Corona Clockwise

300km/7900ft RUSA Brevet

The Corona 300k is put on the schedule for new and experienced randos looking for an autumn challenge while Dorina V, returning from her racing campaign back in Europe, will ride as training for the Borrego Springs 6-12-24 World Time Trial Championship on November 1, 2024 HOME | WTTC2024 (24hrworlds.com).

The clockwise route starts with the northbound journey along the coast through the various San Diego North County beach communities to Oceanside. If you have the coveted Camp Pendleton base pass, you may enter at the South Vandergrift base entrance to pass through Stuart Mesa and then exit at Las Pulgas Rd. The official route is to enter I-5 just before the base entrance and exit at Las Pulgas Rd, with the mandatory exit at the Aliso Creek rest stop.

Exiting the freeway, the route will continue on the Pacific Coast Bikeway, starting with a stretch paved for an emergency landing strip and then along the coast until reaching the San Onofre State Beach and Campground parking lot. Public bathrooms are available. After passing the now decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Power Station (SONGS), you’ll ride through Trestles Wetlands Nature Preserve aka “Trestles” where it is alleged to be the world’s best surf spot. Please accommodate the various surfing wildlife on foot and e-bikes with their surfboards sharing the same trail.

Entering Orange County at San Clemente, the route will descend down to the Capistrano Bight and then through Doheny State Beach before arriving at Dana Point, named after Richard Henry Dana Jr, famous American lawyer and politician who wrote “Two Years Before the Mast”, a memoir of his journey around the Cape Horn to reach the California Coast. The climb on Golden Lantern will kick off a series of rollers along the Orange County coastline. This route will avoid the Coast Hwy through Laguna Beach, the “Sh!thole” of SoCal, by taking Genneyre St followed by Hillcrest Dr on the other side of Hwy 133/Broadway before returning to Coast Hwy on Ladroit St where a bike lane marks your departure from the “Sh!thole” of SoCal.

The route will turn inland at the mouth of the Santa Ana River to start the trek on the Santa Ana River Trail. The climb will be a steady 1-2% grade with several bridge crossings over the river, passing by the Angels Stadium in Anaheim. The river trail will continue to Corona where the climbing begins in Riverside County. Following the I-15 corridor, the route goes through Temescal Valley, Lake Elsinore and Temecula before re-entering San Diego County at Rainbow. A couple of extended climbs on Old Hwy 395 (West Lilac Road and the Champagne Climb to Deer Springs Rd) will offer up a fight to your tired legs before arriving in Escondido. Don’t take the Del Dios Hwy and Linea Del Cielo descents for granted as you make your way to the finish at the Solana Beach train station.

For randos looking to complete their first Super Randonneur series (200, 300, 400, 600), this autumn 300k brevet will give you an opportunity to work out your nighttime riding experience and equipment (reflective gear, head/rear light equipment) while Dorina prepares for her race.

No support will be anticipated except at the start. If additional volunteers are available, we will amend our support plan.

Please read our accepted proof of passage.