wrr1020

Has anyone done this ride before. One of my riding buddies wants to go for the weekend and asked if i wanted to come along. I've never done it before and wanted to know what its like. I'd ask if its safe but i assume so since its a mass event. Anyone here planning on going this year, its on May 14.

slipstream8

Haven't personally done it, but I heard that it was a good time years ago. The miles aren't difficult.

That was before the drug violence got so bad. I used to cross over to TJ occasionally, but it just isn't worth the risk to me now. Sucks, too, because I really enjoyed the homebuilding charity thing I went down for the last time.

wrr1020

That's mainly my concern, so much going on down south that i don't think its worth going. But at the same time if there still holding the event i assume its safe enough.

Mansram01

It's been many years since I've done it but I clearly remember it being a great ride! Lots of fun but I wouldn't go down there now. Too risky and too many unknowns. I'd love to go back and do it again some day.

Rip Van Winkle

I used to do this ride every year, as well as Tecate-Ensendada and Mexicali-San Felipe. That was back in the old days, 25-30 years ago. I loved them all, but I wouldn't do it now. There is just too much crime, all centered in those border towns. I personally feel that there are so many great rides in this country now that there is just no need to go down there. Don't anyone flame me, it's just my humble opinion.

John R

Be carefull your face could wind up on a soccer ball!!! https://articles.nydailynews.com/2010...naloa-drug-war

Mr. Beanz

.... funny but then again, it's not!

We used to do it twice a year. Not anymore, not worth any kind of the risks. My parents were it by some gal going he wrong direction, cops said it was my parents fault and wanted $500 to get their car out of impound. Luckily the dude form the Mexican insurance they purchased was kind enough to drive down to fight about the situation.

Gina would drive from the start to the finish alone to pick us up at the end of the ride. After my parent's sit, she said no more. I don't blame her, there were always a bunch of soldiers at the toll booths armed with auto weapons etc. Ya never know what might happen.

The ride though is a good ride. I like the course. My opinion, the roads are in much better shape than those of the Palmsprings century no matter what you hear.

rooftest

Driving in Mexico has never really been a good idea - it's even less of one now. That's why everyone used to park on the US side and walk to Revolution street in Tijuana.

I would guess that the organized ride had tour buses to take riders back to the start/across the border. This will keep you relatively safer from the troubles Beanz mentioned above. I know a few people who were in car accidents down in Mexico and ran into trouble. One of them spent three weeks in jail - and the Federales took her car. AND she was born in Mexico.

In addition to that, a driver in Mexico needs to avoid the ad-hoc "security checkpoints", shakedowns from the Federales, and (this is a newer threat) car-jackers.

Despite all that, I'd do the ride - if I was riding back in a tour bus.

cervelo4me

stay out of that country period!!

Nachoman

don't forget kidnappings too.

blknyt

OK, I'll be the counterpoint in this discussion.

I did the last R-E ride in September and it was fantastic. I went with my son and a couple of his friends and we stayed in Ensenada and had a great and very safe time (although it was brutally hot). I was very curious about the ride, since I had done it at least 10 times before (pre-9/11) and was also concerned about security etc. Back in the 90's it was not unusual to have well over 10,000 people do the ride. I suspect there were maybe a little over 3,000 in Sept. It was still great fun, well organized, and the people in MX were very hospitable. I'm thinking about doing the May ride which should be much cooler. I would certainly recomend the ride, though I definitely understand why people are concerned. My only caveat is to avoid TJ.

wrr1020

Thanks a lot for the responses guys. At this point it doesn't sound like a great idea to go. I'd love to do it still but might wait for sometime in the future if it ever gets safer to go. My friend wants to stay overnight and come back Sunday which i think will be even worse. I'd rather go and do the ride and come straight back to California once the ride is over.