University Loop Permanent

Some dude on the San Luis Rey Bike Path to Oceanside

Time for some back-to-back-to-back 200K stuff. Needed to stop by Nytro today AND meet up with the OFR gruppo out of Magee Park in Carlsbad. Why not jump on the Uni-Loop Permanent?

Left home well before 6:00 for an early start and co-ordinate the meet up in Carlsbad. My woolie cap, arm warmers, fingerless gloves and single under-layer weren't enough! After getting a start receipt, I went back home and added a vest and long gloves! Gee whiz, that Twin Oaks Valley is real cool in the early morning.

Felt comfortable enough till I got to the Bike Path extension off Hwy. 76. Another temp drop along there. The sun way trying to come up on the SLR, but some high clouds were blocking those much needed rays! Picked up a single speed guy riding a chrome Bianchi Pista on the SLR. Did an straight cut on one of the loops under the roadway above and got ahead of him. He passed me and I followed him to Benet Street. Bike Path was closed here. Pista rider didn't know what to do , so I passed around and headed over to Hwy. 76 for the super fast ride in to Oceanside. Must have been a huge tailwind as I was crankin' along at 27mph. With my 50x13 gears, that's moving along!

Stopped at Circle K and tried to get 2 bananas for a buck! No deal. They wanted $1.50. I kept riding and stopped at a 7-Eleven where I did get 2 for a buck! Raced over to Magee Park to meet the OFR boys at 8:30. We chit chatted a bit and then all 7 of us rolled southward at a fast 18mph pace set by Kiwi Stuart! Shut him down on the little climb south of Carlsbad. Bruce and Troy joined up along the way south. Then Salton Sea Ben joined up near Encinitas! Good to see him after his "explosion" on the Salton Sea ride.

Lots of chit chat during the stop at Swami's Park. I stripped down and neatly folded my clothing before putting it on the front on my bar bag. Group of 15 headed south and up Torrey climb. I went straight through Del Mar and got ahead of the gruppo. Met 2 women riders pacing up Torrey and rode with them. Both were out of gears and struggling a bit. Looks like they had compacts with 11-25 on the back. No wonder. One on a carbon and the other rode a Titanium bike. Waited at the top for the Gruppo to show up.

A few turned around at the top, the rest were riding to the Cabrillo Monument. Rode together till Santa Fe Street, where I kept going straight for the sidewalk cut up to Morena Blvd. They headed over to Mission Bay and points beyond. Rolled down Morena into a slight headwind under partly cloudy skies and nice temps. Not much traffic through Friars and Mission Valley. Traffic increase up Montezuma Road. Lots of tour buses around now, due to the Final Four tourney kicking off at SDSU on Friday. No action at McDonald's, as I got a burger and a ice cream cone. Didn't pack a sandwich today.

"March Madness" hits this week at SDSU Areana

Turned around into a headwind to the coast, but a nice push up Morena Blvd., Santa Fe St. and the Rose Canyon Bike Path. Went through the UCSD campus with little traffic and down Torrey Pines. Passed a "fat tire bike" creeping up to Del Mar. Wow! Nice looking black bike with hyd. disc brakes and 3x10 gearing. This dude just bought it and I don't know if he ever made it up to the top! Jumped through a group of young riders heading north. One leader said they were going camping at the San Elijo Campground.  Picked up a slick racer guy on a TREK with a PowerHub. Drafted him for several miles before he kicked my ass from Chesterfield to Encinitas! He was gone and so was I! Stopped at Nytro for stuff. Joe Morgan had the next 4 days off! Nice. Left empty handed. Rode northward and got into a group for relief. Turned at Carlsbad and finished up over in San Marcos. Route done. Back of my shoulders hurt off and on all day. Must be the bike set up. Need to do something about that... somehow.

Looks like a day off tomorrow (Friday) for bike cleaning and set up. Suppose to ride with John M. on Saturday for our Ursa Minor 200+ Permanent. Maybe we'll see the San Clemente 200 Brevet riders along the route somewhere. Might meet them at the Dana Point Deli too!

-randorides