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Ron_Perry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 77
Registered: 9-21-2005
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Mood: yearning for baja
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Bicycle ride San Pedro Martir
Covid 19 pending... planning on cycling to the top of Parque Nacional Sierra De San Pedro Martir, maybe 9000ft plus, sometime in late May of 2021. At
age 64 it's better now than later. Depending on fitness, in either one or two days.
Would like to attend the Sea Otter Classic either before or after, the Classic is May 20-23rd. Just in the planning stages, may go hardcore and
use my Dodge Caravan, or my more comfortable Mini Winnie Winnebago 21fter. Depends on who I can whip up.
This would be my 41 trip to Baja since about 1978, mostly spent on the East Cape fishing, diving, and surfing. La Ventana to Nine Palms and
everything in between. Love La Paz. Hope to spend at least a few days to several in the area...camp at Meling ranch and at the top.
Like to gather more info as I have never been there, such as any gravel sections of the road, temperature at the bottom and top, total distance,
favorite ceverza drinking spot, etc.
If anybody is crazy enough to try this, let me know, should be a good flogging.
Thank you for any good information, Ron
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David K
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Hi Ron, total distance from Hwy. 1 to the end at the observatory is 100 kms. That is from almost sea level to 9,280 ft. It is ALL paved. There is a
park entrance and a small fee. You must camp in the selected places (near ranger station). The final couple of kilometers at the end are gated and
open to the public only for a few hours midday and not at all if they are working on the scopes.
See my article (from Oct. 2017): https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/san_pedr...
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Howard
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Gate is locked
Took a ride up there last July 3rd and got to around 7,500 foot elevation and there was a locked gate with messages about it being closed due to
"Virus Covid-19."
By the way, it was in a Jeep, not a bicycle!
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Maderita
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The Pacific coastal zone is usually cool that time of year, often with a heavy marine layer extending a few miles inland. As you ride east, the
temperatures are likely to warm up considerably all the way to the Meling Ranch. As you climb out of the valley from Meling Ranch, a typical
expectation is for the temperature to drop 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000' of elevation gain. Nighttime low temps are likely to be in the high
30s F. or low-mid 40s.
There are many variables, so I hesitate to predict. Weather patterns and temperatures can vary widely in the mountains. Best to check weather
forecasts immediately prior to departure and pack your clothing/gear accordingly.
The steep grade above Meling faces west. So, if you want cooler temperatures for the uphill grunt, start out from there in the early morning.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
12-30-2020 at 07:54 PM |
wilderone
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Be more fun going downhill. Lots of trails - do some hiking as well - see more than asphalt.
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AKgringo
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Bicycling as a gravity sport....I like that idea! I no longer have the cardio capacity for a long climb, but it would be fun to ride a tram to the
top of a ski area, and ride the trails down! There are a couple of areas catering to summer tourists doing that.
An e-bike would be another way to go. I wonder if an e-bike battery can power a de-fibrillator?
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
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mtgoat666
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Quote: Originally posted by Ron_Perry  | Covid 19 pending... planning on cycling to the top of Parque Nacional Sierra De San Pedro Martir, maybe 9000ft plus, sometime in late May of 2021. At
age 64 it's better now than later. Depending on fitness, in either one or two days.
Would like to attend the Sea Otter Classic either before or after, the Classic is May 20-23rd. Just in the planning stages, may go hardcore and
use my Dodge Caravan, or my more comfortable Mini Winnie Winnebago 21fter. Depends on who I can whip up.
This would be my 41 trip to Baja since about 1978, mostly spent on the East Cape fishing, diving, and surfing. La Ventana to Nine Palms and
everything in between. Love La Paz. Hope to spend at least a few days to several in the area...camp at Meling ranch and at the top.
Like to gather more info as I have never been there, such as any gravel sections of the road, temperature at the bottom and top, total distance,
favorite ceverza drinking spot, etc.
If anybody is crazy enough to try this, let me know, should be a good flogging.
Thank you for any good information, Ron |
It is quite a climb from the hwy 1 to the park gate. Like 6,000+ feet vertical in one day. It is a real a$$ kicker. Plan on having a sag wagon, you
will likely bonk.
That said, it is a fabulous ride, pavement is good, scenery is great, and there is almost zero traffic.
I have a number of time seen bicycle groups riding the main road up to the park, always with a sag wagon.
There are some long steep grades that can kick anyone’s butt. Take a sag wagon.
Consider taking a mountain bike for the plateau. The old ranching roads are closed to cars, and many are slowly being grown over, but they are open
to bicycles, there are some great tracks to ride. Get the Jerry schaad map.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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AKgringo
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Sag wagon?
That is an unfamiliar term to me. Can I assume you mean a chase vehicle following the group?
I have offered to provide that service for my son in Anchorage if he and some of his fellow bicycle fanatics ever choose to ride some of Baha's back
roads. It was hard enough to try and put a trip like that together pre-covid19, so now it is not even a discussion.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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motoged
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This context might ring a bell:
Sag wagon is a recreationalists "crummy" :
noun - NORTH AMERICAN
an old or converted truck used to transport loggers to and from work.
Don't believe everything you think....
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AKgringo
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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My dad worked in the logging industry here for the first third of my life, and that term doesn't ring any bells with me, or blow any horns!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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motoged
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Gary,
Two strikes for you on the terminology count so far .... 
How about :
"Crew cab" ????? "My buddy's truck" ???
Don't believe everything you think....
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Google to the rescue
SAG means "support and gear."
I didn't know it either.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6029
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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Ged and Howard, thanks for the clarification. It makes more sense than the low rider I was visualizing! 
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18390
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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that is the answer an engineer would come up with....
I have always thought of it as the wagon to pick up sagging riders 
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Sure glad we figured this one out. 
Don't believe everything you think....
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RocketJSquirrel
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Registered: 8-3-2019
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A wonderful bike ride and not bad until you pass Rancho Meling & Coyote turn offs. But even then, great views and cooling air to distract you
from... "the burn".
Edit for accuracy.
[Edited on 1-1-2021 by RocketJSquirrel]
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Ron_Perry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 77
Registered: 9-21-2005
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Mood: yearning for baja
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Thank you to all
Lots of good information here. I knew of "sag" for 45 years but didn't know it was an acronym...my belief was like mtgoat666. Also I didn't think
about mt.bikes...will try for the Jerry Schaad map. One mistake mtgoat666 I think, the climb from sea level to the top must be "total elevation" ,
around 10,000ft or more. Unless I misunderstood you.
I had no plans to try this without help....or without a sag. Will keep selling the idea to friends. Thank you again for the knowledge, Ron
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
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Location: San Diego
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Ron,
The turnoff from Highway 1 is at 130' elevation.
Vallecitos Meadow on top of the plateau is approx. 7960'.
There is a gate well beyond that which may be at 8674'. I have no recent info about how far you may be allowed to go by bicycle. I believe cars are
not allowed, but walking may be permissible.
The observatory is at 9200'.
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Ron_Perry
Junior Nomad
Posts: 77
Registered: 9-21-2005
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Mood: yearning for baja
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Thank you Maderita
In the past I think some cyclist used the gate as the finish line. If so, that would make it at least a 8544' climb....brutal!!! Meling ranch would
be another option for those less fit or looking for an easier ride. Meling ranch elevation anyone?
I google mapped Meling ranch, it came up with 32 miles from highway 1. Maybe 30 miles from Meling Ranch to the gate? Thank you again, Ron
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