You cant ride on the base if your a civilian. But I can escort you, but only if you wear a shirt that says "cindy shehan is a PUNK"......

When did that change? It was closed for a few years, but it has been open for around 2 years now. You may want to double check your intel. I'm pretty sure it is open during certain hours as long as you carry ID.

Yes she is a PUNK to say the least. I detest her and her actions.

Its not closed, bring your ID, ride right through.

Flanagan,

actually I am not sure about the new rules. I will find out for you though. I always thought it was a bad idea to make cyclists take the I-5 to get to north or south SD county..But I understood the reasoning after 9/11..Everytime I saw a fellow cyclist on that I-5 I would freak out. Damn crazy.

I will give base security a call in the AM and let you know.

Regards,

George, US NAVY DEEP SEA DIVER! HOOYAH

I'm riding san diego to dana pt and back this weekend, all I need is a drivers license to get through.

Have a good ride! And dont pick on those Marines! And no stopping at McDonalds!

You can ride through. But carry a valid driver's license or other form of ID. Several months ago, they wouldn't let a friend of mine go through because her driver's license was expired, so we took the freeway.

The funny thing was, the guards on the other side let us through coming back with no problem.

Faulty security procedures...?

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"Yeah you point a finger back far enough and some germ gets blamed for splitting in two."

Colonel Saul Tigh from Battlestar Galactica

Thanks guys! I am in town till Jan 4 and riding at least 50 mi per day. It seems there are more cars out here every time I visit, so Pendleton should be nice with there being fewer vehicles.

Maybe that gate gaurd was a fellow cyclist!!!!! Next time, shake his or her hand and tell them thank you for serving our fine country!

HOOYAH MARINES!

The website says it opens at 9 am. I showed up back in August one morning at 8:15 and they let me through. They checked my drivers license at every gate, though (I did the Ralphs loop and you leave the base and re-enter at Christianitos).

I got squeezed off the road twice by a passing convoy of entirely humorless Marines holding .50 caliber machine guns on top of Humvees. I waved and smiled. They didn't.

I live in San Clemente and ride through Pendleton all the time. The "official" hours, I've been told are like 8am-3pm weekends, and 9am-3pm weekdays, but they seem to vary based on who is at the guard gate when you go through. I've entered earlier without problems but also been denied if I went through earlier (this is all at the Las Pulgas gate). Some guards have told me different hours. All you need is a valid picture ID to get in. You are "supposed" to only ride Stuart Mesa Road and Vandegrift between the O'side gate and the Las Pulgas gate. I've been told not to ride anywhere else on base without military ID, so I've only ridden the route I mentioned. You'll see plenty of cyclists out there.

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Jay

Hows the traffic? Whats the best way to get to Las Pugas gate. PS: BIG SWELL

Bob

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Train safe & smart
Bob

Here is the official page on the bas website http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/...baseadvise/cycle.asp

Having put that link up, I must say that I get on every Thursday that I ride to San Clemente from Carlsbad at 8.

Brian

forget riding on base tomorrow Flanagan, go ride Palomar with me.

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Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org

Minimal traffic as long as you park near Christianitos. On my medium bike ride Wednesday, I throw the bike and boards in the van, and park off Christianitos and surf Trestles, then go back to the car, put on the cycling gear and head out. Along Old Hwy 101 going past San O and the power plant is really light traffic usually and then you enter the State Park and it's basically a giant parking lot all the way to the fence, and then it's just bike traffic to Las Pulgas as that stretch is closed to cars (about 3.5 miles). Then you turn left on Las Pulgas and ride up to the gate, show ID, and then it's about 9.5 miles to the Oceanside gate from there. Traffic along Stuart Mesa Road is super-light. Once you turn right onto Vandegrift, there are more cars on the road, but that's just the last mile until you go out the O'side gate. You can head toward O'side Harbor and over the causeway, and there's a small entrance to the San Luis Rey River Trail there. I haven't ridden that, but I guess it goes about 7 or 8 miles east along the river. I'll be hitting that tomorrow after the dawn patrol sesh!

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Jay

I surfed trail 6 at SanO I know the fence. I have a State pass I could park at trail 6 and ride from there or Old Mans.(I could also surf...maybe). I just read your post on your Im training is Oceanside a full Im.

Good surf! be careful thanks Bob

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Train safe & smart
Bob

O'side (which I'm doing) is a half, but I'm going to give IM Australia a try. It's two weeks after the O'side Half, and my wife is from Port Macquarie, where the race is taking place, and we were going to be there anyway for her brother's wedding in late April, so I decided it would be a good time to give IM a try. It was open for entries (for international ccompetitors), I have free accomodation, I know the area, and I'll have her family there for support. Plus, my father-in-law's company is one of the sponsors, so I MIGHT be able to get a comped entry! Not looking forward to the long bike training rides. I get pretty over cycling after about 2-3 hours!
I'm going to check Poche reef tomorrow morning around 6am. Could be fun! If you see me riding by Trails on my black Specialized Transition Multi around 9am, stop me and introduce yourself!

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In training for the TT I see....

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TheBikeRacer.com

just got back, it was a beautiful day on the mountain, in the 70's. I actually haven't ridden Palomar since the challenge back in January. Not too bad today, a 1:15 solo effort.

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Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org

We did it Sat. and froze our you know what's off. I've done it twice in the last 6 weeks and it's been miserable. 6 weeks ago, I did a 1:15. Didn't have a watch Sat but hope it was several minutes faster.

Looks like I've got my work cut out for me...again...

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TheBikeRacer.com

I've said it more times than I can count...I will never do Palomar in the winter. The climbing is ok, but the descent is traumatizing. My mouth is frozen shut and my speach is slurred. I can't control the steering because I'm shivering so much. It ain't fun...period. Yes, I'm a weather weenie and proud of it :)...

Sorry for the hijack...

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"Yeah you point a finger back far enough and some germ gets blamed for splitting in two."

Colonel Saul Tigh from Battlestar Galactica

No worries...I can relate to the handlebar shaking - happened to me the first time up Palomar. A storm (thankfully no rain while we were there) blew in on JT and I in about 2 minutes. We couldn't see 50 feet in front of us on the way down to about 3000-3500 feet.

Sat. wasn't nearly as bad although I did get a 'cold headache' on the way down. The problem was that it was probably 35 at the top. I got the chills immediately after leaving the store after hot chocolate and sitting by the fireplace waiting for the rest of the group to get to the top. It was a good effort though, I was dripping sweat at the top - BUT REAL BAD for the ride down because my clothes were still wet ;)

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TheBikeRacer.com

I do not ride down Palomar if it's cold. Someone will need to pick me up at the top. :)

Wimp ;)

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TheBikeRacer.com

Hey I'm just being myself, it's much easier that way! ;)

Jay

Several friends of mine are doing O'side. I might help out at the race. Hope to due a half this summer. Sounds like IMA should be fun for you. You will have to put the time in on your bike. Are you going to run any races this winter(13.1or26.2) I am going to run Pacific Shore half, due it most years(sometimes am in Mammoth). I can get up and walk to the start can beat that. One of my nurses call in sick today she was snowed in at Mammoth. She said it was like 3 feet +. Good surf good snow good weather(80 by Xmas) gotta love it. Bob

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Train safe & smart
Bob

We have a place in Mammoth and I wanted to hit that storm on Sunday, but my business is slammed this time of year, so I'll have to wait until after the holidays.
I have never done a running race. The furthest I've ever run is 14 miles, so I have to build it up here in the next 12 weeks. Not sure I'd like to pay to run in a race. It seems like it would be a similar experience to training for me. My wife did the LA Marathon last year and that's what inspired me to get into triathlon finally (always wanted to give it a shot).Bob, you should do O'side! The only bummer will be the cold swim, but hey, it's a 70.3 close to your home! If not, there's always Baja 70.3 in May in Ensenada!

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Dude, skip SD. Come to AZ and train with me over the holidays. it was only 70 here today. perfect for swimming outside and getting a tan.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

I spent a week up there riding, bought some Colorado-level riding gear, no problems

toasty

it was 70 here today as well and I got to look at the ocean as I rode my bike! :-p

I like being an 'IronMan'...

What rides kept you interested for a week around the Palomar area?

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TheBikeRacer.com

"What rides kept you interested for a week around the Palomar area? "

some good rides, ones you probably know, are east grade, south grade, nate, montezuma, salton sea, banner grade, 76, 79, santa ysabel, julian, lagunas, etc.

(that week I did 471 miles, 36,000 ft of climbing up there)

it's not too cold out there (or at least it wasn't a couple weeks ago), but I did ride out in Boulevard last week and it was in the high 20's ... that was colder than Palomar (etc) was

I guess we have oficially highjacked this thread and turned it into a Palomar thread. Anyways, I am with you Kerri, I don't want to ride down in the cold. Best thing to do is drive to the top and ride down while you are dry and fresh. That way after riding to the top and getting soaked with sweat, you can climb into some warm clothes, sit by the fire at Mother's and then drive to the bottom while everyone else freezes on the descent. Whe I go to do it solo like today, I drive to the top, ride down East Grade, then across 76 back down to the bottom, then turn around and climb back up to the top, 38 miles total and 6700 feet climbing.

