RATE THE Rosarito to Ensenda Ride

[caligurl]

Rosarito to Ensenada (http://www.rosaritoensenada.com/)
Rodarito (to Ensenada)
April

rate using this format, please!
1 = Dismal, will never ride again and wouldn't recommend it!
2 = Not so great, but others seemed to enjoy the ride
3 = So-so, with minor improvements I'd do it again
4 = Darn good ride, I'd do it again and recommend it
5 = Outstanding on every level that matters to me! I'd suggest you do it next year for sure!

Please include the following:

Name of Ride:
Location:
When:
Type: (century, double, double-metric, metric)
Number of Riders: (Approximate)
Organizer: (name of bike club/organization)
Rating: (please use the 1-5 scale)
Comments on SAG support and Rest Stops: (what food was provided, SAG support presence etc.)
Comments on the route: (constructive thoughts, ideas, favorite aspects, etc.)

[tbrown524]

Name of Ride: Rosarito-Ensenada Ride
Location:Starts Rosarito,Mexico and ends in Ensenada
When:April 21st
Type: (century, double, double-metric, metric) 50miles
Number of Riders: (Approximate)100+
Organizer: (name of bike club/organization)
Rating: (please use the 1-5 scale)3
Comments on SAG support and Rest Stops: Sag and food(not free) are provided.
Comments on the route: Just a major drunk fest. Great ride if you're looking to get away for a nice vacation.. Lots of booze and women/men if you're single. I would do it again!!!

[redal]

Name of Ride:Rosarito-Ensenada
Location:Mexico
When:April or September
Type: (century, double, double-metric, metric)50 miles
Number of Riders: (Approximate)thousands
Organizer: (name of bike club/organization)
Rating: (please use the 1-5 scale)5
Comments on SAG support and Rest Stops: (what food was provided, SAG support presence etc.)I carried my own stuff so I didn't pay attention.
Comments on the route: (constructive thoughts, ideas, favorite aspects, etc.)The route was a lot of fun. I am a Category 1 racer and this was the first "fun" ride I had done since I started riding in 1988. I did the September version with some of my friends who no longer race but still ride a little bit. We started about mid-pack so traffic was heavy for about the first ten miles. I had a blast. If you go keep your head up and make sure you have a ride back to the start before you start drinking beer at the finish line party.

[ronjon10]

Name of Ride:Rosarito-Ensenada
Location:Mexico
When:April or September
Type: (century, double, double-metric, metric)50 miles
Number of Riders: (Approximate)thousands
Organizer: (name of bike club/organization)
Rating: (please use the 1-5 scale)4
Comments on SAG support and Rest Stops: (what food was provided, SAG support presence etc.) There were a couple of support stops, and several optional beer stops. How much do you really need on a 50 miler?

Comments on the route: (constructive thoughts, ideas, favorite aspects, etc.)
I can finally rate a ride, as this was the first organized ride of the two that I've done -keep that in mind as you read this :)

I liked this ride, but certainly can see why many people don't like it. I think the organization of the even considering the huge crowd it draws is impressive. We stayed in Ensenada, and the hotel had busses which carted us up to Rosarita, so we didn't have to worry about post ride transportation.

The route itself is beautiful, with a nice kick in the pants climb that never ends right in the middle. For my conditioning at the time, this was a big hill.

The crowd was hilarious and good spirited, all sorts of riders on all sorts of bikes, in costumes, throwing candy to the kids, just having a great time.

To give fair warning, if you don't like mass bunch starts, this isn't the ride for you. Something like 10k people jammed onto a road which hits an incline within a mile or so. That led to a sloooow start. There's also quite a bit of partying on this ride. However, if you're out to make good time, you'll be in front of this crowd in short order. I can't imagine the danger caused by buzzed riders causes screaming down that mountain near the end of the day.

To do this ride well, I'd suggest getting a place on the beach near Ensenada with a good crew of friends and come down midweek prior, and stay til midweek after. It makes for a hectic weekend trying to get through san diego traffic on a friday, and border traffic on a sunday.

[HRC-Rascal]

Name of Ride:Rosarito-Ensenada
Location:Mexico
When:April or September
Type: (century, double, double-metric, metric)50 miles
Number of Riders: (Approximate)thousands
Organizer: (name of bike club/organization)
Rating: (please use the 1-5 scale)4
Comments on SAG support and Rest Stops: (what food was provided, SAG support presence etc.) At least two or three rest stops with water and maybe fruit - not sure. Plenty of spots to stop along the way and have a few beers. SAG wagons are available in the form of large trucks. If you take one, you get heckled, but in good fun.
Comments on the route: (constructive thoughts, ideas, favorite aspects, etc.) Like others have said, there are alot of riders and it can lead to major traffic jams and the odd knucklehead weaving through traffic. It isn't enought to ruin the ride but something to mention.

I've done this ride about 10 times on my roadbike, mountain bike and custom beach cruiser and by far the most fun was had on the cruiser. It is a fun ride so taking your time, enjoying the scenery and stopping to have some beers along the way is the only way to go.

The route is pretty easy on a roadbike and definitely do-able on a cruiser.

I'd would and have recommended this ride to anyone. My one word of warning is this - if the April ride overlaps with spring break, I always advise friends that you get a few jerks on spring break mixed in with the cycling crowd and in my opinion, it kinda ruins it a bit. Some of my friends don't mind, but when there with my wife, I prefer it when it is primarily cyclists.

Edit: one last thing. I'd recommend staying in Rosarito if possible. It makes it easier to start off in the morning since you don't have to drive the 50 miles to the start line.
There are many shuttle vans to take you back from the finish line - or just have a friend waiting for you there.