I will be in Fullerton for most of the week starting Sunday, July 2. Can anyone provide me some info on riding routes or sources for riding routes in that area? Any compilations by an LBS? I am looking for routes of 20-80 miles.
Thanks!
several great rides in the area. But the first few miles will be on streets. From where ever you are in Fullerton, ask how to ride to the Santa Ana river bike trail, Then go west to the ocean, You can then head south to the laguna beach -dana point area or ride north on some bike trails and bike lanes. If you want hills ans a local how to get to santiago canyon, good hills. . Call the LBS fullerton bikes, 714-879 8310
have fun!
I guess I should explain a little bit more. I am visiting my folks, who still live in the house I lived in when I went to college. College was UCI. Post college was Newport Beach, Tustin, and Irvine, so I am pretty familiar with Orange County. My folks are off of Harbor and Bastanchury. All the roads out of there are killer, including Imperial hwy. I won’t have a car, so I’m trying to find some good routes away from Fullerton that don’t require much busy street riding to get to. I think I am going to take the train option (out of Anaheim) south for my long day.
I ride to and from school in Whittier to home in Newport several times per week, and there aren’t a whole lot of options for ya (I usually have to take the metrolink train to get me through the worst of it). If you continue east on Bastanchury for several miles, you can then take Lakeview south to the Santa Ana River trail. From there, flat and west to the coast or hilly and fun east (via the southbound on the very end of Imperial) through Santiago Canyon. Or bust out the MTB and do the Fullerton Loop (boring but near by). Good luck, and avoid Santa Ana and Anaheim at ALL costs.
Scott.
Not far to get to Santiago Canyon from Fullerton. The folks from Velocity Cycling Club might be able to help. I know they have a spirited group that runs amok on Saturdays. We’re riding from Irvine at 6am on Thursday and 5pm from Mission Viejo on Thursday if your weekdays are free.
Send me a note if you make it down to So OC.
-SD
Take Kramer/Glassel south. Traffic is pretty light and there’s a bike lane on most of it. Just over the 91 freeway you will hit the Santa Ana bike path. It goes south to Newport/Huntington or north to Green River.
Gary Mc
Take Kramer/Glassel south. Traffic is pretty light and there’s a bike lane on most of it. Just over the 91 freeway you will hit the Santa Ana bike path. It goes south to Newport/Huntington or north to Green River.
That may be the ticket for the non long day rides. I was thinking that there had to be some kind of route through Placentia and Yoba Linda to go east.
I will be sans car for the week, so southern OC is a bit out of reach as I know the traffic well. I moved from Irvine to Ohio in 1983, but I recall a lot of dedicated bike paths, and other quiet roads back then around that area. Ah, I miss doing the Around the Bay in May run.
If you hit Imperial Hwy early, it usually isn’t too bad (on the weekends). I know some friends who do a ride that I believe is around 80 miles, where they start on Imperial Hwy, head south (I think) and it turns into Cannon Drive. Continue on that until Katella, turn left. Follow the right hand turn at Jamboree, then a quick left on to Santiago Canyon. Ride Santiago Canyon south to Portola. Turn right (you’ll start getting some traffic here). Take Portola to Bake Pkwy, turn left. Go to Trabuco/Irvine Blvd and turn right. I believe the second stop light is Alton, turn left. Take it over the 5, past the Irvine Spectrum, and connect with the bike trail. (it goes off to the right). This turns into the Irvine trail and can take you past UCI, to Back Bay, where you can ride to PCH. Turn right and head back to Santa Ana River Trail and take back inland.
I’m not sure of the distance, but when they want to do a century, they do that ride except turn left on Portola/Santa Margarita Pkwy (where I live) and head up into Rancho Santa Margarita, make their way to Antonio, to Ortega Hwy, and then to the the coast.
