Dang...Just ride from Irvine to San Diego and take the train back. Great Ride ~85 miles, lots of coastal riding, don't need to buy a train ticket till you get down there, makes for a great day. And I am not talking about the Amtrak Century just any ole Saturday will do. I will be doing at least one other time. I will let people know. You can shorten it too by riding just to Oceanside or Solana Beach.
Best one I've ever done is The Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge. Imagine VQ on the road, but a little more climbing. Very hard, but fun and Nor Cal is so beautiful, you don't notice the pain August 4th http://www.santacruzcycling.org/scmc/2007/index.shtml
