Saturday, 8/22 - Dudley's to Palomar
 

I'm riding from Dudley's in Santa Ysabel through Mesa Grande to Palomar Observatory and back on Saturday.
It's about 71 miles and about 7-8,000 feet of total climbing. I enjoy the South Grade more than the East, but that's open to the whims of anyone who shows.

(Here's a map for anyone considering.)

Sound off if interested, and let me know what time you can get there. I think 8ish or earlier would be best, so we don't get murdered by the heat, but can wait.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ytwhByR2os...0/IMG_0276.JPGhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ytwhByR2os...0/IMG_0277.JPGhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vSxn3Xgqa1...MesaGrande.jpghttp://www.miriameaglemon.com/San%20...nde%20Road.jpghttp://www.miriameaglemon.com/Trip%2...Road%20Web.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/...638b04.jpg?v=0

Why not start at Harrah's and ride to Santa Ysabel?

Because then I'd end up stuck at Santa Ysabel with the dangerously crowded 78 between me and home. I've seen two bicyclists hit by cars on that road over the years--I guess the motorists are sleepy after gorging themselves on Julian pie.
Also because Mesa Grande is a superior approach. Smooth asphalt, curvy grades, and shady in many parts. :)

If you're riding up from Harrah's, perhaps we'll see each other up on the hill.
Look for the blond behemoth in clown shoes on a black Felt:
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...-seq-chris.jpg

If you start at Harrah's, you go up South Grade, down East Grade, up and along Mesa Grande to Santa Ysabel. 78 isn't part of the route, so no worries there.

This route, if I remember correctly, is about 81 miles and 11k' of climbing.

But after 81 miles and 11k of climbing, I'd be stuck in Santa Ysabel with the dangerously crowded 78 between me and home. (I live in Carlsbad near the beach.)

Because that's not the ride he's planning?

Your route looks like a fun ride. I would consider doing it from the Temecula area as that's a lot closer to me. How is the road on that side?

The main problem with approaching from Temecula is casinos.
Pala Temecula Road (AKA Pechanga Parkway) is a narrow, winding road populated with wide buses ferrying the old folks between casinos.

Taking the 79 East to Oak Grove and Warner Springs is an interesting ride, but also pretty narrow and very high speed. For safety's sake, I'd recommend trucking your bike to the Rincon Store, or perhaps to Warner Springs and riding Palomar from there.

The reason I love Mesa Grande so much is:
a) it's interesting,
b) it's shady, and
c) it runs parallel to a major (more direct) highway (the 79) which bleeds off all the high speed traffic.
http://www.eaglegapvineyards.com/ima...o_Vineyard.JPG
It's a deserted, post-apocalyptic, dream road, IMO.

Ahhh, yes the casinos. Well, that makes sense.

...

I sense a Cormac McCarthy themed ride.

I'm in Oceanside near the beach. I still don't understand what that has to do with 78. Are you riding to the start?

Think more Mad Max with pedals...

http://www.granitegrok.com/pix/road%20warrior.jpghttp://www.madmaxmovies.com/making/m...WezFaceoff.jpg

Nope. I finally crested Palomar from the coast this year, and the roads between are too narrow & crowded with overwide casino busses, or RVs towing trailers packed full of dirt-bikes IMO. The 76 will probably be a pleasant ride after the real apocalypse, but I'm trucking my bike to a sensible start point until then. (I'll be sure to give plenty of clearance to any cyclists I see on those suicide roads.)

*sigh..*

If you start at Harrah's, you're riding on the exact same roads as if you started at Dudley's. Only now you can throw South Grade in for good measure and you're saving yourself the extra drive. You also end with a +/- 30 minute descent.

and a buffet :love:

East of Coast Hwy isn't "near the beach", Mr. Inlander.

Shush, you.

Haha, that was my second thought.
But my phoney Texas twang is better than my phoney Australian affectation.
(I can only read Cormac McCarthy's writing in Tommy Lee Jones' voice now.)

Sorry, but I got confused by your going to Dudleys after Palomar.
Have you ever ridden Mesa Grande? Dudley's might be a 15-minute drive farther than Harrah's for you, but the drive is absolutely worth it, IMO. (1:04 vs 0:48, according to Gmap.) 5S to 78E and Dudley's is on your left at Santa Y.

If you launch from Harrah's, maybe we'll still run into each other at Mother's. Give Mesa Grande a look sometime--it's one of those rare gems in our coastal desert. I'll take plenty of pictures on Saturday.

Yeah, Mesa Grande is nice. Probably my favorite stretch of road in San Diego county. Other than South Grade(because it's so early in the ride), MG is in my opinion the best part of the Pie Ride. I'm very familiar with all of the roads out there.

If I start at Dudley's, a nice route is Julian, Banner Grade, Borrego, Montezuma Grade, Ranchita, Mesa Grande, Dudley's. The only problem is that there are only a few days every year when it's not too hot, cold or windy. And everyone ascending Montezuma is driving a 40' motorhome with a trailer.

"But have you ever ridden Mesa Grande, on a SINGLESPEED?"

I might argue that Bandy Canyon is the best part of the Pie Ride, and possibly one of the best stretches of road anywhere :) This is a reminder that I need to get down there. We're thinking of getting a gettaway condo down in Carlsbad on the lagoon. If that happens, I will bother you often.

Bandy Canyon?
I'd never call someone wrong on matters of taste, but have you ever ridden Highland Valley Road to the immediate south of Bandy? It's the back way to Ramona and that's a road. Smooth asphalt, lightly traveled, and about as straight as a strand of silly string.
I just rode there on Wednesday night and was delighted to discover the new pedestrian/pedal bridge over Lake Hodges to get there...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/...916cd82eab.jpg

You just like that part of the route because it's downhill. Trying going up it and see how you feel:p

That would be awesome. You and Phil will be able to communicate via morse code across the lagoon!

Bandy is fine until you reach the chicken coop - NASTY!

It's been awhile, I think I'm talking about that whole stretch of the Pie ride, after Ramona until you hit 76 or 78, whatever that is. I think you go through both Highland Valley and Bandy, don't you?