The Rosarito Ensenada 50-Mile Fun Bicycle Ride® is named an “Official Event” of the 2010 Bicentenario.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - AUGUST 16, 2010
 ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

Bicyclists are getting ready to roll on September 25 at the historic
bike ride that attracts thousands of riders from around the world.

ROSARITO ENSENADA BIKE RIDE PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT

Viva La Fiesta!

Since 1979, bicyclists have headed to Baja California for a legendary tour along the
Pacific Coast Highway and inland through rural countryside from Rosarito Beach to
Ensenada. You’ve probably heard about it—maybe event rode it back in the day: the
award-winning Rosarito Ensenada 50 Mile Fun Bicycle Ride®. Each April and
September, thousands of cyclists still ride this iconic cycling event.
Over the last 30 years, the event has been held 52 times, hosting almost 400,000
riders. On September 26th, the total number of miles ridden by Rosarito Ensenada
participants will surpass 20 million miles!

If you’ve already done it, it’s time to ride again. And if you never have, you’re in for the ride of your life. One of our participants, John from Laguna Beach, sent us an email,saying “I rode for the fist time and had a blast! Your event was a well-oiled process honed by years of experience, and it really showed!”
The event course is fully supported with purified water, Powerade, bicycle repair, sag trucks for tired riders, and emergency medical crews, and every participant receives a commemorative Finisher’s Medal.

Rosarito Ensenada really earns its reputation as the Original Party on Wheels.
Revelers in costume roll along, tossing candy to children along the course. Beach
cruisers strap boom boxes to their handlebars. Racing teams form pace lines, trying to beat the official record of 1:52:54 set in April of 2007. And parents tow toddlers in bicycle trailers.

John from Laguna Beach also wrote,

“After years of riding, I was
reminded of the pure joy and outright fun a bike ride can bring a family!”

The Finish Line Fiesta is free for participants and spectators, overlooking the Ensenada harbor with panoramic views of the cruise ships at sunset. Live rock-n-roll, jazz and salsa will play into the night while local chefs serve their best fish tacos and carne asada.

Massage therapists will work out every knot, and there will be a lot of
celebrating with ice cold beer and award-winning wines from Baja’s wine country.
Transportation packages from Coach America are available for participants who prefer
to NOT drive into Mexico: one day round trip and also a weekend tour including hotel
and round-trip bus from San Diego. Tour companies transport riders’ bicycles at no
extra charge, and because the buses return to the United States through the rapid
SENTRI lane, cyclists avoid the traditional wait at the border.

Shuttles are available on the event course from the finish line to the start line before and after the event. So if participants stay in Rosarito Beach, they can take the shuttle back to Rosarito after the event.

And if participants stay in Ensenada, they can take the shuttle to Rosarito in the morning for the start of the event.

In addition to the bike ride, there are a lot of fun activities to choose from. Visit the wine country and taste for yourself why it has reached international acclaim for its high quality of wines. Go sport fishing and catch your limit in the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Visit the 80 foot geyser at la Bufadora or the movie studio where Pirates
of the Caribbean was filmed. Or stroll along the streets of Rosarito and Ensenada,
shopping for hand made arts and crafts.

Malcolm F. from Placentia, CA wrote us to say,

“Thanks for another great experience!
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this ride since the early 1990’s. All I know is they keep getting better!”

Participants can register online for $45 through BetterSignUp.com, or they can register on the day of the event for $50 at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Come to ride, or just come along for the ride. Visit Mexico and discover Baja California.

Join our Party on Wheels on September 26 at the 30th Anniversary Rosarito Ensenada
50 Mile Fun Bicycle Ride.

www.rosaritoensenada.com

Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride To Top 20 Million Mile Mark This Sept. 26

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Now in its 30th year the Rosarito-Ensenada 50-Mile Fun Bicycle Ride will surpass 20 million total miles covered with its Sept. 26 event.

About 5,000 riders are expected for the festive scenic ride, much of it along a coastal route from Rosarito to Ensenada, said ride organizer Gary Foster.

During the past 30 years since 1979, the iconic twice-yearly event has been held 52 times and almost 400,000 riders have participated, Foster said.

“This great anniversary edition of the ride will be as festive as years past, both for our many riders and the thousands of people who come to view the event and cheer on the participants,”

Foster said.

Added Rosarito Beach Mayor Hugo Torres, whose city hosts the event:

“The ride is one of the signature events for Rosarito and this region of Baja. It attracts excellent people and creates a great atmosphere. We’re greatly looking forward to it.”

Participants can register online for $45 through www.BetterSignUp.com, or they can register on the day of the event for $50 at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. More information is available at www.RosaritoEnsenada.com as well as www.rosarito.org

The Rosarito-Ensenada ride has been called the Original Party on Wheels. Revelers in costume roll along, tossing candy to children along the course. Beach cruisers strap boom boxes to their handlebars. Parents tow children.

Racing teams form pace lines, trying to beat the official record of 1:52:54 set in April of 2007. Other participants just ride for the enjoyment and atmosphere.

Transportation packages from the United States are available, Foster said. Tour companies transport riders’ bicycles at no extra charge, and because the buses return to the United State through the rapid SENTRI lane, cyclists avoid a wait at the border.

Many hotels offer special rates and are participating in the Border Fast Pass program which can cut border waits by half, especially on the weekends, Foster said.

The Finish Line Fiesta is free for participants and spectators, overlooking the Ensenada harbor with panoramic views of the cruise ships at sunset. Live rock-n-roll, jazz and salsa plays into the night while local chefs serve their best.

Massage therapists are available to work out every knot, and there will be a lot
of celebrating with ice cold beer and award-winning wines from Baja’s wine country, Foster said.

Shuttles are available on the event course from the finish line to the start line before and after the event. So if participants stay in Rosarito Beach, they can take the shuttle back to Rosarito after the event.

“The corridor from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada is safe for tourists, and Baja remains a beautiful and affordable destination for travel with friends and family," Foster added.

Foster said that this recent e-mail from a frequent ride participant summed up the spirit of the event:

“Thanks for another great experience! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve done this ride since the early 1990’s. All I know is they keep getting better!”

Rosarito to Ensenada bike race proves festive, friendly and safe

Longtime fans of the twice-annual Rosarito to Ensenada Fun Bike Ride who missed Saturday's spring version because of concerns stemming from drug-related violence in Mexico's border areas might note two things:

1) The 50-mile ride was staged without major incident and, according to race promoter Gary Foster, not one of the 3,500 participants fell victim to organized crime, and 2) sign-ups are being accepted for the Sept. 26 ride.

This from Foster: "At the start line, I thanked the participants for coming, especially those from the United States, and asked them, 'When you go back home, tell your friends and families about your experience. You can see for yourself that this is not a dangerous place for tourists.' "

Fastest time to the finish-line party was 2 hours, 5 seconds. No official word on how much beer was consumed. But the unofficial word: lots.

-- Pete Thomas
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/04/rosarito-to-ensenada-bike-race-festive-and-surprise-without-incident.html