San Luis Rey River Revival...April Fool's Windfest

San Luis Rey River Revival modified route

Initially, I wanted to do Palomar Mtn. today, but with the early forecast @36F there, I figured maybe that would be an option when I get to So. Grade Road. Still cool at the start and was supposed to be a high wind warning after noon today. Woolie cap, long glove liners, long sleeve Arctic Guard underlayer, wind vest and carried along some arm warmers just in case. Also prepped up the new Giro "Feature" helmet  with some velcro, mirror and SDrando logos. Riding the heavier SOMA for some climbing build-up.

Started the route in San Marcos instead of Oceanside. Routes goes north of here anyway and it would save me the ride over and back. Followed the "Training Ride To Palomar" route through Escondido and up Valley Center Road instead of Lake Wohlford Road. The bottom mile of that road is sheer close with the no bike lane, fence and trash on the road. After that the road is good. Stopped on the long climb to Valley Center to strip off stuff. Clear skies and warming up! Big chain-ring climb under duress today. Took Woods Valley Road for some nice quiet riding. Lost some trash on the fast, bumpy downhill on Rincon Grade to Harrah's Casino. That road is getting worse every year. Next trip I'll go down Cole Grade instead, with the death ride along Hwy. 76 through Pauma.

Bike lane past Harrah's is awful. Getting worse each month. Wonder why they don't force the state to fix it and ante up some help funds from the Casino. Road construction along there today, but not where they need it. Looks like they are adding a turn lane southbound near the Casino instead. Re-arranged my clothing on the front HB bag at a bus stop bench. Started the climb past Stage Stop Market and noticed discarded tubes along Hwy. 76. I used to stop and pick up the tubes, check them out and either keep them OR take them to the nearest trash. Counted 7 roadside tubes up to So. Grade Road.

Roadie trash: CRAFT PB Rain Jacket

I was climbing along at a blistering 8 mph when something caught my eye in the road side bushes. Looked
like a white towel. I kept riding and then remembering towels don't have C...R...A...F on them. I turned around a went back downhill to check it out. I was a CRAFT Rain Jacket! Kind of damp and crumpled in the bushes. I shook it out, folded it and put in with my other clothes on the front bag. I'll check it out later on.

That 5 minute stop interrupted my nice pace I had earlier on the climb. Usually takes me 45 minutes to get to the So. Grade turn. Can't get my pacing down on the first section, but feel good on the switchbacks later on. Same thing today. Kept motoring at the top in the big ring. Real nice ride over to Lake Henshaw today as I soon discovered there was a tailwind! Saw some turkeys along the road in the LaJolla Reservation. Got a small Gatorade at the Henshaw Store and sat outside with my sandwich. Several hunters walking around. Turkey season is the last Saturday in March for 37 days. Hunters looked overweight in their camos. Time to head to Oceanside.

Headwind.. that's the word. Easy ride out, headwind ride back. Saw a 3 rider bunch and a trailer approaching So. Grade Road. Looks like they were surprised to see me! Easy ride down the hill. Full size motor home pulling a trailer just had to pass. Almost run me off the road! I was really cookin' past Stage Stop Market. Almost rolled all the way to the Pauma Market. Decided with this nice tailwind to opt out of the Cole Grade climb and head to Bonsall instead. I luv the Cole Grade climb, but am not fond of the Lilac/Old Castle section. Nice push to Pala, even over the 2 short climbs with no bike lanes!

Stopped at Pala gas station and ate my banana. Tighter going now even with lite traffic. Started to feel the onshore headwind as I passed over I-15. Sucked in my breath and rode the 76 to Bonsall. Still about 3 places with no bike lanes and it's still "iffy" at best with moderate traffic. Hit the McDonalds for a headwind breather before the slog to the coast. Still no ice cream there, broken machine, so I opted for a yogurt to eat with my 1/2 tuna sandwich. After icing up, I jumped Highway 76 and then the SLR Bike Path.

Added SDRando logo, mirror and velcro to new Giro helmet

Finally caught up to some young stud on a MTB crankin' it up on the Path. He seemed a little surprised to see me riding along side. I commented that he was riding strong and if he had a road bike I couldn't keep up. He finally ran out of gas and I waived "adios". Stopped at the Circle K in Oceanside for a Ice Cream Sandwich before heading back to San Marcos and finish up. Nice to have the tailwind all the way home. Cut through Vista and took Santa Fe back still under partly cloudy skies.

Supposed to rain tonight. Looks like the forecast was spot-one with the wind. Should have started earlier, since the temps were in the 50's early. Picked up a nice medium size CRAFT PB Rain Jacket and got in some climbing. Felt good when I got home.

-randorides.