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7 of the Most Scenic Bike Routes in San Diego

From SanDiegoMagazine.com

By Cole Novak

The best places to take in the views on two wheels

I didn’t ride a bike without training wheels until I was 10 years old. I was intimidated by steep hills, sharing the road with cars, and any sort of cardio exercise. But then something changed: I received my very own bike. It wasn’t just any bike—it was my dad’s cherry-red 1993 Specialized RockHopper, a bike that had three more years of life experience than I did. Once a rusting relic in my father’s garage, it became my way to freely explore San Diego, the city I’ve called home my whole life.

Since then, I have spent countless hours tracing the following trails, loops, and bike paths with friends and family. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced cyclist, these treks offer something for everyone (including some truly stunning views). With summer traffic in full swing, it’s time to trade in four wheels for two and embark on these scenic routes around San Diego.

Bayshore Bikeway

12 miles

The Bayshore Bikeway is a great spot for bikers of all skill levels who want to enjoy a beautiful waterside view of downtown San Diego. The path is generally flat and provides a wide, dedicated lane for bikers, pedestrians, and skaters to share. Casual riders can start their cruise at the Coronado Ferry Landing and circle back at the Coronado Yacht Club.

More serious bikers can follow the path beneath the Coronado Bridge and along the Silver Strand Highway 75, then turn onto Palm Avenue for the final stretch to the Imperial Beach Pier. Some folks even take the Coronado Ferry to the Coastal Rail Trail (see below) for a full-day biking adventure. Stop by the Coronado Coffee Companystand just off the Coronado Ferry Landing Pier, a popular spot for cyclists to fuel up on caffeine before a long jaunt down the Silver Strand.

Photo by Sean Mullowney on Unsplash

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The best electric bikes in 2023, ridden and tested by editors

From CNN.com

By Michael Berk, Tobey Grumet and Mark Knapp, CNN Underscored

E-bikes have taken riders — and the bicycle industry — by storm. These capable, full-featured vehicles can give even the most casual cyclist a boost that lets them get up and over hills that’d challenge a pro, get you to work in style without breaking a sweat and can even realize the promise of using a bike as a car replacement by providing the power to haul passengers or a full load of groceries even if you aren’t spending all your free time in the gym doing squats.

This year, bikes are finally coming back in stock both online and at brick-and-mortar retailers (after a couple of years of supply chain disruptions), so we took a look at what was available in order to figure out what e-bike might work best for your everyday riding — whether that means a lightweight bike for fun and fitness, a dependable commuter, a stowable folder or even a do-it-all utility hauler to cut down on car trips.

The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 may be the entry-level model in REI’s house-branded line of e-bikes, but it’s a near-perfect bike for anyone considering an e-bike. It brings together a solid parts package, a smart design and enough power, battery life and hauling capacity to fit the needs — and just plain fit — almost anybody who wants to try riding with a motor assist. It looks great too, coming in a range of understated earth tones and cool colors.

To make things even more attractive, while the price is competitive with direct-to-consumer bikes, you get access to the bike shop support that comes with REI’s nationwide network of brick-and-mortar stores. Many D2C bikes are fantastic, don’t get us wrong, but they do mostly leave you to fend for yourself mechanically, which isn’t great for every new rider.

It’s hard to find fault with the Generation e1.1: REI has done a great job putting together a very compelling proposition for almost any e-bike rider, new or veteran. If you’re in the market for a first e-bike and want something utilitarian you can share with your household, family or friends, or you need a great grocery-getter to have around for when you’re tinkering with your fancy bikes, it should be on your list.

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How To Master The Toughest Rides!

Getting through a challenging ride can be really tough! Sometimes you can put yourself in an easy gear and cruise through it BUT we’re here to give you our top tips to dig deep and ace those tough rides like a pro!

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The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Perfect Mountain Bike

From BikeMag.com

By

Choosing the perfect mountain bike can be an exciting yet daunting task, especially with the diverse array of riding styles and terrains available. Whether you’re a dedicated cross-country rider seeking endurance challenges or an adrenaline junkie looking for intense downhill descents, selecting the right mountain bike type is paramount for a fulfilling and safe riding experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step process, enriched with insights from professional mountain bike rider Cam Zink. We’ll thoroughly review and compare the main bike types: Cross Country, Downhill, All Mountain, Slopestyle, Enduro, and E-Mountain Bikes.

Step 1: Define Your Riding Style and Terrain

Before diving into the specifics of each mountain bike type, Cam Zink recommends taking time to reflect and clarify your riding preferences. Answer these pivotal questions:

  1. What type of terrain will you predominantly explore? (Smooth trails, technical descents, jumps, etc.)
  2. Are you more inclined toward endurance challenges or exhilarating downhill descents?
  3. Do you prioritize climbing and technical skills, or are you more interested in freestyle riding and tricks?
  4. Will you be mainly riding established trails, bike parks, or a mix of various terrains?

 

Photo by Mauricio Gutiérrez on Unsplash

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The Most Bike-Friendly Cities in the U.S. (2023 Data)

From ListWithClever.com

By Jaime Dunaway-Seale

In a modern world with an abundance of fast, motorized options for transportation, the humble bicycle is experiencing a boom not seen in the U.S. since the 1970s.

Americans rediscovered the bicycle during the pandemic as they looked for safe, socially distant forms of exercise, recreation, and transportation. Bike sales surged, and retailers struggled to keep up with demand.

