San Francisco to San Diego

[naomicalvin]

Hi riders-

I'm considering riding from San Francisco to San Diego south on Highway 1 in mid-July. Doing my research now, though looking for any advice from fellow cyclists on this route... everything from tail winds to camp/hotel options and how to best get through LA. Also, I have a standard road bike and was avoiding paniers, any recommendations on how to lash or easy add/remove racks?

Thanks for your replies!
Ciao, -NC

[whittierider]

You will have tailwinds.

and how to best get through LA.

I'm not so fond of the Santa Monica area (really the start of the L.A. area), and then near Palos Verdes peninsula, you can avoid some of PCH by dipping down to Palos Verdes Dr. North which is always pleasant.  The only real pain is the ten miles or so of the Long Beach/Wilmington area on PCH which immediately follows getting out of Palos Verdes.  It's not particularly dangerous for an experienced, skilled cyclist with a mirror, just very unrelaxing and unattractive with refineries, railroad yards, and an unattractive retail and residential part of Long Beach.  PCH was just re-paved through there though, making it a lot better than it was.  At least you'll have tailwinds in the afternoon.  I don't really recommend using other streets that are parallel to PCH (like Anaheim St. to the south or Sepulveda Blvd/Willow St. to the north).  When you get to Seal Beach, it turns nice again, and stays nice most of the way to San Diego.  You do have to be careful especially in Corona Del Mar and Laguna because of the narrow lanes, doors of parked cars opening, and steep (but short) hills, but it's still a pleasant environment.

I've ridden from a few miles east of the Long Beach area mentioned above to San Diego probably 20 times (twice last month), and I enjoy most of it a ton.  There are plenty of places where you're not in town at all, but when you are, it's mostly an easy-going beach atmosphere with everyone enjoying being there whether they're in their convertible, on a bike, on a surfboard, or just walking out there to look and be looked at.

If you'll have a phone or internet access on the road and would like an escort from the Palos Verdes area to Seal Beach, PM me first for my contact info, as there's a chance I may be able to go out and help, depending on my work.  It would probably take me an hour and a half to two hours to get out there to meet you.  When you get out of Long Beach and into Seal Beach, it's easy and pleasant again, and there are very few tricks until you're practically into San Diego.

Also, I have a standard road bike and was avoiding paniers, any recommendations on how to lash or easy add/remove racks?

There are seatpost-clamping-type racks that are made for light loads, definitely not the heavy loads of camping gear.  Handlebar bags will fit most bikes, and there are seat bags up to nearly a cubic foot.  See my post here.

[aggie]

I've found the heavy traffic begins in Malibu.  Nice homes and cars but idiot drivers.  There is a wide shoulder but since the hollywood types don't want their servants parking in their driveways they park on the shoulder so you have to take part of a lane.  The bike lane along the beach (if you use the ACA Pacific Coast map) from Marina Del Rey to Torrance can be a real pain depending on when you use it.  The lane says it is for bicycles only but everyone uses it so you have to go slow but during rush hour it is better than the paralleling roads.  Personally I would rather follow the ACA route from Torrance to Long Beach.  PCH has way too much traffic and noise.  Once you get to Long Beach the ride along the beach is rather pleasant.  Once you get to Seal Beach PCH is pretty good all the way to Newport Beach.  You will generally have a tailwind all the way from SF.

There are numerous state parks from SF to Santa Barbara where you can use the hiker/biker sites to camp.  The fee varies up to $10.  I especially liked the site at Big Sur state park.  There a plenty of motels along the way.  Weekend rates tend to be higher than mid-week and there will be more traffic on weekends and holidays.

You could also use a trailer.  It will hold more stuff than the other options but just don't overload it. 

[tonythomson]

I always recommend you get a mirror fitted and especially on much of this route from SF to Santa B as the road is very narrow in places and windy with rental RV's which are driven by people not always experienced with wider vehicles.  One nearly had me as they had left the step down, but if you can see them coming you stand a chance of making yourself safe either getting off or making them wait while you negotiate a difficult section.

It is a great ride though - enjoy

[raybo]

I've ridden from SF to Laguna Beach half a dozen times, always in April.  In July, there will be much more traffic, fog and heavy afternoon winds (blowing you south).  You will need a mirror so that you can handle RVs, inattentive drivers (watching the view), and the narrow roads along the Big Sur Coast.  Frankly, I'd avoid weekends along the Big Sur coast, but many people have ridden during that time and had no problems.

While there aren't any high passes, the road undulates seriously and you will be using low gears every day.  There are two dangerous parts.  The first is just south of San Francisco is Devil's Slide, a 3 mile section of shoulderless, high speed road between Pacifica and Montera.  Since I live in SF, I get my wife to drive me past it.  Other ideas are a taxi in Pacifica, a bus that runs in the summer, or taking an alternative route down to, say, Half Moon Bay.  Many people ride that section of road, but I haven't and won't.  The second dangerous section is through Laguna Beach were there isn't enough asphalt between the parked cars and traffic for a loaded touring bike.  On that stretch of road, people have to be careful opening their doors!  You can get past some of it by going up a street and riding off PCH.

