BajaNomad - where does this fool fit in?

where does this fool fit in?

woody with a view - 3-20-2006 at 08:47 AM

near la bay t/o. suprised he mad it this far. we saw two others on the return trip.

tight squeeze

woody with a view - 3-20-2006 at 08:52 AM

Elena La Loca - 3-20-2006 at 08:58 AM

I'd have to say that guy would fit in nicely somewhere between the right headlight and the right turn signal. Always amazes me to see those crazies on the highway.

Don Alley - 3-20-2006 at 09:02 AM

Couple of years ago we saw two bicyclists pulling small trailers down hwy 1, with signs urging care because of children on board. Later I saw them camped at Ligui, with two small children.

But statistically, is it more dangerous than a bus?

[Edited on 3-20-2006 by Don Alley]

David K - 3-20-2006 at 09:16 AM

No CPS* in Mexico! :lol:

* Child Protective Services (removes children from parents who endanger them by their stupid acts)

Pompano - 3-20-2006 at 10:05 AM

Can't say I would want to travel the Baja Road in such a seemingly dangerous way...but...I have never seen or heard of any bicyclists being in an accident? Has anyone else?

woody with a view - 3-20-2006 at 10:15 AM

Quote:

Can't say I would want to travel the Baja Road in such a seemingly dangerous way...but...I have never seen or heard of any bicyclists being in an accident? Has anyone else?

they probably haven't found them yet. one big rig going 75mph creates a lot of airstream. would probably blow the cyclist WAAAY off the road. the coyotes y sopilotes could then dine in peace :lol:

Pompano - 3-20-2006 at 10:15 AM

Thanks, Hose A...that's terrible news, but I should have been clearer..I meant the southern part of Baja. Have gotten used to hearing it called the Baja Road over the years. We all know how bad the traffic is north of San Quentin.

chickensoup - 3-20-2006 at 11:14 AM

I went down to the Wall like in '93 and met these two girls who were riding ten speeds from Alaska to Argentina. Dude...I have no idea what they were thinking.

bikes

tehag - 3-20-2006 at 11:18 AM

Posting your opinion that others, hundreds per year, are taking risks is one thing, calling them fools is quite another, don't you think?

woody with a view - 3-20-2006 at 12:05 PM

okay, we're ALL fools at one time or another.....politically correct now?

Capt. George - 3-20-2006 at 12:08 PM

never mind fools...they're an incredible danger to everyone else...

el stupidos! with kids? they should be horse whipped.

Capt. George

Sallysouth - 3-20-2006 at 12:20 PM

Yep, Capt George hit the nail on the head!!I can't beleive they put the lives of their children in such danger.Years ago my dear old parents were driving their motorhome to Loreto from So.Cal,when rounding a curve in the road,was an oncoming big-rig and two bikers going in the same direction as the motorhome.There was NO shoulder so my Dad ,trying his darnest,just barely missed a head-on with the truck.He clipped one of the bikers with his side mirror and sent her sprawling into a batch of Cholla!! They stopped the moho and offered to take the gal to the nearest hospital,which they did and pay for everything.My Dad never drove down that hiway after that trip.The biker was fine, just a bit bruised and full of cacti!!Like George says, it is endangering everyone else on the road(biking on a Mexican hiway) as there is more often than not, no shoulder!By the way, this happened in the Tres Virgins area.That would be Baja Sur, yes?

bajajudy - 3-20-2006 at 12:53 PM

Don I saw those idiots(read fools) too. The really crazy thing was that the "baby on board" sign was in English.
We have all done foolish things but I have always tried to make sure I would be the only one who got hurt if my hairbrained stunt backfired.

leadmoto - 3-20-2006 at 01:27 PM

Why should motorist have anymore rights to the road than a cyclist? I understand that it is a bad road to cycle on, but why can't motorist give a little brake and then make a clean pass? At the same time the cyclist needs to be aware of their surroundings and get the hell out of the way if possible.