Of course, if you just want to make it a good day of climbing, do the same route to the end of Santiago Canyon, turn around and head back. (Santiago Canyon is something like 16 miles long - so depending on how far you are from it, it could be a good 50 miler ;-). Imperial Hwy/Cannon is a nice climb. You can also head into Tustin Hills(?) and climb Skyline Dr. (narrow 1.5 lane road, steep in parts, so could be tough later in the day with cars) end up on Newport, turn right, then head back to Cannon and home on Imperial Hwy.
Lots of great riding, but unfortunately, your stuck with city streets getting to the good stuff (unless you go park by the River Trail and take off from there).
Have fun…
There is a ride in there somewhere, I’m just not exactly sure where. 
Imperial Hwy runs out to LAX to the west, and down to Yorba Linda to the East, but I wouldn’t ride it in either direction. My guess is State College (parallel to Harbor, but a mile east) would be the best bet down to Anaheim and Katella.
And Ortega Canyon? That is a death ride in a vehicle during commuter time. I wouldn’t believe that cyclists would ride that on a regular schedule, although it would be a great ride. They haven’t widen it to two lanes or anything have they? It has been a while since I have been up that way. My brother use to commute on that road in the 70s/80s and tell me all the stories of VW buses and motorcycles stuck up in the trees from going off the curves. Crazy road.
Imperial Highway turns into Canon St. on the south side of the 91. When you get that far east/south on Imperial Hwy, it is not that bad (WAY better than riding on either Katella or Chapman west of the 57 if you are trying to get to Santiago Canyon Rd.
There are possibly hundreds of riders on Santiago Canyon Rd. every afternoon/evening. I would stay off it between 5-7pm, but other than that…it is still a great ride. There aren’t really ANY streets in South Orange County that aren’t a deathride at commuter time…that’s why your best bet is to not ride at that time
It is still a 2 lane road, although most of it has a nice wide bike lane (almost the width of a car lane). I would also stay off it heading north/west any time within 30 minutes of sunset. Drivers will be heading directly into the sun…
Imperial Highway turns into Canon St. on the south side of the 91. When you get that far east/south on Imperial Hwy, it is not that bad (WAY better than riding on either Katella or Chapman west of the 57 if you are trying to get to Santiago Canyon Rd.
Okay that’s beyond my knowledge base and good to know. I think I’ll give it a shot.
**There aren’t really ANY streets in South Orange County that aren’t a deathride at commuter time…that’s why your best bet is to not ride at that time **
That qualifies as one of the understatements of the year and one of the reasons I have never and will never move back to SoCal. I have never understood how traithletes managed to pull off training in Orange Co. San Diego I could see, but most of OC is just packed. I think I’ll probably manage the rides either at mid morning or mid afternoon. No lingering!
As someone who grew up in the midwest, but traveled all over the country (for work & play)…I can say I prefer to STAY in O.C. simply because at least with traffic, the majority of drivers here are at least familiar with cyclists on the road. Riding from stoplight to stoplight (or stop sign to stop sign) was much more of a deathride back in Schaumburg, IL than it is here
Luckily, living immediately off the bike trail, I have a few routes in either directions down El Toro that are a bit better for traffic. Unfortunately, my favorite time trial/speed ride in Irvine (Culver, Portola, Jeffrey or Sand Canyon, Irvine Blvd loop) has now become a nightmare with the land development going on between Jeffrey and Sand Canyon.
I live one city over in Yorba Linda,
Best bet it to get to the river trial. I can get you there with the most bike friendly streets if you p.m. me for directions. As mentioned, the river trail is 29.5 miles dead flat, no cars or lights so a 60 miler is possible without stopping. Water and stores along the trail to fuel up if needed. For longer climbs, head to Santiago Canyon. If you really want to climb, come out to my area. There are very steep hills with plenty of bike lanes, wide streets. I can ride crazy hills from .5-2 miles long, descend, ride to the next hill and do it again for about a 40 mile ride. I make right hand turns the whole way so I only stop at a few lights the entire time. The roads are the best pavement in Socal.
Tim