Event Description

Come to Imperial Valley in February for a ride through picturesque farm countryside and the vast open desert.  Imperial Valley produces 80% of our nation's winter vegetables and enough lettuce to serve a salad to one third of the world's people. 

You'll ride alongside fields during the harvest and alongside new photovoltaic "farms".   Then you head west into the picturesque Yuha Desert along the Mexican border.  Enjoy the undulating rise and wide open vistas of our pristine countryside. 

Proceeds go to the the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert and the IV Velo Club Bike Refurbishing and Giveaway Program. 

Event details and schedule

The start/finish line is at Debbie Pittman park at 1997 Orange Avenue in El Centro--the corner of LaBrucherie and Orange. Apart from the parking lot, you can also park behind the softball fields, on Orange, or in the vacant lot across the street.

Same day registration starts at 6:30 a.m.  Ride starts at 8 a.m. This is not a race, but we would like everyone to start together. You can choose to ride your bike out and back 13, 20, 46, or 70 miles.  The first turnaround (for beginners) is at Kubler Road.  The second is just before entering Highway 98 on Brockman Road.  The third is at a hill we call "The Oasis" 23 miles from the start.  And the fourth is 35 miles out at near the gas station south of the I-8 in Ocotillo. 

The weather can be quite cold at sunrise and then warm up into the 70's, so you might want to start with leggings, long fingered gloves, and a jacket.  Don't forget to cover your ears!  Then as the day warms, you're be able to remove some items. 

We have four water and fruit stops and portable toilets at each stop. Roadside signs will guide you along the route and tell you when you're approaching a water stop. (See also map in this listing.)

Pick up your event t-shirt and medal back at Debbie Pittman Park. (Same day registrants are not guaranteed a medal or a t-shirt because we have to order them in advance.)