Riding San Clemente: How a New Crew Pushed Us Out of Our Comfort Zones
- Jace
- Jul 13
- 5 min read
Last month, SoCal Biking hosted its first official organized group ride. We’ve done group rides before, but nothing quite like this. One of the absolute best things to come out of that day was meeting Sally and her crew of women who absolutely rip on the trails.
Not only did they casually conquer the Weir Canyon Loop with us, but they also pushed on to adventure into Santiago Oaks and beyond... territory we normally avoid! After the ride, Sally threw down a challenge: she invited the SoCal Biking crew down south to San Clemente to ride their home trails. With my constant itch to ride new dirt, I immediately said yes.
I threw the invite into the SoCal Biking Discord group. While we have a few regulars in there, Dad and Nigel were the only ones brave enough to take the bait for this adventure.
The Setup & The Secret Mileage
Sally texted me the details beforehand, warning me that the ride would be a punchy 11 to 13 miles with about 1,600 feet of climbing. I knew I could handle it on the Stumpjumper, but I genuinely feared that if I told Dad and Nigel the actual elevation, they’d immediately back out.
So, I did what any good riding buddy does: I only told them the mileage. I compared the distance to the Fullerton Loop (which is about 10.5 miles) to keep them calm. The real selling point I used to convince them was that we’d be riding with locals who actually knew the trail. If you watch our older videos, you know I have a terrible track record of trying new trails, relying on a GPS app, and getting us completely and utterly lost. This was our chance for a guided tour.
That being said, Dad was still a bit wary. He’s always cautious when it comes to unknown trails. Nigel? Nigel was just pumping air into his tires right before we took off, business as usual.
"Dog Park" and The Pump Track Epiphany
We followed our hosts into the hilly trail entrance of what the locals call “Dog Park.” Apparently, there used to be a massive actual dog park up at the peak, but it was recently transformed into a brand-new mountain bike pump track.
The trail was awesome. "Punchy" was the absolute perfect word for it. It was a relentless mix of climbing, tight singletrack, and sections requiring real technical finesse. It was a serious workout, and I’m incredibly thankful that Sally called for plenty of breaks so Dad and Nigel could catch their breath and keep up.
We kept elevating at a steady pace until we finally reached the former dog park’s peak. And there it was: the brand-new pump track.
The fresh asphalt berms were lined with a striking blue stripe and flashed a bright white Shimano logo. We timed it perfectly, with only a few kids and one adult wheeling around. Since I didn’t know when I’d ever be back in San Clemente, I immediately took the Stumpjumper out on the track.
It was a total game-changer. Rounding the asphalt corners and riding the cemented waves gave me an entirely new feel for how my bike handles. I took it slow at first, purposely keeping the tires on the ground. The Stumpjumper was smooth and plush, but admittedly a bit clunky on the tight rollers.
After my laps, I started talking to a local named Todd who was absolutely ripping the track, flying off the jumps with zero effort. We talked shop for a minute, and then he handed me his bike and said, “Here, try this and feel the difference.”
A single-speed dirt jumper had never felt so good. I immediately felt the difference between our two setups; his bike was incredibly snappy, controllable, and responsive compared to my full-suspension trail bike. I never would have known the difference if I hadn’t tried it.
Dropper Posts & Downhill Epiphanies
After that brief intermission, we topped off our water bottles and kept pedaling.
Throughout the rest of the ride, I started treating the trail like a classroom. I watched Sally closely as she rode ahead of me. She was constantly dropping her seat on the descents, snapping it back up for the climbs, and smoothly feathering her brakes.
If you are new to riding, the biggest game-changer you can learn is how to properly utilize BOTH your front and rear brakes. It’s tempting to just grab the rear brake and skid, but using the front brake gives you massive stopping power and allows you to control steep descents and tight turns much more safely.
The other massive shift in my riding that day came directly from the pump track. On the dirt descents, my weight distribution had immediately improved. I started imagining the trail as a giant dirt wave.
Instead of just holding on for dear life, my job was to actively bob over the terrain, keeping the bike grounded and evenly balanced. The difference was night and day.
The Push to the Peak
We finally pushed to a peak marked by an American flag and took in the view. We were so far south in Orange County that the only division between San Diego and us was Camp Pendleton itself. We could clearly see the fire roads and training grounds closed off to the military. I’ve driven the 5 Freeway south countless times and always wondered if there were mountain bike trails hidden back there. Little did I know we'd be riding them!
On the way back down, the climbing finally caught up with Dad. His thigh began to cramp severely. This was something that had never happened to him on the bike before. He hadn't eaten enough before the ride and was definitely low on salt.
Thankfully, Anne (one of the rad women hosting us) was carrying a pack straight out of a survival movie.
She had water, tools, a radio, monoculars, and exactly the sustenance Dad needed to recover. She completely saved the ride and got Dad rolling again. (Thanks, Anne!)
It was also incredible to watch Nigel. On our usual SoCal Biking loops, he is often trailing in the back. Not in San Clemente. He told me that the local crew's faster pace encouraged him to maintain his momentum, forcing him to pedal significantly harder than he normally would. I’ve been trying to get him to push his limits for a while now, and this trail finally did it.
Community Over Competition
We all made it back to the parking lot completely unscathed. Riding new dirt always carries a risk (especially for me, since I’m prone to falling), but everyone survived. It certainly helped that we were riding with locals, two of whom happened to be nurses!
This trip perfectly encapsulated what SoCal Biking is all about: prioritizing adventure over competition. While on the trail, Sally confided in me about her frustration with the hyper-competitive, elitist culture that often dominates the cycling community. I see it too, and it’s exactly why I started this brand. We want to prove that it is entirely possible to just have fun on a bike, push your limits with your friends, and enjoy the outdoors without counting energy gel packs or wearing full lycra.
I cannot wait for our next group ride, where we will hopefully see Sally, Susie, Sue, Sharon, Lorie, and Anne again. Not to mention all the new riders who have signed up!
If this kind of casual, community-driven atmosphere sounds like your vibe, we want you riding with us.
Click here to see the schedule for our next group ride.
Cycle on!
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