Cycle through the summer

Dave Brooks

On the busiest summer weekends when out-of-towners bring Huntington

Beach’s streets to a near standstill, hundreds of locals put down

their car keys and pick up of their bike helmets.

Surf City is a bike-riders town, from the dirty off-road terrain

near the Wintersburg Channel to the smooth asphalt along Pacific

Coast Highway. When the streets get crowded, the preferred method of

travel usually only involves two wheels.

Finding a bike in Huntington Beach is pretty simple. Jax Bikes at

401 Main St. sells every type of bike under the sun, from tricked-out

beach cruisers to stripped-down mountain bikes and all the gear in

between; it’s one of the largest bike shops in downtown Huntington

Beach. Jax also sells helmets and area maps.

If you just want to borrow a ride, there are a few places to rent

bikes along the Pacific Coast Highway. If you find yourself on the

south side of town, check out Fun Wheel Rentals, which has locations

at Brookhurst Street, Magnolia Street and Beach Boulevard. At the

pier, bikes can be rented from Zack’s.

Once you’re all stocked up, here are a few suggestions for popular

bike rides in the area:

An 8-mile ride

along the beach

“This is one of my favorite rides,” said Jenny Piscal, a downtown

waitress and bike enthusiast who spends her Fridays cruising along

the beachside bike path that parallels Pacific Coast Highway.

The path is eight miles from its north end at Warner Avenue to its

southern artery just south of Brookhurst Street at the Newport Beach

border. A popular place to start this ride is at the pier, usually

heading north toward Goldenwest Street. The round trip is about two

miles.

“Sometimes the winds kicks up really strong,” said Piscal.

Offshore breezes can add a lot of resistance heading north, so be

weary of how far you pedal south.

Channel that cuts

Through Bolsa Chica

The Wintersburg Channel is a flood-control channel serving

northern Huntington Beach and the inland communities. As the channel

approaches the ocean, it cuts through part of the Bolsa Chica mesa

and is a great place to spot pelicans and egrets, which often feed

and nest in the area.

The best way to access Wintersburg is at the opening along Graham

Street between Slater Avenue and Warner Street. There’s also an

access point at the intersection of Los Patos Avenue and Bolsa Chica

Street. Just follow the dirt trail down to the bottom of the hill;

once at the bottom, you can see the channel running along your left

side.

“This is a good area to explore,” said Jason Reinerman, 14, who

uses several BMX dirt jumps in the area.

When going off the trail, be careful not to damage any wildlife or

plants. Bike riding is not allowed near the Bolsa Chica inlet.

A breeze through

Central Park

Huntington Beach’s Central Park is a great place to escape

Huntington Beach’s wide boulevards and busy streets. In fact the only

downside of biking in Central Park is getting there: Sometimes it’s

easier to throw your bike on the rear rack of a car and drive to the

park.

Once there, Central Park offers much for the cruiser, including

circular trails, ponds and the Shipley Nature Center, plus two cafes

andthe Central Library and Playhouse.