Crusin' The OC Permanent

Crusin Route Map

Good route one week before the San Diego Corona 300. Posted up on SD Message Board on Wednesday and had a good turnout for the short notice. At the Oceanside Transit Center for the 7:30 start were:
Kelly DeBoer

Frank Quan

Tim Knowles

Robert Abraham

Keith Olson
Mark Tolivar
John Mestemacher
Dan Phillips
Greg Sherman
Willie Hunt

Rode in a group of 8 most of the route. Took the I-5 option leaving O'side under cloudy skies and temps in the low 50's. No wind. Robert had a flat riding through the San Onfre Campground. We rode ahead and waited at bathroom #2. Sherman, Willie and Tim Knowles rode on ahead. Seemed like a 15 minute wait. After regroup, took the "neighborhood" route through San Clemente. Rode along Hwy. 101 to Newport under moderate road traffic. Lots of cyclists out today. Cut over to Bayside Blvd per route slip and stopped at Bayside Chevron for first Control. Waiting line at the bathroom! Got a banana, while Frank ordered a big Subway sandwich! Most refilled bottles. Tim showed up and said he was cooked and had 95% of max HR trying to hold with Willie and his yellow Aero-mobile. LOL Rookie mistake.

Met Isabel Drake at Orange Control

Nice part of route now as 8 of us rode together along the Newport Nature Preserve, Brown Trail, San Diego Bike Path and Peters Canyon Trail. Finally some road riding cllimbing up to the Orange Control. Saw longtime rider friend Isabel Drake there. We had a great laugh at the giant "lugie" left by someone in the mens bathroom. Some say Sherman left us a present there! hehe. Almost rolled on the road with laughter on that one.

Lost Keith and Tim on the roller climbing sections before we hit the long downhill to Cooks Corner. Waited there for them as we viewed the 500 Harley riders collected there drinking beer and other things. Lots of chrome and egos as they checked out each others bikes! Keith and Time never showed, so we set off on the climb up the short Oak Canyon, big downhill through Trabuco Canyon and on past the control store. We stopped a further 3 miles ahead at the JIB for water and refuel. While we were there, Keith and Tim pulled in. I don't know how they found us! Not on the routeslip.

Nice easy riding now and mostly downhill too on Antino Parkway. Dan had a massive front tire sidewall blowout. Part of the riders went ahead as John and I stayed back and "helped" him. He changed it quickly while adding a boot. We all regrouped at Ortega Highway and rode the full San Juan Bike Trail around San Clemente to the ocean. Shortie regroup there at the trail head before we picked up a fast paceline along 101, through the San Clemente neighborhood again and through the campground at 22 mph with a welcome tailwind. Off to the races on I-15 to Oceanside with a big tailwind again pushing our speed up to 24mph. I rode straight to get a group receipt, while the group followed the route along Harbor Drive back to the Transit Station. Never saw them again, as I had only 3 minutes after the receipt to catch the Sprinter to Escondido. I made it with 1 minute to spare.

Did Sherman leave this at Orange Control?

Quiet ride on the train, as I was the only bike. I thought perhaps Robert would make it too. Nada. I did some stretches, cleaned up and rode home from the station with only my froggie lights! They were just enough. I should have at least put on a regular blinkie. duh.  Not good, but felt safe enough.

-randorides