New Rando Permanents For Summer!

I've been working on a few new Permanents of late. Mostly to alleviate the need to go so far just to start an official rando ride. Distances range from 156km to 400km., all starting in North San Diego County. They are all easily accessible for cyclists using the Sprinter train daily, even for early starts. There is no fee for riding these and they are all reversible! (Use discretion when choosing a "reverse route". Sometimes they are surprisingly difficult!) These are not listed on the SD Rando website yet. Here's a short list and description of each:

Lake Henshaw Century #2377
156km., 6785' climbing.

Lake Henshaw Century Map

This is a nice route that starts in San Marcos and takes the not-so usual route via Escondido & up Valley Center Road to Woods Valley. New Control is now at Harrah's 7-Eleven instead of the lame Stage Stop Market with dated foodstuffs. Haven't checked out the bathroom situation yet around there. Past Lake Henshaw, of course we'll climb the nasty Mesa Grande Road to a INFO by Black Canyon Road.

Next up is the best rando stop around: Don's Market in Santa Ysabel! They've got it all there from multiple bathrooms to a water cooler and free ice. Bananas are cheap there too and aren't brown and speckled! The usual route back to Ramona via Old Julian Hwy. with a stop at the JIB/7-Eleven there. Next up it's the nice Highland Valley Road rollers to the pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges. Follow the Bike Path around to the Chevron Control on Via Rancho Pkwy.

The usual climb up Beethoven Dr. and the bike path to El Ku Street, which becomes Escondido Ave. Now a nice change as riders will turn left on Citracado Pkwy. This soon turns into Gamble Street and has lots of hills in there. This is a "shortcut" instead of going through Escondido proper. The usual Harmony Grove loop-e-doop over to Barham and back to the finish near the City Hall and Sprinter Station. Close to 100 miles


Sandia Creek Century #2366
157km., 5660' climbing.

Sandia Creek Century Map

This route sort-of follows a reverse of the DeLuz Populaire. The starting place is at 7-Eleven. This time we'll do a NCCC route and head over to LaCosta via Rancho Santa Fe. Very nice Circle K Control there and also a Starbucks! Next to the coast and up through Oceanside past the Pier. The lowly Pappy's Market is the Control on the way to the San Luis Rey Bike Path. At the true end of the Bike Path, turn left onto Hwy. 76 for a real fast ride to Bonsall, where we turn north toward Fallbrook.

Green Canyon Road is a real nice gentle climb with lite traffic. Jog on Reche over to Oak Park Rd. and climb up to Mission Rd. before the downhill and across the usual I-5 route up to Rainbow on Old Historic Hwy. 395. In Temecula the Shell Station with the huge flag is the new Control. The back way around avoids the "Old Towne" celebrations. The not too long climb up Rancho California Road soon take us over to Sandia Creek Dr. There are several shorter 12% climbs through here, topped off by a 14%'er before some nice riding along the Santa Margarita River. Toughie little climb up to Fallbrook on DeLuz Road before the stop at JIB or local business.

Instead of blasting down Mission Road, there is a short jaunt onto Heller's Bend. Nice and quiet here before the Bonsall Control at AM/PM. Now the route takes a major change and heads east on Camino Del Rey and up the last climb of the day; Champagne Blvd. It's downhill and some easy riding back to the finish. Near 100 miles, depending if you get lost or not!


Rainbow 1.24 #2376
200km., 8208' climbing

Rainbow 1.24 Permanent Map

This reads "Rainbow one-point-two-four "!  It's the same route as the classic "Rainbow Prelude" and "Rainbow 200 Brevet", with the exception of a few safety changes and a North County start. No more deathly Deer Springs Road! We'll follow another Club escape route out of town and ride up Country Club Lane to Centre City/Champagne Blvd. No turn onto busy Old Castle Road this trip. Instead, we use the quiet Circle R climb to both Lilac roads before the steep, but short Couser Canyon Rd. Five mile climb up Rice Canyon takes you to the Rainbow Oaks Market, which opens at 7:00 AM.

