Ursa Minor Permanent

Ursa Minor -Reverse route

Doing the Ursa Minor in reverse. Haven't done that yet, so today will be a good test-see. Riding the SOMA with the re-laced Open Pro rims. They are true, but not quite centered up yet. I adjusted the brake lever hoods back 1/4", dropped the bars a 1/4", added a strip of gel tape to the topside of the bars and rewrapped with some cork tape. I'll need to get 16 new DT-Revolution DB spokes/brass nipples for the drive side. After really checking things out, I discovered that all the original spokes are too long! Probably 5mm! No wonder it took so long to bring them into true. DUH!

Started way over at Ralph's near CSUSM around 6:15. Warm out this morning..around 54F at the start. Decided to ride back home on the way Champagne Blvd. Then took Deer Springs up and over. Fortunately, traffic leaving San Marcos is extremely light in the morning, making the zero bike lane section at least tolerable. What a great road for cycling if they would just add a 3' bike lane! Had the new cheapo helmet light on blinking mode. John bought 2 of these lights online for $12 each. Spot beam is 134 lumens bright. I sort of use it on the Corona 300, but now am able to simply "stick"it on my helmet using velcro strips. Seemed to work OK. I did try the wide beam the other night, but it was too diffused for much road visibility use.

Rolled into Bonsall for some water at AM/PM and a bathroom break. Not much going on there, so I jumped on the 76 westbound to a nice tailwind. This lasted to the SLR Bike Path, where the usual headwind takes over after 8 .-8:30 AM. Stopped at Harbor Dr a minute and then headed northward on the shoulder of I-5. Did a reverse and picked up a broken bike pump along the way to the rest stop. Nice looking pump, with a built in gauge. maybe I can Super Glue the head back on and make it work? ( I later glued it back together and filed and straightened out the pump tube, which looks like it was run over by a car! Seems to work OK if you're in a pinch.) A lady almost walked into me while cycling through the Rest Stop! Had to lock them up!

Massive Swami's group caught up to me after Las Pulgas turn. I only managed to drop 8 riders as we rode through the Campground. Meanwhile, the other 27 riders with deep dish and carbon left me behind! Chatted with another lady rider from Fallbrook who has something to do with the Tour de Cure in San Diego. Swami's gruppo turned around before Trestles, so the road was safe again!

Swiss Rev DB spokes were too long.

Did some recon work with an alt route through the San Clemente "neighborhood". Somehow missed a sign-turn and ended up at the downhill beach again. Climbed out of that mess and finally found my way over to the 7-Eleven and back northward on 101 again. They were all finished up with the San Juan Bike Path repairs near the bridge. Looks like they added a sea wall to keep the path from flooding out at high tide. There was a detour at the end of the Bike Path near SJ Capistrano. Hit the Carls Jr for some calcium food. Lingered around for 15 minutes, watching the flag blow eastward!

Headwind to the coast and southbound from there. Went through San Clemente the Carl's Jr route this time. Chatted with a 63 year old man and wife through the Campground. Wife looked really good. Guy said I had a new drive-train on the SOMA cause it looked so shinny! HaHA on him. Told him I needed a new drivetrain, for sure. Esp. the chain. I use Beoshield lube. Headwind to Las Pulgas and some relief on I-5 to Oceanside.

 Hooked up with a  "rode everywhere" older guy riding south from Oceanside. We chatted about Randonneuring and local stuff. Says his long rides now are 60 miles. Too old, he says. I know what you mean, buddy! Didn't stop at Nytro to see Joe, since he doesn't work today and I saw him on Monday anyway. (Come to find out, he got rear ended on the drive in to work on Thursday!) I pulled off at Swami's to take a break before the push eastward from Solana Beach and up Del Dios to the finish.

Seems this is a good alternative to the Ursa Minor regular route, with the hard stuff coming at the end, just like the other way. Weather forecast is for rain the next 4 days. That will never happen around here. A few extra miles riding around today. Maybe I'll give the reverse route a go next time too?

-randorides