Dj Hunny

I did a search regarding this ride and the most recent posting was in April. And from what I read it was mostly about drunks cyclists and fish tacos....and of course the beautiful scenary.

Anyone doing this ride or considering doing this ride? I plan to do it, but I'm kind of wondering if it would be smart idea since I will be doing it alone ( I have no cycling friends nor are they daring enough to go to Mexico ) and insist on telling me I shouldn't go. Lame I know.

My background, i've done 2 Bike MS events 100+ miles, 3 Tour De Cure rides for diabetes (65+) miles, and a few misc fun rides here and there. So if there are some veteran riders with good advice on which route I should take, please help.

I'm trying to convince a couple friends to come along just for the ride...

If I end up going alone I'm thinking about taking the shuttle bus from SD to Rosarito and then they pick me up in Ensenada and head back to SD.

Thanks ahead of time for any great tips.

- Dj Hunny

blknyt

I've done R-E at least a dozen times, though not in the last 5 years. However I have been to motorcycle events in both Rosarito and Ensenada during that period. I am doing the ride this September, probably with my teenage son and a few other friends. My experience has always been great, provided you accept the fact that you are in Mexico and you are reasonably prudent.

I have never used the shuttle, primarily because part of the experience is the fun of making a weekend out of the ride. In the past I have always stayed in Rosarito Beach, either at the RB hotel (at the official start) or in a rented condo. This year I am thinking about staying at the finish in Ensenada (they will shuttle your bike to the start in RB). I always felt safe since there were so many American participants, and the locals always seemed to make us feel welcome. My sense is that given the economy and other issues, they are even more anxious to make this a positive experience.

In prior R-E rides, I would move forward a half mile or so to an "unofficial start" to avoid the inexperienced riders at the official start of the ride, just for my own safety. I understand that there is now an elite rider start that does the same thing. I will likely try that.

In any event, I have been on many standard and metric centuries, but none with the charm, energy and just great fun of this ride. I am certainly mindful of the more recent border and safety issues in Mexico. But even taking that into consideration (which I believe to be one of many manageable risks I take to ride a bike), I am more than willing to participate in a really fantastic and unique ride. Hopefully you will get to experience it too...

travelmama

Forget the shuttle and just walk across the border with your bike and jump on a bus to Rosarito for $5. Ride down to Ensenada, get drunk and taco'd out then take a bus back to TJ for less than $15. Walk back across the border then go home. It is the cheapest and easiest way to go. It is also safe.

Bobsled

Can you ride into Mexico since walking (w/ your bike) would require you to go thru a series of turn styles? Possible but may be a PITA since meant more for humans and not bikes.

Coming back you used to be able to ride your bike (after 9/11) and go thru customs just like a car but faster. Again, going thru custom on foot (w/ bike) back into US may be PITA since they'er not set up for that.

And yeah, if crossing on foot just stay to the right pass McDonalds and all the drug stores and bus station will be right there within walking distance.

bajadock

DJH, It's a fun ride. Your friends watch too much network news if they are afraid to visit Baja.

My first R-E ride was this spring and it was well-organized. Only problems for me were all of those who started 1/2 mile to 1 mile up the road and created serious hazards. I did the elite start and it still took me 5 miles to get clear of all of the unofficial starters ahead of me.

There will be plenty of gringos who live in both Rosarito and Ensenada with whom you can connect for lodging and transportation. Here is one source: https://www.facebook.com/rosaritoensenada

Party at finish is fun. Make a weekend of it in Ensenada.

Mr. Beanz

Yeah, tell that to my Mom and Dad that had their car confiscated leaving them standing on the side of the road after a young girl hit them from the side in a parkinglot. Sitting in a parkinglot, a girl hits them and the cops want $400 in cash to release their car cause it was their fault EVENTHOUGH they were in a space and weren't even moving.

And yes, they bought the Mexican insurance before crossing the border. Parents called in a panic asking me to make the drive before their car gets stripped at the yard. Luckily they get through to the guy at the insurance co that talks the cops into releasing their car before I arrive. Free to go with the car!

WTF was the $400 for? If you even look like you have money, you're a target. My parents have spoken Spanish all their lives, didn't speak English til they were 10 yo and they get harrassed for being foreigners down there.

I've done the ride 6 times and we don't go down there anymore. Sort of scary, the wife driving alone to pick us up with the soildiers and automatic weapons at the toll booths. After this happened to my parents, we quit going. If I get stopped, I'm in trouble and I don't speak Spanish!

travelmama

The turnstiles are wide enough to get a bike through.

Dj Hunny

Yeah that's what I'm most scared of about driving there myself. My g/f says she wouldn't mind going, but I'm a bit iffy on her driving herself from Rosarito to meet me in Ensenada she's already bad enough with directions here; I don't think she'll do much better in Mexico.

It would just be easier on myself to take the shuttle there and back especially since they provide drinks and transportation for my bike since I don't have a roof rack or bike rack.

