willibrord

You were on your own and good on ya for that. If you are on the Group Start, you have to follow the rules.

Looks like you might need winter tires for your baja route.

Thanks for the pics, they are inspiring.

chrisx

Stay out of baja in the hot months. Go to baja in the winter. That snow is far up in the mountains. Google Columbia Mo, and la paz mx weather.



Their route is not as isolated as mine.


BCS in 2008, no fat tires, I fixed that mistake

chrisx

dont like groups

baja california


baja california sur, La Paz


along the road to get there

willibrord

You sir, are a true adventurer.

Perhaps some day we may meet.

chrisx

Have you checked the baja divide web site lately? A lot of people have posted photos from their journey.

willibrord

The ride hasn't even started yet.

When are you going?

chrisx

I made it to La paz.
I only rode some of their divide route.
I only got lost a bunch of times.
I only ran out of water 0 times.
I only saw 1 80 year old cowboy hunting (rabits)?
I only saw 1 guy with a bob trailer 6 years into his bike trip on the divide route.
I only found 1 natural spring, when I needed it the most.

Willibrord, do not let them find out I rode a Dahon. I might get in trouble for breaking the rules. Ritchy Dahon flo. 26 x 2.4 front, 26 x 2.3 rear.

The guy with the Jamis Dragonslayer 27.5 x 3 sure floated over some stuff that slowed me down, I made it anyway.

Coldhands

I rode a mix of pavement and parts of the Baja Divide with a Surly LHT and 35mm tires and two rear panniers. I wouldn't recommend it but most of it (the parts I did) were rideable. Once I had to turn back (the route to Datil) because I couldn't handle the sand (salt flats flooded). When they say much of the route is impassable after rain they mean it!

I found it hard in parts and not really very enjoyable as far as the cycling went but the scenery, sense of remoteness and the adventure of it made up for that. Soul destroying Washboard and deep sand were the main difficulties. It's not an easy route even with a proper MTB so one would have to be pretty confident one's ability to keep cycling and to deal with extremely limited surface water and resuplly. I would not carry less than 10lt and still I was worried about running out.

That said there are people out there and cars passed me daily although it's possible no one will pass for a several days on some parts of the route. I think planning and having the right equipment will make the difference between enjoying it or it being really punishing.

chrisx

Six years into his bike tour he found the baja divde. started in South Africa, and just kept going

chrisx

Aidoneus

I haven't noticed anyone posting about the bicycle bandito. https://bajadivide.com/ride-the-baja-divide-2017/

willibrord

Pepper spray.

jonc123

How could that happen? The Baja Divide Website says it is safe in the "Overview" section and the "Language and other Logistics" section.

willibrord

Its safe until it isn't. I always advocated pepper spray. Maybe something stronger is called for.

Ride it now, before the Wall makes it impossible.

chrisx

****ing bandidos

cut and paste from link
Keith
JANUARY 17, 2017 AT 7:08 PM
Hey folks! My buddy and I started the Baja Divide recently and unfortunately we got robbed at gunpoint right outside of Tecate at the marked possible campsite in Canon Manteca. Our unfriendly assailant was on a bike as well and we believe that we just had some bad luck and happened to pass this ******* right before we descended the canyon. He then passed us again at full speed going towards the canyon and we think he laid in wait for us to pass him and for us to be in the canyon away from other people. He waited until nightfall to rob us, and was wearing a hoodie, mask and baseball cap, so we have no idea what he looked like other than that he was young male and skinny, riding an older mountain bike. The fact that he was on a bicycle leads us to believe that he lives in the area. To avoid the same experience, we reccomend the following:

1) Don’t arrive to Canon Manteca around nightfall.
2) Don’t camp in plain view of the road.
3) Beware of any cyclists that pass you twice.
4) Consider camping further down the route from Canon Manteca.
5) Have good travelers insurance!!!

Bottom line: We ran into some bad luck but still have our bikes, almost all our gear and our lives (also he didn’t steal our beer, so that was a big plus).

We plan on continuing our trip although we will be exploring an alternate, less remote route as we now lack GPS capabilities. Everyone in Baja has been super friendly and we aren’t gonna let some lone ranger piece-of-**** ruin our trip. In fact, I think a cold Tecate and some tacos are calling my name right now! Happy biking people!

REPLY
gypsybytrade
JANUARY 24, 2017 AT 5:07 PM
Keith,

It concerns me to hear this. Most of us that have spent time on route can attest to the fact that Baja feels very safe. I appreciate that you have extended your trust in the people of Mexico even after this experience, even though you were only a day or two across the border.

Considering that this seems premeditated, someone in Tecate has taken notice to the pattern of riders through town and into the backcountry. I surely hope this never happens again, but to avoid risk, I think the best solution is for riders to leave Tecate during the morning and continue down the route before camping in the backcountry, farther away from town. I personally do not mind camping in sight of the road and I enjoy meeting passing locals, but as a general precaution camping just out of sight makes sense, at least enough so that a passing car in the night does not take notice.

It is my understanding that the police in Baja are strongly invested in protecting the tourism industry so if you have not reported the incident already, I would recommend that you do so. I have a contact at the Bureau of Tourism who is very supportive of the route project, I will reach out to him to notify local authorities of this incident. If you have not reported the incident, perhaps you can confer with Salvador at FASS Bike to make a report locally, and the document can be forwarded to Tecate.

I don’t intend to change the route at the moment. This is the best routes out of Tecate on dirt, and even if we redirected riders we could not ensure that something similar cannot happen along another route. However, if anyone else reports suspicious activity near Tecate, I will be forced to make changes to the routing in this region, which would necessarily require more paved riding.

You can contact me with any questions or concerns at bajadivide@gmail.com.

Nicholas

chrisx

chrisx

Now I remember why I always pick my bike up and carry it 50 or 100 feet, so as not to leave a tire track for someone to follow in the night where I left the road. I always camp out of sight from the road. Not just in Baja, everywhere.

jonc123

Might want to check the laws in Mexico first. It may not be allowed.

Aidoneus

Even if pepper spray is allowed, I wouldn't try using it against someone with a gun pointed at me!

willibrord

Probably not. You do what you have to do to keep safe.

jonc123

How do you cover up your footprints?

BigAura

@chrisx --> DANG --> you are good at the camera!!!

DropBarFan

If the two guys had resisted I'm sure there would have been a 99% chance the robber would have gone away, knowing that shooting a gringo would be very risky. But sensible thing is to hand over property, pretty cool that the guys didn't lose their bikes. I once busted a DC guy that was riding his bike & pushing another bike which I recognized as stolen.

chrisx

Do not bring guns into Mexico. 10 days in jail and a $20,000 fine
Pepper spray is also against the law.

Why do Mexican people hide money in there shoe?

chrisx

Take 100 photos, delete 99, get 1 good one. I took 700 photos, so I should have 7 good ones.