So I've had this hankering to climb Palomar but haven't been able to make it out to the BF rides.
I'm getting proactive and with the help of Grumpypig am planning a ride for late July. I know it might be very hot so I figured on an early start time-7:00 am to try and climb while it is still cool.
The route starts at Harrah's Rincon-up South grade, up to the observatory and then back down to Harrah's for lunch.
I am planning on being at the meeting spot by six thirty or earlier so we can start right at 7. Anybody who wants to can PM me and I'll PM back my cell in case of lateness/getting lost type stuff. Hopefully i don't get lost myself.
I was thinking it is kind of silly to call this ride no drop. I guess I should call it 'go ahead and drop me but please regroup at the turns.' I just don't want anybody getting lost in the mountains (or doing so myself) on account of me.
Date:
July 28
Riders
Oleanshoebox
Grumpypig
Chucklehead
JimmyNH+pals
wrongturnchuck
blue nose
jsigone(waterboy?)
Indolent58
Maybes
Mateo44
Mel44
jschen
merider1
madmike
Anybody interested?
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
I know it might be very hot so I figured on an early start time-like 7:30 or 8:00 to try and climb while it is still cool.
you should start at 6:00am.
jsigone
you need to leave at first light, like 5:30 or sooner.
Rick@OCRR
Palomar will be VERY HOT in late July. Start at first light is the best advice I've heard!
Rick / OCRR
Mo'Phat
Interested. Leave earlier, though, cause I've got two kids and a) want to spend some weekend time with them, and b) don't want to be wrecked because I was sweating my life away like a water buffalo on Palomar slopes.
Also...You're going from Harrahs and up the East grade? Interesting...I've normally gone up South Grade. Not a big deal, but it makes the climb just a little later in the ride.
jschen
I've done a July climb of Palomar before. Starting at first light is great. I'd start at or right after civil twilight, definitely not much later than sunrise if you're at all afraid of heat. I tried doing repeats of South Grade in early June last year, and starting just after civil twilight, it was nice on the first climb, but hot on the second climb. I ran out of water 8 miles into the second climb and turned around. I tried again in late August and it was a bit under 50 degrees when I rolled (just after civil twilight) and over 100 degrees when I got back to the car after an abortive attempt at a third climb.
Oleanshoebox
Thanks for all the input-I have edited the OP accordingly. Any suggestions on the rest of the route would be appreciated.
jschen
I'm a maybe. By the way, I hope you don't mind my changing the thread title to reflect the change in thread topic.
Oleanshoebox
I'm a maybe. By the way, I hope you don't mind my changing the thread title to reflect the change in thread topic.
Its cool. Glad you are interested-I don't believe we've ridden together.
jschen
Nope... haven't had the pleasure of meeting you in person yet. Maybe on this ride... we'll see.
octico
I am a maybe for this one. I am no longer working weekends. Just wait for me at the top I am carrying an extra 20 pounds this year.
jsigone
put me in as a maybe for saturday, I can't ride that early on Sunday's, just near impossible for me.
JimmyNH
Gentlemen, I might be interested. I should be able ot make it on either date, but starting at 6:00 :eek: You guys said "Hot Palomar ride", if we ride with the owls it's not gonna be hot :D . I've got about 1.5 hrs drive to Harrah's so anything earlier than 8:00 AM will be way too masochistic for me :o . By the way, I went to Palomar with Rick a few years ago. It was in May but it was well in the 100s and still - today we both are alive and well.
Hey GrumpyPig, it was nice meeting you at the Heartbreak. How did you come up with this user ID? Or it was your mama-in-law who suggested it? :D
Grumpy Pig
Hey GrumpyPig, it was nice meeting you at the Heartbreak. How did you come up with this user ID? Or it was your mama-in-law who suggested it? :D
Jimmy, it was nice meeting you too. I don't think the forum software will allow me to display what my MIL calls me.
blue_nose
I am a maybe for this ride. The temperature will play a factor in my decision. Hopefully it will not be too hot that weekend.
Oleanshoebox
Its cool to have so many people interested....
Looks like Saturday will likely be the date. Any chance you could make it sometime in between the proposed times and 8:00 jimmy? Maybe 7:00? Nothing need be finalized at this point.
octico
Hey the earlier the better I melt in the sun!
JimmyNH
Its cool to have so many people interested....
Looks like Saturday will likely be the date. Any chance you could make it sometime in between the proposed times and 8:00 jimmy? Maybe 7:00? Nothing need be finalized at this point.
Well, majority rules. If I'm the only slacker here, I think I can push it to 7:00. Don't wait for me though. I'll see if I can drag some of the OC Rebels with me for this ride. I saw Rick posted a note but didn't say if he is coming or not.
