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Orange County Wheelmen |
THE 36th ANNUAL
AMTRAK CENTURY
Saturday,
September
11,
2010
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Amtrak Century |
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2010 Amtrak
Comment Board
100-Mile Bicycle Ride
Riders return by Private Train
Transportation for your bicycle
Three full service rest stops
Lunch in Oceanside
Refreshments in San Diego
Sag support
A great first-time century! |
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Come out and join 1200 of your fellow cyclist by participating in the most scenic route down the Southern California Coast.
The Amtrak Century is 100 miles of road riding from Irvine to San Diego over flat to rolling terrain with approximately 3200 feet of elevation gain.
Route Map
Remember to keep your bike rolling at a steady pace (12 mph average for 8 hrs) to arrive in San Diego in ample time for the return train ride.
This ride starts out through the flat lands of Irvine before heading south. Your first climb is up Bake Parkway. From there you head south riding the rolling hills of Lake Forest and Mission Viejo on your way to the first rest stop in San Juan Capistrano.
You continue south to Capistrano Beach and along Pacific Coast Highway with the ocean on your right and a nice flat stretch into San Clemente. The ride takes you through San Clemente to the Bike Trail, Old Pacific Coast Highway and past the San Onofre nuclear generating plant into the San Onofre state Park. The park is normally crowded, so watch for slow moving vehicles and fast moving kids. Exiting the park you will ride through the north section of Camp Pendleton getting the opportunity to ride on a smooth and fast concrete runway ending up at rest stop #2.
After topping off your water bottles and some light snacks, it is time to fly south on the I-5 freeway to Oceanside stopping for a great lunch in Buccaneer Park. Enjoy your lunch, but don’t eat too much because you still have 39 miles to San Diego plus a little rise in the road called Torrey Pines Grade.
This next section is probably the most scenic riding along the coast through the beach cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana & Del Mar with views of the Pacific Ocean. Leaving Del Mar you are approaching the last major climb up Torrey Pines Grade and the last rest stop. Enjoy the cold refreshments in preparation for the remaining miles, mostly downhill.
The last section takes you past the UC San Diego, to the bike trail and Mission Bay. If
you have time, take a right at Torrey Pines Scenic Dr and check out the hang gliders. Enjoy the view along Mission Bay Dr and see the jet skiers. The last 3 miles along Harbor Dr is my favorite, beautiful views of San Diego Harbor, the high rise buildings in downtown San Diego with a great tail wind to blow you home.
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