How to Do the Rosarito to Ensenada Bike Ride

Have you always wanted to do a longer organized bike ride but were intimidated by high mileage, sleek athletes in spandex, and adrenaline-fueled competitive hammerheads? Here’s the bike ride for you: the Rosarito to Ensenada Ride, a few hours south of Los Angeles across the border in Mexico. The ride is only 50 miles, bicyclists of all abilities do it and the atmosphere is one big exuberant party. Plus the scenery along the Pacific Ocean is gorgeous. Here’s how to gear up for it, so to speak:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Bike with 10 gears or more
• Sense of fun
• Helmet
• Patch kit, spare inner tube, pump, CO2 cartridge
• Water and water bottles
• Food
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Cash
• Passport or birth certificate and photo I.D.

1. Register on line, check out rosaritoensenada.com for the forms. The rides are twice a year, in April and September. If you register before late March or late August, you’ll receive your packet in the mail. Otherwise, it’ll be at Will Call. And you can even register the day of the event, so no worries.
2. Book a shuttle while you’re registering. Because the ride is one-way, you need a shuttle to take you from Ensenada (the finish line) back to your hotel in Rosarito OR to take you the morning of the ride from your hotel in Ensenada to the start line in Rosarito
3. Get a hotel room two months in advance. If you wait until three weeks before the event, you’ll be stuck staying at a sleazy place. This ride attracts THOUSANDS of riders, so book your room early. The ride starts at 10 a.m. so decide if you want to roll out of bed at the start line or have the convenience of being close to your hotel at the finish line.
4. If you have a friend offering to be your shuttle, that’s fine, but be aware they’ll have to either get up early in Ensenada to drive you to the start line or leave early from Rosarito to get on the road to Ensenada (to meet you at the finish) before the highway is closed to start the ride.
5. Start training two months in advance. Because this is not a competitive ride and has a party vibe, you don’t need to be Lance Armstrong to do it. But you do need to be able to sit on your bike and pedal for half a day, so why not practice? Start at five-mile rides and add mileage each week until you can do 40 miles. There’s only one big hill on the ride and people do walk it.
6. You’re required to get car insurance for Mexico, which can be purchased just before or just after the border crossing. It’s also available on-line.
7. After the ride, driving back in to the U.S. at the border often involves a very long wait—make sure you have a full tank of gas. Consider filling up in San Diego on the way down.

Tips & Warnings

• On the day of the ride, bring both water and food. The support stops are not lush in the food department. Bring money, too, as there are places to buy food as well. They accept U.S. dollars
• Passports to return to the U.S. from Mexico by land will be required as of January 1, 2008. The current border crossing requirement is to have a passport OR a copy of your birth certificate and a photo I.D. Passports are required to return by air as of January 1, 2007. Most likely you will be driving down and back, though.
• Bring a camera—the ocean views are lovely.
• Wear sunscreen—it’s a full day in the hot sun.
• Bring a costume—that’s part of the fun of this ride.
• Relax and laugh—that’s what the event is all about!
• Because of the party atmosphere and the lack of experience of a lot of riders, be alert. Pass on the left only.
• Besides the big uphill, there’s a big downhill—watch your speed.
• When you cross the border back into the U.S., remember the border guards are NOT in a party mood. Be respectful and mind the law.