On Saturday 1/23/10, SDBikecommuter members will again ride from Oceanside to San Diego with a remote start in Oceanside at 11:00AM.

Many members missed this ride last time, and due to popular demand we will do this again along the same lines as last time (this time, hopefully without Mike getting a flat in Encinitas!). Let's make it the biggest and best SDBikeCommuter ride ever!

Most of us will take the Coaster to Oceanside (departure details below). The ride will depart from Oceanside Transit Center (Coaster Platform) at 11:00 and will go mostly along PCH. Total ride length will be 40-45 miles with some gentle hills (and one long and steep hill that many of us will walk at least part of the way - Torrey Pines grade), plus any applicable hills in central San Diego to climb out from Mission Bay/Valley. We will make various stops along the rouse. Expect average rolling speeds around 10mph -- nobody gets dropped.

Here are some pertinent details:

Ride departure: Oceanside Transit Center, Coaster Platform, 12/19 at 11:00AM

Coaster time table (northbound) for the ride:

Santa Fe Depot (downtown): 9:45AM
Old Town: 9:51AM
Sorrento Valley: 10:14AM

Make sure you are familiar with the riding conditions along the route and that you are comfortable with them: Sections of the ride will have bike lanes, others will not. Traffic will hopefully not be too heavy considering the time of year, but expect cars to pass us in somewhat close proximity and at relatively high speeds. Door zone distance must be kept, as there will be cars arriving and leaving beach parking along the highway in many spots -- the same goes for the towns that we will be passing through.
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For those that are considering returning on the the Coaster instead of doing the full ride home, here are the pertinent Coaster stops and southbound departure times that match our ride:

Carlsbad Village (4 miles from Start): 1:50PM
Carlsbad Poinsettia (8 miles): 1:56PM
Encinitas (12 miles): 2:02
Solana Beach (15 miles): 2:08
Sorrento Valley (22 miles): 2:18

Additional departure times and southbound schedules here.

Love it. It was a great ride last time.

Dining suggestion:

http://www.lotuscafeandjuicebar.com/ (Encinitas)

It's new, entirely reasonable in price, and will fit all sorts of dietary needs (vegans and carnivores alike).

Re Encinitas: Too bad Netptune is one-way northwards -- otherwise that would be a good way to get off PCH for a while.

Last time we rode this we cut off from PCH at E St. and rejoined at W St, just to the north of Swamis: The map suggests that one can pull off earlier than that; just around Pannikin's and Lou's Records and hit La Mesa, La Velta or Melrose.

BikingBill, or anybody else, do you know if these streets are a practical alternative to PCH in this area? I don't want to break up that nice downhill down to Encinitas Blvd., either...

Vulcan looks good but IMHO it's more hazardous than 101. It's a narrow two lane road and there aren't many cyclists on it.

101 in Leucadia is a bit of a pain, but drivers expect to see cyclists and you can take the lane when needed.

I'll plan to be there at this ride. And I'll also not plan to have a flat. Don't jinx me! I'm sure I'll come up with some sort of a ride before the ride again. Had fun last time.

2nd street is fine. Depends if we want to get eats in Encinitas.

There is a seperate bike bath for part of the Leucadia stretch of the 101 but it is on the north bound side of the street.

will we be riding up torrey pines in the park or on the main road?
does anyone know the price of the ride up on the coaster from old town?

cool thanks

last time was via UCSD and Rose Canyon.

surfer mike:will we be riding up torrey pines in the park or on the main road?
does anyone know the price of the ride up on the coaster from old town?

About five bucks.

surfer mike:um another question, will we be riding down the coast through la jolla, pb, mb?

Torrey Pines Reserve inside the park. UCSD. Rose Canyon. Along the lines of this. Mission Bay Drive. Climb to Uptown via Presidio, Bachmann, or Logan.

Leucadia isn't that big of a deal. I'm not so keen on going the wrong way on a one way street with a large group. The group helps along 101 through there by giving motorists more reason to move over.

An alternate starting strategy from the south could be to tag along with the SDBC ride starting at 8:30 in La Jolla Village Square in front of UC Cyclery. If you go with one of the faster groups that does the full 50 mile loop, the route will take you through Sorrento Valley, Del Mar (east), Fairbanks Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, and out to the coast via La Costa Ave. At that point you could split off from the group and go north along the coast. You should be able to make it up to Oceanside before 11. Even if you're late, you'll see the group coming the other way.

I think all but the slowest groups will take a different route but will end up at Java Depot in Solana Beach about 11. From there you could ride north looking for the SDBikeCommuter group, U-Turn, and join them.

Craigslist ad.

I will be joining at Old Town, as will quite a few other cyclists (both from here and elsewhere), I suspect. Our carriage towards the front got really full up with bikes last time (must have been at least a dozen), but it seemed like it was a little easier to find room for the bike towards the rear of the train -- at least that day.

Njord Noatun:
But I was thinking of going Torrey Pines Rd., taking the full lane at Coast Wk., and then take the fast lane momentarily after Prospect to make a left turn at Exchange...

Ha ha. But, seriously, LJ Shores, to TP Rd, to Prospect, Coast, ... and then follow the coast line through PB and MB is a great ride. But I guess old 101 went the way you're going, more or less, and that's the theme of the trip.

My plan is not to go if it rains. I'll be commuting in the rain next week, that will be enough for me!

I'll (unless something comes up) meet up with the group in O'side.

Mike,

The ride is NEXT week. Not tomorrow.

mike_ballard:I'm quite aware. The forecast call for rain next Saturday.

In a week? I'm skeptical they can get that prediction right .... but yeah, if that happens than an alternative date makes sense.

I almost made the 'tomorrow' mistake myself ...

What a bunch of babies. So you get a little wet or very wet and you want to call of the entire ride? Where is your sense of adventure?

We have these things called showers and clean towels one can use after the ride. Plus don't you want stories to tell your grandkids? Or co-workers?

Rain or no rain. I'm going. I'm riding my fenderless bicycle.

Also hope to convince my husband to go. He had planned on going to a D&D game that he was really excited about.

<blockquote><cite> beany:</cite>What a bunch of babies. So you get a little wet or very wet and you want to call of the entire ride? Where is your sense of adventure?

We have these things called showers and clean towels one can use after the ride. Plus don't you want stories to tell your grandkids? Or co-workers?

Rain or no rain. I'm going. I'm riding my fenderless bicycle.

Also hope to convince my husband to go. He had planned on going to a D&D game that he was really excited about.</blockquote>

i would go, but this winter i've been getting colds back to back. i don't want to risk getting sick again. i've been sick since thanksgiving. finally feeling good enough to ride a bike again.

The Carlsbad Marathon will be on Sunday Jan 24th. So the PCH from Carlsbad to La Costa will be closed for the day.

If it's wet I won't be able to ride on the track, so I'll be joining the ride for sure. At this point it looks as if the two main frontal systems will be to the east of us by Saturday. A few showers shouldn't be too unpleasant for those of us who are prepared and are used to riding in less hospitable climates.

<blockquote><cite> Velo Cult:</cite>from my experience when they say it's going to rain usually they are referring to a couple of light drops of rain that lasts few minutes. the rest of the day is typically great. take today for example. they had everyone all scared of rain and it's been a great day so far.</blockquote>
the forecast for rain has been saying it will start raining tonight or tomorrow morning.
i haven't personally taken a look at the weather lately cause i haven't gone surfing since thanksgiving. i've just been reviewing different forecast sites.
usually i look at the weather maps myself and form my own opinion on it.