The way points of this bicycle route:
Start at the Albertson's parking lot near the Starbuck's and use the bathroom there for pre- and post-ride relief.
Gradual incline for the next couple of miles
Laguna Cyn changes from 4-lane to 2-lane on the historically old route into Laguna Beach. It's mostly downhill from here to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). This is the pretty part of the canyon road.
I make this right up Cliff Drive to get a nice elevated view of the Pacific. It's a short out-of-the-saddle climb.
Corner of PCH and Cliff Drive, just west of Main Beach
You'll experience some traffic on PCH with not a lot of shoulder room but you'll likely be in the company of other cyclists as this is a popular ride route.
Great views of the Pacific on this hilly stretch of PCH. Ample shoulder for bikes but traffic is quick
Start of a 1.7-mile leg-burning ascent up Newport Coast...a compact crank comes in really handy here. Avg gradient is 3.5%.
Nice descent here
Make this turn to get to the flat portion that runs along Back Bay, a wildlife preserve. Be watchful of runners, roller bladers, and walkers.
Back Bay is a wildlife sanctuary with lots of cool birds. There's a flat one-way road going north that goes right along the bay. Beautiful. There's also a bike lane going south so riders can go either way or do an out and back.
OK, so the road is flat until you get to this short but steep climb at the end. Be sure to shift to the small chain ring before you start the climb or you risk catastrophe! Average gradient is 13%.
