I
have biked to the beach, but it's a long ride with some scary roads and all uphill coming home. (I road bike as well, even though I far prefer mountain biking.)
The beach pictured is Crystal Cove and while it's not the most beautiful stretch of sand in SoCal, it's at the base of some steep cliffs. The toilets and changing areas are up on top, as is parking. No picnic tables, no fires. Keeps the crowds down and helps deter those who shouldn't be in bathing suits.
A few miles up or down the coast, you can find broader and better groomed beaches with easy, cheaper parking and all the fast food you could want. Guess what those look like on a warm Saturday?
I guess mountain vs. road and developed vs rustic beaches are two sides of the same coin. At heart, I'm still a country boy and prefer to see deer, woodpeckers and hawks to beached whales.