Every year, San Diego hosts a multitude of biking events, races, meet-ups, and community rides that allow you to connect with fellow cycling enthusiasts through hilly terrain, coastal cruises, and speedy raceways. Whether you’re a casual two-wheeler or love a good sweat-inducing trek, here are eight annual bike events to plan for in the coming months.
Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer
Fall
Bikes and Beers San Diego
After a satisfying bike ride, there’s nothing like a cold one. Bikes and Beers is the perfect event for craft beer-loving pedalers around town. Join fellow biking and beer enthusiasts at Alesmith’s tasting room in Miramar before embarking on a 15-, 35-, or 45-mile bike loop through San Diego. The event provides riders with fuel stations, GPS turn-by-turn instructions, ride marshals, and rest stops. It all wraps up at Alesmith’s brewery for brews, live music, and a charity raffle.
Month: November
Registration Fees: Starting at $50
Where to Register: Bike Sign Up
Bike the Coast
This seaside ride with the Bike the Coast event goes along Highway 101 from Oceanside down to Del Mar and back. This annual trek benefits the National MS Society and offers various route options, ranging from 25 to 100 miles, as well as seven- or 15-mile routes for families, casual riders, and groups. After crossing the finish line, enjoy delicious food, live entertainment, and a beer garden.
Month: November
Registration Fees: Starting at $85
Where to Register: Bike The Coast SD
Winter
Tritonman Triathlon
Test your limits with the Tritonman Triathlon held annually in the winter and one of the only open-water swim race opportunities in the WCCTC circuit ahead of the conference championships. Hosted by UCSD, this course includes a 750-meter swimming leg, a 21-kilometer bike course on Fiesta Island, and a 5-kilometer run through the Tecolote Shores park. The race boasts the flattest, fastest closed bike course around, so you’re likely to get a nice PR.
Month: February
Registration Fees: Starting at $65
Where to Register: Tritonman
Spring
GranFondo San Diego
One of San Diego’s most anticipated bike races, the GranFondo, offers a Tour de France cycling experience. Racers can choose from three routes covering 34, 60, or 100 miles of winding roads through sections of South Bay and East County. The full 100-mile GranFondo route takes expert cyclists east into the hills of Alpine before returning to the downtown waterfront finish line. Prepare your camel backs, limber up those legs, and get ready for a local test of endurance and glory.
Month: April
Registration Fees: $140
Where to Register: SD GranFondo
Padres Pedal the Cause
Launched in 2021, Pedal the Cause is a multi-event cycling fundraiser hosted by the San Diego Padres and Curebound, an organization supporting local cancer research. Participants can choose from a 25-, 55-, or 75-mile bike ride through San Diego, a 5K run/walk event through downtown, or a children’s bike ride. Since its inception, the charitable event has raised more than $20 million for cancer research. If a stationary bike is more your speed, the event offers a 50-minute rooftop spin class atop Petco Park’s Western Metal Supply building or the ability to participate virtually from the comfort of your Peloton or exercise bike.
Month: March
Registration Fees: Starting at $40
Where to Register: Curebound
Archipelago Bike Ride
The Archipelago Bike Ride (or Arch Ride for short) offers mountain bikers a scenic yet challenging ride through the hilly terrain of San Marcos and Sorrento Valley. Choose between the half-arch ride, a 23-mile route starting at Black Mountain and covering 2,300 feet of elevation, or commit to the full arch ride, which kicks off at San Elijo Park in San Marcos and traces 48.1 miles with over 5,000 feet of elevation. Both routes provide a demanding trek for intermediate to advanced riders craving an off-road odyssey. If pedaling isn’t your thing, organizers of the event allow e-bikes on the half-arch route for bikers wanting to enjoy the scenery without the legwork.
Month: May
Registration Fees: Starting at $100 for San Diego Mountain Biking Association members
Where to Register: San Diego Mountain Biking Association
Summer
Bike the Bay
The Coronado Bridge’s lack of bike lanes may be a disappointment for some, but each year San Diegans have two opportunities to ride the scenic bay bridge starting with the Bike the Bay event. Cyclists of all skill levels can participate in this 25-mile community bike ride starting at the Embarcadero Marina Park across from the Gaslamp. The route takes you across the Coronado Bridge and along San Diego Bay, passing through National City on the return ride. Don’t miss this event, as registration proceeds support the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, a nonprofit focused on improving biking access and conditions in the city.
Month: August
Registration Fees: $80
Where to Register: Bike The Bay
Barrio Logan Grand Prix
Organized by the San Diego Bicycle Club, the Barrio Logan Grand Prix offers bikers of all skill levels a thrilling ride through the historic neighborhood. The 0.8-mile route provides a fast-paced course through tight figure-eight maneuvers for takeovers, making it unlike most cycling courses. The race begins and ends on Newton Avenue across from Perkins Elementary School and features local bike vendors, as well as plenty of delicious Barrio Logan food and drinks for post-race festivities.
Month: June
Registration Fees: Starting at $40
Where to Register: BikeReg
