# Irvine Cyclist

> Weekly group road rides in Irvine, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Tustin and Orange, California (Orange County, Southern California). Fast, challenging and social road cycling group rides with day, start time, meeting spot, distance, difficulty (1-5) and average speed. Open rides; visitors are welcome.

Site: https://www.irvinecyclist.com/

## Weekly group rides
- [Coffee Crew](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/coffee-crew/):Tuesday, Thursday at 6:15 AM, from University Dr & Campus Dr, UCI, Irvine, CA. 25-40 mi, difficulty 4/5 (fast), 19.7 mph average (Strava). Fast-ish. Strong fitness recommended; 20-50 riders. East toward the Great Park, then back through Newport Coast, with the optional Ridgeline climb to finish.
- [Wednesday Worlds](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/wednesday-worlds/):Wednesday at 12:00 PM, from Bob Henry Park, 900 Dover Dr, Newport Beach, CA. ~30 mi, difficulty 5/5 (race pace), about 24-27 mph (estimate). Very fast. One of Orange County's fastest, most demanding group rides. Neutral rollout through the Back Bay, then race-level efforts.
- [Bus Stop](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/bus-stop/):Friday at 6:20 AM, from Bus stop at Avocado Ave & PCH, Corona del Mar, CA. ~35 mi, difficulty 3/5 (steady), 19.9 mph average (Strava). Social, with a few spirited efforts. Riders of varying abilities. A loop from Corona del Mar: inland through Irvine, down to Laguna Beach, then back north on Pacific Coast Highway past Crystal Cove to finish at Avocado and PCH.
- [Queen Mary](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/queen-mary/):Saturday at 7:05 AM, from 894 Avocado Ave (Peet's Coffee), Corona del Mar, CA. ~50 mi, difficulty 2/5 (moderate), about 19-21 mph (estimate). Steady tempo on a flat coastal route; the pace can pick up on the way back. Flat coastal ride from Corona del Mar toward Long Beach and the Queen Mary, and back.
- [Canyon Velo](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/canyon-velo/):Saturday at 7:30 AM, from 2702 N Santiago Blvd, Orange, CA. 35-55 mi, difficulty 3/5 (steady), about 17-19 mph (estimate). Endurance. Long hours in the saddle rather than all-out speed. Santiago and Silverado canyon endurance ride with stops; optional Silverado Canyon climb.
- [Food Park](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/food-park/):Saturday at 8:45 AM, from Ralphs center, Harvard Ave & Main St, Irvine, CA. 30-40 mi, difficulty 4/5 (fast), about 21-23 mph (estimate). Fast. Confident bike handling and awareness required. Irvine classic toward Laguna, PCH and Newport Coast. Popular in warmer months.
- [COMO / OMOC](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/rides/como-omoc/):Sunday at 8:00 AM, from Tustin Marketplace, West Dr & Jamboree, Tustin, CA. ~40 mi, difficulty 4/5 (fast), about 21-23 mph (estimate). Fast. Attentive group riding required. Neutral start, then the pace picks up. The loop runs in reverse (OMOC) on odd-numbered Sundays.

