Lake Henshaw Century Populaire

Lake Henshaw Century Populaire Garmin Stats

Off we go! A few minutes after 0600, Mac Imacseng, Sandy Aniya, Keith Olsen and I were on Mission Road eastward for this new populaire (rando term for a route under 200km/124 miles). Bill Stevenson was taking the Sprinter train over and would arrive around 0620. We scheduled to meet up en route at Harrah's 7-Eleven later on. Weather was the usual low overcast as Sandy picked up the pace through Escondido town. Car traffic was no problem this early on a Saturday. Today I was taking pics for a route video. Like to do that either before submitting a route to RUSA for approval, OR on the inaugural riding of the route. Picked up a pair of designer glasses on the climb up Valley Center Road. Mac and I rode up together, as did Sandy and Keith. Low clouds in the surrounding hills made for some cool riding and good photos through here. Turned on Woods Valley Road in lieu of the more traditional rando routes through here. Big downhill BLAST on Rincon Grade. This road is still real rough and bumpy as an infrequent car passed us going down. Also a TT rider rolled past us in some big gears (probably 56x11!). Smoothed out at the bottom in time for the Control stop at Harrah's 7-Eleven.

Refill at Harrah's 7-Eleven Control

I hadn't been here before, but Sandy said it is a great place for a stop. Bathrooms and water are the key. Most got a few bananas (2x$1) for the trip ahead. Bill rolled in to join the fun. Said he figured he could make up time on the climbs. He did! We were there 15-20 minutes chatting and noting how this would be a good overnight rando stop too!. Seems Keith and Mac are going up to NoCal for a Santa Cruz Surf City 600K in September. A lot less severe climbing than the local 600K here in May. Both wanted to complete their RUSA SR Series for 2014.

Left on the real bumpy bike lane climbing up past Stage Stop Market. For years, this was the usual refuel stop for riders around here. Weird service, old stuff and no bananas! They did have a outside bathroom, but it was opened by the Taco Shop next door. Mac, Bill and I rode up Hwy. 76 to So. Grade together. Bill and Jimbo Wisener are going up to Taos next week to prep up for a long ride, so we chatted about that. Mac was explaining all the different routes he has ridden up there. I just listened. We stopped for a regroup at So. Grade Road.

Mac hits on cycle-chic at So. Grade Road regroup

Some cycle chic was unloading her newer bike and spraying on sunscreen. Mac was hitting on her as Sandy rolled in for a shade stop. No Keith? We waited around a while chatting with the gal. Still no Keith. We decided to go back down and see what happened. He finally showed up. Said he had a goat-head flat just after starting the climb from Stage Stop Market. I was sucking Macs Colnago wheel as he cranked it up to 19 mph for the run in to the Lake Henshaw Store. Keith was a bit behind us. We were there for a while before Sandy and Bill rolled in. Sandy had a goat-head flat along the way. That was a quick tube change!. Sat around in the shade, as 3 racer boys rolled in. Keith said they had come up Mesa Grande Road via Black Canyon Road. That's a washboard dirt road. Bet they were beat up good on those racing bikes. Keith was looking for water, without buying any.

We're soon off to climb the steepish Mesa Grande Rd. I rode up partway with Bill and Mac. Pulled off to take some pics of the overview of Lake Henshaw. Managed a few shots of Keith and Sandy grinding up. Sandy had the zig-zag thing going across the road. After a regroup at the top we were soon riding through shade covered roads winding along the mesa. A short stop at the INFO Control mailboxes for a picture. Group rode together to the fast downhill to Hwy. 79. God some action shots following Mac down. Mac was impressed with the road and hadn't ridden the mesa before. Welcome stop at Don's Market in Santa Ysabel.

Ready to roll from Don's Market Control in Santa Ysabel

In my books, the #1 rando stop in the area. Out of free water in the cooler today. We sat around for 25 minutes in the shade. Quite a bit warmer here. Probably in the high 80'sF. Mac, Bill, Keith and Sandy each had a big sandwich. I hit the Vitamin Water and ate my tuna/cheese carry along. Picked up a banana. Ice up the bottles. Took a few pics and chatted. Mac was trying his cellphone. His blueberry and coffee pre-ride feast didn't last long this morning! He said he loaded up on antioxidants early!

Once you clear the first hill traffic on Hwy. 78, the 30 minute ride down to Ramona goes real quick. Sandy specializes in downhill routes, so he took off, followed by "cross the yellow lines" Bill. Keith is usually reluctant on downhills and Mac and I rode together. We took "D" Street for a back way to the 7-Eleven Control stop. Keith got a huge 32oz Coke, Bill a Payday, me a dark choc Milky Way as Mac scarfed down a tall can of Coconut Water! Sandy carried 3-24oz bottles today on his new TREK. 10 minute stop. Bill took us the back way over to the Albertson's red light, where it was much safer to enter Hwy. 67 westward.

Mesa Grande INFO Control at the mailboxes

The ride out of Ramona is usually real "dicey" at best. With the traffic and swerving to miss the recessed storm drain grates, we were happy for the headwinds on Highland Valley Road. Mac pulled us along past the buffalo pens before more roller climbing ahead. Mac hadn't been this way before. Bill and I knew each downhill turn and bump, so we cranked it up. Had a regroup after Bandy Canyon Road. Road down the curves section amidst yelling and kicking from the local moto butthole. Tried to kick me and run us off the road. Rolling regroup along the river bottom. Soon we were crossing the pedestrian bridge onto the bike path for our last Control stop of the day at the Via Rancho Chevron. I iced up my bottles here. Hung around for 10 minutes.

OH NO! Last 16% climb of the day on Gamble Lane

Took the Bike Path over to El Ku Ave., climbing up alongside Centre City Pkwy. The route deviates from the norm, as we now turn on Citracado westward for a few nasty steep climbs. The first one is a surprising short 17%. Followed by a nice downhill, under I-15. The road soon changes to Gamble Lane and the final climb starts as a straight up 16% grinder. Regroup at the top, under a vehicle stopping chain and quickly we were downhill on Citracado Pkwy. to more familiar neighborhoods again. A double Harmony Grove turn, jog through the business park, Barham Dr. and the final headwind on Mission Road to the finish in San Marcos. Keith and Mac rode back to Albertson's lot to Keith's car. Bill was taking the Sprinter train back to Oceanside. Sandy drove in and I rode home.

Interesting day and route. Garmin Stats and RidewithGPS both indicated a true 6785 ft. of climbing on this one. Seemed to be more than that. Nice cool morning ride in the 60's leading to hotter temps in Ramona near 88F. Not that windy riding in a group. Seems we all had a good workout and a fun time today! Nice route for a 0500 start in the summer.

Video of this ride can be seen at: http://youtu.be/DGJnEC2f38k

Low clouds early, clear at Harrah's
Hi: 88   Lo: 61
97 miles

-randorides