Three years later, Americans are still pedaling in high gear while other pandemic fads have fallen flat. In 2022, U.S. consumers spent $8.2 billion on bicycles and accessories — up from $6.9 billion in 2020.

Cycling is fun, healthy, and good for the environment, but it can be a perilous pastime depending on a city’s infrastructure. Many motorists assume the streets were made for them, although cyclists were actually the first people to lobby cities for paved roads.

Some cities, however, are shifting away from a car-centric transportation model by adding designated bike lanes, building off-road bike paths, and increasing access to bike-sharing options.

To determine the most bike-friendly cities in America, we evaluated multiple metrics, including:

  • 5x: The bikeability of the metro area based on Walk Score’s bike score.
  • 5x: The number of bike trails per 100,000 residents, emphasizing access to non-road bike areas.
  • 4x: The number of cyclists involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2021 per 100,000 residents.
  • 3x: The number of bike shops per 100,000 residents, including bike repair locations.
  • 3x: The number of bike share docking stations per 100,000 residents.
  • 2x: The number of bike rental shops per 100,000 residents.
  • 2x: The number of days the metro has a moderate air quality index score of above 50 but below 100. Below 50 is considered “good,” and lower values are ranked higher.
  • 1x: The number of wet weather days per year. Lower values are ranked higher.
  • 1x: Total search volume for 10 bicycle-related search terms, such as “biking,” “cycling,” and “bike trails,” on Google.
  • 1x: The percentage of workers who commute by bicycle. A higher percentage may act as an indicator of bicycle-friendly transportation infrastructure.
  • 1x: Commitment to Vision Zero, a nonprofit campaign helping communities commit to transit and bicycle safety with the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and injuries.

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How To Ride Steep Climbs On A Road Bike

Conquering climbs can often be one of the hardest parts of cycling. You see a steep hill coming up and prepare yourself to smash it but end up suffering and slowly slogging your way up. So we give you some tips that can help you get up and over those steep climbs just a little bit easier.

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City Council Approves $60M Contract with Metro for LA River Bike Path

From KFIAM640.com

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The City Council approved a $60 million contract with Metro Wednesday for the design and construction of the Los Angeles River Valley Bike Path Project, which includes the development of approximately 15 miles of a new bike path and greenway.

The council voted 13-0 — with Paul Krekorian and Curren Price absent from Wednesday’s meeting — to accept funds from Metro, allowing the city to move forward with the project along the LA River in the San Fernando Valley.

The project would fill in gaps in the path between Vanalden Avenue to the west and Forest Lawn Drive/Zoo Drive to the east, spanning Council Districts 2, 3, 4 and 6.

“This project, the valley completion project, seeks to complete 15 total miles of off-street pathway and on-street network by 2028, which could be really exciting and transformative for people,” said Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who represents the Fourth District.

“We’re looking to be bicycle commuters, and reshaping how we approach how we get around the city,” she added.

Improvements will include pedestrian walking paths, decorative fencing and gates, roadway crossings, pet waste stations, drinking fountains, lighting, operational and wayfinding signage, site furnishing, educational elements, stormwater runoff and green landscaping and irrigation.

According to a report, the 12-foot-wide asphalt bike path will be designed per state standards and in accordance with the city’s 2007 Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, 2010’s Bicycle Plan and the 2014 Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s Great Streets Strategic Plan.

Photo by Eduardo Alemán on Unsplash

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California E-bike Incentive Project

Program Goals

The California E-Bike Incentive Project aims to provide rebates to reduce the purchase price for e-bikes to income qualified consumers residing in disadvantaged and low-income communities. This project will be designed to help Californians reduce their VMT by lowering barriers to e-bike ownership, as well as to educate Californians about bicycle safety and support local businesses. The purpose of this project aims to 1) help people replace car trips with e-bike trips, 2) increase access to e-bikes, and 3) reduce GHG emissions.

Guiding Legislation/Policy Drivers

The California E-bike Incentive Project originates from Senate Bill 129, which authorizes the California Air Resources Board to create a program that provides financial incentives to purchase e-bikes.

Project Funding/Allocations/History

Currently the program has $13,000,000.

 

Who is eligible to receive funding?

The vouchers are available to California residents 18 or older who have a household income at or below 300% of FPL.

 

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Photo by KBO Bike on Unsplash

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How Fast Are Female Tour De France Pros? We Find Out!

Pro women cyclists don’t get the respect they deserve. These elite athletes, competing at the pinnacle of sport in races such as the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, are unbelievably talented. Ollie goes head-to-head in a race up the Alpe du Zwift against a virtual version of top climber Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio to find out just how blisteringly fast these pros really are!

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Bike ride across Iowa puts vibrant small-town America into sharp focus

From APNews.com

BY DAVE SKRETTA

COLFAX, Iowa (AP) — In the small central Iowa town of Colfax, thousands of cyclists participating in the largest and oldest recreational bike ride in the world were stopped along its historic main street, staring ahead at a daunting climb that would lead them out of town.

The hill, coupled with soaring temps and the vibrant downtown, made a morning sitting in the shade quite appealing.

It’s become almost simplistic to say that “small-town America” is slowly dying. That opportunities for young people have dried up, just like businesses and main streets. That the only way forward in life involves moving to a big city. But the reality is towns such as Colfax are flourishing, and that was especially evident on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across the state, where dozens of small towns dotting the 500-mile route welcomed some 50,000 riders with open arms.

 

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