike. Blackstar Canyon (mostly fire road) and a bit of Whiting Ranch ( a variety). there is lots of riding out beyond Santiago Cyn as well. I see people on both hardtail and full bikes. There is a pretty decent gravel path that runs thru LF up to Foothill - Serrano Creek trail.
03-10-17, 08:50 AM
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Thanks everyone. I'll be bringing the FS MTB, but I was hoping for more input on whether I should bring my CX bike or road bike. Basically, is there enough terrain in the area to warrant bringing the CX bike?
03-10-17, 11:12 AM
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