San Diego HI Christmas Bike Ride: no more?
08-08-22, 04:10 PM
#1
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San Diego HI Christmas Bike Ride: no more?
Hello all! Just got back from a small organized ride in IL/IN/MI, and I was really talking up the annual Hosteling International Christmas Ride that starts on Dec 26 and ends on Dec 31 in San Diego, goes through the desert, past Salton Sea, into Palm Desert, up through Hemet to Fallbrook, and then all the way down the coast back to Sunny SD. I did the ride in 2005 and 2010. Was hoping to do it again this year and bring along some more riders, but can't find any information about it. Does this ride still happen, or is it... over?
08-08-22, 07:39 PM
#2
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I did the ride in the mid 70's (I think, I'm old). When SD Youth Hostels was run by the Elliots (I think). Notable SD racer Hannah North was on it. Great ride. Good times. 
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08-08-22, 08:01 PM
#3
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Someone found it in the Road Riding forum. I'll update this post after I contact the person on this page. I can't post the link because I haven't made enough posts on this site to add a link to a comment. Will report back though!
08-09-22, 05:08 AM
#4
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They stopped it in about 2015. (I did it 3 times starting in 2012.)
The particular hostel that ran that event doesn’t exist any more.
According what appears the be their Facebook page, the hostel closed in March, 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/hisdpointloma/
The Point Loma hostel isn’t listed in the parent organization’s website.
https://www.hiusa.org/find-hostel
The particular hostel that ran that event doesn’t exist any more.
According what appears the be their Facebook page, the hostel closed in March, 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/hisdpointloma/
The Point Loma hostel isn’t listed in the parent organization’s website.
https://www.hiusa.org/find-hostel
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08-09-22, 06:17 PM
#5
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Too bad, it was a great ride. Might try to recreate it on my own, credit card touring-style. The SAG support was nice, though, since weather could be dicey in the mountains if I recall correctly.
08-09-22, 06:29 PM
#6
bicycle tourist
I did the ride in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2015 and agree it was a great ride. In 2015 Ralph was no longer leading (and before that I understand his mother) and believe connection with HI-AYH was less over time.
I forget exact timing of when the ride fizzled out - but looking in my email I see a "we're taking a one year break email" sent to the mailing list in May 2018 so perhaps 2017 was the last ride of the (sixty plus year) series.
Here was my journal from the 2002 trip - HI-AYH Christmas Trip 2002 in San Diego
I forget exact timing of when the ride fizzled out - but looking in my email I see a "we're taking a one year break email" sent to the mailing list in May 2018 so perhaps 2017 was the last ride of the (sixty plus year) series.
Here was my journal from the 2002 trip - HI-AYH Christmas Trip 2002 in San Diego
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08-09-22, 08:50 PM
#7
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Thanks for the link to your journal. Feeling the feels, that was such an important trip for me in 2005. It was my first multi-day ride, and I met great people, and the vibe was so nice. Done many multi-day rides since, but that one was the first and therefore the sweetest in my memory.
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