Southern California - So Cal Ride for Apple Pie...Mt Palomar to Julian and back

Who's hungry for pie :D ?? Well, yer gonna have to earn it first. This ride has been discussed somewhat in this thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=154889) , but I figure it's about time we start rounding up some BFer's and get goin on the details.

First, the basic route: Start in Valley Center (Northern San Diego County) and climb Mt Palomar via South Grade, at the top of the climb, you can opt for an out n' back up to the observatory (about 9 miles round trip). We'll descend Mt Palomar via East Grade and head over to Mesa Grande via Hwy 76. After Mesa Grande we'll head over to Julian on Hwy 76 & 79 for a some well deserved Apple Pie :) . The route heads towards Ramona via Hwy78/79 and then take city streets and back country roads through Bandy Canyon. We'll travel through Escondido via Hwy 78 and then takes some urban streets back towards Lake Wohlford Rd.

The total route is 120 miles and has a lot of climbing. I'm not sure of the total climbing feet. I would guess it's around 10,000'. CJbruin did a elevation profile on Delorme Topo and came up with ~15,000 this has got to be way off. If anyone reading this did the 2004 Tour De Cure Mt Palomar Challenge, and knows the total climbing, please let me know. This route is identical to that ride, except the added out and back to Julian.

So far the dates discussed have been Saturday Jan 7th and Saturday Jan 28th, it seems to be leaning towards the 28th. Dog Hair has a hilly 68 mile route in North San Diego County (78 and 15 fwy I believe) that we're talking aobut doing the week after Xmas or maybe Jan 7th as a warm-up. Let's start getting a rider list together for both rides.

I don't want to discourage or scare anyone away, but be warned that this is a pretty tough ride (i.e. not a good "first century"). We hope to find a couple of good "Bail Out" spots on the route, although I don't know of many other than just going back down South Grade. Oonce you've descended East Grade, you're on the other side of the mountain and you can take 76 back to the start, after that you're screwed :o . Hopefully we'll get someone to drive a support vehicle, my58vw had offered at one time, hopefully his (her?) offer still stands. Weather may also be an issue, it's very possible to have snow on Mt Palomar, we'll have to watch as the ride gets closer.

I can't think of much else for now, you can PM with your email address if you want a PDF of the route slip, for now it's just premliminary until we have the rest stops figured out. Once it's final, I'll try and post it in this thread. So who's in :D :D ??

http://www.socalvelo.com/images/Profiles/palomar.gif

One of the rest stops would have to be at Dudley's :D (presuming it is still there - haven't been there in 15 years).

Ugh, whats the drop policy like?

Stops?

I'm interested but I won't be toward the front of the pack after a couple of long hills :D

28th eh? Sounds good. That will bring me up to speed for the Tour de Palm Springs followed by the Butterfield Double...
I will not be bringing the SAG Bag on this trip, 120 miles carrying excess gear would not be fun.

Ugh, whats the drop policy like?

Stops?

I'm interested but I won't be toward the front of the pack after a couple of long hills :D
Distance between rest stops wll be typical of an organized century (every 15-35 miles, depending on terrain and availability). I'd like to think that this will be a "no drop" ride. We were successful with this on the OC ride. I could see this ride forming into two groups (faster and slower), due to the distance and climbing. I expect will have around 5 rest stops at gas stations, stores, restuarants etc., plus multiple regroup spots, mostly at the tops of the climbs and at major turns.

28th eh? Sounds good. That will bring me up to speed for the Tour de Palm Springs followed by the Butterfield Double...
I will not be bringing the SAG Bag on this trip, 120 miles carrying excess gear would not be fun.
Yeah, you better do this ride to warm-up for Palm Springs, the easiest century around ;) . I knew we could count on you, my offer still stands to drive you down too :) . Are you going to join Dog Hair and I on a warm-up ride in late Dec/early Jan?

I'm game, even if it will be my first century. I'll climb Mt. Baldy (from Mills Rd) over winter break over and over to get in shape. :D Maybe I'll try to climb it twice one day. I'm sure the second trip up the switchbacks will be great fun. :)

Personally, I'd prefer the 28th, with as early a start as possible, as it gives us slightly more daylight. I'm sure the slower riders (ie me) could use all the daylight we can get. But I'm game for either date. I'd be happy to do a hilly metric on the 7th if that's the date the shorter ride is on.

By the way, is the Palomar climb shown in the original post the longest/steepest climb along the way? Or is there some late-stage nasty climb that we should know about?

