A Mountain Bike Rider's Ticket to Julian and Surrounding Areas
By Amber Ward

Tour of Borrego is the most popular ride of the year. Photos Courtesy of Rich wolf

The Tour of Borrego will take place Saturday, March 3 in Borrego Springs.

Sponsored by the R&B Bicycle Club and hosted by Palm Canyon Resort, this annual event is "the most popular ride of the year," said R&B Bicycle Club founder, Rich Wolf.

The R&B Bicycle Club was started by Wolf in 1988, and continues to sponsor quality bicycle events in the Borrego Springs and Julian area. There are several events sponsored by the club throughout the year, including the Borrego Springs Century in January, the Tour of Borrego in March, the Julian Bicycle Festival in May and the Tour de Julian in November.

This year, riders can choose from either a 22-mile, 40-mile or 62-mile ride around the scenic valley of Borrego Springs.

The terrain is mostly flat, and the roads paved. New to this year's Tour of Borrego, is the 62-mile (100K) ride. It will include the same course as the 40-mile loop and an additional route that will total a 62-mile course. It is suggested that participants ride single file, and stay as far to the right as possible. Riders must always follow the rules of the road, and obey all traffic signs. The course will be marked with black arrows on yellow signs.

Map of all routes for this years Tour of Borrego. Courtesy of Rich wolf

The cost to enter the Tour of Borrego is $39, and your fee includes an event T-shirt, rest stops with fruit and Dudley's bread. After the ride, there will be refreshments and you will be treated to Julian pie and ice cream.

On Sunday, March 4, R & B Bicycle Club will sponsor the Montezuma Grade Time Trial. This is an 11-mile ride with a 3,300-foot climb. With Tour of Borrego registration, the cost of this event is only $5 more, or if you are only interested in the hill climb, the cost is $29.

On Saturday, March 31, the R&B Bicycle Club will host the Julian 7500 Endurance Ride also known as the "Julian 7500 Death March." This ride is for only the most experienced and conditioned mountain bike riders. The course is made up of three different loops that all start and end in the town of Julian. There will be time limits for each course, and they must be met in order to continue on to the next loop.

Montezuma Grade time trial map. Courtesy of Rich wolf

"The third and final loop is meant only for the elite rider," warned Wolf.

Registration costs for the Julian 7500 Endurance Ride is $69, and there is a 200-rider limit. The ride will begin at the American Legion in Julian.

The first loop of the Endurance Ride is known as the Eagle peak, Boulder Creek, Kelly Ditch Trail Loop. It is a 35-mile ride that includes a 5,250-foot gain in elevation. This ride will involve paved roads, a fire road and a 5-mile section of single track. There is a six-hour time limit for this loop that must be met in order to move on to the next loop.

The second loop, the Banner Toll Road Loop, is a 22-mile ride with a 2,400-foot elevation gain. This ride also involves paved roads, a fire road and single track, and includes some very steep and fast downhill sections. The time limit to start the third loop is eight hours.

Montezuma Grade is an 11 mile, 3,300 foot climb.

The third and final loop of the Endurance Ride is the Santa Ysabel Preserve Loop. This is a 25-mile ride with a 2,400-foot elevation gain that involves paved road and a double bicycle track. Again, there are some steep downhill sections where you must watch your speed. There is an eight-hour time limit to start the third loop, and there will be absolutely no starts on this loop after eight hours from the official ride start.

The R&B Bicycle Club also offers private mountain bike tours. There are several to choose from including Julian, Cuyamaca, Mt. Laguna and the Anza-Borrego Desert areas. You can bring your own bike or rent one. Starting at $49 a person, group discounts are available.

Registration forms for all R&B Bicycle Club events are available online. For more information on any of the club's events go to www.julianactive.com or call 760-765-2200.