## [Local riding guide](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/routes/)
- [Back Bay Loop](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/routes/back-bay/): 10.5 mi loop, Newport Beach, CA. The classic Newport Beach loop around Upper Newport Bay: flat, scenic, and close to Irvine. It's where Wednesday Worlds rolls out, and a favorite warm-up or recovery spin. Back Bay Drive, the 3-mile heart of the loop, has no traffic lights, so you can hold a steady effort the whole way along the water.
  - Does the Back Bay loop have traffic lights? Back Bay Drive, the 3-mile stretch along the water between Shellmaker Road and Eastbluff Drive, has no traffic lights. The full 10.5-mile loop does cross signaled intersections on Pacific Coast Highway, Dover Drive, Irvine Avenue and Jamboree Road.
  - How long is the Back Bay loop? About 10.5 miles around Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach. It's mostly flat, with a short climb or two leaving the bay.
  - Can cars drive on Back Bay Drive? Yes, but Back Bay Drive is one-way for cars heading north, and it's shared with walkers, runners and birdwatchers. Ride at a sociable pace there and save hard efforts for elsewhere.
  - Where can I start the Back Bay loop from Irvine? Many riders join at Jamboree Road by San Diego Creek or at Vista Point on Eastbluff Drive, then ride Back Bay Drive south along the water toward Newport Dunes.
- [Santiago Canyon Road](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/routes/santiago-canyon-road/): about 13 mi one way, Orange to Cook's Corner, CA. Orange County's classic canyon road: about 13 miles of rolling foothill riding from the edge of Orange to Cook's Corner, with long climbs, fast descents and no traffic lights. Once you're past the Jamboree Road end, there are no traffic lights until Cook's Corner, so you can settle into a rhythm for miles of uninterrupted riding.
  - Does Santiago Canyon Road have traffic lights? No. Once you're past the Jamboree Road end in Orange, there are no traffic lights until Cook's Corner, about 13 miles of uninterrupted riding.
  - How long is Santiago Canyon Road by bike? About 13 miles from the Jamboree Road end in Orange to Cook's Corner, rolling through the Santa Ana Mountain foothills with sustained climbs toward the Silverado and Modjeska canyons.
  - Where is Cook's Corner? Cook's Corner is the historic roadhouse where Santiago Canyon Road meets El Toro Road and Live Oak Canyon Road, at about 1,090 feet. It's a classic stop for cyclists.
  - Is there water or food along Santiago Canyon Road? Services are limited between the city and Cook's Corner, so carry enough water, food and a spare. Early starts help you avoid the heat and traffic.
- [PCH to Laguna Beach](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/routes/pch-to-laguna/): about 8 mi one way, Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach, CA. The coastal classic: Pacific Coast Highway from Corona del Mar past Crystal Cove State Park to Laguna Beach, with ocean views, rolling terrain and plenty of company from other riders. Expect traffic lights through Corona del Mar and again in Laguna Beach. Between them, the stretch past Crystal Cove State Park has longer gaps between signals, where you can settle into a steady pace.
  - How far is Corona del Mar to Laguna Beach by bike? About 8 miles on Pacific Coast Highway, from Avocado Avenue in Corona del Mar to Main Beach in Laguna Beach, measured on a recorded ride.
  - Does PCH to Laguna have traffic lights? Yes. Expect several traffic lights through Corona del Mar and again in Laguna Beach. The stretch past Crystal Cove State Park in between has longer gaps between signals.
  - Is Pacific Coast Highway safe for cycling? Many cyclists ride it daily, but PCH carries heavy, fast traffic and the shoulder is narrow in places. Ride single file, hold a straight line, watch for cars turning into beach lots, and ride early when traffic is lightest.
  - What's along the ride? Corona del Mar, Newport Coast, Crystal Cove State Park with its 3.25 miles of coastline, and Laguna Beach, with ocean views most of the way.
- [Newport Coast Climb](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/routes/newport-coast/): about 3.5 mi climb, ~915 ft, Newport Coast, CA. Orange County's go-to road climb: Newport Coast Drive from Pacific Coast Highway up to Vista Ridge, about 3.5 miles and 915 feet with sweeping ocean views. A staple of Coffee Crew and Food Park. The climb has a few signaled intersections along Newport Coast Drive, so expect a stop or two on the way up. Between them it's a steady, sustained grade.
  - How long and steep is the Newport Coast climb? About 3.5 miles from Pacific Coast Highway up Newport Coast Drive to the top at Vista Ridge, gaining about 915 feet at an average of roughly 5 percent. It's rated a Category 3 climb.
  - Does the Newport Coast climb have traffic lights? A few. Newport Coast Drive has signaled intersections along the climb, so expect a stop or two on the way up. Between them it's a steady, sustained grade.
  - How should I pace the Newport Coast climb? Start steady. The climb is long enough that going out too hard costs you near the top. On the descent, keep your speed in check and watch for cars at the neighborhood intersections.

