What are the best big rides 1 hour drive from HB

Guys and girls, well I am back. Its been a long time and I was active on STR quite a bit. Been riding more lately and hope to help and contribute to this forum.

I live in HB and usually ride the santa ana's and around ridge park near laguna and crystal cove but I want to do longer bigger rides up into the trees. I just bought a Levo... dont shoot me.... This thing is seriously fun though, heavy and getting used to that part of it but its a great bike. I am able to ride mid week to avoid the crowds and traffic.

Can you guys let me know the most fun rides where i can get into the trees but are within an hour or so drive of HB? I was mainly thinking up in the San Gabriel Mountains - up the 605. I guess SART and even San Juan can get into that list. What else am I missing?

 

These folks HATE, all things e-bike related around here, but you know that already.
However, some are getting closer to "getting it" than they wanna admit.

Best wishes

 

Take your motorcycle on any freeway. Endless miles.

 

Welcome back, surftime. As Steve says above, e-bikes aren't very popular around here. But... There are a couple popular forum members who have them. They just keep that part of their bike arsenal to themselves and they don't bring them up around here. And, as far as I know, they also don't ride them where they aren't allowed. The forum owner is kinda touchy on the e-bike subject.

I was in the OC until recently, and now live at the base of the San Gabes. They took a beating with the recent Bobcat Fire and many trails are in the closure.

 

Or Cal City. That's where I used to take my dirt bike.

 

Thanks, i forgot how big the ebike debate was, ready for the beating

 

Thanks Steve, I get it, felt the same way a few years ago before a knee injury

 

I’ve said it before. My father in law pedaled from Michigan to Washington state and back, 40 years ago. He lost a leg above the knee when he was 10.

so, what’s your knee injury?

You can ride at Skypark, and paved bike trails. Enjoy.

 

Well, in the spirit of you being such a good sport, purchase a cruise via Catalina Express that departs from Newport Harbor to Catalina and midway...cast lead laden luggage into Pacific Ocean, it will be a nice little toxic reef for fishI kid.
The argument that e-bikes present a fire hazard had validity, there's not much fuel to burn anywhere in the forests these days.
Gotta ask, why an E-bike?
Again, best wishes!

 

Just read your reply, disregard

 

ill indulge ..

Why go to a bike park? Gravity or to ride more trails, to have run, because you dont want to pedal

E-bikes allow that on the trails

They are fun but I know I am not going to change any minds here. Continue with the jokes

 

But not legal in OC Parks, Chino Hills, El Moro, or non motorized trails in the CNF(Motorway/Holy Jim/Trabuco)....you can have all the fun you want at the Floop though.

 

Nope to the first part, and as far as the second part, let's not continue with the e-bike portion of this at all... No jokes, no verbal beatings...

 

Maple Springs is my favorite e-bike ride. It's actually pretty fun bombing fire roads on e-bikes in my opinion. I like cruising up to santiago peak and back and the downhill makes for a pretty fun drift festival.

Other then that, skypark is just over an hour away from HB and that's another great place for e-bikes. Lots of folks seem to be riding them at a certain location in murrietta that has questionable access for all bikers.

 

Ride 'em if you NEED them I guess. Just be extra courteous and try to abide by the current laws.

I'm not a fan of the ever-increasing number of riders period, much less those who have no trail diplomacy or awareness. I can't point fingers at ebikers for that, but the motor-cycles encourage people to get out on the trails who would never make that commitment if they had to pedal. That said, some of the most egregious violators of trail etiquette around here are the large groups of endur-bros who take over busy parks at the busiest times of the day, blast music, ride off-menu and flaunt it on social media. Some of whom are also now on ebikes where they aren't legal. And no, the pandemic isn't a concern of theirs either.

OK, grouchy rant over.

Have fun riding your motorbike, @surftime

 

That Ohm was quite a character!

 

Not at all. I don't hate e-bikes, just like I don't hate Harleys and I don't hate Hummers. Just keep them on their legal trails. If I saw a Harley on Holy Jim Trail, I wouldn't hate the Harley... but I'd have a few things to say to the rider

FWIW here in NC e-bikes are legal on many trails, but I have seen one ONCE - and it was being ridden by a guy half my age who was riding in the wrong direction on a one-way trail. Kinda funny, kinda sad, given that the trails where I saw him were 100 feet vertical per mile.

 

Poor dude, just coming in here from some info and outta no where, he's hit with friendship and love. Such a great site.....

 

/\ /\ /\ /\ jackpot @doublewide

 

I understand the hate toward ebikes... but ebikes are awesome!


This girl gets it.

Also... don't discount the FLoop. You can ride it after dark, there's plenty of restaurants in DTF with patio seating, and people have been building some nice features at certain sections. It's also ebike friendly.

 

It's cool she can be so positive after the debilitating accident that left her maimed an unable to pedal a bike.

Stay proud and ride on, cripple girl!

 

I think she is working on the discovery of Type 6 Diabetes... defined as "perfectly healthy people who prefer to live their lives inanimately"

 

Is that the court house parking lot ?

 

27 MILES across the bay, Santa Catalina is the place to play. You will need a permit but it is all climbing. Ride with the Buffalo, eat scallops and Spiny bugs all for free. Plus you do not need to drive far, right there at Dana pt. or Long Beach. Pack a tent and a light bag and camp at the isthmus. If you tire out half way take the express back to Avalon. I should not be mentioning this but it is the true hidden gem.
Happy empty island trails

 

Don't forget you need to reserve camp sites, but they are pretty easy to get as long as you reserve in advance. You also need to check in at the office in Avalon before you hit the trails (if you are over-nighting) - so they know you're out there. If you are taking an e-bike make sure you understand the mileage. I'm not sure that there are any charging options at most of the sites (they probably have something at Two Harbors). It would be a looooong walk out if you ran out of charge.

Good news is that they will drop firewood and drinking water for you at your camp site if you order it (was only a buck or two for each, as I recall). Once you get a couple of miles outside of Avalon you'll have the island almost to yourself. Once you get NW of Two Harbors you definitely will No drinking water past Two Harbors if you don't order it, so plan accordingly.

 

I'd be the first to sign up for the Catalina Gran Fondo if they ever brought it back... We talk about "the best views" on some rides, but none compare to Catalina.

But I think the OP was looking for destinations within driving distance. Last time I took the Flyer, they didn't let me drive.

I still have the bell, saddle and seat clamp...

 

But there is nothing like taking the slow boat, grabbing a couple beers, one in each hand. The walk up the grand stair case with a little extra swagger. You will get at least 4 people see you, grab their mouth and turn back towards the head.
Awe the good times at sea across the bay.
BTW October is the best month out there. The ocean is still warm, the fog is gone and so are the tourists. And did I mention its Lobster season?

 

Which ones the slow boat? That sounds nice.

 

I did not know they were illegal in CHSP. Second to last eBike demo I rode was through the backside of CHSP from Brush Canyon Park and exiting Bobcat/Camino d' Bryant. That ride, (And the day's earlier ride up Coal,) convinced me that as cool as eBikes are, they aren't for me. Pedal assist is nice, but trying to shove a 50 lb bike up Skully or Coal isn't fun even with a 250w advantage. I'll stick to the lighter non-assisted bikes.

As for OP's question, I'd be scared to take an eBike down San Juan given how bad most of them understeer.

 

The last few times I rode San Juan, I saw WAY more Ebikes than acoustic bikes.