After nearly a month and a half at the new digs, this morning I finally got a chance to check out my first ‘new’ local road - The famed Ortega Highway. Without a doubt the road is a fast, fast track when it’s clear. It snakes back and forth with a combination of seemingly never-ending sweepers that offer a rider the ability to truly see through most of the corners. It feels much less technical then the Santa Monica Mountains, but it’s also a magnitude easier to see the corner, set-up for it, plant the bike on your line and then let it rip.
Working my way up the eastern side of the road, which seems like the curvier and more exciting side, I felt somewhat overwhelmed by a mixture of emotions – few of which had anything substantial to do with the actual road I was on. Riding for the first time in a new location, when it’s also your new port of calling, is strange beast to say the least. I guess in many respects this morning hammered home some of the ‘real’ in my new reality. I suspect saying that ( or at least typing it ) sounds rather negative. I don’t quite mean it that way, but I do find myself straddling a strange path since getting back home. On one hand I feel unaccustomed to the road and that makes me feel a bit uneasy. Not much different than the mental progression that one makes when they visit a track for the first time. On the other hand I miss the relatively substantial number of routing choices that the Santa Monica Mountains offer. The Ortega offers only one trip while the roads by Malibu offer several.
From what I could tell while riding this morning, it sure seemed like folks ride The Ortega one direction, then turn around and ride it back, and then repeat for as long as they can. This is something I’m going to have to get used to. Back in the old neighborhood I rarely came home on the same roads I went out on. Here it seems a bit different. The Cleveland National Forrest offers no other roadways to visit, which seems like a shame since the scenic setting and the various rolling mountain formations look like they would offer some wickedly fun and ideal riding roads.
Traffic is another ‘new’ consideration. I knew that during the week The Ortega was a commuter road, but at 7AM on a Sunday I didn’t expect to see as many cars rolling along as I did. It wasn’t ridiculous mind you, but it was also more traffic then I accustomed to seeing that early in the morning. The higher level of traffic forces you to change your mindset quite a bit. Back in Malibu I’d rarely pass a car because I knew either there’d be a turnoff coming up or another route I could jump to, but on the Ortega you’re roadlocked, so to speak. If you don’t pass a slow moving car when you hit a safe passing spot you can end up stuck behind them for quite awhile. This seems to lead to folks taking chances that baffle me – why would it be worth crossing into oncoming traffic to passing a car just before a blind corner when you have no idea if a vehicle will be coming the other way? I simply don’t get it – especially since you know there’s a good chance a straight away will be around the bend. Perhaps we all value our lives differently, I don’t know.
All of these are relatively minor things that I’ll have to get used to on The Ortega, but when added up there’s a strange cumulative effect that places you slightly out of sorts with the bike.
Yet the oddest change among all of these ‘new’ things is the relatively short distance from the house to the curvy roads. Previously I had to take a 20+ mile hike up the Pacific Coast Highway to get to the ‘good roads’, but now it’s less than six miles away. I’ve always thought being closer was better – and I still subscribe to that belief – but mentally it’s a very different challenge. I found out this morning that the shorter distance requires you to be focused and awake much quicker. There’s no time for the last cup of coffee to kick in. It’s more or less ‘go’ time from the moment you hit the bike. Which is a great thing, but not necessarily one I’m used to.
All in all, it was a good first day out and it’s nice to be back riding for fun again. But I’ve certainly got some new ‘experiences’ ahead of me and I suspect it’ll take me awhile to get into this ‘new’ routine. I’m also greatly looking forward to checking out what other roads surround the new digs. If anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears…
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Hi Dylan,
I’ve witnessed the behavior you described on the Ortega and was amazed. It is bad enough to have to deal with dimwitted and aggressive cagers but add in foolish riders and it leaves little room for relief.
I have already suggested the De Luz road and if you study a map you’ll see that there are lots of interconnecting side roads between De Luz and Sandia Creek and on both sides of same. There are, I suppose, fewer straights than in the Santa Monica Mts. but there are some very good combinations and elevation changes to challenge you and nice vistas for photographing. Also, by the time you ride the I-15 south to Rancho California and go up the hill to the west into the twisties your coffee will be in full force.
Another network of back roads is located south of the Pechanga Casino. Take the HWY 79 South exit off of the I-15 and go right on Pechanga Parkway past the casino. This road leads to the Pala Casino eventually. Along this road you will find a number of side roads. The area is on the lower western slopes of Mt. Palomar. It may be more populous than the Santa Monicas but at least, with practice you may be able to adjust your route for traffic.
I’m looking forward to hearing your comments.
Ford
I’d echo Ford’s comments Dylan. I’ve lived in OC for over a decade now and ride Ortega only when absolutely necessary. No offense to the squids…but Ortega strikes me as very popular with them. And I think the number of accidents and worse on that road speaks for itself.
Ride it mid-Jan/early-Feb for a wet/cold, but solo ride. Just watch for the ice patchs as you get midway.