San Diego Bike Rides

[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

Hi Friends,

Last year you all made great recommendations for a family bike adventure and we had the best time biking The Strand. It was scenic with the ocean just there, and there was lots of activity and also great lunch spots. I really can’t thank you enough!

We get a holiday on Friday, so we are planning to run away from home again and point our vehicle in the direction of California. We are going to hit Sea World for the day on Friday but Saturday is wide open. Except for our standing coffee date, of course (hoping for Bird Rock in La Jolla). I’m looking online at bike routes that would be fun, but if there are any of you who know a thing or two about San Diego and want to pitch your route, I’d love to hear! We will want a path that takes us out of traffic (like a paved path inaccessible to cars) since our two sons will be with us. Ocean or nature views are our jam.

One last thing. For those of you who do not have spouses/SOs who share your bike passion, let me tell you there is hope. This upcoming trip is 100% my husband’s idea. (I actually tried to talk him out of bringing our bikes because I fear they will be stolen.) My husband never cared a thing for bikes, but it was my birthday so I got to choose our activity and I chose biking in CA. We rented him an ebike when we rode The Strand, and as a former motorcycle guy, he LOVED it. It was the perfect compromise. When we got home he found a smoking deal on a Pedego Intercepter. It’s so ugly. He got panniers, a speaker, and a phone mount and he now rides with me all over creation with the condition that he gets to control the playlist. Mostly, we like Saturday morning bike rides into town for coffee. He came home last week laden with shopping bags and proclaimed from the foyer, “I’ve got good news! I bought a new wardrobe for our Saturday coffee dates!” 😂😂😂

[Bill Schairer]

Sounds like you already know about the Silver Strand? 25 mile loop around San Diego Bay is pretty good. The only time I can get my wife out on our tandem is to ride the Bike The Bay event where we get to ride over the Coronado Bridge. There is a ferry too. I think there is sort of a path around Mission Bay for VERY casual riding and there is sort of a path along the San Diego River in Mission Valley. Not continuous without breaks but you can take it all the way out to the ocean just south of Sea World, actually on both sides of the river at the western end so makes a nice up and back. Good bird watching along that path. There is a 4 mile loop on Fiesta Island near Sea World which is a popular ride for those seeking exercise. Then, of course, the coast highway from UCSD north to Oceanside. Mostly bike lane with lots of bike traffic and car traffic and some hills. Start at the Torrey Pines Glider Port near the Salk Institute for some great views.

[Leah Peterson]

Oh, California and its many Strands! I was talking about The Strand near LA; you are talking Silver Strand, which I did come across in my online research. I’ll check out your recommendations - and thanks!
Leah

Sent from my iPad

> On Oct 23, 2019, at 9:19 PM, Bill Schairer <comm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sounds like you already know about the Silver Strand? 25 mile loop around San Diego Bay is pretty good. The only time I can get my wife out on our tandem is to ride the Bike The Bay event where we get to ride over the Coronado Bridge. There is a ferry too. I think there is sort of a path around Mission Bay for VERY casual riding and there is sort of a path along the San Diego River in Mission Valley. Not continuous without breaks but you can take it all the way out to the ocean just south of Sea World, actually on both sides of the river at the western end so makes a nice up and back. Good bird watching along that path. There is a 4 mile loop on Fiesta Island near Sea World which is a popular ride for those seeking exercise. Then, of course, the coast highway from UCSD north to Oceanside. Mostly bike lane with lots of bike traffic and car traffic and some hills. Start at the Torrey Pines Glider Port near the Salk Institute for some great views.
>
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[John Casteen]

I've been there riding twice in the last couple years and had pretty good experiences-- mostly.  See below.

There's a pretty casual loop around Mission Bay, mostly on bike paths; you can park/start at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach or at the convention center right near Sea World, then ride on the paths that follow the shore.  The bike layer of Google maps shows them clearly.

If you park/start at Liberty Station, riding from Point Loma along the bay to downtown, between Harbor Drive and the water, is fun and pretty.  You can end up where the ferry goes over to Coronado Island, then ride to the beach.  This would be an out-and-back.

Last, and most interesting but also probably most challenging, would be riding the point out to Cabrillo National Monument.  Extravagant views, tide pools, the occasional hard climb.

Your caution about bike theft is legit.  My bike was stolen there in August, downtown.  Bike shop folks and a facebook group maintained for victims of bike theft all suggest that the problem is systemic, widespread, and severe.  If you want to ride downtown, or really anywhere that you'd leave your bikes unattended for any period of time, look online for the (relatively few) places that offer an indoor, secured bike lot; the transit station near the ballpark is one, but there are probably others.  If I had it to do over again, I would rent a Jump or other short-term bike for any ride that would require locking it to a rack out of my line of sight in San Diego.  I don't know how the problem compares to other cities.

Good luck, and have fun.  It's a great place to ride.

John

[Bill Schairer]

Ah, since not the Strand you already know, I think the Silver Strand most closely meets the criteria you mentioned. Not only that but Coronado has beautiful beaches, the Coronado Hotel and lots of places to eat.

Bill S

[Conor Skelding]

If you're a single male, maybe ride to San Ysidro, walk your bike across the border, and bike across Tijuana to the beach?

On Thu, Oct 24, 2019 at 2:47 PM Bill Schairer <comm...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ah, since not the Strand you already know, I think the Silver Strand most closely meets the criteria you mentioned.  Not only that but Coronado has beautiful beaches, the Coronado Hotel and lots of places to eat.

Bill S

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