88 miles with 2,100 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Counties Visited:
Los Angeles County and Orange County
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Cities/Towns Visited:
Long Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Viejo, Irvine, and Tustin
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Climbs:
Mile 40 (cat. 4)
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Stops (Self-Supported):
Mile 34 (Dana Point) and 49 (Irvine)
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Description:
The Orange County New Year's Day Ride is an annual critical mass event that attracts hundreds of cyclists. Many riders start at the Alamitos Bay Marina in Long Beach, just off Pacific Coast Highway. The ride then follows PCH all the way to Dana Point, picking up new riders along the way while dropping some riders due to the fast pace (up to 35 mph on the flat sections).
After a regroup and refuel, the ride heads inland, following San Juan Creek bike path, before hitting some hills in Mission Viejo. After another regroup and refuel, Trabuco Road and Irvine Boulevard continue on to Tustin. San Diego Creek Channel bike path and Back Bay Drive eventually lead back to PCH again, from where the route heads north to the starting point.
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Pictures:
[Peloton on PCH]
[Peloton on PCH]
[Peloton on PCH]
Photos courtesy of Kenny B.
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Personal Notes:
It is exciting riding in the draft of a few hundred fellow riders, at a pace set by some professionals and cat. 1/2 racers in the front. We occasionally stopped for a red light, which I welcomed because it allowed me to catch my breath. I only saw one crash involving two riders, less than what I had heard about.
Orange County New Year's Day Ride - Current Weather:
