So Jealous of Cali Girls!

[SalsaMTB]

I was in La Jolla yesterday for work and I must say, I am so jealous of you girls in Ca. The weather there was beautiful, everywhere I looked there were people on bikes, you actually have mountains, and best of all, you actually have bike lanes!!!! I must admit, I wish I could move there now. It was so nice, I wish I had a chance to go riding. When I went to our offices, there were bikes everywhere. Here in Michigan we're lucky if there's a shoulder to ride on and bike lanes do not exist I've considered commuting to work this summer but I just can't find a route I feel safe with.

[mtbdarby]

Salsa, I feel your pain. I spent my lunch hour yesterday driving country roads trying to find a decent that actually had paved shoulders. Only dirt ones here, so - what's a bike lane???? It's a least a 30 mile one way communte so I wouldn't be doing it often. I'd almost be happy doing it once to say I did it. Now, if I could just find a way to cross the Wisconsin river without adding 10 miles to my commute!

[Jo-n-NY]

Salsa...same here on Long Island, no different. At best I can get a 30 mile ride in, on less traffic roads, but that includes a bike path all of which I can begin from my house. Unfortunately as with most "bike" paths, on the weekends there are dog walker, rollar bladers, walkers, strollers and jogger, although I wouldn't mind if it was just jogger I had to contend with. I need a longer route than 30 miles.

My girlfriend is able to do a 50 mile ride along the service road of the LI Expressway. I will be giving that a try with her but I can tell you know that there will be sections that I will not be happy with.

Anyway, I hope this post is a consolation that you are not alone.

~ JoAnn

[miffy'sFuji]

I wish a little of that So. cal warmth and sun would move up here. We need some drying out. It has been really hard for me to get the least bit motivated lately.

Quite a few mudslides since last night and several homes in the bay area have been red tagged. A man was buried in Mill Valley by mud at about 3am. I wish there was still a chance for him, but now it has been so many hours.

[Trekhawk]

I was in La Jolla yesterday for work and I must say, I am so jealous of you girls in Ca. The weather there was beautiful, everywhere I looked there were people on bikes, you actually have mountains, and best of all, you actually have bike lanes!!!!

Hey Salsa dont feel too bad not all of CA has been having good weather. Where I am it hasnt stopped raining for weeks. I cant remember what its like to ride when its not raining. I live in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains and bike lanes here are few and far between too.
I have to say though that the beauty of the area makes up for all of these things.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Oh, sorry, we can ride all year, too. 'Cept when its raining like lately. My city (small town, 100,00) just put in another 20 miles of bike lanes. They actually took out a car lane on one road because it is a popular bike route and a man was killed last year. We have "country" roads too through agriculture but they are scary because of the big rigs and 55 speed limit.

I have a friend from upstate NY who was surprised that Los Angeles was surrounded by mountains. She pictured it flat!

So what am I jealous about? Riding single tracks in the woods with loam underfoot and the smell of fir... My mtb experience is technical/ rocky/ unshaded/ hot. I live where they filmed the old Lone Ranger show--hi ho silver!

[aka_kim]

You mean you're jealous of San Diego girls. Well, everyone is. San Diego weather is kind of like heaven on earth, and it is a triathlete mecca so lots of good cycling - but the area isn't really representative of the rest ofthe state.

Up here in the SF Bay Area it's rained steadily throughout March and April, to the extent that the governator has declared a state of emergency in some counties. There are few bike lanes in my city, and the new street paving fad is slurry seal everywhere, well, except for those streets using chip seal. But you're right, we do have mountains .

I think I'm jealous of the Florida or Arizona girls right now - well, maybe for another month or so anyway before it gets too hot.

[wabisabi]

Exactly right--NorCal is experiencing endless rain. Up here, in the rural areas, the roads have really deteriorated, and our group has given up a few roads because of the huge potholes. We have even been cut off on the highways for periods of time by slides. Yes, there is the ocean, and the redwoods and the mountains, to be sure, but we have been paying much tribute to Mr. Gore(tex) this year!

[caligurl]

not everyone in cali has bike lanes! we have 2 areas in our city that has bike lanes.. and neither are useable 90% of the time! the road going to the national park... i can ride IN the bike lane on the way UP the hill.. oh... about 75% of the time.... i have to come out into the lane in several areas because there is so much sand and debris!

on the way down i don't use the lane at all because of rocks and sand!

another part of town had a bike lane that is off the main road.. same problem: sand, debris, cactus, GLASS! UGH!

we are able to ride year round, though.. as long as you don't mind the cold in the winter (YES... the desert DOES get cold!) and as long as you can handle the 20..... 30.... 40... 50 mph winds that we tend to get quite often!

[bikerchick68]

I'm in San Diego... it's about 74 degrees today, sunny and hardly any wind... dang near perfect!

<ducking for cover>

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, we do have something called bike lanes up here in Northern Cal. However, a better name might be "trash lanes" as that is what they usually have- glass, rocks, you name it. I generally ride on the "white line" divider as at least I can SEE what's there! (Good for biking skills too!)

We have bicycle coalitions which lobby for bike lanes in our areas. Citizen involvement is how you often get these little extras. Now if Cal Trans would just clean the state roads, and the local communities their roads, we might have a better place to ride with the traffic!

[maillotpois]

I was awakened at 4 am by helicopters circling our house in Mill Valley because of the mudslides just over the hill which buried the man Miffy's Fuji mentioned. Pretty scary wondering where the problem was until we could finally get a report on the news.

CA is great - but I will say Nothern CA has been having its share of problems this winter. It has been raining so hard for MONTHS and there's a lot of flooding and landslides. I know every area has its problems, and I love the area and I even love the fact there there is rain and seasons, etc. But I'm OVER the rain right now!!!

[caligurl]

I was awakened at 4 am by helicopters circling our house in Mill Valley because of the mudslides just over the hill which buried the man Miffy's Fuji mentioned. Pretty scary wondering where the problem was until we could finally get a report on the news.

i saw that on the news down here too! how sad! and didn't another house have to evacuate because it was sliding? or fear of it sliding? AND... more rain predicted!

[SalsaMTB]

Hmmm...maybe I should change my comment to being jealous of the San Diego girls! Sorry to hear about all the problems in North California. Stay safe!

[bcipam]

San Diego is truly the best of California riding if you ask me - but Orange County (just north of SD) is not that far behind. Most cities have made it a point to have bike lanes or trails and then there is the ocean - nothing better than riding along the Pacific. OC and SD also have some great mountain biking trails. Right now in my office, it's beautiful sunny out, 70 degrees and I'm staring out at the snow covered mountains. Last night did a MTB in Weir Canyon. Got to my peak before turning around and surveyed all the greenery, our wildflowers are just peaking. So I was surrounded with yellow fiddleheads and California Everlasting, could see the mountains with all that snow and it was nice out, shirt sleeves and shorts. Ahhhhh great place to be if you love to ride...

But remember this - average home price in So Cal - 3 bedroom, 2 bath $700,000!!!!!!!

edited to add: There is a world of ddifference between Nor Cal and So Cal. NC is beautiful - much "wilder" than SO Cal but also has difficult weather - overcast, rain, fog, rain etc. So Cal is a desert, very arid. SD gets the best of both worlds as it gets a great breeze from the ocean.