510 miles with 20,100 feet of elevation gain*
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop (101 miles / 4,860 feet)
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop (101 miles / 4,190 feet)
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente (102 miles / 3,580 feet)
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente (101 miles / 3,610 feet)
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop (105 miles / 3,880 feet)
Rad Fondo #6: Coming in March
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
Rad Fondo - Description:
The Rad Fondo Six-Pack Challenge is a series of six rides starting in San Clemente, one per month from October to March. A Rad Fondo is a 101-mile ride that is ridden as a group at winter training pace. There is a three flat rule, meaning the group will stop for the first three flat tires, then everybody is on their own. The event is free and includes two supported stops as well as a post-ride meal.
[Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Route Profile]
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Counties Visited:
Orange County
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Paint, Rancho Santa Margarita, Tustin, Anaheim, Orange, Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Climbs:
Mile 12 (cat. 4), 17 (cat. 3), 25 (cat. 4), 28 (cat. 4), and 44 (cat. 4)
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Stops:
Mile 47 (Anaheim) and 67 (Newport Beach)
Rad Fondo #1: Orange County Loop - Description:
Rad Fondo #1 starts in San Clemente and leads north through the canyons, back to the coast on Santa Ana River bike trail, and back to the start along the coast.
The ride follows Antonio Parkway and passes through Trabuco Canyon, Live Oak Canyon, and Santiago Canyon. It then climbs Cannon Street which turns into Imperial Highway. Santa Ana River bike trail continues towards Newport Beach, and Pacific Coast Highway leads south through the beach cities and back to San Clemente.
[Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Route Profile]
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Counties Visited:
Orange County and San Diego County
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Clemente, Oceanside, Fallbrook, and Bonsall
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Climbs:
Mile 31 (cat. 3) and 50 (cat. 3)
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Stops:
Mile 28 and 73
Rad Fondo #2: North County Loop - Description:
Rad Fondo #2 starts in San Clemente and leads south to Oceanside and inland, where it follows a figure eight loop before it returns.
On the way to Oceanside the ride passes through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Then it continues on San Luis Rey River bike trail to College Boulevard. North River Road leads to Sleeping Indian Road, which climbs towards Fallbrook. Green Canyon Road leads to South Mission Road, which descends into Bonsall.
The ride then follows West Lilac Road. Circle R Drive, Old Highway 395, and Camino Del Rey lead back to Bonsall, and Old River Road leads back to North River Road. From here on back to San Clemente the route is the same as at the beginning.
[Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Route Profile]
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Counties Visited:
Orange County and Los Angeles County
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Long Beach
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Climbs:
Mile 20 (cat. 3)
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Stops:
Mile 42 and 73 (Newport Beach)
Rad Fondo #3: San Clemente - Long Beach - San Clemente - Description:
Rad Fondo #3 starts in San Clemente and leads to the Queen Mary in Long Beach and back, climbing Newport Coast on the way north.
The ride follows Pacific Coast Highway for the most part. To make the distance 101 miles, it climbs Newport Coast Drive and Vista Ridge Road, offering views of Catalina Island in the west and the mountain ranges in the east. San Joaquin Hills Road leads back down to PCH.
After crossing the San Gabriel River, the ride passes through Naples Island and Belmont Shore (good bike lane). Ocean Boulevard and Shoreline Drive lead to the Queen Mary. The way back follows the same route, except for Newport Coast.
[Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Route Profile]
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Counties Visited:
Orange County and San Diego County
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Clemente, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and La Jolla
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Climbs:
Mile 42 (cat. 4) and 52 (cat. 4)
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Stops:
Mile 35 (Swamis) and 80 (Oceanside Harbor)
Rad Fondo #4: San Clemente - La Jolla - San Clemente - Description:
Rad Fondo #4 starts in San Clemente and leads south to La Jolla and back.
On the way to Oceanside the ride passes through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Then it continues on Pacific Coast Highway, visiting the beach cities and climbing Torrey Pines. North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla Shores Drive, Torrey Pines Road, and Prospect Place lead down to La Jolla Cove, where sea lions and harbor seals can be found. The way back follows the same route.
[Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Route Profile]
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Counties Visited:
Orange County
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Cities/Towns Visited:
San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Paint, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Tustin, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Niguel
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Climbs:
Mile 50 (cat. 4)
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Stops:
Mile 49 (Anaheim) and 76 (Irvine)
Rad Fondo #5: Orange County Loop - Description:
Rad Fondo #5 starts in San Clemente and leads north along the coast, inland on Santa Ana River bike trail, and back to the start on various roads and trails.
For the first half, the ride follows Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Ana River bike trail. It then climbs Imperial Highway which turns into Cannon Street. Santiago Canyon Road, Jamboree Road, Portola Parkway, Peters Canyon trail, Harvard Avenue, and San Diego Creek trail continue to the University of California, Irvine.
After passing through the campus, the route follows Shady Canyon trail. Alton Parkway, Muirlands Boulevard, Los Alisos Boulevard, Paseo de Valencia, and Laguna Hills Drive lead to Aliso Creek trail. Crown Valley Parkway and Camino del Avion continue to Salt Creek trail, which offers stunning views. PCH finally leads back to San Clemente.
Rad Fondo - Pictures:
[The Group at the Queen Mary]
[The Group in La Jolla]
Rad Fondo - Personal Notes:
These rides are rad. They are a good opportunity for new riders to work on their group riding skills, and for everybody to build up their endurance. Stronger riders can take more pulls in the front, while others might prefer to sit in. Many riders only join the group for a portion of the ride.
Thanks a lot to Mike M. for organizing the rides, and to Leah and Hannah for supporting them.
Here are some statistics:
Rad Fondo #1: Moving time: 6:08 hours, total time: 6:47 hours (avg. moving speed: 16.4 mph)
Rad Fondo #2: Moving time: 6:03 hours, total time: 7:06 hours (avg. moving speed: 16.7 mph)
Rad Fondo #3: Moving time: 6:02 hours, total time: 7:20 hours (avg. moving speed: 16.9 mph)
Rad Fondo #4: Moving time: 5:37 hours, total time: 7:04 hours (avg. moving speed: 17.9 mph)
Rad Fondo #5: Moving time: 6:08 hours, total time: 7:40 hours (avg. moving speed: 17.0 mph)
Rad Fondo #6: Coming in March
Rad Fondo - Current Weather:
