Greetings, cyclists! I hope you’ve all been enjoying a balmy summer and have had the opportunity to get outside as much as possible. Here in San Diego, the weather has been consistently in the mid-to-late 70s providing the perfect climate for gorgeous rides.
Today’s post is for my fellow San Diego cyclists who are either new to the area or just getting started in the wonderful world of bikes. I’ve put together a list of the best riding in the area for your enjoyment along with photos of cyclists enjoying our wonderful city.
Below you’ll find photos along with descriptions of some wonderful routes to explore in San Diego. Enjoy!
Sagebrush Safari
If you find your way to San Diego in late April, look up this classic NORBA event, which is run about an hour’s drive inland from San Diego on Interstate 8 at Lake Morena. Offering a 32-mile single-lap course for experts and pros, and an 18-mile course for sport and beginner racers, the race has plenty of climbing and descending in high-desert conditions and still maintains a laid-back atmosphere.
Balboa Park
Home to the San Diego Zoo, a ton of museums and garden areas, and a host of restaurants, Balboa Park is a great place to pass whatever time you aren’t spending on the bike. Just south of the park are a bunch of small cafes and coffee shops.
Bayshore Bikeway
Starting Downtown take Flagship’s Coronado Ferry across San Diego Bay and start your ride upon docking at the Coronado Ferry Landing. The Bikeway makes its way through Coronado, along the Silver Strand, through the communities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista and back into Downtown San Diego. The ride will take you through the quaint town of Coronado and past the historic Hotel del Coronado Hotel, built in 1888, which has played host to presidents, celebrities and royalty for over 120 years. You’ll also ride past the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base (where the Navy SEALs train). Continuing on the path, you’ll trek past Silver Strand State Beach, a beautiful stretch of coast; and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a 3,900-acre wetland that is home to many endangered and migratory birds.
Silver Strand Bikeway in Coronado
Coronado may best be known for its resort hotels and massive naval supply complex, but it’s the sandy tombolo connecting the island to the mainland that ought to merit your most immediate attention. Here you’ll find the Silver Strand Bikeway: a stretch of segregated asphalt that follows State Route 75 from the Coronado Yacht Club in the north all the way around the southern tip of the San Diego Bay.
Point Loma Bike Tour
From the San Diego River to the tip of Point Loma via the coast and a return route via San Diego Bay. Starting at Robb Athletic Field at the San Diego River, we’ll pass through Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs before climbing to Naval Base Point Loma and Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Riding through these we reach Cabrillo National Monument and descend to the ocean and the tide pools. From here we retrace our steps to the Naval Base entrance before descending to the east and the San Diego Bay. We finish with a cruise through Liberty Station before returning to Robb Field.
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