Road Ride 3/13 -- Palomar Mountain Road Century

3/27 -- Palomar Mountain Road Century

Route:
San Juan Capistrano Amtrak to PCH
Old PCH and Camp Pendleton to the 76
Take a right on East Vista Way, left on Gopher Canyon Road
Right on Old 395 Left onto Old Castle Road
Continue on Lilac Road to a left on Valley Center and a left onto Cole Grade back to the 76
Palomar Mountain Road (to the restaurant) out and back
Return by taking the 76 to Valley Center Road,Lake Wohlford Road, and Valley Parkway to the Escondido Transit Center
Take the Sprinter to the Oceanside Amtrak and back to San Juan Capistrano

for a total of 110 miles and maybe 8000ft of ascent.

 

I'd be interested if I was in town. Post it up again if you do it in the future.

 

I'll be sure to, but that's a pretty big if. I have a feeling that this may be something that I only do once.:lol:

 

Hwy 76 between the 15 and Pala Casino has lot of blind corners and a fair amount of traffic due to the casinos. Once you get past Pala casino its definitely better. Make sure you do not come back on the 76. West bound would be suicide. There is no shoulder and you are up against the hillside. Many blind corners and high speeds and drunk people from the casinos.

Heres a link to street view on google maps to get an idea of the road conditions. Give it a sec to load the street view:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...d=USMen4DWQk4icDbbIBJesw&cbp=11,300.52,,0,5.2

I've wanted to do a similar route but would never consider riding hwy 76. I grew up in the area so I'll look at some alternate routes and give some recommendations. It would be much more scenic, less traffic but much more climbing.

EDIT:

Check out this route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/39818

It starts in oside does palomar mtn and ends up at Escondido. If you don't mind driving a bit I'd consider driving to Vista/Bonsall area to eliminate the 76 altogether and ride it as a loop. Just my 2 cents. Let me know how it goes. I'll be in Solvang this weekend but I'd be up for a Palomar Mtn loop another weekend.

 

I'd also be up for it in the future once I get my base up more.

 

I agree avoid the 76...way too much traffic and a high amount of accidents...

 

SDstumpy, I'm interested in your route..

is this it?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/39827

 

Thanks for the advice. I'd rather not drive so I think that I'll stick with modifying the original route. What do you think of this route? It has a few hundred more feet of ascent.

I decided not to do it this weekend, because, after being off my bike for a few weeks because of an injury, I went to Laguna Beach and Newport Beach to run a diagnostic test and the result was not good.

Anyone have any ideas on a future date?

 

I may be open this weekend and have ridden up couser canyon or liliac many times and on to palomar on occasion - PM me and we can discuss specific routes and if my schedule works out.

 

I probably wouldn't be up for it for at least a month.

 

Yup. I was playing around with the the ride with gps site and thats what I came up with. It is epic and mostly backcountry type roads. Many of the roads in the route were in Stage 8 of last years Tour of California, and also a part of the "Avenue of the Oaks" Fallbrook Metric Century. I've got it on my to-do list.

Bonsall to Palomar Mt Loop

 

If i wasnt doing the CC the week after I'd be up for this.

 

That route looks good for a point to point route. You'll love it. Let me know when you are doing it. I could be persuaded. Good training for the Mulholland Challenge.

 

Looks good Sol. I would like to do this myself if I may say so myself. Palomar. yessssss......

 

Does the 27th work for you guys?

 

I'm not going to be able to make it. I have coaching at 1 PM here in Mission Viejo every Sat. and Sunday for the next couple of weekends. Plus I don't think I'd be able to make it yet. Did 7 sisters from my house on Wednesday, it was 60 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing, I don't think I would have been able to do another 40 miles.

 

Whoa 8000ft in 60 miles is way harder than what I have planned (8000ft in ~110 miles). Congratulations on a tough ride. Let me know when you're ready to ride.