Let me throw in a suggestion regarding the route while it is not cast on stone yet. How about we go from Harrah's up South Grade, down East Grade to Lake Henshaw and then back the same way (up East Grade, down South Grade). I guess this will give us around 50 quality miles. :D BTW, I've never done East Grade, so what Oleanshoebox suggested originally is fine with me. Is East Grade as bad as South?
Oleanshoebox
Well, majority rules. If I'm the only slacker here, I think I can push it to 7:00. Don't wait for me though. I'll see if I can drag some of the OC Rebels with me for this ride. I saw Rick posted a note but didn't say if he is coming or not.
Let me throw in a suggestion regarding the route while it is not cast on stone yet. How about we go from Harrah's up South Grade, down East Grade to Lake Henshaw and then back the same way (up East Grade, down South Grade). I guess this will give us around 50 quality miles. :D BTW, I've never done East Grade, so what Oleanshoebox suggested originally is fine with me. Is East Grade as bad as South? I got mixed up. Grumpypig suggested the original route to me in a PM and he said up South down East, not the other way around. OP edited.
I'm not necessarily opposed to an out and back and 50 miles sounds good. Opinions?
Mo'Phat
An out-n-back (ie: Up South, Down East, Up East, Down South) is about 7-8K' of climbing in about 60 miles. It's a grind.
Up South, Down East, and back to the Casino via the 76 is another loop to consider.
jschen
An out and back as Mo'Phat describes really is a tough ride. If you're looking for a first Palomar ride, I'd go up South Grade, visit the observatory, and return home. 5500 feet of climbing in about 32 miles. And a photo op with the observatory dome. If you want to return via East Grade and the highway, that's no big deal. You get more mileage, but it's almost all because you take the long way downhill, so it's really not much more work.
Oleanshoebox
An out and back as Mo'Phat describes really is a tough ride. If you're looking for a first Palomar ride, I'd go up South Grade, visit the observatory, and return home. 5500 feet of climbing in about 32 miles. And a photo op with the observatory dome. If you want to return via East Grade and the highway, that's no big deal. You get more mileage, but it's almost all because you take the long way downhill, so it's really not much more work.
I'm down with the 76 loop idea. Thanks Mo. I haven't looked at any elevation profiles or anything like that and obviously have never ridden Palomar which is why I am looking for suggestions. Squeezing in some easy miles at the end sounds like fun.
Grumpy Pig
Here's my suggestions, based on the feedback.
1. Meet at Harrah's, up South Grade to observatory, return.
2. Meet at Harrah's, up South Grade to observatory, down East Grade, return on 76.
3. Meet near pie store (have to scout parking first), up Mesa Grande, up East Grade, return.
I vote for #1. It's fairly short. We'd be done by noon. We can have lunch at Harrah's.
voltman
Here's my suggestions, based on the feedback.
1. Meet at Harrah's, up South Grade to observatory, return.
2. Meet at Harrah's, up South Grade to observatory, down East Grade, return on 76.
3. Meet near pie store (have to scout parking first), up Mesa Grande, up East Grade, return.
I vote for #1. It's fairly short. We'd be done by noon. We can have lunch at Harrah's.
What about Meet at Harrah's, return?
Grumpy Pig
4. Meet at Harrah's, hold table while the suckers ride their bikes up the hill.
Mo'Phat
Harrah's is a drive...how about, Meet at Denny's on East Valley pkwy and the I-15. Return.
jschen
I'm down with the 76 loop idea. Thanks Mo. I haven't looked at any elevation profiles or anything like that and obviously have never ridden Palomar which is why I am looking for suggestions. Squeezing in some easy miles at the end sounds like fun.
Sounds good. You can always throw in the observatory out and back if you decide that day you want a sloghtly more intense ride. Otherwise, once up South Grade, you're pretty much home free, with a relatively fast and easy ride back to the start.
Grumpy Pig
Harrah's is a drive...how about, Meet at Denny's on East Valley pkwy and the I-15. Return.The one on Mission? I used to work there.
Mo'Phat
Really? I got a Moons over My Hammy there once. Then went in and ordered some breakfast.
Oleanshoebox
Sounds good. You can always throw in the observatory out and back if you decide that day you want a sloghtly more intense ride. Otherwise, once up South Grade, you're pretty much home free, with a relatively fast and easy ride back to the start.
I guess I would like to see the observatory....hmmm. Decisions, decisions.
JimmyNH
Here's my suggestions, based on the feedback.
1. Meet at Harrah's, up South Grade to observatory, return.
I vote for #1. It's fairly short. We'd be done by noon. We can have lunch at Harrah's.
