Busted In DeLuz Popularie...goodies on the road!

Modified "Busted" route with heat and wind added.

Last minute climbing route on a Saturday. Left before 8:00 and rode over to OCCR and checked out the North County boys. Robert A. commented on his OC 400 last week. Ben H. was there and explained what happened on the Salton Sea ride a few weeks back. How he was done after the turn-around, but plodded along with some encouragement from the group and after several more stops, finished up their century in Calipatria. I left there and took Palomar Airport Road over to El Camino, with a quick downhill to the "official" start at the Circle K at LaCosta Ave. Loaded with water and ice before heading out to the coast.

Picked up a group of racers with a different jersey: "San Diego Downhillers" All lean looking tall guys cranking out at 18mph. I fell in behind them for several miles. Later hooked up with a older guy riding north. He lifts weights 5 days a week in the gym, then opts out on Saturday for a 30 mile coastal ride. Said "adios" near the Oceanside Pier and turned onto the SLR Bike Path off Harbor Dr. Not many riders along there today. Slight headwind as I drifted along saving energy for later on. Hwy. 76 was fast as usual and I made good time to McDonalds in Bonsall. Loaded with riders as the North County long riders were there. I iced up, hit the bathrooms and was off in 5 minutes!

Climbing starts going up Mission Road toward Fallbrook. I moderated my pace and the turn onto Green Canyon offered more climbing. Felt good enough to lower the gears for the long haul up Oak Canyon. Used some big chainring gear combos to Mission Road and enjoyed the downhill to the Hwy. 395 crossover. The turn north to Rainbow was a shocko headwind. I geared down and finally dropped in into the 34 chainring and the wind increased. I saw 2 riders ahead were also fighting the headwind like me. I was closing on them slowly and by the time I got to Rainbow, one had turned off and the other had his wife loading his bike into their SUV! No more headwind for him. I continued plodding northward into a stiff breeze. Several riders were coming downhill from Temecula. Nice! Finally made it to the top for a stretch-out downhill into Temecula and a break at Carl's Jr. Already 50 miles in and needed a ice-cream sandwich to go with my tuna sandwich I brought along. Iced up the bottles and headed out after 15 minutes.

Warming up now for the climbing ahead. I took the back-way over to Rancho California Road, eliminating the Old Town traffic experience. I dropped some gears and paced up the climb. Stopped to pick up a Lance type plastic bracelet. The turn onto Sandia Creek Road was welcome, as my Garmin noted 101F! No wind now as I climbed that first 12% grade. Next was a series of downhills and some rollers. Finally, the big 14% climb near the end. I dropped to my 30T cog. It slipped one time when I got out of the saddle. Nursed it along up and over. The downhill on the other side is really fast and I braked a lot. Noticed the top speed today was 52mph... must have been right here! Nice riding along the Margarita River, with lots of hikers out today and a few swimmers soaking in the river pool. 9% climb up to Fallbrook wasn't too bad using low gears either. Rolled through Fallbrook and later stopped at the McDonalds in Bonsall again. Ice cream cone with some Coke/water in one bottle for a little "kick".

"Road goodies" I picked up today!

I changed the route at this point. With a massive headwind going westward, I opted for more climbing. I turned left on Camino del Rey and hit the Champagne climb instead! Great tailwind along Camino del Rey which make cruising relaxing for a change. I saw something in the bike lane and did a ride around. Looked like some "road goodies" as I put the neat small seat baggie into my handlebar bag. The turn onto Old Hwy. 395 has some headwind, as I noticed a rider approaching from behind. I pulled over to put some "Chinese Medicine" on my ailing right knee. Stopped to pick up a "bike wallet" lying in the bike lane. I figured it would be nice to ride up the Champagne climb with someone, or at least follow him. He never came up fast enough, so I pulled out ahead. Figured I could pace him up the windy climb. Temps dropped to 94F by now as I paced up the climb. I was slowly pulling away, so figured "no way he was going around me now". I used the various gear combos as I was in and out of the saddle the whole way up. Racer guy dropped back around 200 meters by the top. I got a green light and was off like a flash down Centre City. Feeling good, I soon heard the tragic "click, click, click" from the back tire. OH, ya. A 4d nail in there!

I never figured how a nail gets straight into your tire. I pulled over, walked a bit to find some shade. I stomped down some roadside grass for a snake check and proceeded to methodically put in a new tube. Using my frame pump, I tried to pump with the wheel down on the grass. Broke that stem off! Got out another tube and changed it quick. This time I pumped it up on the bike! Stiffer than a board by now, I started to loosen up with the ride through the Escondido Country Club area,  San Marcos and over to the start.

Interesting late start, last minute ride today. Had to see if the lowered seat on the SOMA would make a difference or not. Jury is still out on that now. Lots of climbing today for a 100 mile ride, in heat and wind. Picked up a few "road goodies" too!

- randorides