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San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route?
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Leaving for SD on Sunday, and interested in riding Palomar Mt. My in-laws live near the West Loop and Otay Lake which I have done (Spring Valley). So I am up for something different and saw this. Thanks.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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Depends on how far you want to ride including Palomar. The climb by itself from the junction of 76 and Valley Center Rd to the store at the top is 11.8 miles and 4200ft of climbing.

Some people that just want to do the climb start from the Harrah's Casino parking lot behind the 7-11 which gives you a brief 1.7 mile warm up before the climb.

Another starting point is Kit Carson park in Escondido. If you follow this route it also includes the climb up Lake Wohlford and on the return the climb up Cole Grade Rd to make for a 67 mile ride and 7500ft of climbing. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27867959

Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Mike Plumb] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks. What do you think of taking E Grade Rd returning on 76?

Also no one goes up Nate Harrison Rd? Just curious as I see most routes go up S6.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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I actually prefer the loop that Mike provided from Kit Carson park. East Grade is the way up that has less traffic.

Nate Harrison is dirt/ gravel ish for a good chunk of the climb, but fine to go up on a road bike. Going down is interesting on a road bike but also doable.

jake

Get outside!
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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East Grade is good to go down and then loop back on 76. Its a nice smooth descent with less traffic. The descent coming back down South Grade is more fun though with all of the switchbacks.

Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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Dynastar wrote:
Thanks. What do you think of taking E Grade Rd returning on 76?

Also no one goes up Nate Harrison Rd? Just curious as I see most routes go up S6.


Descending E Grade is fun because it's mostly non-technical and can be done flat out (here, sign my waiver form). S Grade can be done mostly flat out by a really good descender, but it's risky because you can get motorcycles racing up, and if one of them drifts across the yellow while you're coming down you have no chance.

Returning on the 76 is fine. Not much of a shoulder, but the pucker factor only like 4/10.

You can get a few extra miles heading to the observatory while at the top. Just some rollers, and the observatory is neat.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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Here is the route I took last time in town: https://www.strava.com/activities/1441610982

And not up Palomar, but goes by it and a monster of a ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/1401645443

Enjoy it, it's a fun one!

-Brad Williams
Website | Twitter: @BW_Tri |Instagram: @BW_Tri | Strava | Co-Founder & Coach at: KIS Coaching
Partnered with: Zoot Sports | Precision Fuel &Hydration | ISM
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [@BW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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Brad, those are two great rides. That first one is referred to as the "German" loop. Back in the 80's, 90's and 00's most of the top Germans would come here in August to train for Kona and that was their regular Wednesday ride, along with many other Ironman champs like PNF, Mark Allen, Scott Molina etc. Except they would do it from the coast starting in Encinitas to make it 112 miles.

That second loop you did is another good one. Not that it needed to be any longer or harder but a great addition would have been to go through Borrego Springs and up Montezuma Road, another 11 mile long climb that is very scenic.

Mike Plumb, TriPower MultiSports
Professional Running, Cycling and Multisport Coaching, F.I.S.T. Certified
http://www.tripower.org
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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Why drive all the way up to Palomar? Where you're staying is where all the good riding is! Great Western Loop, Honey Springs, and everything east of I-8. Less vehicle traffic too.

Lars Finanger
Odyssey SwimRun
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [@BW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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There is a good chunk of that second ride on the 78 that doesn’t have a bike lane or shoulder with pretty steady traffic (including a fair number of trucks and horse trailers). The pucker factor there is up there for me — I just don’t enjoy it.

That said if your in that neighborhood, you can ditch off and ride part of the BWR route near the Lake Sutherland Dam (Black Canyon Rd). It is low traffic and beautiful. I wouldn’t do it unless your on your road bikes due to the gravel sections.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [VALHALLA] [ In reply to ]
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VALHALLA wrote:
Why drive all the way up to Palomar? Where you're staying is where all the good riding is! Great Western Loop, Honey Springs, and everything east of I-8. Less vehicle traffic too.

I'm doing those too. I plan on riding 3-4 days while I am here. So thinking of changing it up vs 4 days doing GWL, Like I mentioned above, I have done the Otay Lake loop and GWL, plus combing the two. But if you have other suggestions for where I am, I would like to hear them. Rather not drive.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Dynastar] [ In reply to ]
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Dynastar wrote:
VALHALLA wrote:
Why drive all the way up to Palomar? Where you're staying is where all the good riding is! Great Western Loop, Honey Springs, and everything east of I-8. Less vehicle traffic too.


I'm doing those too. I plan on riding 3-4 days while I am here. So thinking of changing it up vs 4 days doing GWL, Like I mentioned above, I have done the Otay Lake loop and GWL, plus combing the two. But if you have other suggestions for where I am, I would like to hear them. Rather not drive.

Mount Laguna is the closer mountain, and, in my opinion, darn near as good. Several ways up. Sunrise Hwy. is nice.

But one of my favorite rides up is Kitchen Creek. An absolute jewel. A large part of it is an old, closed-off, unmaintained road. Parts of it approach "gravel ride" range, so be prepared. But it's awesome. At the top you can take a right to head to "the store" or on to Lake Cuyamaca or Julian. Or you can take a left and bomb back down to I8.



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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [trail] [ In reply to ]
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I second Kitchen Creek and also recommend Pine Creek. Both are essentially ascend only due to road conditions (you can technically descend them but why?). I don't recommend ascending Sunrise highway, we used to do this often but the pucker factor can be high with people driving fast and not expecting cyclists + blind corners. Clockwise sunrise highway loop is ok. IE- 79 to sunrise highway loop. TT'ing out to Campo/Boulevard is also nice (IMO, some don't like this route).


I would not recommend descending Nate Harrison on a road bike right now. The washboarding/corrugation is pretty bad. I hated it multiple times on a full suspension XC MTB. YMMV



Lots of options.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27781090


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27781065


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26673059


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19203741


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19179116


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16888420


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15619596





---------------------------------------------
Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding it hurts.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [SBRinSD] [ In reply to ]
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Great thread! Spent the last 3 winters in our motorhome at Santee Lakes and most of my riding has been in Santee, El Cajon, Lakeside area (and of course the 1). Moving to Vista in about 2 weeks (after spending the 1st 64 yrs of my life within a 10 mile radius here in Western Wisconsin). Very much looking forward to exploring the roads of SD county. I've been spoiled by the country roads here in WI were I can ride for 2-5 hours and see more deer than cars. Will be looking for some lightly traveled or bike lane roads I can jump on from the new place in Vista. Also will plan on driving to various starting points, like close to Mt. Palomar etc.
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [VALHALLA] [ In reply to ]
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VALHALLA wrote:
Great Western Loop.

Is it fair to say there may be an exception to a GWL being a good route when it is raining and cold, and someone's brakes aren't working.

jake

Get outside!
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [jakers] [ In reply to ]
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Oh lawd. You and Shaun will forever be etched into my cycling memory. THE coldest day ever spent on a ride (that counts riding in Colorado winter blizzards). Though I couldn't complain since I was at least properly dressed. You were gutting it out without arm/leg warmers and even w/o socks! Madness. I'm guessing you have smartened up a bit in your apparel choices in the past ten years:)

Lars Finanger
Odyssey SwimRun
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [VALHALLA] [ In reply to ]
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Haha! I have definitely smartened up based on that one experience. I will never forget that day with you and Shaun, probably the coldest I have ever been.

As a public service reminder, if the forecast says rain and cold on GWL, maybe ride there another day. More often than not, you will have the opposite weather most of the time on GWL.

jake

Get outside!
Last edited by: jakers: Jun 26, 18 16:48
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [jakers] [ In reply to ]
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Great Western Loop. Pound-for-pound the best 40-mile ride in the world!

Lars Finanger
Odyssey SwimRun
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [Mike D1] [ In reply to ]
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Welocme tonSD. You will love riding down here. Most of the roads you will want to ride have bike lanes.

Some very competitive group rides on most days. You could ride with Swami to get to know the roads.

We probably have more than our share of distracted drivers. So, I prefer to ride early mornings or mid afternoon (really anytime but rush hour).
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Re: San Diego _ Palomar Mt. Where to start? Which route? [SBRinSD] [ In reply to ]
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SBRinSD wrote:
...We probably have more than our share of distracted drivers. So, I prefer to ride early mornings or mid afternoon (really anytime but rush hour).

This. I try to ride early morning only. After 9am, prepare to be cut in front of by mindless motorists looking right through you and darting into parking spots.
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