Palm Springs/Desert, Temecula…road or mountain?

[Applesauce]

My wife and I are flying in Palm Springs in about two weeks just to hang out for a bit and ride bikes. We haven’t gotten accommodation yet, or settled on road or mountain bikes…yeah, non-vacation life is busy. 🤪

I got to looking though, and Temecula Valley looks like is might be better for both road and mountain. Question is, what should we do? We’re mostly mountain bikers these days, but that’s because the road riding in our area sucks and the mountain biking doesn’t. We love riding road bikes where it’s good. We’re only taking one bike each, either road or mountain. (We don’t own gravel bikes. We’re excellent mountain bikers, not concerned at all with trail difficulty etc.) I would really appreciate some local knowledge or experience!

[ceya]

I would say mountain but bring another set of tires aka smooth road type to change over to ride on the road.


Last time out there they just making the airport bigger in 2001

[mhespenheide]

I have not lived in the area since 2008. But throughout the time I was there, I would not have said that Palm Desert / Palm Springs were standouts for either road biking or mountain biking. You have options for hiking in the Indian Canyons, and at the top of the tram. There used to be one great mountain bike ride that was the descent from Pinyon down into Palm Springs. But, on the whole, the area was largely set up for cars and golf courses and not for any kind of endurance athletics.

I don't really know about Temecula, but a quick look at google maps says there are way more options for riding over on that side. But I don't know what the attitude of the locals is towards road cyclists.

[deluz]

If you like hills, check out La Cresta and DeLuz west of Temecula.
Amazing scenery and some super steep hills.
Los Gatos Rd is infamously the steepest road in San Diego county.
There is also a fire road starting in La Cresta finishing on Ortega Hwy that is broken asphalt you could ride either road or mountain bikes on.
Temecula is pretty flat if that is what you prefer.

[jimcav]

if you are coming form the Canadian rockies?

it's more like high desert terrain. Look for youtube videos for Vail Lake and Greer Ranch. Temecula is way more built up than it used to be, and I'm not familiar with if they improved road shoulders/bike lanes and the population swelled. There used to be deserted roads for miles between Temecula and Idyllwild, and the last time I went a few years ago (Idyllwild), it was like a monopoly board of back to back housing and strip malls--but I failed to think about road riding infrastructure b/c I'd taken a complete break from it then.

There are also nice forested MTB trails up at Idyllwild CA and just south of there at Hurkey Creek Park. These are easy day trips from Palm Springs. It's been over 20-years since I was in Palm Springs, so I'm of no use on road riding conditions there. I think there is a point to point IMBA epic ride in Palm Springs, but for some reason have the impression it is more something to enjoy the suffering/completion more than being an actually awesome ride.

Check local area casinos in case a rock act you didn't even know was still touring is performing!

[mass_biker]

Think a little south of where you are but if possible, bring a road bike and do the climb up to Palomar (you can park at the Harrah’s parking lot a little below the Taco Shop that is the start of the offficial climb). A must-do climb in that neck of the woods and one of the bucket list ones in the US if you ask me.
MB

[Likes2ridefar]

Fair warning it’s one of the few places I wouldn’t really consider bringing a bike. I’m sure you can find something if you look, hard, but I’ve been there a number of times and don’t see much opportunity.

I’m reading that as staying in Palm Springs though. YMMV.

[Turkle]

The thing I remember most about Palm Springs was the wind. Holy moly! Relentless wind for hours every day. I don't know if that was just while we were there, or if it's a regular thing, but it really left an impression on me.

I saw many cyclists tooling around town in the bike lanes, but I don't remember seeing any evidence of actual serious riders.

Palm Springs was a great time, I would love to go back!

[Likes2ridefar]

That’s why they have those giant turbines that are scattered all over as you head west past the town. I like taking the Palm Springs aerial tramway ride up Mt Jacinto and hiking at elevation. It’ll be pretty chilly up there though most likely. The drive up the mountain is nice too and should offer some good dirt riding. I really like the small town of Idyllwild. Good food and beautiful scenery. Found the most amazing super sized pine cones we still have for decoration in the house.

[Ken Robb]

I THINK you would need a car to get to interesting places to ride. OTOH maybe bring mtn. bikes or rent beach cruisers to get around FLAT Palm Springs while you enjoy what that area is famous for: golf, tennis, pickle ball, lounging around a pool, dining-fine or funky. I think there might be some cool architectural tours too. As others have also mentioned there is good hiking at the top of the Palm Springs Tram and the ride up gives an excellent showcase of the change of geology and climate from desert to mountain forest. Pretty neat aircraft museum at the airport too. Living Desert Museum?

How long will you be there?

[Applesauce]

Going to be there for five days including flights. So kind four-ish days. We’re definitely renting a car.

I live in a place where you can see the mountains, big, gorgeous alpine everywhere you turn…but you can’t ride (a road bike) into them. The result is a place with shockingly little elevation to be had on a road bike. Seems like this area might be similar? Mountains, but few roads riding into them.

[tonytourist]

The riding in the Palm Springs area isn't terrible but it's definitely on the flatter side of things. You can climb up Tramway Road from Palm Springs or if you ride to Palm Desert, you can climb up Highway 74 to Idyllwild. Other options include 1000 Palms Canyon and flatter routes out to Coachella. You can look up the ride map for the Tour de Palm Springs too. Check out the Desert Bicycle Club for group rides Desert Bicycle Club
There's supposed to be some decent mountain biking in the desert but I haven't done any, there's the Palm Canyon Epic that's supposed to be tough.

[Likes2ridefar]

Originally Posted by Applesauce

Going to be there for five days including flights. So kind four-ish days. We’re definitely renting a car.

I live in a place where you can see the mountains, big, gorgeous alpine everywhere you turn…but you can’t ride (a road bike) into them. The result is a place with shockingly little elevation to be had on a road bike. Seems like this area might be similar? Mountains, but few roads riding into them.

Very similar. In fact sounds the same. I think it would insane to ride up 74…or down it.

[vertr]

Originally Posted by tonytourist

The riding in the Palm Springs area isn't terrible but it's definitely on the flatter side of things. You can climb up Tramway Road from Palm Springs or if you ride to Palm Desert, you can climb up Highway 74 to Idyllwild. Other options include 1000 Palms Canyon and flatter routes out to Coachella.

I did a bike vacation out there 8 years ago and this is pretty much what I did. If OP has a car Joshua Tree national park is great too, but has a fee. The Idyllwild climb is beautiful but parts are somewhat dangerous with cars close. I was surprised how poor the riding is out there, it's mostly due to infrastructure and not location.

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by Applesauce

Going to be there for five days including flights. So kind four-ish days. We’re definitely renting a car.

I live in a place where you can see the mountains, big, gorgeous alpine everywhere you turn…but you can’t ride (a road bike) into them. The result is a place with shockingly little elevation to be had on a road bike. Seems like this area might be similar? Mountains, but few roads riding into them.

The San Jacinto range run from nearly sea level to 10,800'. A big chunk of them is wilderness, and the Indian reservation abuts Palm Springs above the town. So, yeah, there aren't really roads going up from that side.

If you're ever there at a different time of year, it's one of the few places in the United States where you can do a single hike with +10,000' gain. But road cycling, not so much. If you're committed to the Palm Springs area, there's a little more riding over on the north side of the valley, Desert Hot Springs, but people there are ... not used to cyclists.