Southern California - Palomar Mountain 11/18

If the fire is out and the roads are open, I'm going to do a Palomar Mountain ride on Sunday, November 18th. Start at Harrah's Rincon and ride up South Grade Road. Lunch at Harrah's.

Meet at 7:30 am, start at 8.

Who's in?

In
jsigone
Tiffanie
jschen
Mel44
Mateo44
Extort
DaveSANYYZ
IanInSD

Maybe
Mo'Phat
blue_nose
Java man

sounds good to me

Are you just doing the South grade?

sounds good to me

Are you just doing the South grade?I don't know. I guess it depends on who's there and how we feel at the time.

Start at 8, go up and down South Grade, and eat lunch after? We'd be eating lunch at 10:30!

Umm, I'm a maybe.

The usual suspects, I see. <yawwwnnnn>

OK, whatever - I'll do it.

yah just us locals LOL

I'd be tempted to ride up South, down East, back up East (never done that one), Down south then lunch. should be 12-1ish by then. I'll be ready for the buffet for SURE!!

only takes 2 1/2 hrs if that for an out and back to the store

South Grade, East Grade, then a trip to the observatory would make a nice epic metric.

Sounds fun. Put Mel and I down as probables.

Maybe. We'll see if my roadie legs are holding up.

I'd like to see the area again... count me in!

Fyi...someone might want to scout/drive that road prior to the start...chances are the Poomacha fire won't be 100% out by then, and South Grade is one of the main thoroughfares for the fire crews from Escondido. Two problems will be: they won't clean the roads until after the fire crews are done using them...meaning all the burnt jetsam will be on the shoulders. Also, quite a few homes have been burnt, so you might be dealing with demo crews as well.

I'd almost rather deal with insane motorcycles than slow moving fire trucks.

Also, air quality might suck, big time. I don't know if the General Store at the top survived, so water might be scarce at the top.

I nominate Matt and Mel to drive down and check it out for us. ;)

Fyi...someone might want to scout/drive that road prior to the start...chances are the Poomacha fire won't be 100% out by then, and South Grade is one of the main thoroughfares for the fire crews from Escondido. Two problems will be: they won't clean the roads until after the fire crews are done using them...meaning all the burnt jetsam will be on the shoulders. Also, quite a few homes have been burnt, so you might be dealing with demo crews as well.

I'd almost rather deal with insane motorcycles than slow moving fire trucks.

Also, air quality might suck, big time. I don't know if the General Store at the top survived, so water might be scarce at the top.

I nominate Matt and Mel to drive down and check it out for us. ;)
For us? You're in?

I plan on riding up there on the 12th or 13th to have a look.

We'll see...I've been totally out of my cycling regimen lately...just getting back into it again. For whatever reason, for the last month and a half, I just didn't have any desire or motivation to ride, run...nothing. I ran yesterday (5 miles) and felt okay, so my cardio didn't slip too much...I'm going out this morning for 30 miles...just to test that everything still works.

We'll see how I feel in three weeks.

you need to ride the New part of Twin Oak rd that drops into San Elijo:D

It will make you feel better!!

Hey Frank,
I might be up for it too if it is not too cold and smokey. I'm with Jsigone - up South Grade, down East, back up East, down South. This is exactly 50 miles (from Harrah's) and last time it took me 5 hours, so if we start at 8:00 we should be back by 1:00. I'll confirm closer to the day.

On the 4th, they said there were no active hot spots but still some smoldering areas. I'm not sure on the locations the firemen are working in. But it's should be 100% contained right now. I'm sure in another week 1/2 should be read and clean enough to ride. I might drive up there the night before to check the roads out.

On the 4th, they said there were no active hot spots but still some smoldering areas. I'm not sure on the locations the firemen are working in. But it's should be 100% contained right now. I'm sure in another week 1/2 should be read and clean enough to ride. I might drive up there the night before to check the roads out.Call in sick on Monday or Tuesday and we'll do a scout ride.

I wish, I'm SOOOO behind at work right now!!!

I am 50/50. I am leaving for week to do some camping in Baja over Thanksgiving. If we leave on Monday then I will do this ride, if the group decides to leave on Sunday I will miss it.

Maybe.
Never started at the casino before, is that close to the taco shop?

Maybe.
Never started at the casino before, is that close to the taco shop?The taco shop is on the corner of 76 and Rincon Rd. Harrah's is west about 1/2 mile on Rincon Rd.

Maybe.
Never started at the casino before, is that close to the taco shop?

The taco shop does not want cyclists to park their cars in their lot anymore.

Gentlemen,
Did anybody go up there to check the conditions?

What's the pace gonna be like? I'm a bit out of shape, having done no physical activity since my last ride two weeks ago.

I'll be recovering from a hard club ride saturday so I doubt my pace will be great + it will be my first time forced to climb Palomar with a 39x25 as my low gear. I'm predicting, slow and painful!!!