I'm game, even if it will be my first century. I'll climb Mt. Baldy (from Mills Rd) over winter break over and over to get in shape. :D Maybe I'll try to climb it twice one day. I'm sure the second trip up the switchbacks will be great fun. :)
I've did that last summer. First time up took GMR and Glendora Ridge Road and up to the lifts, went down and back up Mt Baldy Rd. That second time up the switchbacks and above Manker Flats really hurt :D

Personally, I'd prefer the 28th, with as early a start as possible, as it gives us slightly more daylight. I'm sure the slower riders (ie me) could use all the daylight we can get. But I'm game for either date. I'd be happy to do a hilly metric on the 7th if that's the date the shorter ride is on.

By the way, is the Palomar climb shown in the original post the longest/steepest climb along the way? Or is there some late-stage nasty climb that we should know about?
The climb up South Grade (the profile in the first post) is the hardest, longest steepest climb of the ride. It's similar to Baldy but just a touch mellower. Mesa Grande is steep but doesn't last very long. What I think hurts the most are climbing Hwy 78 near the Wild Animal Park and climbing Lake Wolhford Road, neither of these would be that bad on their own, but being at the end of a hard ride makes them pretty nasty.

I might be up for the 68 mile warm up ride. 120 miles with 10,000 ft of climbing sounds like torture though. I'm not ready for that yet.

By the way, the apple pie had better be good! I'll be working awfully hard for this pie!

oh.... i want to join you for this ride.... but in the spring (or summer) when it's warmer! i've hear that climbing palomar is a GOOD climb!

By the way, the apple pie had better be good! I'll be working awfully hard for this pie!

julian pie ROCKS! and i assume dudley's is still there... cuz the julian bike club uses their bread for their sag stops (and that rocks too!!!!)

oh.... i want to join you for this ride.... but in the spring (or summer) when it's warmer! i've hear that climbing palomar is a GOOD climb!
Maybe if things go well, we can do this once every 2-3 months. If I survive the ride, I'll be happy to help organize future rides along the route.

oh.... i want to join you for this ride.... but in the spring (or summer) when it's warmer! i've hear that climbing palomar is a GOOD climb!
Why wait for warmth?? Consider it a very early head start on Breathless Agony :D. Join us and show off that new Ruby!

My offer still stand for support, the 7th will be hard though, the later would be ok for me. BTW (He/she), he for the day so you can go by that... I don't care anyway.

I will probably use my focus, it has the dual racks with the arms that come up and grab the front wheel... no wheel take off requirement. I can take two riders comfortably, I might add a third traditional center rack if needed also (then I can haul 3 if needed).

I would love to ride but 120 miles is a little much for me now.

We can do either those big McDonalds style canasters for water or gatorade, maybe some food stuff if needed, depending on how many riders.

BTW this offer is always open if you need it for any ride over a metric (anything metric or less I would perfer to ride!)

Let me know
Michael/Mandy

My offer still stand for support, the 7th will be hard though, the later would be ok for me. BTW (He/she), he for the day so you can go by that... I don't care anyway.

I will probably use my focus, it has the dual racks with the arms that come up and grab the front wheel... no wheel take off requirement. I can take two rides comfortably, I might add a third traditional center rack if needed also (then I can haul 3 if needed).

I would love to ride but 120 miles is a little much for me now.

Let me know

Michael/Mandy
Thanks for the generous offer. I'm sure we'll all pitch in for gas, food and of course your pie :D . If you want, you could drive my Yukon Xl, it can hold more bikes, people gear etc. We'll work out the details.

Why wait for warmth?? Consider it a very early head start on Breathless Agony :D. Join us and show off that new Ruby!

oh.... even though BA is later in the year... i can't even say that last year's was warmer.... lol! so does this ride have all the climbing in the 1st half... and down hill the 2nd half (so in essence... 60 miles of work and 60 miles of "easy" or downhill?)

i think that's my favorite thing about BA.... it's 98% downhill once you hit onxy!

(oh... and i hate riding in cold! brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i went out after work this evening and about froze my tushie off!)

i have a month to change my mind... (plus i mentioned it to hubby and he sounded somewhat interested!) and like someone mentioned... it can be a "warm up" for palm springs in 2 weeks!

Thanks for the generous offer. I'm sure we'll all pitch in for gas, food and of course your pie :D . If you want, you could drive my Yukon Xl, it can hold more bikes, people gear etc. We'll work out the details.

Lets talk via PM as the time gets closer. I truely hope we do not have to put too many bikes in the back... they should be on the road right!?

Thanks again, let me know!

OCPie?

I truely hope we do not have to put too many bikes in the back... they should be on the road right!?
:lol: Somehow, I find this surprisingly funny. Thanks, Mandy, for your offer of support.

oh.... even though BA is later in the year... i can't even say that last year's was warmer.... lol! so does this ride have all the climbing in the 1st half... and down hill the 2nd half (so in essence... 60 miles of work and 60 miles of "easy" or downhill?)

i think that's my favorite thing about BA.... it's 98% downhill once you hit onxy!

(oh... and i hate riding in cold! brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr i went out after work this evening and about froze my tushie off!)

i have a month to change my mind... (plus i mentioned it to hubby and he sounded somewhat interested!) and like someone mentioned... it can be a "warm up" for palm springs in 2 weeks!
I think I remember you guys from last years BA, was your Husband driving while you rode? That was pretty chilly coming down from Oak Glen. To answer your question, not really. The most notable climbing is in the first 1/2 or 1/3 but there's more towards the end also.

Hey guys, Count me tentatively in on this :)

I think I remember you guys from last years BA, was your Husband driving while you rode? That was pretty chilly coming down from Oak Glen. To answer your question, not really. The most notable climbing is in the first 1/2 or 1/3 but there's more towards the end also.

YES! he was signed up... but hurt his knee... and i was too cheap to not ride it after paying for it... so i rode instead and he "sagged" me! :) i hadn't even been riding a year yet at that time!

this year we'll both sign up... so i hope the weather is nicer since i won't have him driving to give me the different jackets and gloves i needed this year! :rolleyes:

I up for the 120 mile ride and warm-up in late Dec/early Jan.

I up for the 120 mile ride and warm-up in late Dec/early Jan.
I figured we could count you in :)

the warm up route would be great, as well as the ride... maybe I'll get my car back before summer (he.... he...) although I'll never drive it then!

I just need to get out there and ride more between now and then, otherwise jschen won't be the slow one.

My58vw, you kick ass for the offer of support! People like you make me believe that humans should outlive cockroaches! Let us know what supplies you may need.

I figured we could count you in :)

I love a challenge. :D Plus I don't have any kids so my schedule is flexible.

OC, have you done Baldy recently? I thinking about doing it sometime during the week after Xmas. I'm curious what the road conditions are like this time of year. Is there much snow? How's the traffic?

I want to go, BUT I've only been able to ride three times since the end of September and NO hills. If I am up to going, the 28th is doable. Man I want to ride with you guys BUT that's a lot of miles and climbing for my sorry a$$.

Ralph

awesome.

OC, jan 7 sounds good for the warm-up.

I love a challenge. :D Plus I don't have any kids so my schedule is flexible.

OC, have you done Baldy recently? I thinking about doing it sometime during the week after Xmas. I'm curious what the road conditions are like this time of year. Is there much snow? How's the traffic?
I haven't done Baldy since late September. I keep thinking I'm going to make it out there. I was thinking the same about going up there the week after Christmas. There are too many rides that I keep thinking that I'll do that week, my wife will shoot me if I do all of them :mad: . If I do make it out there, I'll probably ride up via Glendora Mtn Rd, I'll either post it here or PM some you guys, so you can join if you like. The only snow I've seen on Baldy this year looked to be above the 8,000' level, who know what may happen in the next 2 weeks. Even when the ski lifts have snow, the road usually doesn't

I haven't done Baldy since late September. I keep thinking I'm going to make it out there. I was thinking the same about going up there the week after Christmas. There are too many rides that I keep thinking that I'll do that week, my wife will shoot me if I do all of them :mad: . If I do make it out there, I'll probably ride up via Glendora Mtn Rd, I'll either post it here or PM some you guys, so you can join if you like. The only snow I've seen on Baldy this year looked to be above the 8,000' level, who know what may happen in the next 2 weeks. Even when the ski lifts have snow, the road usually doesn't

now that's another ride i want to do... GMR... but again... when it's warmer! :eek: (i'm such a baby :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ) we (hubby and i) have always said we're gonna go on up to baldy.. but i usually have plans (uh... shopping :rolleyes: ) that send us back down the hill after reaching the village!

i DO need to initiate ruby on GMR though! so post here... we may or may not go.. depending on the weather and what we've got going on!

now that's another ride i want to do... GMR... but again... when it's warmer! :eek: (i'm such a baby :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ) we (hubby and i) have always said we're gonna go on up to baldy.. but i usually have plans (uh... shopping :rolleyes: ) that send us back down the hill after reaching the village!

i DO need to initiate ruby on GMR though! so post here... we may or may not go.. depending on the weather and what we've got going on!
Hey Caligurl,
Did they shut down the Bicycling Love Forums ;) :p ?? Just kidding, I just haven't seen your around here much since about the time of the Grand Tour, glad to have you aboard.

i left it... they were... well... if you post there.. you know! i mean... do they EVER talk about cycling except to brag about who they "spanked" that day? or to pound their chests and brag about how many flat centuries they did? and all the puppets... UGH! that's a unique forum... to say the least!

there are a few people here that post there... but they act differently here! (except machka! she's the same at both forums!)

i even left their "club" on bike journal.... pulling out my miles..... which i'm sure made some happy cuz it allowed them to move up a notch! lol! but i felt if i wasn't posting.. i didn't belong in the "club" either!

this forum seems fun AND you talk about cycling (and they have the other religious and political ones if you want to venture into them.... i went there one day just to check it out.. didn't post... haven't been back!)

i had actually been a lurker here since signing up.... but ya.. .i've been quite the chatterbox lately (and i love the whole OCP thing once i made the mistake of asking what it was about! i mean.. come on... i'm a perfect OCP.... did i REALLY need that ruby? lol! it's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more mike than i'll ever make use of.... but it's fun!)

uhm..... just happened to think... do YOU post over there under another name! shoulda asked that before i bashed them!

i left it... they were... well... if you post there.. you know! i mean... do they EVER talk about cycling except to brag about who they "spanked" that day? or to pound their chests and brag about how many flat centuries they did? and all the puppets... UGH! that's a unique forum... to say the least!

there are a few people here that post there... but they act differently here! (except machka! she's the same at both forums!)

i even left their "club" on bike journal.... pulling out my miles..... which i'm sure made some happy cuz it allowed them to move up a notch! lol! but i felt if i wasn't posting.. i didn't belong in the "club" either!

this forum seems fun AND you talk about cycling (and they have the other religious and political ones if you want to venture into them.... i went there one day just to check it out.. didn't post... haven't been back!)

i had actually been a lurker here since signing up.... but ya.. .i've been quite the chatterbox lately (and i love the whole OCP thing once i made the mistake of asking what it was about! i mean.. come on... i'm a perfect OCP.... did i REALLY need that ruby? lol! it's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more mike than i'll ever make use of.... but it's fun!)

uhm..... just happened to think... do YOU post over there under another name! shoulda asked that before i bashed them! :eek:

I don't post over there, I've lurked there occasionally, usually when some Google search lands me there. Around the time of BA, I was following some of the threads. I got familar with a couple of the names, because they were on Bike Journal as well (Beanz, Semper Fi, Richard, Sir Lanceimnot/ your husband??). Now I just watch them on Bike Journal and see if I can stay ahead of them :D Anyway, glad to have your around....

yes... sirlanceimnot = hubby! :love: he never posted as much as i did (well.. he's actually busy at work unlike me! :rolleyes: )

phew... glad i didn't offend you with my comments then :o (they have better smilies at this forum too!)

BA time... so if you were following those threads.. you already knew why i rode it! :D

I just need to get out there and ride more between now and then, otherwise jschen won't be the slow one.
:lol: We'll see about that. And I guess the slower of the two of us can always draft the other guy.

I definitely need to ride more before then, too. The dark, "cold" mornings have gotten me to only commute during the workweek now (3 miles each way). Thank goodness for weekends. Happily, between Christmas and New Year, I'll be at my parents', just three blocks from Mills Rd and Mt Baldy Rd. I've never done GMR/GRR (only done Mills/Mt Baldy to ski lift), but I'd love to join you guys if you do it. It would be a nice change of pace from taking on the Mills/Mt Baldy route. Or, I could always plan on meeting you guys at the intersection with Mt. Baldy Rd to take on the final portion of the climb.

:lol: We'll see about that. And I guess the slower of the two of us can always draft the other guy.