Gr8 idea Frank! I vote for #1 too. Go up to the observatory and back. Sorry gentlemen, I must have been drunk when I suggested climbing up South and East grade :D
Now, if we settle for #1 can we start at 8:00? If we start too early, we might get back before the restaurant is open ;) .
jschen
If I go, I'll go with whatever route and whatever time Billy decides. It's his ride, after all.
Oleanshoebox
I'm gonna go ahead and make it Harrah's start to the observatory and back to keep it brief. Start time will be 7:00 am. Hope everybody can make it.
OP edited.
jschen
Probably can't make it since I work most Saturdays. Hope you have a great time, though, and hope some people can join you.
merider1
If I'm in town, I'm a strong maybe.
Grumpy Pig
We should make it to the general store by 9 and the observatory by 10. I'm not sure how long it takes to return to the store but after that it's almost all downhill.
We've eaten at the Cabana Cove after a couple of rides and it's OK. They open at 11 am. http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-rincon-san-diego/restaurants-dining/cabana-cove-detail.html
jsigone
I'm not sure how long it takes to return to the store but after that it's almost all downhill
Took me 25 minutes total from the store to Harrahs', 12 minutes to bomb down the Southgrade with 3 stops cuz it was so cold I couldn't feel my fingers touching the brake levers, then another 12 or so minutes to get from the Fork down to the Casino. But I'm sure the group isn't as crazy as myself so it might take a bit longer:D
Oleanshoebox
Probably can't make it since I work most Saturdays. Hope you have a great time, though, and hope some people can join you.
You are more than welcome if by chance you are off. I'm sure we'll meet at some ride later this year-my riding has been curtailed a bit lately due to the new baby.
JimmyNH
I'm gonna go ahead and make it Harrah's start to the observatory and back to keep it brief. Start time will be 7:00 am. Hope everybody can make it.
Works perfect for me. Thanks!
Oleanshoebox
bumpolah
jschen
Based on my experience yesterday, depending on the forecasted temperatures, you may want to start even earlier. Yesterday, it was a bit chilly at civil twilight, comfortable by a bit before sunrise, and modestly toasty about half an hour after sunrise. Annoyingly hot by about two hours after sunrise.
blue_nose
Based on my experience yesterday, depending on the forecasted temperatures, you may want to start even earlier. Yesterday, it was a bit chilly at civil twilight, comfortable by a bit before sunrise, and modestly toasty about half an hour after sunrise. Annoyingly hot by about two hours after sunrise.
The forecast will still dictate if I make this ride. The forecast this week is in the high 90’s which is a little too hot for my freckly skin. As long as the forecast maxes out in the low 90’s I will probably do this ride. Fingers crossed…
JimmyNH
Well, after seeing some of the "slackers", I'm not really looking forward to this one :o. But I'm still in. :D
Grumpy Pig
Well, after seeing some of the "slackers", I'm not really looking forward to this one :o. But I'm still in. :DIt's the slacker climb!
Oleanshoebox
It's the slacker climb!
Woo Hoo!
So it looks like to the observatory and back down to Harrah's ends up being in the 50 sumthin' mile range.
This ride is no drop.
I will add more later. Gotta go back to work. (will edit OP)
madmike
Sounds like fun... what about something based on this route... It might be too hot to do much more than this. For most people this 45 miles will take 3 hours. And starting at 7ish it'll be way hot by 10am.
It doesn't go up to the observatory but you get the idea. Without the trek up to observatory it is still right at a mile of climbing, (that's 5280 feet for the conversion challenged!)
South Grade - East Grade Loop (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Palomar-Mountain-East-Grade-Loop)
EDIT: I obviously vote for option 2. I know that taking east grade to the 76 isn't really much harder than just descending South grade but it's so much nicer descending a 4% grade than a 7% grade.
I'm also out of shape and I totally wilt in the heat. I'd be up for starting early with a slower group and the climbing gods and goddesses can pass probably be fore I reach south grade! :)
EDIT2: I'd also be willing to pitch in a few bucks and get a room to shower in after the ride.
mm
Mo'Phat
Woo Hoo!
So it looks like to the observatory and back down to Harrah's ends up being in the 50 sumthin' mile range.
This ride is no drop.
I will add more later. Gotta go back to work. (will edit OP)
I fully expect to be dropped on the climb.
Grumpy Pig
I fully expect to be dropped on the climb.You dropped me on a descent last week. I've never had someone pull over halfway down the hill to see if I was OK.
Mo'Phat
Well, it was either pull over halfway down, or get all the way to the bottom, wait a while...fearing you were cast off into some god-foresaken Ramona canyon by a lunatic trucker...then ride all the way back up.
ps...circumstances changed in 2 weeks, calling into question my desire to strap a bike saddle twixt these thighs.