conquer palomar - july 15

[caligurl]

ok... any of you gals doing this?

3 routes to choose from..... they are "out and back" so you can make it as long (up to 62) or as short as you want!

dudley bread is AWEOME! i've wanted to do palomar and never seem to get hooked up with the BF guys... so this is the perfect opportunity! the ride promoter actually listened and made the start time earlier if you want!

if you register by today... you save the $5 late fee (cheap by a lot of ride's normal late fees!) i also mail in to save the active fees (i can be a cheapskate at times! lol!)

tracy????? brandy????? tiffanie????? pam????? bc68????????

Registration and check-in opens at 6:30 A.M.
50 & 62 Mile Road Ride start window: 6:30 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.
32 Mile Road Ride start window: 6:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.
Course Closes at 2:00 P.M.


Come join us for the inaugural Conquer Palomar. Palomar Mountain's first organized ride! You get to choose from 32, 50, and 62 mile routes, all with fantastic scenery. These paved road rides take you on the little know roads of San Diego County's scenic back country. You will enjoy an idyllic rural setting along with great views of Lake Henshaw and for those who do the 62 mile ride, you will see Mount Palomar's world famous observatory.

Your fee includes event t-shirt, rest stops with fruit, water, Dudley's bread, and Hammer Gel as well as after the ride refreshments.

Come camp out Friday night at Cauzza’s Ranch where you can mingle with other cyclists. Facilities are limited to Porta Potties. Car campers and R.V.’s are welcome so bring the family and make a weekend of it. $10 per car for car camping and $15 per trailer or R.V. for the night.

Route Description

Cauzza Ranch to East Grade Road - As you leave Cauzza Ranch be prepared for the first climb of the day, 250 feet onto the Mesa Grande Road plateau. There are a number of rolling hills, large black oaks, and free range cattle along this stretch of the ride. Once over the last hill you will then descend 700 feet to Hwy 76.

East Grade Road to South Grade Road - The big climb begins once you turn onto East Grade Road (S7), you will ride 11 miles with 2,500 feet of climbing. As you start the climb you will have some spectacular views of Lake Henshaw and Hot Springs Mountain, the highest point in San Diego County. Your first rest stop will come at the 15.5 mile point at the Scenic Vista turnout (32 mile turnaround point). Back on the road you will gradually climb as you are treated to numerous views of the Pauma Valley. The second rest stop comes at the 25.0 mile point (50 mile turnaround point).

South Grade Road to Palomar Observatory - As you pass the country store you have 5 miles and 800 ft of climbing up to the observatory. The road is lined with pine tress as you make your way to the observatory. Before reaching the top you will get a glimpse of the 200-inch (5.1 m) Hale Telescope. Make sure to take some time and check out the Palomar Observatory. When you are ready turn around and head back the way you came, enjoy the down hills and be careful.
Mesa Grande Road to Cauzza Ranch - Back on Mesa Grande Road there is one more climb with 700 feet of elevation gain. Once on the Mesa Grande plateau you will have some rolling hills and then a 250 ft descent to the finish.
Elevation Breakdown - The major climbs add up to 4,250 ft of elevation gain, add another 1,250 ft of elevation for the rollers and you have 5500 ft of total elevation.

Register NOW either by going to our printable registration page or online at Active.com.

[tprevost]

Cali,

I will definately be up in Healdsburg that weekend. I think you should come down and ride it with me another time though! I do have to say that I really did either want to ride it or volunteer; Tony is really nice and I would've like to give him a hand one way or the other!

Please take lots of pictures and let me know if you think its a realistic ride for me to try!

Trac'

[caligurl]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwww...ok..... you have a legitimate excuse!

tony does seem really nice in his emails to me (about starting the ride earlier than 8 a.m.!)

OH... and supposedly this is one of floyd landis' favorite rides (or his favorite? i didn't read the article... heard the info 2nd hand)

[bcipam]

Hey Cali... been there done that... not as an organized ride but as a remote club ride... uh, no thank you!!!! But you go and enjoy!

[caligurl]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so maybe it's a good thing it IS an orgized ride (with dudely bread! yummmmm!)

lol!

[bcipam]

Cali isn't it just easier to drive out to Dudley's and get bread? That's what I do. Love their Dudley Bars!!!! But I don't love Palomar...

[caligurl]

well.... i don't know! i've never done palomar! the guys at bike forums talk it up.... i've not been able to do it with them yet.... i do want to try it... at least once! if i don't like it.... i won't do it again! lol!

i'll give it a try.... and you know me... i loves me my organized rides where they feed me!!!!!!!

[bcipam]

If it were anyone else but you I would try and dissaude but for you this will be an easy ride - what goes up does come down.

I used to like riding Palomar but after they built the casino traffic got bad/scary. Hopefully folks will be out directing or watching traffic to protect the cyclist.

Plus I've never done the ride in summer, always in early/late spring. I pray it ain't gonna be too hot!!!

[Shimpie]

That's in my neck of the woods!

Caligirl at first I thought you were insane....and really ambitious! Before I clicked on the route map I thought you were going to do Floyd Landis' route from the bottom of mountain at Interstate 15 up State Route 76 to Palomar Mountain. Then I saw the route map. Since the ride starts at Mesa Grande, that's definitely doable, especially since you did Big Bear. I still think you're ambitious...just not insane now.

Have fun! It's a very pretty ride and Lake Henshaw actually has a good amount of water this summer. Enjoy Dudley's Bakery. My favorite is the raisin date nut bread, unsliced. I might consider riding the short route next year. This year I'll be in Colorado. But, I suppose I could do the ride unsupported any old day.

-Shimpie

[caligurl]

ya... the heat..... they guys at BF were talking about that... so i emailed the organizer and asked about starting earlier (instead of 8 a.m.).... he checked it out and came back with an email saying a start window of 6:30 to 8:00 instead of mass 8 start! so we plan to start early! )

ok.... this oughta be interesting... hopefully next weekend won't be too gawdawful hot! and you know tracy will want a full ride report with pictures! so i'll give that too! lol!

[caligurl]

That's in my neck of the woods!

Caligirl at first I thought you were insane....and really ambitious! Before I clicked on the route map I thought you were going to do Floyd Landis' route from the bottom of mountain at Interstate 15 up State Route 76 to Palomar Mountain. Then I saw the route map. Since the ride starts at Mesa Grande, that's definitely doable, especially since you did Big Bear. I still think you're ambitious...just not insane now.

Have fun! It's a very pretty ride and Lake Henshaw actually has a good amount of water this summer. Enjoy Dudley's Bakery. My favorite is the raisin date nut bread, unsliced. I might consider riding the short route next year. This year I'll be in Colorado. But, I suppose I could do the ride unsupported any old day.

-Shimpie

phew! lol! glad to know i'm not insane!

bwah ha ha ha ha (got them fooled *ringing hands like a madwoman!*)

[bikerchick68]

no... you ARE insane! BUT, I might join ya... it can't be any worse than The Great Western Loop down my way... 42 miles with 4895ft climbing... I almost puked first time I did that... but what they hay... I figure if I'm not vaguely ill, it's not a real climb.

I have to dispatch for the Crisis team that weekend, so assuming I don't have any death calls, I just may show up... Palomar is a beautiful area and it's one climb I've wanted to do...

edited to add: wait a minute... it doesn't start in Escondido! yikes... not sure I can get out there by 6:30AM then... will think about it...