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Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org

Jay

Standing at the start of a Marathon Like LA w/22-25k people is a great experience. I did LA not an easy Marathon it's hilly. (I have not done one in 2 years) . But you push just because it's a race and you feed off the other people. I am sure it is similar to the start of a IM, you have to control the rush. It might help for you to due one just to learn to pace yourself. On the other hand you don't have a lot of time so try a half Marathon. It's good training for both Tri's. Do a long ride on Sat. and race a half on Sun. It's not the same as just running 13 miles. For the last 7 years I have run 13 miles or more most Sundays. But a race is a hole different ball game. You sound like the people I work with "YOU PAY! to get up at 3 am and swim, bike, run, I tell them it's fun. JAY, YOU WILL LIKE IT! As for me I have not been training for 70.3 race. I am 53 so I take baby steps. It's cold that time of year(H2O 58) maybe rain. I know I sound like a wimp. If I could wait to sign up I would think about it...Maybe. I have friends doing Vineman 70.3 on 7/30 might due that but your right it not close to home.

How did your wife like LA? I might try NY in 07 I will be 55( birthday present)

TO you and your family have a Merry Xmas Bob

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Train safe & smart
Bob

I carried an empty camelbak blowfish for a week at camp, took out the bladder, and stuffed in multiple changes of clothing. Changed at the top. Worked well.

I flatted the front wheel coming down montezuma into Borrego at 45 mph which sucked (Conti 4000s have good control when flat I found out), I also got hit by small rocks falling off the cliff, one whacked me good and I now have a new Giro ... lucky me I guess, freaked me out though.

:)

Thanks Bob! My wife loved doing the LA Marathon (her first) but hasn't had a desire to do another one. She had a foot injury from the race (pulled muscle) that kept her limping for a good 2 weeks after the race. I have only done one "half marathon" and that was during my first Half Iron in September. The problem is the time and money issue. With Ralph's in mid-March and IM Oz shortly after, and alot of races on the schedule for '06, I'm trying to watch the entry fee expenses. I am doing a sort of "express" IM training plan, but building slowly enough not to get injured (hopefully). It's my own training plan, no HRM or anything. Just want to see if I can pull it off. I think it would be neat to do a 1/2 or full marathon alone, but I'm afraid IM Australia will be my first marathon!

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wait I have an idea, Gary would you like to be my sherpa? :D You can carry my stuff to the top of the hill, just a small suitcase with a change of clothes and stuff. Thanks!!

Umm ... you would want me to have a cup of hot chocolate ready at the top as well for you, I suppose

c'mon now

you very funny dockta jones

would prefer a mocha, but hot chocolate would do. :D

sorry, but these took hard work and long miles to build, and they ain't doin no sherpa'n

I love that mountain, but I prefer to only ride up not down! ;)

Kerri, c'mon now girl, where's the fun in that? ;)

all that work up, and no rollercoaster ride down?

I'm a wuss on downhills and I'm not afraid to admit it!

That's ok, I'm a wuss too :)

I nearly went down on two descents at camp, and I almost rode off the other side of the road coming down Banner grade crossed the double yellow into oncoming traffic and hit the white line on the other side at speed, and it scared the sh*t out of me when I flatted coming down Montezuma, another time I overshot a switchback down from Santa Ysabel and went off into the dirt, and then there's the whole falling rocks thing that freaked me, but I got much better at descending at speed and laying it into the corners

This is why I love TT - straight fast and flat

I don't like flat either. Actually I'm not very good on the flats, compared to my hill riding. I need hills!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah I'm kind of high maintance when it comes to riding. :) Your stories mentioned are exactly why I'm a wuss on downhills. :D

yes, they will make you strong, climbing is the key to my 2006 training program

I am headed up to Nor Cal tomorrow, so will not be around this weekend. :(

Jay

Sounds like you have a good plan. I also do my own training thing. I read books, watch DVD's, listen to people on ST and friends. I go from there and make a plan. Other training plans I see don't work for me. I did not know you did 70.3. You are smart to go slow (no injuries). Keep training you can do it. I just got home from work watched the surf on the news BIG! hope you had fun. Too big for me. Mammoth is going to get a new storm "let it snow".

Bob

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Train safe & smart
Bob