Palomar Mtn ride

Quoted message said:

What's the best (hardest) road route to take on Palomar Mtn (Calif.) and what is the best way to
get there from San Diego?

Thx, Ronde Chimp

Since no one else has responded, I will give you the info I have, which is not a lot. I used to work
on Palomar Mountain as a kid, but have never ridden it. I no longer live in the area. However, the
hardest grade (and there are only two) is to come up through Valley Center and Pala/Pauma Valley (As
I remember the names) and take what we used to call the "South Grade". This would NOT be the grade
that comes up through Lake Henshaw, which would be quite a bit easier. I do believe that you can
loop through and around.

I hope someone else responds with more complete info.

I think you will find a lot on Google.

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"Denver C. Fox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What's the best (hardest) road route to take on Palomar Mtn (Calif.) and what is the best way to
get there from San Diego?

Thx, Ronde Chimp

Since no one else has responded, I will give you the info I have, which is

not

Quoted message said:

a lot. I used to work on Palomar Mountain as a kid, but have never ridden

it.

Quoted message said:

I no longer live in the area. However, the hardest grade (and there are

only

Quoted message said:

two) is to come up through Valley Center and Pala/Pauma Valley (As I

remember

Quoted message said:

the names) and take what we used to call the "South Grade". This would

NOT be

Quoted message said:

the grade that comes up through Lake Henshaw, which would be quite a bit easier. I do believe that
you can loop through and around.

I hope someone else responds with more complete info.

I'll add my 2 cents, having just ridden it last weekend. I believe the best place to start would be
in Pauma Valley, which is where the road really starts to climb. However, I got a late start, and
the traffic along the first 5-6 miles of route 76 had gotten pretty heavy, so I started my ride
where S-6 splits off. From there on, there was very little auto traffic.

It's a really nice ride. The grade is a fairly steady 7% or so for about 12 miles (if you start from
Pauma Valley). There were a lot more trees than I expected to see in Southern California, and it
wasn't too hot, maybe 85 or so at midday. The road surface is pretty good. The summit is about 5
miles from the observatory.

To get there from San Diego, I took 15 North to 76. It's about 15 miles on 76 to Pauma Valley.

Hope this helps.

--Josh

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"Denver C. Fox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What's the best (hardest) road route to take on Palomar Mtn (Calif.) and what is the best way
to get there from San Diego?

Thx, Ronde Chimp

It's a really nice ride. The grade is a fairly steady 7% or so for about 12 miles (if you start
from Pauma Valley). There were a lot more trees than I expected to see in Southern California, and
it wasn't too hot, maybe 85 or so at midday. The road surface is pretty good. The summit is about
5 miles from the observatory.

I drove up it last year on South Mt. Palomar Grade Road and saw 3 or 4 riders descending. I noted a
few cattle guards crossing the road early in the climb. Otherwise the road is well maintained.

Quoted message said:

To get there from San Diego, I took 15 North to 76. It's about 15 miles on 76 to Pauma Valley.

I recall that it took me the better part of an hour to drive from the start of the climb off of 76
to 15 and then to downtown SD.

Enjoy, Andy

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Hope this helps.

--Josh

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"Josh Gatts" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

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Quoted message said:

>What's the best (hardest) road route to take on Palomar Mtn (Calif.) and what is the best way
>to get there from San Diego?
>
>Thx, Ronde Chimp

It's a really nice ride. The grade is a fairly steady 7% or so for

about 12

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miles (if you start from Pauma Valley). There were a lot more trees

than I

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expected to see in Southern California, and it wasn't too hot, maybe 85

or

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so at midday. The road surface is pretty good. The summit is about 5

miles

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from the observatory.

I drove up it last year on South Mt. Palomar Grade Road and saw 3 or 4 riders descending. I noted
a few cattle guards crossing the road early in the climb. Otherwise the road is well maintained.

I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs well ahead of them so you have time
to slow down (or speed up if you're struggling uphill!)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

To get there from San Diego, I took 15 North to 76. It's about 15 miles

on

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76 to Pauma Valley.

I recall that it took me the better part of an hour to drive from the start of the climb off of 76
to 15 and then to downtown SD.

That sounds about right. I think it was a bit over an hour for me.

--Josh

Quoted message said:

I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs well ahead of them so you have time
to slow down (or speed up if you're struggling uphill!)

Why would you want to slow down?

Keep you speed up and jump them! :-)

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Chris Neary" <[email hidden] > wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs well

ahead

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of them so you have time to slow down (or speed up if you're struggling uphill!)

Why would you want to slow down?

Keep you speed up and jump them! :-)

Yeah, nothing like a 40 mph bunny hop to spice up a descent. Yikes. Call me a wussy, but I'll go
ahead and slow down to a comfy 20 mph or so for the cattle guards.

(I did cleanly jump a huge pothole once at about 30 mph. That was a total reflex, and it surprised
the hell out of me when I did it. Then I went on to pinch flat both tires on an equally huge pothole
about 500 yards down the road. I was in a pack and couldn't see the holes until they were right
below me, so had to watch what the guy in front of me was doing.)

--Josh

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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs well ahead of them so you have
time to slow down (or speed up if you're struggling uphill!)

Why would you want to slow down?

Keep you speed up and jump them! :-)

I did happen to see one of the riders do that. Well over my ability. But then again Long Island, NY
isn't known to have any cattle guards to practice on.

