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06-07-09, 03:44 PM
I've climbed both of Palomar Mountain's faces many times, but never from my home in Carlsbad: 90.5 miles and about 9 or 10,000 feet of climbing. (My Garmin said 13,000 feet, but that is highly suspect.*)
Well, I finally did it Friday. It was terrific and a lot easier than I thought it would be BUT Valley Center Road is a nightmare.
The stretch between Lake Wohlford Road and the 76 (Rincon Junction) is nearly as jagged as cobble stones, narrow, and chock-full-o mega-wide tourbusses to ferry the old folks to & from the Rincon and Harrah's casinos. And in the rare places where there is a shoulder for you to ride upon, the bumps become even harsher the farther to the right you are.
Has anyone ever ridden the full length of the 76? I mislike the idea of riding that far on that shoulderless highspeed highway, but Valley Center Road is the Spanish word for 'bicycle hell.'
I think my next Palomar Assault will involve Cole Grade road to get to the 76, so I can avoid that awful stretch. I've ridden on cobbled stretches in Belgium & Holland and feel qualified to say that this road sucks royally.
Peace & Safe Riding!
-Chris in C'bad
* I learned on this ride that my heavy breathing while climbing is enough to affect the atmospheric conditions around the Garmin altimeter, so the altitude was fluctuating pretty wildly and ultimately affecting the total feet climbed.
Well, I finally did it Friday. It was terrific and a lot easier than I thought it would be BUT Valley Center Road is a nightmare.
The stretch between Lake Wohlford Road and the 76 (Rincon Junction) is nearly as jagged as cobble stones, narrow, and chock-full-o mega-wide tourbusses to ferry the old folks to & from the Rincon and Harrah's casinos. And in the rare places where there is a shoulder for you to ride upon, the bumps become even harsher the farther to the right you are.
Has anyone ever ridden the full length of the 76? I mislike the idea of riding that far on that shoulderless highspeed highway, but Valley Center Road is the Spanish word for 'bicycle hell.'
I think my next Palomar Assault will involve Cole Grade road to get to the 76, so I can avoid that awful stretch. I've ridden on cobbled stretches in Belgium & Holland and feel qualified to say that this road sucks royally.
Peace & Safe Riding!
-Chris in C'bad
* I learned on this ride that my heavy breathing while climbing is enough to affect the atmospheric conditions around the Garmin altimeter, so the altitude was fluctuating pretty wildly and ultimately affecting the total feet climbed.