How to Ride through Camp Pendleton
Very Important: You have to register YOURSELF to ride through Camp Pendleton.
Five of the routes for The Boob Rides in Orange County and San Diego 2018 go through or around Camp Pendleton. They are:
- Orange County
- A-Cup - 30 miles
- C-Cup - 60 miles
- D-Cup - 90 miles
- San Diego
- C-Cup - 60 miles (and C-Cup Hilly)
- D-Cup - 90 Miles
You must register yourself to get through the base. In previous years, we could pre-register all our riders to get access to the base, but not anymore. Camp Pendleton wants EVERYONE to accept their terms and conditions, therefore you have to do it yourself.
Click here to register
Registration is only valid for 12 months. If you haven't registered yourself with the base since 4/30/17, then you need to do it again.
If not, then then you will be denied access to the base and will be forced to ride the freeway (I-5).
How to Ride the Freeway
No need to freak out about the freeway. Many other large events like The Amtrak Century and the MS 150 have had to deal with this challenge as well. Some of the rides forced all the riders on the freeway without incident. We prefer that you register with Camp Pendleton and ride through the base, but if you miss this deadline, then here is how you do it.
Stay Far Right
A normal road ride route would allow a rider to be just to the right of the white line in the bike lane. We typically ride there because that is the cleanest section of asphalt, with the least amount of tire puncture potential. This is also true on the freeway. However, cars are whizzing by at 65 mph+ creating too much potential for danger! So, don't ride there.
The freeway shoulder is much wider than a typical bike lane. The area closest to the car lane is a clean section of asphalt, then a pile of debris, and then a somewhat clean spot to the far right side. Stay to the far right and pay attention to debris.
The cool part about the freeway is that the cars can create a vacuum that pulls you along, or at least gets rid of any headwind. It really isn't that bad.
In and Out of Rest Stop
There is a rest stop on I-5 going north and south between Las Pulgas and Oceanside. The safe thing to do is to go into the rest stop and out the other side.
If you do not go in/out then you are crossing high speed traffic as they are exiting the freeway and entering the freeway. Drivers are not used to seeing cyclist crossing on/off ramps, they may hit you.
Going into the rest stop allows you to stay on the shoulder into and out of the rest stop. Watch out for cars in the parking lot too.
Not a Big Deal
I have ridden the freeway. It is not a big deal, especially now that you know what to do.
But, don't be a boob, register to ride the base.