BAJA? anyone ever been there? know something about it?

[chrisx]

Any one ever been to Baja?  Know anything about Baja.  Baja maps aren't the best, the ones I can find anyway.  
Spending January in Baja should solve my rain gear problem.  Whats the best way to strap 3 galloons of water to the bike.  Getting the wearwolf lt 2.55 might solve the sand problem.   I won't be hanging around any place close to the border at all.  If any one has been to the south half of Baja, whats up?

I'm hoping some one else has ever thought Sierra de la Giganta Sounded like a good place to spend a month, (January).  I found 3 maps, the roads on these maps do not match up. I found a 1981 book by Bonnie Wong about cycling the Baja 1000. 

Perhaps Baja is a little explored frontier,  sounds fun.

[DoctorRad]

No experience of Baja, I'm on the wrong continent. But over here in the UK, a lot of the country is covered on Google Maps by aerial photography, which gives you resolution down to the scale where you can actually see where tracks on the ground run.

A quick look at Baja on Google shows me that most of it at least looks like it has aerial photography available. Of course, it won't tell you anything about trail surface or conditions, but you should be able to find where trails actually are on the ground.

[Pivvay]

Any one ever been to Baja?  Know anything about Baja.  Baja maps aren't the best, the ones I can find anyway. 
Spending January in Baja should solve my rain gear problem.  Whats the best way to strap 3 galloons of water to the bike.  Getting the wearwolf lt 2.55 might solve the sand problem.   I won't be hanging around any place close to the border at all.  If any one has been to the south half of Baja, whats up?

I'm hoping some one else has ever thought Sierra de la Giganta Sounded like a good place to spend a month, (January).  I found 3 maps, the roads on these maps do not match up. I found a 1981 book by Bonnie Wong about cycling the Baja 1000. 

Perhaps Baja is a little explored frontier,  sounds fun.

I can only answer a few questions but I would say to carry ~12 L I would put 6L on my back and 6 in a frame bag or on a rack. The black full strength droms would be better on the rack. The dromlites would be fine on your back and you can get a hose kit for them. Plus if you split your water you don't lose it all if you puncture one bladder (unlikely but possible).

A WW 2.55 or Racing Ralph 2.4 would be a better sand tire though if there is a lot of sand you'll wish you were riding a Pugs or other Endo shod bike.

[chrisx]

I think most roads are gravel, hard pack, lose rocks, etc.  Sand must be expected as well.  I think some of the roads I'll take are from the 16th century.  With little maintenance since then.  there are lots of trails, few mapped.  only one highway, Mex-1.

[efuentes]

Hi Chrisx,

Baja its a big place, does have more that a single highway, and in its own way is more America like than a lot of Mexico. If the plan is southern baja (Baja Sur) remember that its 500+ Miles long with a couple of stretches of 100+ miles with out services.

Check advrider.com to find as much info as you would need, also Crazyguyonabike.com have several trips (But mostly road), I would recommend going in December over Jan. Better temps and a little less wind.

La Giganta is cool, a desolate place with some nice oasis, for me the nicest Baja is the coast from Santa Rosalia down to La Paz. I haven't seen nicer beaches and little secluded bays anywhere. Another cool place its the mountains in between La Paz and Cabo, you can go up them and are 7,000 feet with a nice diverse ecosystem.

Don't underestimate the desolation and size of the place, especially on a mountain bike and try to eat as much Lobster with rice and Beans as humanly possible.

Saludos

[chrisx]

Thanks Mr Efuentes.  While speedy Gonzales laughs at me for having to heavy of a load, I will be lugging a three day supply of water.  What is the name of the mouse with the piece of cheese? Slow poke Rodriguez?  They say the bad tasting Barrel cactus will keep people without water alive.
People that don't drink alcohol seem to favor La Paz, and the easy life style of BCS.

[efuentes]

People who digg fish tacos (like me) also dig La Paz. 

Drop me a PM before you get there, I might get some singletrack info.

[bmike-vt]

Vik is down there now... nice pic of a Pug hanging off his truck...

[sean salach]

I've spoken with several people who have walked extensively off the road system in Baja, both on the coast and in the mtns. Water will definitely be your main concern. They were carrying 3+ gallons each while walking. There are tons of roads and trails in Baja Sur. I only explored a limited amount of them in the Mulege area while I was living down there, but did tons of research. People have walked El Camino Real, I wonder if someone will ride it some day.. http://www.vivabaja.com/ECR/

[Pivvay]

Coast you can get one of the nifty and expensive reverse osmosis filters. They now have truly portable ones. If you hikers are carrying 3+ gallons, biking seems doable. Biking is generally faster which means less water between sources and 3 gallons is heavy but a certainly doable load.

[chrisx]

*here is a link to available maps of elcamino real. http://vivabaja.com/ECR/page12.html
**Baja water is generally of superior quality than California water.

It's almost time to head out

*may need better maps to find trail.
**water sources may be more than 100 miles apart, sometimes much more