On my first trip (journal here), I did 70 mile days as it was too much.  I now plan for 50, which I find just right.

On my most recent trip (journal here), I rode to Santa Cruz, got driven to Carmel and rode south from there (only because I used to live in Santa Cruz and I have done that area extensively).

The LA bike path snakes along the beach and while it can be crowded with roller bladers, joggers, and every other kind of LAer, it is car-free!

You might have to ride on the freeway past Camp Pendleton Marine Base as it is closed to non-military personal.  The ride along Highway 5 will not be your favorite but there is a shoulder and it won't be any worse than the 20 miles north of Santa Barbara on the shoulder of Highway 101.

Since you won't be carrying much gear (are you planning on camping?), you will have to be careful in choosing the places you plan to spend the night, especially in Big Sur where the overnight options are camping or expensive and the eating options are limited and expensive.

You might consider couchsurfing.org and warmshowers.org for hosted places to spend the night.

This is one of the world's greatest bike ride.  Have a wonderful time.

Ray
This is a great bike ride.  Have

[whittierider]

I always recommend you get a mirror fitted and especially on much of this route from SF to Santa B as the road is very narrow in places and windy with rental RV's which are driven by people not always experienced with wider vehicles.  One nearly had me as they had left the step down, but if you can see them coming you stand a chance of making yourself safe either getting off or making them wait while you negotiate a difficult section.

When riding on a narrow mountain road, I have, many, many times in a single ride, used arm motions to ask for more room, or simply that they not pass at all until we get through a curve with a wall of rock on the edge and nowhere to go.  You can get a surprising amount of control of the traffic behind if you can see them, and they seem to appreciate and respect the fact that somehow we can see behind (even if they can't tell how because the mirrors on our glasses are so small) and that we are trying to accommodate everyone's safety.  The worst threats are pick-up drivers pulling big boats and they forget that the trailers' wheels stick out a lot farther than the pick-up and that just because the pick-up clears you doesn't mean the trailer won't kill you.  The mirror is a must.

I've ridden from SF to Laguna Beach half a dozen times, always in April.  In July, there will be much more traffic, fog and

I've been rained on at the coast in the mornings in April and May, but definitely not in July.  August is the worst for traffic though.

The second dangerous section is through Laguna Beach were there isn't enough asphalt between the parked cars and traffic for a loaded touring bike.  On that stretch of road, people have to be careful opening their doors!

Yes, one of the sections I mentioned above.  We take a group or 20 or so junior highers from Fullerton to San Diego every May, and that's one area I'm always concerned for them going through.  Somehow in about 30 years of doing this though, they haven't been any accidents.  You will have to take the lane sometimes, which California law does allow you to do if there's not room for a vehicle to pass you safely in the same lane (see sections 21200, 21202, and 21208), but I always put out my best performance in those places to keep from holding up traffic.  Besides impressing drivers with what can be done on a bike (some of these are up short, steep hills), it makes them see that we're being considerate and trying not to hold them up and take our sweet time (and everyone else's too).

You might have to ride on the freeway past Camp Pendleton Marine Base as it is closed to non-military personel.  The ride along Highway 5 will not be your favorite but there is a shoulder

It was open in May when I rode by it twice, but I understand they might close it at any time for their training exercises.  Now I just ride the freeway though, which is legal there.  The little sign at the entrance only says "No pedestrians," and doesn't mention bikes and so on.  When you get to Las Pulgas Rd., instead of turning left into the base, turn right, go under the freeway, then left to the onramp.  Las Pulgas is a "T" anyway, so you can't go straight and miss it.  The freeway portion is 7 miles.  There's a rest stop and you have to get off.  You can go through and get right back on without stopping if you like-- it's just that they don't want bike traffic and fast vehicle traffic crossing paths at the entrance and exit.  You'll get off the freeway at Harbor Blvd in Oceanside.  There's a little sign that says "Bicycles must exit."  At the traffic light, go straight across the intersection and up around the gas station.  If you go through Camp Pendelton, you'll turn left at that intersection.  I made a point of noticing the amount of room the traffic gave me as I rode the shoulder on the freeway, and estimated it was 10-16 feet to the right-lane traffic's right-side wheels.  You won't get that luxury on a lazy country road!  It often needs sweeping, but it's mostly small rocks and the occasional truck-tire tread, but there's no glass.  I've never had a problem of any kind through there.

[naomicalvin]

Thank you for all the information, I had never used this site before and the community is fantastic!

Can't see the poster name now, though I'll text or call the person who offered to escort us... enjoy meeting and riding with fellow cyclists, thanks so much for the offer.

Cheers! Jen