Gentlemen,
Did anybody go up there to check the conditions?
Yes, I rode South and East Grade Rd. today. The mountain is open with no restrictions.

There is some minor debris (rocks and woodchips) on mainly S Grade Rd. Near the top of E. Grade Rd, there is some staining from fire retardant but it wasn’t slick. There were a bunch of utility trucks passing me on 76.

My club just happened to have a birthday ride at Palomar today. I ran into them at the store and rode down and up East Grade with them. We took another break at the store and then started the descent to Pauma Valley. After 1/2 mile or so, one of the riders hit a rock, flatted and went end over end into the slope. His wrist is probably broken. Luckily he wasn’t riding one of those cheap POS carbon fiber bikes that would have exploded upon impact. He had a Made in the USA titanium Merlin that suffered no damage besides an Italian brifter that needs straightening.


What's the pace gonna be like? I'm a bit out of shape, having done no physical activity since my last ride two weeks ago.
I took October off and gained 12 lbs. I spent last Fri, Sat and Sun on a road trip with my sister eating nothing but crap. The club members that I rode with today wore Camelbaks, helmet mirrors and called me Kid as they dropped me on E. Gr. Rd. So I'm right there with you.

Forgot the pictures.

I only took a few. I wasn't comfortable taking pictures of other people's losses.
Going up 76
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/jfquan/Palomar%20Mountain%2011-13-07/IMGP0980.jpg
South Grade Rd.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/jfquan/Palomar%20Mountain%2011-13-07/IMGP0985.jpg

Forgot the pictures.

I only took a few. I wasn't comfortable taking pictures of other people's losses.


If only all the pain-in-the-ass looky-lou tragedy-tourists that are driving 2 mph with their video cameras through my parent's neighborhood were as scrupulous as you.

/Rancho Bernardo...count 37 homes burned from their backyard.

Forgot the pictures.

I only took a few. I wasn't comfortable taking pictures of other people's losses.
Going up 76


Major suckage :(

My club just happened to have a birthday ride at Palomar today.



I thought we were your club. :cry:

I thought we were your club. :cry:But they have a message board and custom jerseys and a holiday party and...

glad the road is open up there but it's a grim look up on the mt as well.

I think I'll do this ride. Last big workout before my family arrives here from Toronto.

This time I'll be more careful on the descend. :p

Hey all

Where is Palomar Mountain? I might be in depending on ride length...

Rob

Hey all

Where is Palomar Mountain? I might be in depending on ride length...

Rob

Clicky (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=palomar+mountain&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.757664,72.597656&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1)

South Grade road is that little squiggly line.

Hey all

Where is Palomar Mountain? I might be in depending on ride length...

RobThe address for the start is:
Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort
777 Harrah's Rincon Way
Valley Center, CA 92082

We park in the overflow lot just to the west of the big electronic sign. It's the second entrance.

There are 3 sections to the route.
1. Hwy 76 and South Grade Rd. - 15 miles from Harrah's to the Palomar store.
2. 5 miles from the store to the observatory.
3. East Grade Rd. - 22 miles round trip from the store.

#1 is mandatory. #s 2 & 3 are optional depending how you feel. Whenever we've done this ride, the group has split up and regrouped at the store for the descent to Harrah's.

I'm in.

Ian in SD

Thanks for the report and pictures Frank! It looks ugly, man! I'll chicken out, I don't want to pump all that soot and cinder in my lungs. I know gasoline fumes are not any better but at least my body is used to those. I think I'll be going into "cycling hybernation" from now until maybe March-April next year. If you decide to go there anyway - have fun!

Just found out my sis will be arriving at noon in SD. I'll turn back/head back early. :)

still plenty of time to climb the south then bomb back down and drive home:D

Just found out my sis will be arriving at noon in SD. I'll turn back/head back early. :)

You need to get the CLX together soon so she can join you on these rides.

My bro-in-law will be flying in from Kansas for a week as well. He recently got hooked into cycling. He'll be picking up his Cervelo soloist rental bike from Nytro this Sunday as soon as he gets here. :lol:

BTW, how's your Serotta build going?

Officially bailing due to rude, inconsiderate viruses. Jerks.

I'll be there.

<snip>
BTW, how's your Serotta build going?

Haven't received it yet. I am not all that certain what i am going to do with it.

The address for the start is:
Harrah's Rincon Casino & Resort
777 Harrah's Rincon Way
Valley Center, CA 92082



Does anyone know what the better route is - 76 or 78 cutting over from the 5?

I think the 76 is easier. I live at the western end of 78 and use 76 instead.

76 is fine, more direct

I hope to get there about 7:30

I'll be there.Great! Last time I was on your tail and you inspired me to keep pushing forward. :D

Can't wait to descend South Grade with Tiff again! That girl knows how to ride her bike down a mountain!