Palm Springs recommendation
Will be in Palm Springs tomorrow. Rented a road bike, thinking of doing hwy 74 but a lot of ppl don’t recommend it due to safety. Does anyone local have a good route they can recommend for a solo rider?
Reasonably strong cyclist - looking to do 80-100 miles both day. |
Originally Posted by Winn0923
(Post 23214488)
Will be in Palm Spring tomorrow. Rented a road bike, thinking of doing hwy 74 but a lot of ppl don’t recommend it due to safety. Does anyone local have a good route they can recommend for a solo rider?
Reasonably strong cyclist - looking to do 80-100 miles both day. They alter the route occasionally. I never did this version, but you can probably look at past years' ones. |
Originally Posted by Winn0923
(Post 23214488)
Will be in Palm Springs tomorrow. Rented a road bike, thinking of doing hwy 74 but a lot of ppl don’t recommend it due to safety. Does anyone local have a good route they can recommend for a solo rider?
Reasonably strong cyclist - looking to do 80-100 miles both day. |
Originally Posted by WaveyGravey
(Post 23214536)
What are your safety concerns regarding Hwy 74? Thanks.
Most reviews I found online said to avoid hw74, esp during Coachella time 😭 |
Originally Posted by roadcrankr
(Post 23214510)
You could ride a route like the Tour de Palm Springs. https://tourdepalmsprings.com/event-info/routes/
They alter the route occasionally. I never did this version, but you can probably look at past years' ones. Here's a better one https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38705465 HOWEVER it has still been raining pretty good in So Cal so those roads could be flooded again. |
Originally Posted by WaveyGravey
(Post 23214536)
What are your safety concerns regarding Hwy 74? Thanks.
ca hwy 74 from the bighorn country club at the extreme southern edge of palm desert is very winding and narrow for the first 5 miles or so. only a few places to pull over and poor sight lines for motorists. i say this as a socal cyclist that avoids only 4-5 roads in the region. there is plenty of fast, daily commuter (early morn and early afternoon construction trades traffic) during the weekdays. weekends best from sunrise to 9am if you must ride it. the descent is a blast. from palm springs, there is scenic, flattish riding in town west of palm canyon rd/ca hwy 111. climbing up tram road to the guard house is a definite lung and leg buster if you need climbing…just watch that speed on the descent. making it out to dillon road on the north side of the 10 fwy finds a little bit less traffic and no stop lights. services few and far between out there so take two extra inner tubes and carry two water bottles. la quinta cove area is scenic and would be a roughly 75-80 mile loop from palm springs incorporating dillon road and ca hwy 111. if the tram road climb whets the appetite, there is a shortish and stiff climb from the corner of ca hwy 111 and frank sinatra drive as well. prettiest road in the nearish coachella valley is the 1000 palms road connecting ramon rd/washington rd to dillon rd. it’s about 4 miles long and about a 4% grade up or down given your direction. if you’ve got a car to transport the bike, joshua tree national park is approx an hour’s drive away (one way) and super scenic. weekdays best before 11am. can park about 4 miles north of the entrance near the corner of ca hwy 62/park blvd at ride up the 4-5% incline for approx 6 miles till things level out, get flattish and awesome. dunno what the exact charge is for cyclist entry is since i’ve got the annual pass but think it is $12. |
Originally Posted by diphthong
(Post 23214939)
sorry, saw this too late to possibly help out.
ca hwy 74 from the bighorn country club at the extreme southern edge of palm desert is very winding and narrow for the first 5 miles or so. only a few places to pull over and poor sight lines for motorists. i say this as a socal cyclist that avoids only 4-5 roads in the region. there is plenty of fast, daily commuter (early morn and early afternoon construction trades traffic) during the weekdays. weekends best from sunrise to 9am if you must ride it. the descent is a blast. from palm springs, there is scenic, flattish riding in town west of palm canyon rd/ca hwy 111. climbing up tram road to the guard house is a definite lung and leg buster if you need climbing…just watch that speed on the descent. making it out to dillon road on the north side of the 10 fwy finds a little bit less traffic and no stop lights. services few and far between out there so take two extra inner tubes and carry two water bottles. la quinta cove area is scenic and would be a roughly 75-80 mile loop from palm springs incorporating dillon road and ca hwy 111. if the tram road climb whets the appetite, there is a shortish and stiff climb from the corner of ca hwy 111 and frank sinatra drive as well. prettiest road in the nearish coachella valley is the 1000 palms road connecting ramon rd/washington rd to dillon rd. it’s about 4 miles long and about a 4% grade up or down given your direction. |
Originally Posted by Winn0923
(Post 23214950)
Thanks! I looked at both Tram Roadway also. People said not to attempt too late in the day due to wind but condition looks perfect today, no gust over 13 mph all day. I’ll try that today in the afternoon (since not picking up my bike till 10) or early tomorrow morning!
|
Descending from the tram climb my arms always looked like Popeye's. But that was many years ago and I hope that the road has been improved since then.
|
Originally Posted by Steel Charlie
(Post 23214985)
Descending from the tram climb my arms always looked like Popeye's. But that was many years ago and I hope that the road has been improved since then.
The road is pretty nice, so no problem descending it as long as there is no wind! |
Originally Posted by diphthong
(Post 23214952)
updated original post to include joshua tree national park. tram road climb will give you one heck of a workout. the palm springs modern architecture-styled neighborhood just to the south of tram road (and squeezed between the mountain and palm canyon rd/ca hwy 111) is great for toodling and recovery from the big hill climb.
didn’t get a chance to ride JT so def will be back! Do you have any route recommendations? |
https://www.strava.com/routes/3216330638029954842
https://www.strava.com/routes/3216331759724874522 https://www.strava.com/routes/3216332466147067674 weekdays if you can swing it. pack plenty of tubes or top off that sealant. wouldn't hurt to bring a new, folded tire along for backup and a boot kit as these are some desolate rides. support is non-existent enroute so you gotta be self-sufficient with supplies, grub and grog. if you only do one ride, the middle/2nd route is the one to do. |
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