Easier riding now as we use the traditional route around Fallbrook to Bonsall, then follow the SLR Bike Path into Oceanside. A cooler coast ride takes us up through UCSD to the UTC McDonalds for a break. Familiar route back through Sorrento Valley and up past Lake Hodges. More riding on Harmony Grove Road to Elfin Forest. Control stop at the newish Chevron there. No big climb this trip, as we then ride over to Rancho Santa Fe through Lake San Marcos to the finish. Always a nice route and designed for a very early start to beat the heat and take advantage of the early sunrise!


Palomar Mtn. Sampler #2380
202km., 10627' climbing
Yes, another Palomar route, but this one starts closer in. This is a take-off from the popular "Training Ride To
Palomar", but with a different ending. Also designed for a very early morning start (preferably a weekday to miss the screaming motos on Palomar Mtn.) with the first Control at the Harrah's 7-Eleven (open 24/7). The usual steady climb up 76 & So. Grade Road to the Control at Mother's Kitchen OR the Post Office (my favorite and opens at 9 AM M-Sat!). You can buy a stamp and still use the bathrooms and water!

Nice downhill on East Grade Road and past the Henshaw Store. Yep, we head up Mesa Grande grade too! Don's Market stop makes up for all the climbing with a cool one!  Though Ramona on this one and on to Highland Valley Road. Next up is San Dieguito to Rancho Santa Fe where we stop at Stump's Village Market Control. A few twists and turns an we're on to Lake San Marcos, through the CSUSM campus and on to the finish. No coastal riding on this one, but still a whole lot of climbing!


Ocotillo 400
397km., 15105' climbing
Several randos have asked about a North County to desert ride, so here is one. (Also there is "Rincon Del
Diablo", check it out!) This is a near take-off of the original Temecula 600 Brevet scheduled for 2014.(later replotted due to high desert temps and gale winds). The top has been chopped off!

We take off from North County and do the usual routing around Palomar Mtn. past Lake Henshaw. Then it's a left turn to catch S-2 as it plunges down into the desert. INFO control at the Montezuma-Borrego Hwy. Ride along the base of the mountains to the Butterfield Store for a refresh before Sweeney Pass, the wind farm and a welcome stop in Ocotillo. Expect some winds along here somewhere on your 12-mile climb up to In-Ko-Pah Pass. I recommend a break at the Mtn. Sage Market in Jacumba before some more climbing up to Tierra Del Sol Summit. A welcome plunge down into Campo for a Circle K stop. (Largest Circle K in San Diego County!)

Lots of hills and curves as you ride through Potrero, Barrett Junction and Delzura. More Otay Lakes riding and also the Sweetwater Bike Path are included. Routing takes Main Street in lieu of the bumpy Harbor Dr. section toward downtown San Diego. Basic coastal riding around Mission Bay, up Torrey Pines and on to Encinitas. There the route turns inland with some more climbing through LaCosta over to Lake San Marcos, CSUSM campus to the finish. This is an interesting route and riders are advised to check the mtn. and desert wind forecast before riding!


Laguna 400
393km., 17402' climbing
This is one fun tough route!  Similar to the actual replotted Temecula 600 Brevet route done this year, without the long loop up to Corona and the Pine Valley miles.This one starts in Oceanside, where all trains & buses go early. It's off on the SLR Bike Path and the Sandia Creek Century route up to Temecula. After the Circle K Control, we'll jog over to the interesting De Portola Road and follow it through horsey wine country. A little dirt riding is mixed in there, but not to worry! Soon riders are blasting downhill on Sage Road. More climbing ahead up through Aguanga to Sunshine Summit, before the nice downhill through Warner Springs and over to Santa Ysabel for a stop. You'll need it soon enough!

A whole lot of altitude now as you climb up through Julian and on to the Mt. Laguna Store. Rest up for the super-duper downhill on Kitchen Creek! Yep! More fun on the lightly maintained road as you pass around two-vehicle gates while trying to keep your grip. A short jog on Hwy. 80 and then it's more nice riding on LaPosta Road to Campo for the Control break. More downhill than climbing ahead as you'll soon be passing through the Border Patrol Checkpoint near Otay Lakes.

Route takes Main St. through National City over to Harbor Drive. Pacific Highway turns into Mission Bay Dr. and follows the Bay up to Rose Canyon. A short climb up to UCSD campus before more coastal riding through Torrey Pines, Del Mar and the finish in Oceanside. Promising route with several lightly traveled roads mixed in. Plenty of timely stores open for night-time refueling.

-randorides