BajaNomad - Traveling by bicycle: Construction South of Ensenada (!)

Traveling by bicycle: Construction South of Ensenada (!)

BajaBikeNut - 12-13-2010 at 08:01 AM

I went through the construction south of Ensenada the first week in November this year -- and while it was slow going and made me think this must be what the Baja 500 is like -- it wasn't too bad by car.

I'll be leading a bicycle tour group through this same stretch the last week of January 2011 and can't imagine riding our bikes through the dusty, sandy, congested mess.

Any updates?

I should add we will also be turning off Mexico 1 and heading to Coyote Cal's in Erendira. Back in the November they were still diverting traffic to the riverbed. I would like an update for that stretch as well.

[Edited on 12-13-2010 by BajaBikeNut]

DENNIS - 12-13-2010 at 08:07 AM

New here, huh........

Welcome to BajaNomad.

I don't have time at the moment, but I hope someone else will put up one or two of the past threads which address your plans.

BajaBikeNut - 12-13-2010 at 08:33 AM

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I am new.

I looked at some of the past threads already, but since road construction is an ongoing effort and my ride is in late January/February I'll need more current updates.

Thanks to any and all who can provide.

David K - 12-13-2010 at 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBikeNut
Thanks for the welcome. Yes, I am new.

I looked at some of the past threads already, but since road construction is an ongoing effort and my ride is in late January/February I'll need more current updates.

Thanks to any and all who can provide.

Then you are about a month too early to be asking, as it will be different between now and then... In Baja, you have to just adapt to what you find... I mean if someone posted it was 'rough' or 'bad' will you cancel your trip? The road to Coyote Cal's is not paved all the way... and because the dirt detour wasn't a highway, don't think the Baja 500 race is over anything that good!

Anyway, welcome to Nomad... post a trip report after your tour and add photos if you have some!

[Edited on 12-13-2010 by David K]

tripledigitken - 12-13-2010 at 08:44 AM

I would think the mud after a rain would be more of a challenge than the sand and dust. Try to time your pass through at least a couple of days after a rain.

Riding single file is highly recommended.

BajaBikeNut - 12-13-2010 at 08:49 AM

Thanks for the welcome.

I will certainly post later, thanks.

I was hoping to get a gauge on progress (over time) -- sorry to be a nuisance.

I've ridden down Mexico 1 from TJ to La Paz and various other routes in Baja/Yucatan -- so I'm familiar with the "adapt to what you find" approach to travel in Mexico.

We would not cancel the trip but may make arrangements to transport bikes through the 'rough' spot(s) if necessary.

Having driven to Coyote Cal's before and noting the dirt road, Rick said he'd be happy to pick us up for the short hop from town to his place. He's a good guy.

[Edited on 12-13-2010 by BajaBikeNut]

DENNIS - 12-13-2010 at 08:53 AM

How many bikers will there be....when you start out, that is?

BajaBikeNut - 12-13-2010 at 08:56 AM

There will be 5. We always ride single file.

We'll start in El Rosario and work our way back up to Ensenada over 5 days.

David K - 12-13-2010 at 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBikeNut
There will be 5. We always ride single file.

We'll start in El Rosario and work our way back up to Ensenada over 5 days.

Then you are aware that there are still several miles south of San Quintin not yet widened beyond the original 1973 roadbed of 19 feet wide, with no shoulders? The rest of the road isn't much better for bikes to be safe, south of Maneadero.

Photo between San Quintin and El Socorro, 2009.

BajaBikeNut - 12-13-2010 at 09:43 AM

Yes. Been there, done that. Thanks. There are times it's tight.

North Carolina has some roads like this too...

capt. mike - 12-13-2010 at 03:36 PM

scary....

Desertbull - 12-13-2010 at 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
scary....

ahhh, it ain't that bad, those bike boys/girls have at least 5 lives based on my years of going up and down that road and the shoulder is at least 3 inches wide, don't let these guys tell you there is zero inches for a shoulder, it's triple the width of damn bike tire, plenty of room!

these bike people don't like me in Baja, I stop and take photos of them for the book I'm writing named, "Baja Bike Riders - It's An Adventure."

but one of the best stories was a trip down south in July while it was Africa hot and we came across 15 Germans riding full on loaded road bikes along the sandy washboard between Puertecitos and Chapala...lead guy told me, "the TRIPLE AAA map shows it to be a paved road" - Bwahhhhhh, yeah we saved them that day otherwise they woulda been toast.

Bicyles

PT9Baja - 12-27-2010 at 08:36 AM

Probably 98% of your ride you are safe. The other 2% will range from mild fear, up to your life depending on the good will of other drivers on that road. Anyone who has some miles down there can add up a bad situation to a dead bike rider. Mexican cowboys doing 90 mph, sleepy truck drivers, a bus and a big rv on a corner, someone just seeing if the bike wobbles if you pass close, drunk drivers , dirty windshield sun glare where they don't see you, etc etc. You have to know,you will have a near death experience on a bike on that road ,and so will the people going with you.

DENNIS - 12-27-2010 at 08:50 AM

Well said, PT9.......

Welcome to BajaNomad. Always room for another voice of reason.

sanquintinsince73 - 12-27-2010 at 09:02 AM

If I were you I'd drive drunk. Drunk drivers always seem to fare better after a collision.

BajaNomad - 12-27-2010 at 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBikeNut
I'll be leading a bicycle tour group through this same stretch the last week of January 2011 and can't imagine riding our bikes through the dusty, sandy, congested mess.

Any updates?

It's still a dusty, sandy, bumpy, congested - and muddy - mess.

Pic from yesterday.

southofensenada.jpg - 50kB

BajaGringo - 12-28-2010 at 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
If I were you I'd drive drunk. Drunk drivers always seem to fare better after a collision.

Ain't that the truth...

:lol:

BajaBikeNut - 1-20-2011 at 07:30 AM

Thanks for all the updates. And, the funny posts/pictures about biking on Mexico 1

We start riding up the road from El Rosario -> Enseneda on January 30 so I was hoping to get some additional recon on the road conditions.

Anyone have more info on the stretch south of Ensenada?

Anything new crop up in the last few months?

Thanks guys

Barbarosa - 1-21-2011 at 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBikeNut

We start riding up the road from El Rosario -> Enseneda on January 30 so I was hoping to get some additional recon on the road conditions.

Anyone have more info on the stretch south of Ensenada?

Anything new crop up in the last few months?

Thanks guys :)

I have similar interests / concerns. 9 bikes going south thru there on the 4th. From what I can see, looks like the forecast is for dry from now to then. YEA!!!

Btw, don't know if you've heard, but they figgered out how to put motors in them things over 100 years ago. <g>

estebanis - 1-21-2011 at 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBikeNut
Thanks for the welcome.

I will certainly post later, thanks.

I was hoping to get a gauge on progress (over time) -- sorry to be a nuisance.

I've ridden down Mexico 1 from TJ to La Paz and various other routes in Baja/Yucatan -- so I'm familiar with the "adapt to what you find" approach to travel in Mexico.

We would not cancel the trip but may make arrangements to transport bikes through the 'rough' spot(s) if necessary.

Having driven to Coyote Cal's before and noting the dirt road, Rick said he'd be happy to pick us up for the short hop from town to his place. He's a good guy.

[Edited on 12-13-2010 by BajaBikeNut]

The road to Erendira has just been paved all the way to the coast past the schools. It is only a mile or so to Coyote Cals on dirt and it is well packed.
Esteban

captkw - 1-21-2011 at 11:18 AM

only a FOOL, would want to ride a bike on hwy 1 !!!!

Posada-BushPilot - 1-21-2011 at 12:22 PM

Anyone know how many bikers have been slaughtered on Mex 1 over the past 5 years?

Darwin theory at work.

DENNIS - 1-21-2011 at 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Posada-BushPilot
Anyone know how many bikers have been slaughtered on Mex 1 over the past 5 years?

Darwin theory at work.

By the time the Kenworth makes a beer stop, there isn't enough left to file a report. Nobody will listen to a kilo of Molida anyway.

captkw - 1-21-2011 at 12:51 PM

if I came around a curve and a bike was on my side and anything coming the other way,well I would take out the bike without questin!!!! I f you want to put your life on road.."knock youself out" ......driving the baja hwy1 is like being on a 727, hours of boredom with moments of shear terror!!!! :lol: