Santiago Canyon Road & Cook's Corner
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Santiago Canyon Road & Cook's Corner
It's been a while - the ride say, East Chapman Avenue in Orange and then into Santiago Canyon Road to Cook's Corner.
How is Santiago Canyon Road these days?
How is Santiago Canyon Road these days?
Likes For Garfield Cat:
#2
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
#3
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 4,141
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,700 Times
in
1,167 Posts
It was extremely windy when I last rode SCR eastbound toward the end of last year. Waiting for diphthong to report back that it is all calm and sunny before I tackle SCR again.
#4
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
looking more like tuesday...
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Posts: 2,523
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
Liked 973 Times
in
565 Posts
I rode it 2 weeks ago (West to East) and I'm actually heading out this morning to do it again. I leave from Cypress Community Park (Jeffrey Rd and 5 fwy), Ride up Jeffrey to Portola and then over to Jamboree and then across SCR to El Toro and then work my way back to the Park. Everything about the last ride was great. The road seemed clean, the hills still had a lot of green to them. And if you can do it on a weekday there's usually very little traffic.
Likes For TakingMyTime:
#6
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 4,141
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,700 Times
in
1,167 Posts
I rode it 2 weeks ago (West to East) and I'm actually heading out this morning to do it again. I leave from Cypress Community Park (Jeffrey Rd and 5 fwy), Ride up Jeffrey to Portola and then over to Jamboree and then across SCR to El Toro and then work my way back to the Park. Everything about the last ride was great. The road seemed clean, the hills still had a lot of green to them. And if you can do it on a weekday there's usually very little traffic.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Posts: 2,523
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
Liked 973 Times
in
565 Posts
Change of plans. It was nice and dry down near Long Beach but once I got off the 405 in Irvine it was way too wet to ride. I drove to the park (with my windshield wiper on) but turned around after seeing how wet everything was.
#8
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 4,141
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,700 Times
in
1,167 Posts
Yes, Irvine has recently experienced misty mornings that would not show up in the forecast until after the misting starts. It generally clears up for late morning.
#9
Full Member
2 websites- although I'm sure others exist- I use to get wind & temp forecasts for riding (and surfing):
www.windfinder.com
www.windy.com
West
www.windfinder.com
www.windy.com
West
Likes For 2seven0:
#10
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
generally more of a cross wind/verry slight tailwind heading west/jamboree to east/live oak rd.
in santa ana conditions, a definite cross wind and a maybe tailwind heading east to west mostly downhill but the area around the silverado road junction is a hold onto the bars with both hands recommendation.
don't ask me how i know.
Last edited by diphthong; 05-24-24 at 12:55 AM.
#11
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
rode scr and live oak canyon rd in both directions starting in rancho santa margarita and heading westward. turned around at the start of traffic lights/241 toll road junction. traffic pretty heavy but that was to be expected on a holiday. cook’s corner was ridiculously busy-no surprise there. late start at 3:20pm and finished around 6:30pm. mid-70’s and clear. wind conditions were light and not really an issue (the occasional 4-5 mph zephyr) until just before (heading west) the silverado rd. junction. then, there was an intermittent, 10-12 mph (mostly) headwind until turning around and heading east. went up silverado rd. to grab some water at the little market a few
miles up the road and the intermittent, 10-12 mph headwind was there too. silverado road quality slightly rough but decent. scr and live oak canyon were both very solid. an 8 for scr and a 9 for locr. did come across 2-3 spray-painted/flagged bumps on scr heading east. did not realize there were so many impromptu memorials on the scr/locr route. including the ghost bike on the fence up the hill from the 241/scr junction, i think i counted 11. there were a few traffic cones on the edge of westbound scr before silverado turnoff flagging some smallish dirt piles on the edge of the bike lane but otherwise, no construction. biggest hazard, and it could be a biggie, is that there are two small sections of oak trees on the eastbound scr descent to cook’s corner that definitely need to be trimmed. the foliage is over the entire bike lane and low enough that you need to get your chin down near the handlebars to avoid swerving out of the bike lane or getting clobbered with a face full of branches/leaves. just coasting on the descent, you’ll be doing 30+ easy and (as late as i was riding) definitely shaded so not as easy to pick up if riding after high noon.