bajajudy - 3-20-2006 at 01:41 PM

Leadmoto
Have you ever driven this road. It comes down to the semi or the cyclist....you take your pick. The road is barely wide enough for the cars and trucks, throw in a bicycle and you are about 18 inches short. I am sorry but I would hit the cyclist, you would be committing suicide to hit the semi.
My problem is why should I have to live the rest of my life with that guilt...as Sally said. her father never drove here again. And if there were children involved....
We had a thread about a year ago from a guy getting ready to bicycle down Baja. I never heard whether he made it or not...or if he even went after all the negative posts similiar to these.

elizabeth - 3-20-2006 at 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by leadmoto
Why should motorist have anymore rights to the road than a cyclist? I understand that it is a bad road to cycle on, but why can't motorist give a little brake and then make a clean pass? At the same time the cyclist needs to be aware of their surroundings and get the hell out of the way if possible.

I can't believe you would say this if you ever drove the road. One problem is that there are a lot of long stretches up hill with blind curves where making a clean pass is impossible...and places where there is no way that the bicyclist can get out of the way without going down a cliff. This is not a bad road for bicyclists, it's an impossible road for bicyclists. Cyclists who think they have a right to use all roads are just plain arrogant and seem to have no problem putting other people in a dangerous/deadly situation.

No, I don't have any problem calling people who bicycle with children on this highway "fools", as in people who do foolish things. That is an extremely mild statement for someone who would put their children and auto, truck, bus, rv drivers at that kind of risk. Stupid, irresponsible, criminal negligence are words that come to mind.

Several years ago we were Northbound South of El Rosario

vgabndo - 3-20-2006 at 03:42 PM

When we started passing Southbound bicycles. By the time it was over, there must have been two hundred of them. It REALLY changed the driving for an hour or two. The biggest problem wasn't just the cyclists, but the fact that many were novices; pushing their bikes around the corners up the hills side by side. They didn't have packs or bags, so there must have been big chase vehicles somewhere. Good experienced riders do pretty well, and we've seen a lot of them, but this army of tyros was a scary mess.

Hey,if anybody has the cajones...

eetdrt88 - 3-20-2006 at 03:58 PM

to ride their bicycle down that crazy old road,more power to 'em...just leave the kids at home

Biking the Baja Road....not a good idea these days.

Pompano - 3-20-2006 at 04:32 PM

There seems to be little bicycling down the Baja peninsula these days. Most of the big races involving thousands of Mexican and a few American contestants have long since disappeared because of the new high volume of traffic due to Baja 'improvements'. It peaked around the early 90's I would think. Today you see very few singles or small groups. The word is out...the road is too dangerous now.

The early 70's-80's were full of adventuring bicyclers. I made many, many trips in that time period. Because I realized the limitations of that poorly contructed and narrow highway, I personally never had any problems with them, and quietly wondered at the stamina to make such a trip.

But...having made frequent trips on that highway and having had my share of close calls from passing, overtaking, on-coming, and stalled vehicles, I will simply state the dangers inherent on the Baja Road...which to me is from San Quentin to Cabo. The dangers are there for bicyclists and motorists alike. Here is the highway....you may draw your own conclusions as to how to drive it safely.

The Baja Highway
Width of the pavement: 19 feet
Width of the shoulder: 0 feet

Width of a truck/bus/RV: 8 feet
Added width for mirrors: 1 foot
Width used by two passing trucks/etc: 18 feet

Safety separation used by
two passing trucks/etc: 1 foot

Room left for a bicycler: 0 feet

In 1971-73 The Baja Road was constructed to just accommodate two passing 8-foot vehicles, and no more! Many of the roadsides drop off anywhere from a few feet to a few hundred feet (in these extreme cases, there will usually be a low guard rail right at the edge of the pavement). Also, the edge of the pavement will often have chunks broken off or washed away, leaving "edge potholes" which have to be dodged.

There you have it....bien viaje.

BajaDanD - 3-20-2006 at 11:06 PM

We saw two different sets of bicyclists last mo. below Catavina two in each set, miles apart. All were riding down the center of the lane like a car would, not by the edge like you would think. That way every body had to pass them like they were a slow moving car. If you came around a curve driving too fast and there was a slow moving car in your way and you hit it, Your falt. We saw them on our way to San Ignacio and we saw them on our way back. Treat them just like they are another vehical, even though they're a vary slow one. I do think bringing you kids along is a little stupid OK a lot stupid.

