I enjoyed camping for 2 weeks just 30 miles north of Taos,NM at 8650 feet. I want to do it more often but with bike camping without the big investment in time or money. So I plan to host bike overnight event soon. It has been something members have been talking about. So it is time to make this happen. Stay tuned. I hope you will join me.

I plan (for starters) to choose campsites near the coastal region to accommodate multi-modal traveling to the campsite. It is up to you to get to the chosen campsite but it is always more fun to ride together. A regular campsite are restricted to 8 people. So it would make sense to book in advance or take a chance at one of the hike and bike participating campgrounds. But it will be more fun if we have a complete campground. Of course, the camping will occur on a Saturday night.

Campground fees vary but very expensive near the coastline of San Diego ($25-$65). So participants will be asked to contribute from $5 - $10 each or whatever you can contribute.

Take an Overnight Bicycle Trip

By Christina Scannapiego
Recreation.gov

You love camping. You love riding your bike. You're dying to go on a little adventure. You're jealous of your friend whose recent vacation consisted of biking from Boston to San Diego.

Whether you've never been on an overnight bicycle trip and you have no idea where to begin or you just can't imagine having the time or expertise to cross the entire continent on two wheels right now, you can still jump into your first one- or two-day bike trip without any worries at all - and the experience will prepare you for a longer trip in the future until you build up to the big one. "It's amazing how a one- or two-night bike trip can feel like a bigger adventure," says Mac McCoy, who's served as tour director, routes and mapping director and general expert in adventure cycling since the '70s and was the national coordinator of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

He reminds us that as far as accommodations go, your options are limitless.

"Credit card" touring, as McCoy calls it can be more relaxing and much easier on your load, since you're not worrying about camping. How fun does biking through the country with your significant other or group of friends sound, treating yourselves to a night an inn or bed and breakfast?

But if you're the looking for a wilderness adventure, a bike camping overnight is the perfect quick fix for that longing. Besides, as McCoy points out, "for those of us who love to bike tour, but don't always have the time or money, camping on your bike overnight is a great option." He stresses the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when you come home, even after just one or two nights.

Resources:
http://www.bikeovernights.org/
http://www.recreation.gov/marketing.do?goto=acm/Explore_And_More/exploreArticles/Take-an-Overnight-Bicycle-Trip.htm

Sounds like fun Mark - eyes peeled!

Just ordered a nice little 1-person tent that will fit nicely in my saddle bag, so I'm ready!

What kind of 1-person tent did you get?

I'm down for this, sounds like a great time!

Not sure if this is someone from the forums but I came across this blog a bit ago:

http://bicyclecampingsandiegocounty.blogspot.com/

Has some good write-ups on trips to nearby campgrounds and other bike camping tips.

Scouting for campsites: Guajome Regional Park Campsite. Fee $25 (not certain if this goes up in the summer). Plentiful of dirt trails along the park. As well, there is a plaza near the College and bike trail intersection for sustenance if needed. Online Reservation link

I rode from Oceanside Pier to Guajome Park tonight to check out the route and campsite. The 32 campsites were small and were all occupied. I'll check to see if I can book a campsite for Saturday July 21st. The route was very easy along the San Luis River trail.




Near the park the trail becomes dirt road that goes under Hwy 76 which leads directly to the park.


There is a chart at the check-in station which indicates occupancy status' at the entrance.

I've had family stay at the San Mateo grounds and I feel like it is an RV camp ground, but the sites may still be available to anyone who wants to rent them. However being an RV site, I think they are all very narrow and close together.

There is the San Clemente s State Beach site. Good campground but not sure about site reservations. Also the San Onofre sites. I'm not a huge fan of that campground, but there are generally spots. Both of those keep a nice mostly flat coastal route.

I am so envious to those cyclotouring along the coast line

I just recently discovered this blog:

The Velo Hobo: Ultralight bicycle touring

This blog will focus on touring lighter and less encumbered. I am not an expert; I only know what works for me. I’ve been into ultralight backpacking for many years and now that I am beginning to tour more by bicycle I wanted to apply some of the same ideas. There’s very little information and resources out there specifically for ultralight bike touring, but plenty for backpackers. Fortunately, much of the same gear and techniques work well for both. I hope you enjoy and visit often.

markphilips:I discovered that every campground near the coast is booked solid "on weekends" until the end of August. So reserving a campsite for the S240 will be postponed for the Fall. Stay tuned.

Many campgrounds have a "Hike and Bike" policy whereby campers arriving by foot or bicycle are given an overnight spot even when otherwise full.

California State Parks hike and bike web page

A couple of the Hike and Bike campsites at San Elijo state campground and beach.


Photos were taken earlier this week.

