rhea

Hey everyone... well I'm a new member here, so... Hi.

I was wondering if there was anyone in the San Diego area that could recommend some good beginner places to ride... some place without an abundance of hills (like I said... beginner). I'm not sure where my limits stand, as i'm just starting off... but I guess that's what I've got to be finding out The coastal area would be preferred (not necessarily along the beach... but not terribly inland (el cajon, etc), north county area is alright, I'm there fairly regularly). Any input would be appreciated greatly, I'm racking my brain for places around here, and of course can think of some... but others' opinions/input are usually a good idea



If I'm: in the wrong forum, asking a question that's been asked, etc... please let me know


Thanks in advance

jab

Hi!

Most of the places around here seem to have mild rolling hills, and lots of cars. When I was getting started with road cycling, the cars were a bigger problem than the hills. Where in the San Diego area are you?

Possibly the flattest place I've been riding here is around MCAS Miramar; when riding clockwise, east on Miramar Rd. and then turning south on Kearny Villa Rd., there are very few driveways or intersections to your right, so you get some good uninterrupted cranking. This isn't completely flat, there are still a few small hills (particularly on Kearny Villa), and depending on the weather there can be notable wind.

Unfortunately, the traffic on Miramar can be intimidating, the right lane narrows in a few places, and merging across the ramps on Kearny Villa (65 mi/hr speed limit) isn't something I'd encourage a total beginner to try alone.

There's the "old hwy 101" route up the coast, too, from (say) Genesee & North Torrey Pines Rd., North to Camino Del Mar, and you can follow that road all the way up to Camp Pendleton. This route has lots of rolling hills, and unfortunately a lot of traffic at times. At the moment, N. Torrey Pines Rd. is under construction where it passes the beach just before Del Mar, so I wouldn't point a beginner in that direction either. (Notice a pattern? )

One low-traffic place that isn't too hilly is the Rose Canyon bike path, along with Santa Fe St. This is about a 4mi stretch of paved road that runs south from the corner of Gilman Dr. and La Jolla Colony Dr., down to the intersection of Santa Fe St. and Balboa Ave. (There's also a bike store here, Bicycle Warehouse). The first mile is a bike-only path, and the remainder is a regular road. Santa Fe St. dead-ends at the entrance to the bike path, so there is no through traffic; the road is essentially deserted on weekends, and you'll see far more cyclists than cars. You could ride up and down this stretch a bit to get started, I suppose.

However, I'd say not to hide from the hills; they make you a stronger rider. The climb up N. Torrey Pines Rd from the beach up to the golf course (which doesn't cross the construction zone) looks steep and intimidating, but it's not too steep, it has a wide shoulder, and if you keep your heart rate under control it'll give you a good challenge to conquer early on. Watch for fallen rocks, though. Similarly, a bit steeper is the climb up Soledad Mtn Rd. from Garnet Ave, heading north up towards the Easter Cross. This one has a nice bike lane, and is a longer climb, but still not super-steep. The reward is a great view from the top, and a scenic ride back down the mountain.

Finally, if you're a total beginner, you may want to find a nearly-empty school or large parking lot or something to practice the basics. For instance, Spring Quarter at UCSD just ended, so the campus is relatively deserted; there's plenty of riding around there to get started on, along with some short hills to practice. Watch out for construction.

The UCSD Cycling Team also has a list of routes online, here.

Have fun!

-JAB

filly

Not to be harsh, but if you're "racking" your brain for places to ride in San Diego, then you've got major issues. Try living in New Orleans. I have 2, count them, 2, routes to ride. On top of that, they require a 30 minute drive. To find more, I have to drive over an hour outside the city.

baj32161

I seem to remember the last time I was Pacific Beach back in the late '80s....I would love to have ridden in that area but I don't know if it has changed since then.

DocJ

Yeah, I miss San Diego. We in New Orleans have to make do with less, but that's our whole history I guess.

va_cyclist

Just curious, why is New Orleans so route-challenged? Is it the geography? Nothing but interstates?

filly

First off, the city (and suburbs) was built without even an inkling of consideration for cyclists. No bike lanes anywhere and very few shoulders (I don't ride on shoulders anyhow). The road conditions are absolutely horrendous--everywhere. Goes back to the whole political corruptness in the city--it's got MAJOR issues with mis-appropriation of money. A pothole has to literally swallow a Suburban and kill its passengers before a *****ty attempt at patching it up even occurs. Some streets are so bad that it's dangerous to do more than 20 mph in your vehicle. Also, I think we're one of the fattest cities in the country. So, do you think a bunch of slobs driving cars around care about a cylist on the road? Our traffic is also hideous. San Diego has way more people than we do, but their highway system is impeccable. I-10 in New Orleans gets jammed up so bad...2 lanes (for a friggin' interstate within city limits) littered with potholes, irregularities, *****ty signs (if they're even present), etc, etc.

Most importantly, the majority of people here are ignorant when it comes to the environment and taking care of the place. Trash is EVERYWHERE, and most people don't care. I've seen people empty full ash trays onto the road, dumping 30 cigarette butts, while idling to pay the toll to cross the Miss. River to get into downtown. Same toll plaza, and I see a teenager throw two 32 oz big gulps out of his truck and onto the road. All this while creeping along before the toll plaza, in plain view of other drivers--it didn't phase him the slightest. When my wife and kid aren't with me, I get out of my car, pick up the trash, and throw it back into their car through the open window. I figure they won't shoot me when in the company of 100 other drivers.

So, bottom line, it sucks here, big time. I'm from the area, and I moved back for work a year and a half ago. I've got the same amount of time left, and I'm getting the heck out.

neil0502

I live in P.B. The streets aren't safe for beginners. The worst kind of young, aggressive, and distracted drivers . . . and way too many of 'em.

Go to Mission Bay Park or Crown Point Shores and ride along the Bay. Beautiful, flat, and relatively safe (if you can handle pedestrians ). Go during the week and avoid the crowds.

If you're a beginner, you should sharpen your skills, your balance, your shifting technique, and strengthen your legs. Then ask again. There's (you know this) a bezillion beautiful rides in San Diego.

Think I'll change and go out on one myself

surfncycling

I'd say that in all honesty you just need to ride the hills. When I was starting the biggest obstacles were cars, not hills. Go out into the inland canyons (Bonsall, Valley Center, Temecula) while it's still pretty cool in the AM. There aren't any hills out there that are steep enough to make it impossible to get up unless you are really really really weak. Those areas are light on the traffic and absolutely beautiful.
The thing about hills is that you can always go slower, just put it in the 23 cog and crank away

DocJ

I just had to replace brand new suspension in the car after two years back in New Orleans because of the roads here. My residencial street is absolutely dangerous to drive at more than 15mph. Building the cheapest road system in a swamp and never maintaining it is not good for cars, much less for bikes. I wouldn't say that it absolutely sucks here, but cycling here is definitely very trying compared to any other place I've lived (Florida, California, Illinois, Wisconsin). Forget about mountain biking, too.
Sorry.. I didn't mean to hijack the thread.

jedi_rider

San Diego is a great place to ride, especially in the East County areas. Go to your local bike shop and inquire.

Caution: Not many flat places as SD has lots of rolling terrain.

However, maybe the best flat place (or popular) to ride is from Torrey Pines to Solana Beach Pier and back on the 101. Some traffic lights and stop signs, but you'll see an abundance of cyclists too. It's along the beach so there will be cars.

jedi_rider

Oh yeah, try riding around Fiesta Island , too.

Just watch out on Thursday evenings for the peloton that barrels through for their 1hr speed work.

DocJ

I lived in LaMesa and Kearney Mesa for a couple years, and I used to really enjoy riding around the Cuyamaca/Julian area east of SD.

rhea

ok thanks Filly, wasn't asking people to be jerks. Ever have one of those days where nothing is coming to your brain? Maybe not... but that's the kind of night I was having.

Mostly I just wanted others' input in the area...


Hills aren't really a problem-- enormous ones are (i'm not up for torrey pines yet), but otherwise I can deal with it.


Also, I can *ride* a bike, the shifters are in a tricky location, but they aren't too bad... and I have a good amount of leg strength from running (and endurance)... so 15-20 miles isn't too bad for me starting off (obviously I'd like to work up to more, I just need to try going out either with my dad or by myself, cause my friend can't quite hang )



Thanks for all of the input thus far

rockstar

go to the bike trail that runs parallel to the 56 freeway. a fairly flat trail no traffic very easy to find and you can't get lost 8 miles one way and 8 miles back.....problem solved, next question

filly

Hey, DocJ, I lived in La Mesa as well. 79 up to Julian friggin' rocks. How I miss the days where I could leave my front door on my bike and never do the same route twice. I just got back from riding the Lakefront...again. Hmmm, where will I go tomorrow? Let's see...Lakefront?

rhea

I've been thinking about that one actually (kinda lame cause it's really flat and straight) it IS a perk to not be able to get lost (granted there's a good chance I will anyway). haha... so lame, though

Part of the problem is trying to ride with my friend, who isn't in nearly the shape I am... she's a trooper, though, and as long as she keeps going on these shorter (~5-8 miles) rides with me she'll get up to it (she could also use a road bike-- she's on a hybrid and can't keep up). I say it's a problem cause I'm trying to find places to ride that she can handle.


So far the UCSD area (gilman, genesee, campus loop) is looking good...

neil0502

Sorry. I couldn't hear you over the traffic. Could you repeat that?

jab

Help the slow guy out, here: where is this bike trail? What's the nearest street intersection to one of the ends?

-JAB

neil0502

Go to https://efgh.com/bike/redroute.htm and ctrl-F for "West Ted Williams"

jab

Great! Thanks for the link, I'll definitely have to explore some of those.

I've got no qualms about riding in traffic, but it's nice to have places to take newbies or folks who don't know the rules of the road.

-JAB