Phil C - 3-21-2006 at 06:29 AM

It looks great on a map, and ohhhh the adventure. Im sure most of these people have never driven the road. Of the few I have spoken to most were Euros., but none seemed to think it was dangerous

Watch out for this one.....

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 06:38 AM

This is one of the real dangers of the Baja Road....the 'Unexpected'.

Moving of the Mothers...an obscure holiday still practiced in remote Baja.

Capt. George - 3-21-2006 at 06:45 AM

Pompano

where do you come up with this stuff? too much, thanks.

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 06:47 AM

George...I am merely a messenger.

AND....I may have had too much Kahlua in this morning's coffee.

[Edited on 3-21-2006 by Pompano]

Capt. George - 3-21-2006 at 07:48 AM

looks like my mother in that wagon!

been searching for her for forty years, knew she was in prison!

capt g

turtleandtoad - 3-21-2006 at 08:12 AM

Pompano,
You sure about the width of the highway? I was told it was 19.7 ft (6m).

That would leave the bicyclist a whole .7 ft.

turtleandtoad...some are...some are not.

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 08:34 AM

Mostly the Road has been repaired, renewed, and re-engineered so many times by now, it is hard to get a figure on it. Mostly it is still TOO NARROW..so stay on your toes when pulling your rig!

Ken Bondy - 3-21-2006 at 08:46 AM

VERY narrow!!

Opps....picked up a hitchhiker there, Ken!

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 09:00 AM

[Edited on 3-21-2006 by Pompano]

turtleandtoad - 3-21-2006 at 09:09 AM

Tell me about it!!

My coach is 8'4" wide WITHOUT the mirrors! About what Kens Hummer is.

The mirrors add another 12 inches on each side. But I've never lost a mirror or dropped a wheel off the edge......yet. (Knock on wood)

By the way, where did Ken find that nice road with fog lines and everything? .

A very WIDE load on the Baja Road

Pompano - 3-21-2006 at 09:43 AM

turtleandtoad....I believe you are referring to my fog picture. That is always a nice sight in the Baja mountains near the Pacific..but be prepared to sit awhile until it lifts!

A long time ago, maybe 1986-87 or so, a friend towed a very wide load down the entire length of the Baja Highway..actually from Nevada. It was a large 31 foot long flybridge fishing boat...31 Bertram...11 feet 2 inches wide plus the wheel wells on the trailer. Took him 5 days from the border with many turnouts for safety and a scout-support vehicle. No accidents. It can be done..but with extreme caution.

The largest and widest load I ever witnessed was around 1976 or so when 4 large-large rigs hauled down HUGE generators to La Paz. These rigs were traveling very slowly and jammed traffic completely...maybe 14 feet wide or so. They covered the entire road and you had to wait for clearance from their support vehicles..both directions. That convoy took 2 weeks to make it from Tijuana to La Paz.

Ken Bondy - 3-21-2006 at 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hose A
Is that brush guard made out of scavenged bicycle handle bars ? :light:

Hey, easy on my custom brush guard :tumble:

I'm pretty proud of that big honker!!!

++Ken++

David K - 3-21-2006 at 10:51 AM

JR posted this photo to illustrate the Baja Highway south of Km. 0, San Quintin...

No room for error and no room for idiots on bikes... which the highway was NOT designed for.

Baja Bike Lane

David K - 3-21-2006 at 06:42 PM

Here is a photo showing the bike lane on Mex. 1 (all 3 inches of it)!!!

nice one Dk

BAJACAT - 3-21-2006 at 10:06 PM

:lol:

3 pulgadas (inches) is better than nothing, but don't hate this people for being Baja impared :?:

[Edited on 3-22-2006 by BAJACAT]

The squarecircle - 3-22-2006 at 12:01 AM

Greetings: >>>>> This querist has been titilated by Pompano's quest ie "Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?".. Could it be --- Because he peddled his burro on Mex. 1 where the road was simply too narrow and had a very close shave?? Youth wants to know!! >>>>> Best Regards, sq.

[Edited on 3-22-2006 by The squarecircle]

[Edited on 3-22-2006 by The squarecircle]