We biked and stayed in San Elijo state beach/campgrounds last weekend and stayed at Campsite #65. It was the southern part of the campground. I highly recommend getting there early; check in was 2 pm. Hike and Bike spots this long weekend filled up very quickly: My family stayed at #65; a German in his 60s on a cross-continental tour at #63, Danny Flack and friends from Ocean Beach at #62 ; Number 64 was was claimed by a stealth camper who arrived really late and left before sunrise. The h/b fee was $6 per head.

The water was warm at 70 F even late in the afternoon. So we jumped in after setting up the tents. Then we walked to Bull Tacos, which is located in the campgrounds, for dinner then walked over to Seaside Market Plaza for desserts.


Gena rode her Nishiki Colorado Mixte (650B from 26") with panniers and a basket. Nicholas towed a BOB trailer with pillows, fleece blankets, thermarest pads and sleeping bags.


The trip was approximately 10 miles from home. We made one stop at Pannikins Cafe in Leucadia for treats and to make some adjustments to our gear and load.


We invited Nicholas' friend to go with us. So I had her ride on the Bike Friday tandem. The tandem had front panniers with tools and my clothing; rear basket had water, stoker handbags and kids clothes; BikeRev trailer had three tents, tarps, beach chair, etc. On riding Hwy 101 in Leucadia we took control of the right lane. Most people slowed down to check out the family and our rig then they change lanes to pass. We positioned our bikes in an echelon form and did not ride in single file (similar to motorcycles in a group). So we can see traffic ahead and be able to stop or avoid debris on the road.



Night time: We got used to the roar of the ocean that mingled with traffic on Hwy 101 even with wearing silicon earplugs. We didn't get much sleep as locals, teenagers, night beach goers accessed the beach on the other side of the fence. We learned it was a popular hang out place because it didn't break the noise rules of the campground since they were outside the fence. When those people lingered (chatting) I just got up and aimed my MiNewt250 strobe at them. At 4 am, I got up and really beamed two lights (one strobing, one fixed) at some teenagers outside the fence. Campgrounds on any long weekend is typically packed and noisy. So I was not expecting solitude on this trip. After that annoying scene, I walked to other sites to make a mental note of good sites. All the campsites were serene with the sound of breaking waves. Then I went back to our tent and slept for a couple of hours. The kids were up at 6 am and wandered around the beach and campsite with other kids. We walked to Sambazon Acai bar for breakfast then packed up the camping gear. We were on the road by 10 am. We stopped by Encinitas Lumberyard to feed the kids and to hang out before proceeding to Leucadia farmers' market; then home. All in all it was a great getaway and very refreshing.

The German tourist said that out of all the different destinations on his tour he loved the Southern California weather the most. So go out there and enjoy and get spoiled.

Looks like a fun weekend Mark!

Planning on doing an s24o (or s48o..) sometime over the next month or so.

Does anyone know if San Onofre has hike/bike campsites that you can stay at without a reservation?

Stephan:No hike and bike sites at San Onofre State Beach.

I asked the woman at the booth one day and she said that they didn't have any official hike and bike sites but you can ask the head ranger for a variance.

Julian overnighter bike camping this Saturday. We'll be riding from Normal Heights to Alpine, then taking Viejas Grade and Boulder Creek up to Julian. Camping at a retreat center campground and riding back on Sunday. 68 miles up, plenty of climbing. If you are interested, let me know!

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4016376

FB event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/671893636210632/

Mfutch

Hope your overnight ride went well. Would have like to come with you, but committed to a ride in Redlands on Saturday. Maybe next time. Ride peacefully.

A glimpse of how challenging that was. I definitely would like to do a shorter bike overnight to get used to bringing gear and such.

That shot of Chris and Jeff was at the top of Inaja Indian Reservation, definitely the steepest and toughest part of the ride. Great job out there Mark, that climb up Harbison had to have been tough on a loaded Bike Friday!

You guys (and gal) rock!!! :D I'm so jealous. Gotta get me a touring (or at least a cyclocross) bike. My lone aluminum roadie probably won't do it that long on the dirt. :)

Hey everyone, I am thinking about putting together a touring/bike camping class towards the end of April. The class will be out of my shop Terra Rhythm in Ocean Beach. It will cover bikes, racks, bags, nutrition, camping, camping gear, and milage. I would like to know how many people would be interested. Please reply here or on our facebook. https://www.facebook.com/terrarhythmbikes

Two weeks from tomorrow we will be having a class on bike camping/touring. The class is $5, will last until the last question is answered and you will receive 10% off on gear the night of the class.

The bike camping class is tonight! The class will be held at 6pm at Terra Rhythm bike shop in OB. It's $5 and you will receive 10% off

Paul:...tech problems with my new dyno setup caused me to ride through Malibu in the dark and it got a little scary. I holed up in Venice for 6 hours and waited for daylight...

Very understated description--there was rain Friday night, and when I think of "holed up in Venice" I can only imagine Jim Morrison lying on the curb with an empty bottle of whisky next to him.