HEY! i'm slow too! (probably slower than you two!) but i can go the distance.. just takes me longer to do it! i've never claimed to be fast! just stubborn! :D but then... i don't draft either... i'm a-scared to! :eek: :rolleyes:

i hope it ends up being nice weather so that i'll want to show up!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D

p.s.. and you've GOT to do GMR!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is such a pretty ride! GORGEOUS! just make sure the forcast is nice! hubby and the gang got caught up in some NASTY weather the first time he did it (i wasn't riding yet... i was out shopping) but anyways... it was a nasty ride in the rain and cold! fortunately... each time i've done it... it's been nice weather!

Distance between rest stops wll be typical of an organized century (every 15-35 miles, depending on terrain and availability). I'd like to think that this will be a "no drop" ride. We were successful with this on the OC ride. I could see this ride forming into two groups (faster and slower), due to the distance and climbing. I expect will have around 5 rest stops at gas stations, stores, restuarants etc., plus multiple regroup spots, mostly at the tops of the climbs and at major turns.

sounds like fun, count me in!

I was out shopping...I was out shopping...

Nothing wrong with shopping.... :)
I just wish my wife can incorporate some cycling between her busy shopping activity...! :D

If you can do a route slip that would be cool...I haven't ridden since last week and this whole weekend is 72hrs straight studying for finals(They are really hard and I need to pull two very good grades). I wont be riding this week nor will I be doing hills for this week.

Id like for it to be on the 28th. If I get dropped, I don't care. I'd like to go and do it at a decent pace, but I don't want to kill myself because I can't keep up with you guys.

Let me know, being dropped isn't too much of an issue. I'll finish the ride, it's just going to take me a bit :D.

I'll start training next weekend. We will see where it all takes me

sounds like fun, count me in!

Oleg......We're setting your above quote in stone. :p :D

Nothing wrong with shopping.... :)
I just wish my wife can incorporate some cycling between her busy shopping activity...! :D

ahhhhh see... i have that down to a science!

organized rides: rides are always early.... take a change of clothes... so the "baby wipe" thing... so shopping after the organized ride! get home wee hours of the night!

normal weekends summer: ride early.... (like at day break)... get home.. shower.. change.. SHOP! (sometimes we pack up the bikes and head "down the hill" to some nicer spots like GMR or oak glen and ride.. then shop!)

this time of year is a little more creative.... ride earliest possible... shower.. change.. SHOP!

and there's always shopping after work this time of year too.. .since i don't like riding in the dark and cold!

trust me.. it IS possible to do both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am proof of that!

Let me know, being dropped isn't too much of an issue. I'll finish the ride, it's just going to take me a bit :D.


speaking of being dropped... how is the phone service along the ride... i don't mind ending up off the back... as long as if something goes wrong i can reach hubby (or the sag person) on the phone!

speaking of being dropped... how is the phone service along the ride... i don't mind ending up off the back... as long as if something goes wrong i can reach hubby (or the sag person) on the phone!

Id suggest that we exchange info, this is a good idea to locate lost people

Id suggest that we exchange info, this is a good idea to locate lost people
+1
I thought of that and forgot to mention it. We should definetly exchange cell #'s. I'll bring printed route slips like on the OC ride. We can put phone #'s on the backside of it.

If I get dropped, I don't care. [...] I'll finish the ride, it's just going to take me a bit :D.
You can join Extort, caligurl, and me in wondering whether we'll be the slowest finisher. I fully intend to complete the ride under my own power, even if it means having to break out the lights and having to say goodbye to everyone while still on the road.

Oh, and ovoleg, good luck with your exams! If one of the courses is chemistry, feel free to post any last-minute questions in foo. I'm afraid you're studying for physics, though. My physics is too rusty at this point to be of much help.

You can join Extort, caligurl, and me in wondering whether we'll be the slowest finisher. I fully intend to complete the ride under my own power, even if it means having to break out the lights and having to say goodbye to everyone while still on the road.
I think Extort is "sandbagging", I know that he's pretty quick uphill :D. I just need to try and drag him out more so he's not only riding when there's a double century or something epic like a BF ride :p

Oleg......We're setting your above quote in stone. :p :D

haha :(, I don't expect myself to be able to hang with the guys up the hills. I just want to try a hilly 100 somewhere ;D

Oh, and ovoleg, good luck with your exams! If one of the courses is chemistry, feel free to post any last-minute questions in foo. I'm afraid you're studying for physics, though. My physics is too rusty at this point to be of much help.

600 pages of physics plus 200+ of Calculus.

I will own the Calculus test, I worry much more about physics. I have a 82% in the class and I NEED to maintain my B. If I get a C, I'm going to shoot someone