Road Ride Report Notes from first bike commute

Did my first-ever bike commute this morning, from Fullerton to the JWA area in Irvine. Highlights and lowlights from the first 20 miles of the day:

1. My wife clearly does not like this idea. An extra-long hug and earnest "Be careful" as i walk out the door.
2. School zones are evil. Almost got doored within a half mile of my house by a distracted mommy ... parked in the FRIGGIN' BIKE LANE, no less. Grrrrrr.
3. Need to figure out a safer route to the Santa Ana River Trail. Two busy freeway under- and overpass crossings at rush hour are no bueno.
4. I've always hated the brake pads on my 2010 Spesh Allez, but they're downright useless in misty morning weather. Time to replace them.
5. Crap, my goal of making it to the office in an hour is slipping away. A sudden headwind isn't helping my cause any.
6. Off the river trail at Talbert, which may well be the sh!ttiest road i've ever biked on. Chatter, chatter, chatter ...
7. An hour and 8 minutes after leaving my driveway, i'm at the office.
8. Next time, when leaving work clothes at the office the day before a commute, be sure to include underwear. #-o
9. Even Kirkland coffee tastes pretty good after a morning's exercise.
10. Daydreaming about the ride home this afternoon.

 

Whats the route to the river trail from Fullerton?

 

I did east on Chapman, south on Kramer to the trail. Need to figure out a route that doesn't include busy freeway crossings.

 

Try Wilshire to Acacia.

 

Will try that tonight. Checking out a map, it looks like i can exit the river trail at Glassell and hook into Frontera, to La Palma to Acacia and avoid any freeway on- and off-ramps. Thanks.

 

Exactly:wave:

 

Not sure of the area of your destination, but try some of the other streets.
Also there is a bike trail along Alton if you are heading that way.
Segerstrom to Susan would get you to that.

If the Fully side is way too bad for you; consider hopping Metrolink to Anaheim?

Maybe the bikeways map can help.
http://www.octa.net/pdf/bwmap_full.pdf

Maybe even Lincoln to Rio Vista to to Frontera.

Hey; I'm just looking at the maps.

 

If you're going near the airport, get off the bike trail past Macarthur/Talbert. If you keep going turn left down the path just before the tunnel. That spits you out on Sunflower and you can take that all the way to Main then hang a right. Sunflower is a little friendlier than Macarthur.

 

I would recommend a rear view mirror. They seem to be a love / hate thing. I love mine and really do not like riding without it. It's really nice to be able to see what's coming from behind while on the road. Just a thought.

 

I feel your pain -- I ride an extra 1.5 miles to avoid the roads and stay on the mountain to sea trail. The irony is that it is faster when you don't have to wait for red lights.