miles up the road and the intermittent, 10-12 mph headwind was there too. silverado road quality slightly rough but decent. scr and live oak canyon were both very solid. an 8 for scr and a 9 for locr. did come across 2-3 spray-painted/flagged bumps on scr heading east. did not realize there were so many impromptu memorials on the scr/locr route. including the ghost bike on the fence up the hill from the 241/scr junction, i think i counted 11. there were a few traffic cones on the edge of westbound scr before silverado turnoff flagging some smallish dirt piles on the edge of the bike lane but otherwise, no construction. biggest hazard, and it could be a biggie, is that there are two small sections of oak trees on the eastbound scr descent to cook’s corner that definitely need to be trimmed. the foliage is over the entire bike lane and low enough that you need to get your chin down near the handlebars to avoid swerving out of the bike lane or getting clobbered with a face full of branches/leaves. just coasting on the descent, you’ll be doing 30+ easy and (as late as i was riding) definitely shaded so not as easy to pick up if riding after high noon.
Likes For diphthong:
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Diep H. Thong - report
I showed his report to an older rider and he really enjoyed Thong's ride. It brought back memories.
I showed his report to an older rider and he really enjoyed Thong's ride. It brought back memories.
#13
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
one of my fave stretches in all of socal. originally had (admittedly grandiose) designs on doing both silverado rd and modjeska canyon rd + modjeska grade (either direction) along the way but got a really late start.
doesn't help things being much too much out of shape. modjeska grade is a bear in either direction and silverado rd is deceptively difficult to (paved) road's end. earlier start would have guaranteed an attempt on
at least one. oh well. would like to hit scr/locr again in the next two weeks before the greenery and water is totally gonzo. a must-do for socal cyclists. may need to compile that socal must-do list some day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11513569689
doesn't help things being much too much out of shape. modjeska grade is a bear in either direction and silverado rd is deceptively difficult to (paved) road's end. earlier start would have guaranteed an attempt on
at least one. oh well. would like to hit scr/locr again in the next two weeks before the greenery and water is totally gonzo. a must-do for socal cyclists. may need to compile that socal must-do list some day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11513569689
Last edited by diphthong; 06-05-24 at 01:38 AM.
Likes For diphthong:
#14
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,526
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 95 battaglin steel, 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Liked 3,372 Times
in
1,794 Posts
one of my fave stretches in all of socal. originally had (admittedly grandiose) designs on doing both silverado rd and modjeska canyon rd + modjeska grade (either direction) along the way but got a really late start.
doesn't help things being much too much out of shape. modjeska grade is a bear in either direction and silverado rd is deceptively difficult to (paved) road's end. earlier start would have guaranteed an attempt on
at least one. oh well. would like to hit scr/locr again in the next two weeks before the greenery and water is totally gonzo. a must-do for socal cyclists. may need to compile that socal must-do list some day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11513569689
doesn't help things being much too much out of shape. modjeska grade is a bear in either direction and silverado rd is deceptively difficult to (paved) road's end. earlier start would have guaranteed an attempt on
at least one. oh well. would like to hit scr/locr again in the next two weeks before the greenery and water is totally gonzo. a must-do for socal cyclists. may need to compile that socal must-do list some day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/11513569689
(from the mexico/usa border on the south, the pacific ocean on the west, the colorado river on the east and the mountains just behind santa barbara, los padres nf, angeles nf, san berdoo nf and joshua tree np on the arguable northern boundary-death valley and mojave natl preserve, fig mtn would all be north of the boundary for purposes of the thread).
haven't done them all completely. out of the ones not done, luckily have (at least) done a portion(s) at some point. maybe not in the "epic/desired" direction (downhill on the ridiculous grade uphill) but looking to chronicle them all at some point. sounds like a great, rainy weekend endeavor.
Likes For diphthong: