What’s taking so long?
We’ve changed up the route; essentially turning it from a counterclockwise loop to a clockwise loop. But that rabbit hole is a little deeper than that might sound.

How come it’ll be going the other way?
We want to offer up the best possible dirt touring route possible, with the best representation of our little slice of Southern California. Like one of those routes the Adventure Cycling Association has. In that vein, we will now get to ride Palm Canyon and later, Noble Canyon. Both are Southern California classics.

What are the practical differences?
The route is a bit harder, and a bit more mountain bike-y.
What had been climbs are now descents, and vice versa. The route will start with the “desert” section, which means at one point the route will take you from below sea level (Salton Sea) to nearly 4k ft on Pinyon Mountain, by way of some beautiful but sandy roads. (Fish Creek Wash in the Anza Borrego State Park) We will climb Oriflamme Canyon (the stuff of legend) into the Cuyamacas & Lagunas. The addition of these two singletracks and the reversal of Oriflamme & Fish Creek wash are the most significant changes your legs will notice.

Does this affect the mileage?
It might make the route a bit shorter, since we’ll descend from the San Jacintos further south.

So when will the route be set up and ready?
Soon. Promise! We’ve got 200 miles of the clockwise route mapped & cues’d, and need to get the reverse track set for the “first 117″ you’ve already seen and some of the urban/San Diego Bay area. Hopefully the whole shebang will be done inside of two weeks.

We’ll be posting more info on the route, the cues, and SPOT registration here.

This first section takes us from the San Jacinto mountains out through grassland and into the river valleys leading to the ocean. It is nearly 75% dirt with the final 40 miles or so coming into San Diego on multi-use trail.

Download here in Excel: stagecoachcues

Download here as PDF: stagecoachcues Sheet1

We will be gathering and publishing the GPS route and cue sheets here as soon as possible. Until then, a rough descriptor of the route will get your gears turning:

Leave from Idyllwild, CA on Friday April 27th
- ride to Warner Springs by way of the California Riding and Hiking Trail & Lost Valley road. Some great cafes & roadhouses in this area.
- approx 14 miles of pavement to Mesa Grande rd.
- Black Canyon rd to Ramona
- San Diegito River Trail (flat tire city)
- Lake Hodges (fun singletrack, Mexican food)
- Torrey Pines State Park… bike paths
- urban area through San Diego into Balboa Park, San Diego Bay- dip your toe in the water
- east via bike paths and dirt toward Alpine, Descanso
- climb into the Cuyamacas
- doubletrack through the mountains
- descend Oriflamme Canyon
- pavement on S-2 to Pinyon Mountain rd.
- headlong into the Anza Borrego desert, Fish Creek wash. Beautiful country.
-  narrow gage railroad bed to Kane Spring
- around the southern tip of the Salton Sea via agricultural roads
- more gravel road where possible to Niland, near Salvation Mountain/Slab City.
- long stretch of canal access road and railroad access road to Mecca
- past the dinosaur from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
- through the Desert Cities. Lots of 50′s modern history here.
- into the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm
- up and around back into the San Jacintos and Idyllwild.

It was the fastest year, with great weather… and smiles for miles. We’re working up some more info to share here. In the mean time, check the results page.

Also check out the sneak peek video from John & Rebecca of My Idyllwild. Check their Facebook page here.

If their teaser is any indication, it’ll be a great piece of video once it’s completed.

We’ll have spaghetti with red sauce (meatballs on the side for the carnivorous), bread & cheese. It’s coming from none other than Cafe Aroma, one of Idyllwild’s finest restaurants/social clubs.
Your special HUB Cyclery cost for this meal is five bucks a head.
Map to The HUB.

Edit: Please drop a line to the Enduro email addy if you think you might come. We’ll order accordingly.
See you there.

“I am hoping the non-management will be so kind as to allow my entry to the mustache comp through electronic submission. Please consider the first image my official entry. The second image is a lil something special for the ladies…I call it: “SexyTime.” “

Why is Nick submitting electronically, you ask?
Because he’ll be a DAD at any moment now, and needs to shave down ASAP so as to not taint (‘taint?) his family’s photos forever. Yeah, his woman’s due date is the same day as the Enduro, and things just got real.  

Loop 2 Cues

Check this link for Loop 1 info.

Besides bearing evidence of Guy’s superhuman badassery, this link can help provide you with some more course insight*, including a GPS’d route of the tricker singletrack sections in May Valley.
Use it for good, not evil.

*note: this track shows some minor detours, such as an optional jaunt into Idyllwild for refreshment. As a reminder, detours to public places are fair game, but you’ll have to ride every bit of the Enduro route to complete it. ie, go to the grocery store and rejoin the route at the same intersection you departed from.

Dig?