With great year round weather, North County San Diego can be a cyclist's paradise. The key, to getting the most out of riding in San Diego, is finding the right roads and routes to minimize the interaction with cars. There are a few dedicated bike paths, but they lack the best aspects of cycling in San Diego. One of the best areas in North County San Diego to bicycle are the roads within Camp Pendelton. With few cars and great views of undeveloped beaches, Camp Pendleton is a perfect place to ride your bike.
Between San Clemente and Oceanside the only alternative to riding on Interstate 5 is riding within Camp Pendleton. It is also an important link in the main Pacific coast route that is followed by hundreds of riders per year. The route consists of Marine-based access roads, abandoned sections of the old Highway 101, and short sections of bike paths. Personal identification is checked at both the north and south gate, so bring your driver's license.
If you are riding north from Oceanside it is best if you start after 10am to get a tail wind as the prevailing wind direction is southwest in the early morning. If you are traveling from the northern end of the route start early and get to Oceanside before 11am as you will have stronger head winds as the day progress. Make sure that you are finished riding by sunset, as biker riders are not allowed on base after dusk.
At times cyclist have not had permission to ride within Camp Pendleton. After 9/11, the base was closed to cyclists for over 4 years. Today, Camp Pendleton is sometimes closed to cyclists due to heightened security measures. During those times, if you still need to ride north or south it is legal to ride on the shoulder of Interstate 5. Riding on the freeway makes riding this stretch of the beach painful instead of a treat.
If you are riding in groups the on Base Military Police want you to ride single file, but you can get by riding two by two. Large group rides are regularly stopped and warned by the Base Military Police to ride single file as cyclists have a tendency to swarm across the road.
The Wednesday morning ride is the weekly ride that the best riders in San Diego participate in to test their abilities against the other locals. The ride is approximately 55 miles with a turnaround at the San Onofre power plant. It starts in Carlsbad, usually at the Starbucks at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Carlsbad Blvd. The ride starts at 8:10am. In the winter many professional cyclist and triathletes come to San Diego and use the Wednesday ride as a training ride. With that kind of talent the ride can be very quick. It starts out casual, but after going through the Southern Base gate the tempo increases and by the time the rider get to the first uphill the group is separating into the riders that can keep up and those being spit out the back-end of the peloton. Since the ride is an out and back loop, riders can be dropped by the group on the way north and then when they return south you can be passed again. If you are interested in the Wednesday ride, stop by one of the many North County San Diego Bike Shops and get directions. Any San Diego bike shop should know about the ride.
For more casual riding, take some time at each end of the route and have lunch. After lunch, if you are at the San Clemente end of the route, let the late morning and afternoon tailwind give you a push as you head back to Oceanside.
I have working in the technology market for more than 30 years. For the past 10 years I have focused on Biotechnology and internet marketing and Riding bicycles is a passion of mine and I have been riding in San Diego for over 20 years. My pleasures includes cycling, running and sailing.
I have been riding the roads of San Diego for the past 15 years. There are many great bike shops in San Diego. My favorite shop is El Camino Bike Shop. These days I ride a Trek Madone road bike, as it give me the best chance of keeping up local bike racers.
My other great passion is sailing, racing, cruising the world. I have been sailing for the greater part of my life.
Between San Clemente and Oceanside the only alternative to riding on Interstate 5 is riding within Camp Pendleton. It is also an important link in the main Pacific coast route that is followed by hundreds of riders per year. The route consists of Marine-based access roads, abandoned sections of the old Highway 101, and short sections of bike paths. Personal identification is checked at both the north and south gate, so bring your driver's license.
If you are riding north from Oceanside it is best if you start after 10am to get a tail wind as the prevailing wind direction is southwest in the early morning. If you are traveling from the northern end of the route start early and get to Oceanside before 11am as you will have stronger head winds as the day progress. Make sure that you are finished riding by sunset, as biker riders are not allowed on base after dusk.
At times cyclist have not had permission to ride within Camp Pendleton. After 9/11, the base was closed to cyclists for over 4 years. Today, Camp Pendleton is sometimes closed to cyclists due to heightened security measures. During those times, if you still need to ride north or south it is legal to ride on the shoulder of Interstate 5. Riding on the freeway makes riding this stretch of the beach painful instead of a treat.
If you are riding in groups the on Base Military Police want you to ride single file, but you can get by riding two by two. Large group rides are regularly stopped and warned by the Base Military Police to ride single file as cyclists have a tendency to swarm across the road.
The Wednesday morning ride is the weekly ride that the best riders in San Diego participate in to test their abilities against the other locals. The ride is approximately 55 miles with a turnaround at the San Onofre power plant. It starts in Carlsbad, usually at the Starbucks at the intersection of Hwy 101 and Carlsbad Blvd. The ride starts at 8:10am. In the winter many professional cyclist and triathletes come to San Diego and use the Wednesday ride as a training ride. With that kind of talent the ride can be very quick. It starts out casual, but after going through the Southern Base gate the tempo increases and by the time the rider get to the first uphill the group is separating into the riders that can keep up and those being spit out the back-end of the peloton. Since the ride is an out and back loop, riders can be dropped by the group on the way north and then when they return south you can be passed again. If you are interested in the Wednesday ride, stop by one of the many North County San Diego Bike Shops and get directions. Any San Diego bike shop should know about the ride.
For more casual riding, take some time at each end of the route and have lunch. After lunch, if you are at the San Clemente end of the route, let the late morning and afternoon tailwind give you a push as you head back to Oceanside.
I have working in the technology market for more than 30 years. For the past 10 years I have focused on Biotechnology and internet marketing and Riding bicycles is a passion of mine and I have been riding in San Diego for over 20 years. My pleasures includes cycling, running and sailing.
I have been riding the roads of San Diego for the past 15 years. There are many great bike shops in San Diego. My favorite shop is El Camino Bike Shop. These days I ride a Trek Madone road bike, as it give me the best chance of keeping up local bike racers.
My other great passion is sailing, racing, cruising the world. I have been sailing for the greater part of my life.
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