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New Socal Rider

3K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  DopplerShifted 
#1 ·
So I recently got myself an 05 Wee and am looking for some good weekend rides in Socal. I've heard good things about Angeles crest highway and will probably check it out this weekend. If anyone else has some good rides I'd love to hear about them. I'd also definitely be open to meeting up with other riders in the area to do some riding. Thanks
 
#2 ·
I've been wanting to do that one myself. The ride out to julian and Borrego springs is nice this time of year
 
#3 ·
It's a bit nippy on the Crest when I go at dawn. As the day progresses, the squids and cruisers come out. Leo's too. The road is open only for half of it's length to Wrightwood. It'll be closed until Spring.
Newcombs Ranch is a good eatery though. Open Thurs-Sun. 0700 Sat, Sun and 0900 Thurs Fri. Closes 1600 or so.
Little cafe at the top of Hwy 39, Chrystal Lake Cafe.Closed Tuesday. Say "HI" to Adam.Tell him Greg sent you. Interesting ride up. A bit busier on weekends and very little traffic during the week. Glendora Mtn Rd offers lots tight twisty stuff to practice on.Mind the edge of the road, it's a long way down if you loose the pavement.
That ride out to Julian and Borrego Springs is great. Montezuma grade offers great views.
I haven't done Hwy74 in years but it used to be interesting East of Hemet up the mountain. That will take you to Idyllwild.
 
#10 ·
I usually go down one way and back another. Sometimes around the back of Palomar and through temecula and over Ortega to home
 
#5 ·
You're in OC and I'm in L.A. so I doubt our "local" area overlap but . . . my thoughts.

Angeles Crest is a "relatively" high speed run with some great corners and great scenery at the right times of year. As notacop said, get out early on most every popular road to avoid bicyclists, tourists and the odd rider whose skills don't match their dreams.

My local area is Mulholland Highway and the coast canyons - easier to reach than riding across L.A. to the "Crest." Again, early is best. The Highway isn't as fast and open as Angeles Crest but has it's own attractions. Local rider hangouts include the Rock Store and Neptunes Net down on PCH. If you make it as far as the Ventura area, the Camarillo Airport cafe serves a great breakfast.

Farther north you get to Ojai and even more seriously twisty roads.

Frankly, there are more good rides here than just about anywhere. The only drawback is the freeway time it takes to get to the twisties.
 
#6 ·
Yep, The canyons of the Santa Monica range can be quite entertaining.You could easily spend more than a day riding back and forth over the range from the 405 to Point Mugu. Too bad it's so residential.
No matter, great views and twisties galore. Beach- mountain-valley, and then find another canyon and go the other way.
 
#7 ·
Here are 3 REALLY twisty and very fun day rides from my home place (Santa Barbara area). They take you from sea level on the beach to higher elevation. Within 30 minutes you ride from sea level at Rincon to 5,100 ft on Maricopa Pass (Hwy 33 north from Ojai), and within another hour up above 8,100 feet on Mt. Pinos, through all terrains from bikini beaches to oak filled valleys to rugged mountains and the edge of the desert. You can do thousands of variations off the main roads I've suggested. All excellent roads, lots of them have almost no traffic, mostly really twisty, FANTASTIC scenery.

a) From Ojai, (gas up before leaving Ojai) go north up Hwy 33. This Road over the mountain crests at about 5,100 feet elevation.

At Lockwood Valley Rd go east to Lake of the Woods.
Explore Mt. Pinos area (over 8,100 ft elevation).
Then continue northwest up Hudson Ranch Rd to Hwy 166.
Go west on 166 to Hwy 33. At Hwy 33 turn south back up over the twisty mountains to Ojai. Stop for refreshment at Sage Brush Annie's on Hwy 33 soon after turning from Hwy 166. Enjoy vistas looking out over the Pacific Ocean to the California Channel Islands as you descend into Ojai.


Continue on Hwy 33 and just south of Ojai at Lake Casitas turn west on Hwy 150 up over the mountain to Rincon, and watch the surfers.
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b) From beach at Ventura go east on Foothill Rd to Santa Paula. Turn north on Hwy 150 up over the mountain to Upper Ojai valley, then down into Ojai. Then Hwy 33 back to the Ventura beach.
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c) From Santa Barbara go north on Hwy 154 past Lake Cachuma. Just after cresting the summit of San Marxos Pass on Hwy 154 watch for sighns for COld Springs Tavern. Stop there for refreshment. COntinue west on 154. At the junction of 154 with Hwy 246 go west on 246 to Solvang. Explore. Continue west on 246. Just as you approach Buelton (you're still about 1.5 miles east of Hwy 101) turn north on Ballard Canyon Rd and ride to Los Olivos. Gas up before leaving Buelton. Explore. From Los Olivos go north on Foxen Canyon Rd past several wineries, then Foxen Cyn Rd turns sharply west. A little after the sharp left (westward) bend watch the right side for Tepusquet Rd (easy to miss the little farmland road signs). Turn right (north) and follow twisty Tepusquet Rd about 15 miles north to Hwy 166. Turn west on 166 several miles, then left (southwest) onto Bull Canyon Rd. to Santa Maria. Gas up in Santa Maria. In Santa Maria Go west past Hwy 101 and turn south on Hwy 135. Continue to the turn off to Hwy 1. Continue on Hwy 1 through Lompoc. A little south of Lompoc, optionally ride out Jalama Rd to the big wave beach at Jalama. Also visit Return To Freedom wild horse sanctuary along Jalama Rd. Then return to Hwy 1 and go south to Hwy 101, then on to Santa Barbara.
 
#12 ·
Here is one goes up to Palomar and onto Borrego Springs with lunch at Julian Pies. Check out the link below. This is a Garmin adventure with pictures and a GPX can be downloaded. I have a similar ride using the 78 va 5, but having done it I avoid it as too dangerous with the on coming speeding traffic cheating into your lane. If interested in getting together (Im in OC) let me know via PrivateMessage or rkruz@cox.net

OC to Cleveland National Forest via Interstate 5 | Garmin Adventures
 
#13 ·
Weather is perfect right now for a cruise through Joshua Tree Park. I'm doing this tomorrow on my '12 Wee, and my son on his Yamaha XT225 enduro. Going in through the north entrance, come out the south, stop for a bite and a peek at the Patton museum at Chiriaco Pass, turn around and come back
 
#15 ·
Indeed J-Tree had a v. wet (above avg) October and January, below average the rest of the time. It's also been cooler than average so maybe this slows down the blooming, but in any case the park was exploding when we rode through this last Thursday. And I don't mean with just climbers on the rocks and grandmas on the road. North end is known more for the J Trees and Yuccas, they were blooming strong, but the desert plants esp in the stretch between Arch Rock and Cottonwood Springs were excellent.

Downside is that freaggin' I-10 ride... too windy in the late part of the day, trucks and cars blowing everywhere, and always the caged jackwagon who has to drive 90 mph anyway (probably drunk and pissed after losing his wad at the casino).
 
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