I look forward to meeting some great people or maybe someone from here.

I want to purchase a jersey from the event, but the smallest size is a small and i usually wear an extra small. Should I risk my $50 and just buy it and hope it fits, or just pass it up and wait for another jersey? Yes I am tiny...

blknyt

Sorry, can't help with the jersey question (although they are pretty darn cool...).

However the easiest part might be your friend's drive to pick you up in Ensenada at the finish. It's a straight shot on the toll road, and there will likely be hundreds of cars doing the same thing that she can follow (probably best to leave before the riders). While the numbers seem to be down, some of my previous R-E rides had well over 10,000 riders, and at least the same number of spectators. It really is a big deal for the community and they always rolled out the welcome mat.

It really is a fun experience. Hope you get to do it....

Dizzy

I have not done this ride in 10 years but back then there was a nice coach bus that would drive you down to Ensenada on Friday night and then pick you up on Sunday morning. They had another truck that took the bikes. The bikes were wrapped in shipping blankets and stored inside a moving van style truck. It was very nice.

as for the ride, we didn't have an elite start, my strategy was to take it really slow and easy until you hit the tiger. Then climb fast, you will leave ALL the yahoos behind. Anyone left in front of you should be OK. The only other place you need to be careful is the decent. Somehow a mountain bike always seems to get in front me, they must start hours before. They are probably in good shape but have never exceded 40 miles an hour before. So now they are going 40 on off road tires (the guys that put slicks on are OK). The tires start to float and the bike starts to shack. You do not want to be around these guys.

The party at the end is OK but the bars later that night are really fun.

I am too old for that stuff now, but it sure was fun way back when.

blknyt

C'mon Dizzy, you're never too old for a well-deserved beer (or three) in a cantina after a great ride....

spinerguy

As I never done this ride I'd like to try it this Sept.
Ideally I'd like to party a little after the ride (have some beers) stay at a local hotel and return next morning. If a small party forms here on BF I'd be interested in tagging along, otherwise I may see you there.

Dj Hunny

It would be awesome if a small group goes, it would be the first ride i've ever done where I wasn't solo. Well actually I rode the MS Ride with a work team, but I was never with them since I didn't know anyone anyways.

And Dizzy you're never too old to enjoy the victory party after a ride.

And yes the jersey this year looks siick..which is why I want one so bad.


Actually it was a different jersey featured, but when I went on today it shows this one. Still good lookin.

blknyt

I'm totally down with meeting up with some bf members at the ride to throw a few down. In the past I've stayed at the RB hotel, but this year I'm planning on staying in Ensenada on Friday and Saturday night, and taking the shuttle on Saturday morning to the start in RB. Perhaps as we get a little closer to the ride we can exchange some info and meet up.

bajadock

Best wishes to all of the Rosarito-Ensenada riders and support teams. Weather should be perfect and finish line party will be a blast. Salud!

Socalcycling

F Mexico!!! You couldn't pay me to do this ride. Hey where is that tool at?

Garfield Cat

Shall we tell the Mexican drug cartels that there's a big bike ride event? Or do they already know it? This reminds me of that Clint Eastwood character, Inspector Harry Callahan, saying "Well punk, do you feel lucky? Make my day."

bajadock

https://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...ada-bike-ride/

https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/rosaritoensenada

First hand reports and photos indicate a safe, fun and successful event. Next one is May 14.

blknyt

I did the ride yesterday after taking it off for nearly 10 years. I brought my college-age son, and some of his friends. It was great!! The weather was a bit warm, but the locals showed great hospitality, and the ride was very well run. El Tigre (the hill section) was just as tough as I remember it!!

Dizzy

Any idea on how many cyclist where there?

blknyt

A SD newspaper covering it said 4,800. I was told that inland temps for the ride reached 115. Don't know if it got that high, but it was HOT!!!

spinerguy

The breeze from the ocean helped a little but it was definitely hot.

I tried to hammer it, at the last climb near 3rd station I felt really close to a heat stroke (never had one so wouldn't know what it feels like) but my legs were a bit shaky and had a slight nauseous feeling, in my experience, a complete stop may make things worse so I kept going very slow for a couple of mins before last station where I hydrated and had my last gel packet.

After stretching somehow I found my legs again to zoom all the way to finish, where fish tacos and beer never tasted better.

Took me a little over 3 hrs including stops and one flat . I thought it was pretty well organized and came back next day without incidents whatsoever.

blknyt

I Also did it in just over 3 hours (my previous personal best was 2:32). The heat was a major factor that I did not take seriously. Two weeks earlier I breezed through the Amtrak Century in 5:50 and thought R-E would be cake. I miscalculated my hydration needs and really felt cramped the last 15 miles. I could tell my brain was fried when I got off the bike at the finish and experienced serious "white-out" until I drank 3 bottles of Powerade. You are right, those fish tacos at the fiesta were incredible!!