CATALINA ISLAND GRAND FONDO - May 12th, 2012

Anybody want to do this? I have a place to stay if interested. We can take the boat over on Friday and return on Sunday.

"A once in a lifetime chance to view Catalina Island from the seat of your mountain bike. With the help of the island conservancy, the US Cup has been granted special access to the TCT (Trans Catalina Trail) for this event. Not normally open to bicyles, select sections of the TCT trail will be open for our event giving participants a whole new look into the interior of Catalina Island. Three distinct routes will offer something for cyclists of all levels and abilities."

[video=youtube;eLQMiVag_2g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLQMiVag_2g[/video]

http://uscup.net/index.php?schedule

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=53507
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=51609
http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=53475

I'm thinking the middle route.

 

Sounds very interesting. May hit you up as it gets closer if I don't forget and don't have to work that weekend.

 

I have a group of 5, mid length route.

 

From the Web site: "Register today to make sure you get your spot in this limited entry event and save on the early bird entry! (Prices go up in April)." I believe there are 200 entries total. Wiz

 

That looks to be a great ride. I'll doubt I can get away from the family that time of the year, wish I could though.

 

Dang it, I'm boned! Well, hopefully you take a lot of pictures and share your ride on here so that I can live vicariously through you. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

I'm down for the 50+ miler. We have about 6 OTB'ers going.

I've ridden Catalina for the past two years in the spring, but some of the trails/jeep roads they'll be using are normally closed to bikes. Should be fun.

 

I am tempted. Never been to Catalina.

 

I so much want to do the 50 mile ride. Looks like it will be great, never been to Catalina would be a good way to see the island.

 

signed up, doing the mid length route. Need to finish building the bike quickly.

 

Go!

 

Will there be a Wine Mixer at the end of the ride?

 

The event will be top notch. The US Cup group have been working on it for a while and have made many trips in preparation and its only February!
I feel silly living in SoCal all my life and never have been. I can't wait.

***Who, all, is going?***

 

I've always wanted to ride over there, this sounds like just the ticket

 

I went 1 weekend about 6 years ago. I've done Avalon to Little Harbor to 2 Harbors and back to Avalon, ended up with just over 50 miles. It was mostly paved out of Avalon and 90% fireroad after the airport. It cost extra to bring you bike over plus you pay a fee for the permit. The bad part when you go on your own is that you need the permit and the conservancy doesn't open till 11am. That doesn't give you much time to ride and then make the ferry back to the mainland so expect to stay the night which I did. With that said, if the price includes the ferry, permit to ride in the conservancy, accommodations and able to ride sections normally off limits to bikes, it may be worth it, but for that price, I would consider many other mtb destination before going back to ride on Catalina again.

Here's a few pics I took:

The road just winds along.



The other side of the island just above Little Harbor. You can see the road continue beyond towards 2 Harbors.


About as close as you want to get to a bison. I rode past him and then used my zoom and the bike at the ready, just in case. :-k

 

*the upside is with your entry fee you get a year long pass

 

I'd like to go, but the cost of the whole trip doesn't seem worth it to me...

Entry Fee = $80 or $99 (I wouldn't bother for the shorter route)
Round Trip boat ride = $70-ish, + $6 or so for the bike
Staying the night = ??? (not cheap I bet)
Food/incidentals = $20-40

I hope everyone has a great time! Looks like it would be cool!

 

Pat, it's not a budget trip, for sure. We increased the value by making reservations at a few of the various CGs beforehand and spending four days/three nights. This also addresses the issue with the Conservancy sleeping in to 11am. We got a price break by doing everything online. We saw exactly one other cyclist out there during our tour.

I encourage anyone who hasn't been or ridden there to do it. It's a unique and excellent locale.

 

This is the exact reason I have heard from others. Seems like it could be a logistics nightmare just getting there and back.

 

Here is a link to address concerns with logistics:
http://www.uscup.net/up/file/pdf/CATALINARIDERPACKAGEFINALUPDATED.pdf
:beer: