i'm moving to san diego later on this year...what is the biking scene like out there. i know that the city is very bike friendly...but im talking more about people out riding, the community...things like that. i hope that i will be able to get a messenger job out there, as well.

Bike Friendly, what you talking about willis?

I moved to San Diego in June and it's suburban concrete hell. Sure there's bikelanes in most of the major roads here, but I wouldn't ride on half of them.

It's not much better than New Jersey where I moved and Jersey's bad.

About the community, there's the velodrome in Balboa Park. There's a good amount of major bicycle manufactures like Electra Bike, Ellsworth, Haro, Giant(near Orange County(1.5hours away)).

Critical Mass in San Diego is a sad affair. Of course, I use to ride in NYC during their CMs so I'm jaded.

There's a good amount of Bike Shops in SD.

But I'm considering moving to San Francisco for the Bike Culture and Artistic Culture.

San Diego doesn't really doesn't seem to have that much personality.

Anyone wants to prove me wrong?

Cro_Moly_Body.

I do see some Bike Messengers in Downtown San Diego though. There's a company here that runs a BikeTaxi business too.

I still haven't found a "Go-To" Bike shop in Downtown San Diego though. So I tend to go to Coronado for a killer bike shop there.

Cro_Moly_Body

Adams Avenue Bike shop is really great. They carry a bunch of high end stuff, and they sell a lot of track bikes and equipment and single speed mountain bike stuff. The shop organizes rides almost every day of the week. The Tuesday Night Singlespeed/Fixed Gear ride is a lot of fun. Thomas Bike shop is also pretty cool. They cater to a lot of messengers and carry a bunch of track stuff.

San Diego has more of a road and mountain biking culture. Lots of great routes and trails for those. There are lots of clubs that go out on weekly rides.

Can't really say about the urban culture...

I am from san diego and got out as soon as I was able (to san francisco). Riding in San Diego is scary. People drive like idiots and are not used to cyclists. Depending on what scene you are looking for, there seem to be a large growing group of 'hip' kids starting in on the whole fixed gear craze, and a few into road bikes. The velodrome is a plus, but there aren't many bike shops worth going to. Didn't Adams Avenue close down a few years ago?

CMB

As it happens I'm moving to Coronado. Which bike shop do you recommend and why? FWIW my goals for '05 are
1) Get a new road bike (training/entry level racing bike)
2) Rebuild/paint my current road bike
3) Get an older road bike for a fixie conversion (which is why I lurk in the SS/Fixie forum). Depending on time & $$ I might just convert my old road bike after I get a new roadie.

Any advice on a good LBS in Coronado for any/all of the above would be appreciated.

Thanks

Brad

There's more than one bike shop in Coronado?

Who ever said that people drive like idiots in Sn Diego is true, where do people not drive like idiots? Any ways as far as courier companys, there is about five different companys, calexcpress hires on the spot. there is also first legal and aloha bicycle courier (fastest courier service in town) which never hire. Our bma is not to organized right now, good luck

Chicken!!! Some once refered to them as "the skinny turn lanes for traffic".

You ever ride up 5th after 4 pm? That can be sketcheria near the 5.


Agreed. Had a hit and run on the last one. Don't know what happen to December's ride.



Agreed on all points. But still ride.

I saw you Thursday danger, heading down across Broadway past the bank. Chrome pista, back pack no helmet... I was attempting to call Yussef.

You work for Aloha don't you? I've seen a few of those around.. they are pretty fast. Getting anything in San Diego to organize is like herding cats...

Aloha is the fastest courier in town, no matter what anybody says. what what!!!!!!

oh yeah we have been to lazy to organize anything, sorry. But when we do i will post it on the forums.

Hollands Cycles in Coronado did hook me up on a fast BB fix one day. Enough time to fly down oarnge and still catch the ferry.

Down town Penny Farthings is good for a repair and to look at a decent collection of used bikes: mostly early 90's high end road frames. The guy is pretty nice and his prices for the bikes are just ok. He did help me crank down a problematic chain ring once.

In addition to Adam's ave bike shop, I'd recommend Preformance on the same street just up the block. Lee and Ernesto are kick ass good on repairs, recommendations etc. Ernesto built me a fixie wheel that I haven't been able to destroy through every day use. But I heard a rumour they were closing that store. Which sucks because that was the only Preformance that dealt in track stuff.

The guys in Adam's ave bike shop are pretty cool. They set up a local race, and are out and about in local events a lot.

Peddle pushing bike ship in El Cajon is good for parts, older frames, etc. Dave JR is pretty cool and a stand up guy. His Dad runs the upscalish version on Univ about a mile over, and an attached coffee shop.

There's another bike shop on El Cajon near College. Thier OK, but don't know much about fixed gear stuff. They do sell the indominatable Specialized Armadillo tires...
but I've yet to buy anything there or have any work done.

Sorry for busting San Diego's chops on these post, but I had to vent a little.

I did however found a good group of bikers at this used bike shop at El Cajon Blvd. I forget the name, but the owner there is the son of the owner of the antique bike shop/Cafe at 68th and University. He's a laid back fellow. There were two other bike nuts who are also into 1980s steel rides like I am.

The bike shop in Coronado is indeed Holland's Bicycles. Very much recommended for good service.

Anyone in San Francisco wantst to help me get familiar with your city? I'm thinking of moving and I want to see for myself whether it is worth the move. Like where's a good somewhat affordable place to live(I know I know SF is expensive, but there has to be small pockets of relatively cheapo rent like I have found in San Diego)

Thanks

That'd be Dave Jr, and the shop is Peddle pushing Bike shop. That's where I got my old Bianchi from. Good guy that Dave jr.

SF defeats SD.

Without knowing anything about you, I am not sure where you would want to be. I recommend the Mission, my favorite place (and super hip). But if you want to be a little out of the way, and probably a little cheaper, you could head out west to the Sunset or Richmond. Rent is tricky, but the best bet is to try and find roommates. That is the main way you are going to keep rent down, since it is expensive everywhere. Bikewise, its all pretty good, with my favorite bike place being Freewheel on Hayes (not the sister shop on Valencia).

Send me a pm if you want more info. Or post something on the sf threads.

Got an area shop recommendation, but it's not exactly in San Diego. Head up the coast a ways to Solana Beach and hit up Bike 101. They don't stock a great deal of SS/Fixed stuff 'cause there's not a huge market for it around those parts, but most of 'em ride fixed/ss and they'd probably at least have a few track cogs, and SS freewheels in stock, and probably a SS mtb or two on the showroom floor. Dunno if they usually carry track-bikes, or if that's more of a special-order thing.

Dan, the manager, is a riding buddy of mine from way back, and a singlespeed mtn. biker who also races cross and rides fixed on the road. Tony, one of the mechanics is also a SS'er and an all around good guy (Not to mention, effin' strong. He won the Worlds Solo 24 Hr. championship singlespeed division last year, and also won the 12-hours at Summit solo-singlespeed class.), and the buyer Jeff is an ex-messer and fixie afficianado. Show up to one of the Friday morning road-rides and there's likely to be a fixie or two in the bunch.

-Trevor

I've lived in San Diego my whole life. I've been cycling for a little over a year now. No San Diego isnt the most biker friendly town, but if you really enjoy cycling, you're going to get out there and ride no matter what. It really isnt that terrible (just keep your guards up). Personally, my favorite bike shop is Pedal Pushing. Dave is no longer the owner of that shop (hasnt been for nearly 6 years). Dan is. The staff there, Leon and Rudy, are absolutely fantastic and give excellent customer service. And the cheapest prices on parts and bicycles.

Might that be some kind of record for dredging up this zombie thread? NINE years, two weeks?

Awesome.

Not a record.