Sandia Creek Century

Route map of the Sandia Creek Century Permanent route.

New route.. actually a take-off from the "Busted In DeLuz" permanent, minus the full DeLuz road section. This one starts in San Marcos, which was custom designed for North County randos!

Was on the road at 3:45 for a 4 AM start time. Nice and quiet this time of morning. SOMA was decked out with 3 blazing rear blinkies and just the 2 watt Planet Bike light in the front. Plenty good for it starts getting light around 5 now-a-days! All green lights as I made my way on Santa Fe Ave with the short climb up to LaCosta Blvd. Rando John Mestemacher lives just a stones throw from the first control at Circle K by the lagoon. Always a little cooler there and my arm warmers seemed a touch too warm this trip. Also had on the woolie cap for a while till it warms up. Couldn't find my usual 20cent Reese's cup, so I looked around for 5 minutes looking for something cheap. OH, on the counter were carmels 3 for $.99. Of course 1 costs 39 cents! That was good enough for a receipt as I loaded up my bottles with ice and headed westward toward the ocean.

I was rolling along at 17mph and saw this weak bike light approaching from the rear. I upped it a bit, but this dude was crankin'! Zoomed by me at 22 mph on a tri bike. Had a weak red blinkie on the rear AND a white strobe light that was really working strong. I was impressed with that for night-time vehicle visibility. Don't know if it's legal or not. I could see that blinking 2 miles away along the Coast Hwy. Several other riders out early along the coast. Oceanside was a dead duck early, so no traffic problems there. Hit the SLR off Pacific St. Stopped to use the porta-potty at Benet Street. Stripped off my vest, woolie cap and arm warmers. Folded them up nice and neat and strapped them on the from HB bag. Slight headwind all the way to Bonsall. No stop at the McDonald's this trip.

I checked out Rainbow's Vintage Marketplace!

Turned onto Mission Road toward Fallbrook. Traffic was picking up now till I turned onto Green Canyon Rd. Great place to cycle here, as it winds among the trees on a 2-4% grade up to Reche Road. Oak Park is another nice ride, but the road needs a resurfacing in a bad way. Climbing gets a little steeper here, just a few cars and maxes out at 7%. Did meet a group of 4 riders coming down in no great hurry. A few riders on Historic 395 to Rainbow. Saw a whole bunch of "tents" set up at the Rainbow Market. Rode through there and checked things out. Seems it is a tri annual Vintage Marketplace. Must have been 40 vendors set up there. Traffic lined 395 through there. Finally made it to Carl's Jr. in Temecula for a control stop. Took the back road and sidewalk, omitting any riding on busy Hwy. 79 or Pechunga Hwy around there.

Nice stop at Carl' Jr. Had a breakfast plate instead of the usual choc shake. More bulk for the climbing ahead! Met up with 3 riders for the long climb ahead. We started up together.. then I passed one guy then another. The big leader guy saw me coming and kept up the pace. He kept looking back as I was gaining. Finally he eased up and we rode up together. He was sucking wind real strong as he stopped at the top, waiting for his buddies.

After Bonsall, the route goes over to Champagne Blvd. By Lawrence Welk Resort, a NCCC rider came across and said he was lost and wanted to ride back with me. ( I just happened to have my NCCC yellow jersey on that day!). I told "Chuck" I would ride with him, but I was finishing up the Sandia Creek Century rando route. We chatted as I paced him up the climb. Soon I saw Robert Abraham coming up from behind. He leads the NCCC Saturday Regular Ride. We chatted a bit as he raced by. Next up was Tony Long and his big buddy. We chatted up to the regroup at Deer Springs Road. Had a nice break there as other riders arrived. Soon I left with them blasting down Deer Springs in a paceline, with the SOMA pulling.

Left them soon and rode eastward to Circle K for a finish receipt. Didn't feel too bad, but the knee was acting up. Hope to get into Nytro for a Joe SOMA fit soon. ( Actually did that on the next Monday, June 9th. Moved the seat forward 6mm and up 2 mm. Leg angle is now 145 degrees instead of 143! Feels much better now with the Cambium saddle. Rode home after that)

Overcast early to sunny skies later
Hi: 84   Lo: 58