I've been meaning to do The Great Western Loop, and I think Saturday is the day. I don't think I've ever even driven out there, are the roads sketchy? are there bike lanes, is Lyons Valley better than Skyline Truck Trail. Also my parents live near S. Second and Washington. I was going to start there; ride Washington till it changes to Dehesa Rd. and do the loop that way (clockwise). Will I have trouble getting from Rancho San Diego (where everyone else seems to start) back to El Cajon? Thanks!!!

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"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and
feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize
fishing is stupid and boring."
--Desmond Tutu

roads aren't bad, there are so many people riding out there I think the locals are use to it. No bike lanes and skyline is up up up!

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

That's supposed to be the downhill? I think, I am riding the other way. Up Japatul, down Lyons Valley or Skyline. I hear Lyons Valley is more tech (I don't know if that's good, or bad) and skyline is a "Straight Off Adolf" kind of a bomb drop. I hope I'm not biting off more that I can chew.

_________________
"Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and
feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize
fishing is stupid and boring."
--Desmond Tutu

With the kind of miles you've been putting in, you are totally down for this. I've always ridden Lyons Valley so I don't know how it compares to Skyline. As EMFC said, there are no bike lanes but the roads are plenty wide so it's not a problem.

I don't know what someone means when they call a road "technical" -- in my mind that applies only to trails. Lyons Valley is just a typical country road.

I've ridden the loop in both directions and prefer counter-clockwise. Either way, you get plenty of tough climbing and plenty of fun descending.

Have fun.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway