In my ongoing effort to prepare for riding the Tour of California route later in March/April, I'm planning on a recon of the main climb of Stage #2 from Hemet to Mountain Center on Sunday the 17th. The route I have in mind is here http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2222286 (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2222286). I'll be driving to the start in Murrieta from my house in Escondido and would be happy to ferry as many as three other riders and their bikes (capacity for my Subaru). Probably going to hit the road around 7, and start riding from California Oaks park around 8 if you wanted to meet there. Lemme know, either here, by email, or you could call me, maybe? 760-532-5479.
Hi Bill,
Those are some of the roads I've wanted to ride but I don't think I can make it this Sunday. If things change I'll call. One note of caution thought, 371 south, especially the last 5-6 miles is downhill, straight, fast, and narrow with lots of traffic on Sunday afternoons. 79 into Temecula is also heavily traveled with people coming in from the desert. Have fun.
I am hopeful I can make it out to ride the 1st leg of your personal TofCA on Easter.....weather permitting of course!! :) If I do make it, though I won't leave anything in the car and plan on having Jeff drive by for a pick up on Mesa Grande..
Anthony
Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully I'll be early enough to beat most of the casino/desert traffic. Alternately, may just have lunch in Idyllwild and freewheel back down Highway 74.
Hey Bill, I worked in Idyllwild for 6months or so and had to make the drive from Temecula on the 79, to the 371, and then the 74 to Mountain Home, and up to Idyllwild on the 243. This is, of course, your proposed route in reverse. I have delivered cabinets to the Jobsite in a 28' step van and one time in particular on the return down 79, I came up on a cyclist. I noticed that he only had the smallest of shoulders, and I, being a rider myself, didn't feel like it was safe enough to pass for at least a mile. I'm doubtful that the crazies around here would have the patience to pass safely if it is going to make them a few seconds late. Anyways, I got a little worried about your trip. That stretch of the 79 from Temecula would be great with traffic control, as in the Tour, but it is the only thing preventing me from riding out to my sister's in Cathedral City.
I've ridden from Idyllwild to Hemet and back, without incident; the stretch from Mountain Home to Idyllwild is narrow, but it's slow and windy, and there seems to be quite a few cyclists using that road.
I was wondering if Wilson Valley Road to Sage Road and back to Hemet might be an alternative?
If you do do the proposed route ( I love saying do do) I wish for you a safe trip and a good time. I love the stretch between Mountain Home and Anza.
I really do want to ride to Idyllwild so I'm thinking hard (and hurting myself) about joining you still, just means I probably don't ride Saturday so I have some legs to only be a few miles behind you Bill!! Anyway, how about this as an alternate (to an out and back to Idyllwild - although that would be great too!) taking into consideration Steve's comments. I haven't been on many of these roads so how knows if I've made it better or worse.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2232171
....or something in between, out and back to Idyllwild but on the return turn left onto Buck Rd at about 20.5 mile mark to catch Rancho California and back to the start. :)
Anthony
Thanks, Steve. That's the hard thing about following someone else's route, especially one that will be closed when they do it! My priority is to give the climb up 74 a shot.
Anthony, I like your suggested route - I have no interest in fighting 79 traffic, and downhill on 371 shouldn't be too bad - we'll be scooting along, hopefully. Even though it's only another five miles to Idyllwild from Mountain Center, it's 1,000' more climbing, which we might want to skip. If you're game, I'm going - I owe you a ride, anyway. See you at my place at 7 on Sunday?
Hey Bill, thanks for ferrying me home on Saturday! Hope that your ride Sunday was fun and safe.
You're welcome, Steve. We're all in this together as teammates (clubmates?). And yes, on both accounts. We skipped the climb from Mountain Center to Idyllwild and Hwy 371 will never be one of my favorites, especially riding into a headwind, but Anthony Scozzari's routing down Wilson Valley more than made up for it! There's a roller-coaster descent after the turn that's worth the trip to enjoy. Some beautiful scenery, and the Dairy Queen in Anza is the place to be. See you on Saturday!
That's great! I always wondered what the road was like (Wilson) but never took the time to check it out as I was always on my commute from San Marcos to Idyllwild and back. I'm not sure that I'll make any rides this weekend as work is rearing its head. But again have fun and be safe!
If Frank is reading this, a special thank you for giving me a better place to land than asphalt!