it's a long shot, but.....
 

If anyone traveling to baja in the near future sees someone on an ugly, scuffed up grey cannondale H500, could you please punch them in the face and bring my baby back to the states for me. It was stolen a few miles up a dirt road in the Valley of the Cirios in between El Rosario and Catavina. I was stealth camped in some brush up a dry creekbed, but I guess my stealth wasn't so stealthy because when I got back from a 2 hour hike, my bike was gone and my tent was vandalized. It would cost me probably $1000 to replace everything that was taken or destroyed. It had schwalbe tires, fenders, trek panniers, etc., although I doubt any of that stuff is still on it. I didn't bother reporting it to the cops down there, mainly because it was 40 miles from the nearest town so it could be anywhere, and I haven't been impressed with mexican law enforcement from dealings in the past. I'd be willing to bet money it's the only one like it in mexico, and should be easy to recognize for any of you bike enthusiasts who travel that area. I know I'll probably never see it again, but you never know.

By the way, the pathetic 300 or so miles I rode in 6 days was the worst cycling tour of my life. The scenery was just getting good, the traffic was finally getting tolerable, but I wouldn't ride in baja again for all the money in the world. I still plan on seeing the rest of it eventually, but I'll do it in a 4wd instead of a bike.

Sorry to hear your trip came to such an abrupt and unhappy conclusion. How did you get home?
I remember your post asking if it were better to go to Ensenada via Tecate or Tijuana. Which way did you go and how was it?

For those of you who have never been to Baja here's a bike tourers account of a few days in Baja and the impression it made on him. I so know what he's talking about.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p..._id=44726&v=hp

I just got back from a bike tour in Baja and had a great time. I am sorry your trip ended so badly, but I have spent many winters down there and never had a problem at all.

Hi,
Sorry your trip was bad. 4 of us had a good trip, but we went down the east side ubtil Laguna Chappel.
Report is : http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Baja2006

Best regards,
Lee

I walked/hitchhiked for 6 hours after my bike was stolen with no success (I guess not many people pick up crazy-looking goateed gringos at night in the mexican desert), then slept under an overpass and froze to death. The next morning I caught a ride with a lead-foot mexican to ensenada, then took the bus to the border.

I went ahead and just rode 1 through TJ instead of going through tecate. The toll road sucks getting through tj, but gets better till I was kicked off again later on. The free road through rosarito is bad. I rode the toll road to ensenada and pushed my bike on the sidewalk through the toll booth with no hassles. Hwy.1 south of ensenada is bad most of the rest of the way. There is a shoulder at times through Camalu and area, but the rest of the way the drivers and traffic were so bad I rode the dirt roads that run parallel with the highway most of the time near towns. But like Vik said, alot of people seem to have no problems and enjoy riding through baja. I didn't.