## [Group ride etiquette](https://www.irvinecyclist.com/etiquette/)
- Ride Predictably: The safest rider in a fast group is not the strongest one. It is the smoothest one. Hold your line, keep your speed steady, and avoid sudden braking, swerving, or standing up without warning.
- Protect Your Front Wheel: Never overlap wheels with the rider ahead. If they move slightly and touch your front wheel, you are usually the one going down. Keep a small buffer and ride slightly offset only when conditions allow.
- Look Ahead, Not Down: Do not stare at the wheel in front of you. Look through the riders ahead so you can see changes in speed, road hazards, corners, and traffic before they reach you.
- Communicate Early: Call and signal hazards clearly: “hole,” “gravel,” “car back,” “slowing,” “stopping,” “runner up.” Point out obstacles when safe, and pass signals down the group.
- Brake Gently: Avoid grabbing the brakes in a pack. If the group slows, soft-pedal, sit taller to catch wind, or feather the brakes lightly. Sudden braking causes chain reactions.
- Hold Your Line Through Corners: Choose a predictable arc and stay on it. Do not dive inside, drift wide, or change lines mid-corner. In a group, the safest corner is a boring corner.
- Do Not Half-Wheel: When riding side by side, keep your front wheel level with the rider next to you. Constantly creeping ahead forces the pace up and makes the group less stable.
- Pull Smoothly: When taking a turn at the front, keep the pace steady. Do not surge to prove strength. When finished, peel off predictably, ease slightly, and rejoin at the back without cutting across wheels.
- Stand Up Carefully: Standing out of the saddle can throw your bike backward slightly. Before standing, make sure no one is tight on your wheel, keep pressure on the pedals, and avoid sudden changes in speed.
- Eat, Drink, and Adjust Safely: Take bottles, food, jackets, or computers only when the road is calm and your line is stable. If you need more room, drift to the back first.
- No Aero Bars in the Group: Aero bars are for solo riding or controlled situations, not tight packs. In a group, keep your hands where you can steer and brake quickly.
- Know When to Back Off: If you are tired, nervous, or at your limit, move toward the back or let the group know. Riding beyond your skill level in a fast pack puts everyone at risk.
- Golden rule: Be smooth, be predictable, and protect the riders around you. Fast group riding works only when everyone treats safety as part of the pace.

## Frequently asked questions
- I'm visiting Irvine or Newport Beach. Can I join a group ride? Yes. These are open group rides, and visitors join them all the time. Pick a ride that matches your pace, arrive about 10 minutes early, and make sure your road bike is in good shape. If you're new to the area, sit in near the back and know the way back to the start in case you get dropped.
- Which Irvine-area group rides are friendly or social? The Bus Stop (Friday, Corona del Mar) is a social coastal ride with a few spirited efforts, the Queen Mary (Saturday, Corona del Mar) is a steady, flat coastal ride, and Canyon Velo (Saturday, Orange) is an endurance ride with stops. Some Strava club rides, like Rapha Cycling Club OC's B group and ENDURE's off-season rides, are also no-drop.
- Where are the fastest group rides in Orange County? Wednesday Worlds from Bob Henry Park in Newport Beach is race pace. Food Park (Saturday, Irvine), COMO/OMOC (Sunday, Tustin), and Coffee Crew (Tuesday and Thursday, UCI) are all fast and challenging.
- What do the difficulty levels mean? 1 Easy: social, conversational. 2 Moderate: steady, regroups. 3 Steady: sustained tempo with some harder efforts. 4 Fast: 20+ mph for long stretches; you need to hold a wheel. 5 Race pace: attacks and surges; expect to be dropped if you're not race-fit.
- Where do the average speeds come from? Coffee Crew and Bus Stop speeds are averaged from recent rides recorded on Strava (moving time). Those recordings can include riding to and from the start, so treat the distance and climbing as approximate. Other rides show an estimate based on how each ride is described. Group speeds change with the season and who shows up.
- Are these rides no-drop? Most of these are not. Wednesday Worlds, Food Park and COMO/OMOC are fast rides that usually don't wait. If you're new, start with the Bus Stop, Canyon Velo or the Queen Mary, and know the route home.
- What kind of bike do I need for these group rides? A road bike in good working order with clipless pedals. You'll see Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Cervélo, Pinarello, Canyon, BMC, Giant, and many other brands. The bike matters less than being able to hold a steady line and a wheel at 20+ mph.
- When is the best time of year to ride in Irvine? All year. Southern California's mild winters make December rides normal, and in summer the early start times help you beat the heat. Early-morning rides in winter start in the dark, so bring front and rear lights.
- What should I bring? A helmet, a well-maintained bike, a spare tube and tools, water, and ID. Front and rear lights are strongly recommended for early-morning rides, and required on some club rides.
- Is the schedule official? No. Times and meeting spots are compiled from ride listings, club pages, and Strava. Group rides change without notice, so check the ride's club or Strava page before heading out.

## Notes
- Ride times and meeting spots are compiled from ride listings, club pages and Strava; confirm with the ride's club before heading out.
- Areas covered: Irvine, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Newport Coast, Tustin, Orange, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach.