Road Ride Report OC to Santa Ana

OC to San Diego by way of bicycle

For the last 3 years I've posted up a birthday ride of sorts on STR. The last two have been hell, and were on dirt in the San Gabriel mountains. Those previous rides were almost all day events in the brutal heat of July. This year it got changed to riding the road. I talked to a few friends who said they'd be up for this ride, so I posted it up. Before I knew it, people were planning on showing up on rented bikes or ones bought last week, and a few guys having not done 100 miles yet. 9 of us finished with no problems, in relatively good spirits.

We started out at the Santa Ana Amtrak Station, hit the river trial and headed south



the rest is self explanatory so I'll ad captions tomorrow.




























good times. Congrats to those broke 100mi today for their first time. :bang:


We rode through camp pendleton, had one flat tire, stopped quite a bit despite moving at a fast pace once we were rolling, got Jay to show us a new way through the bay area at the end of the ride, and had a hell of a good time on the party train on the ride home. :drunk:

 

Did you guys all fit in the next train? Joe and I hopped right on the 4 oclock train and paid only 26 bucks. Bummed I missed the shenanigans on the "party" train but I was ready to go home. Great ride everyone. It was cool to see a bunch of mountain bikers in lycra and rocking a rotating paceline. Congrats to Bryguy and JoJOn for completing their first centuries on rented road bikes....impressive.

 

OC to Santa Ana? So, you never went anywhere?
Just kidding, way to go.
I'm considering something similar for a first century when I can ride again in the fall.

 

Thanks Dave for putting this ride together, I had a blast!!! Couldn't have picked a better group to do my first century with.

For me this is one of those bucket list rides, have always wanted to ride down to San Diego. When I first saw the post I knew this was my chance but I don't own a road bike so I rented one from the Path.

Riding the Santa Ana river trail.


Quick stop at the Laguna Jack in the box.


Dropping down into Dana point harbor.


Along the beach just south of Doheny state beach.


Old Hwy 101.


The long straight on camp Pendleton. (kicked my butt)


Along the beach in Encinitas.


Great ride everyone!!!

 

Glad you guys had fun...though how did you do that route and not end up with any pizza port pictures? I'm confused. Congrats on getting a century (or another one) done.

Man, I remember the old days though...back when you guys were mountain bikers.

 

my first road ride...I feel so dirty...

it was a good ride though, and it was definitely a different experience from my normal fair.

great riding with all you guys :beer:

I still am a mountain biker! and dont think the lack of pizza port stops was for lack of trying either, there was much mention of visiting them (all of which were sadly ignored). the train did have bottles of Arrogant Bastard though, so that helped.

 

sorry i missed it! but good on ya guys!
HBD dave!

 

Did you guys see me waving out the train window on my way to the Del Mar Racetrack?

Dean

 

It sounds like it was a great group ride, but I wouldnt know I never caught up. It appears that someone thought they were in the TDF and were flying. After having to leave just under an hour behind(late train from SD) I spent the first half going as quick as I could and not completely killing myself only to make it to San O thinking I finally caught them and to find out they were gone. It was my first stop aside from stop lights and quick stops to txt back to DB where I was. After that I switch to survival mode knowing at the pace they were going I wasn't going to likely ever catch them and I would be doing the whole ride solo. I tried a few times to speed up only to find I missed them AGAIN. I ended up doing the ride with only one true rest stop (3/4 up Torrey pines my legs were ready to explode). Past that I stopped for water twice and at stop lights and to check directions real quick. I was really shocked I was able to make it with no real stops, no real food(only 4 granola bars and 2 packs of shot blocks). Next time I am not trying to catch up.

Whats sad I am realizing I better on the road bike then the mtn bike.

 

Chatbox = the new roadie forum.

I mean...Ken? Ken? Really, Ken? [-(

Well start riding your mountain bike more and it won't be like that!

 

Awesome way to celebrate a birthday!

 

FYI, the last pic was Oceanside...great change of scenery nonetheless!

 

Pickle juice chug ftw

 

I've done this century so many time and will again for the Amtrak but I still love it.

 

The thought of your 'stache saturated in pickle juice just made me throw up a little in my mouth.

Nice ride everyone. Sounds fun.

 

Great STR/solo ride! Had a good time riding with you guys for a short time and by myself. I didn't expect this fast of a pace on a STR ride and its been a while since I did a ride like this.

For those of you wondering what happened to me, I went a mile inside the neighbordhood that is at the end of Doheny Beach which I had to go back out where I entered though the gate.

For the remainder of the trip to San Diego where I was left off on my own in Doheny Beach, I kept a moderate slow pace to San Diego. Had a flat twice in Carlsbad/Encinitas and a rider that saw my bike upside-down gave me a free tube after I used my spare. I met and rode with a rider at San Onofre that was riding from Whittier to Solana Beach. I also rode with two riders after climbing Torrey Pines to Mission Bay which I wouldn't have found the route on my own.

The speaker on the Amtrak mentioned no shenanigans and the bar stopped selling alcohol.

I was told no one gets left behind on this ride...?

 

tmi

 

Had I known I would have picked you up and tried to pull you back to the group but at the point I think I passed you I was still a man on a mission to catch the group. Wouldnt have helped though since I never caught them but then you wouldnt have been on your own.

 

Hey, I held out longer than you did! I do recall you in lycra on a certain pizza port ROAD ride????? Hmmmmmm????

On a different note. definitely checked off the "bucket list" rides. I don't know what possessed me to sign up for this ride, since this was my third ride on a ROAD bike..... It's good, but it's different than on the MTB. It's amazing how efficient the bikes are in comparison to an MTB.

I had a great time on this ride! Thanks dB and glad I could be on your b-day ride! I was pretty surprised to see that I actually had some energy left after this ride. The train ride back.......... I'll leave that to the others to explain.......

 

you guy's should have stopped off at Bubba Kahuna's in Dana Point. Great food.