Andy

"amh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

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Chris Neary <[email hidden] > wrote in message

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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs

well ahead

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Quoted message said:

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of them so you have time to slow down (or speed up if you're

struggling

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uphill!)

Why would you want to slow down?

Keep you speed up and jump them! :-)

I did happen to see one of the riders do that. Well over my ability. But then again Long Island,
NY isn't known to have any cattle guards to practice on.

Andy

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

Brendon

Brendon M. Troy said:

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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>I think there are 2-3 cattle guards. There are yellow cow signs

well ahead

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Quoted message said:

>of them so you have time to slow down (or speed up if you're

struggling

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Quoted message said:

>uphill!)

Why would you want to slow down?

Keep you speed up and jump them! :-)

I did happen to see one of the riders do that. Well over my ability. But then again Long Island,
NY isn't known to have any cattle guards to practice on.

Andy

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

Brendon

It is a cut in the rodway surface that is filled with something that cows will not walk on thereby
keeping them from going through a fence opening that allows the road to pass through. It is normally
make from something like parallel pipes that are about two inches in diameter and spaced about six
inches apart. They are oriented so that they cross the width of the road. They are very easy to
crash on. You need to take them slowly if you are on a mountain bike or walk accross them if you are
on a road bike.

"dr. dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

Brendon

It is a cut in the rodway surface that is filled with something that cows

will not walk on thereby keeping them from going through a

Quoted message said:

fence opening that allows the road to pass through. It is normally make

from something like parallel pipes that are about two inches

Quoted message said:

in diameter and spaced about six inches apart. They are oriented so that

they cross the width of the road. They are very easy to

Quoted message said:

crash on. You need to take them slowly if you are on a mountain bike or

walk accross them if you are on a road bike.

Quoted message said:

Your description is good, but you certainly don't need to walk across them on a road bike. Slowing
down is a good idea, although I've survived crossing them at 40+ mph (that'll shake your fillings
loose and you'll risk pinch flats.) You should hit them going straight and perpendicular to the
orientation of the rails so you don't slip. Sort of like crossing RR tracks, but worse.

--Josh

Josh Gatts said:

"dr. dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

Brendon

It is a cut in the rodway surface that is filled with something that cows

will not walk on thereby keeping them from going through a

Quoted message said:

fence opening that allows the road to pass through. It is normally make

from something like parallel pipes that are about two inches

Quoted message said:

in diameter and spaced about six inches apart. They are oriented so that

they cross the width of the road. They are very easy to

Quoted message said:

crash on. You need to take them slowly if you are on a mountain bike or

walk accross them if you are on a road bike.

Your description is good, but you certainly don't need to walk across them on a road bike. Slowing
down is a good idea, although I've survived crossing them at 40+ mph (that'll shake your fillings
loose and you'll risk pinch flats.) You should hit them going straight and perpendicular to the
orientation of the rails so you don't slip. Sort of like crossing RR tracks, but worse.

--Josh

I don't know why this has stuck in my head so, but *years* ago, someone in this newsgroup was
talking about group rides somewhere in Texas, and they mentioned that a common callout was:

[shouted] - "Cattle Guard!"

Followed immediately by ....

"Water Bottle!"

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗ Integrity is obvious. The lack of it
is common.
*****************************

Quoted message said:

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

A picture of one can be seen here: hutchison-inc.comgatelatch.phpOpen ↗

Another poster said:

Yeah, nothing like a 40 mph bunny hop to spice up a descent. Yikes. Call me a wussy, but I'll go
ahead and slow down to a comfy 20 mph or so for the cattle guards.

Suit yourself, but the faster you go, the less chance of pinch flatting since you don't need to jump
the bike as high and the touchdown will be softer.

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Chris Neary" <[email hidden] > wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

A picture of one can be seen here: hutchison-inc.comgatelatch.phpOpen ↗

Another poster said:

Yeah, nothing like a 40 mph bunny hop to spice up a descent. Yikes.

Call

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me a wussy, but I'll go ahead and slow down to a comfy 20 mph or so for

the

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Quoted message said:

cattle guards.

Suit yourself, but the faster you go, the less chance of pinch flatting since you don't need to
jump the bike as high and the touchdown will be softer.

I meant that I don't jump them at all. Just bounce right over them.

--Josh

Josh Gatts said:

"dr. dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What, may I ask, is a cattle guard? Color me ignorant.

Brendon

It is a cut in the rodway surface that is filled with something that cows

will not walk on thereby keeping them from going through a

Quoted message said:

fence opening that allows the road to pass through. It is normally make

from something like parallel pipes that are about two inches

Quoted message said:

in diameter and spaced about six inches apart. They are oriented so that

they cross the width of the road. They are very easy to

Quoted message said:

crash on. You need to take them slowly if you are on a mountain bike or

walk accross them if you are on a road bike.

Your description is good, but you certainly don't need to walk across them on a road bike. Slowing
down is a good idea, although I've survived crossing them at 40+ mph (that'll shake your fillings
loose and you'll risk pinch flats.) You should hit them going straight and perpendicular to the
orientation of the rails so you don't slip. Sort of like crossing RR tracks, but worse.

--Josh

Cattle guards often have gaps, since the pipes or bars are not long enough to cross the entire road.
Often these gaps are wide enough to let a road tire drop through or grab the wheel. One of our local
riders was very seriously injured last year while riding in a pack and falling into a cattle guard
gap. Some cattle guards are relatively smooth and safe, some are really bad. Most of them are
perpendicular to the road, unlike a lot of railroad tracks.

Dave Lehnen