Aztec Century...A helping hand

Aztec Century-R Map with Oceanside start

Left the house at 0405 at caught the first Sprinter train to the coast. Got off at Crouch Street station and rode up Canyon Street, then over and down to the start at Benet St & Hwy. 76. Left there at 0500 and headed for the SLR Bike Trail. Had my arm warmers on, but soon took them off as the Garmin temp was 67F! Several dudes in all black jogging the trail in the dark early hours. Be nice if they wore some white or at least had a rear blinkie on! Rode down main street in Oceanside on Coast Hwy. 101. All green lights and no traffic at all. I wasn't in any rhythm at all so far. Tire pressure on the Fuji was lowered for this route. 90/80 psi works good on these sometimes not so smooth roads.

A few commuters were cycling along the coast at this hour. Racer guy with a bright light was trying to chase me down. Caught me at a Encinitas stop light. Followed him southward and caught up at one of the mini hills along the way. Chatted a bit and noticed he had a Niterider rechargeable headlamp. He soon turned off before the Del Mar climb. Did get mixed up with some SD Tri club riders doing hill repeats up Torrey Pines! Big ring at 10mph was enough to start passing them. One tri-guy said he didn't like the repeats at all. I admire their training skills as they turned around at the top. Right A. tendon was bothering me.. must have been the big gear climbing? Chased down a MTB rider and his riding bud on a green cannondale roadie bike. Chatted a bit before they turned off down to LaJolla Shores.

Normal ride through Rose Canyon, Santa Fe Street past Mtn. Bike Shop and the loop up to Morena Blvd. I don't take the usual route through here to Mission Bay Dr. and all the traffic anymore. Jog on India St. and soon a quiet Friars Road. The malls at Fashion Valley were quiet at this hour. Traffic was nill. Even the slog up to SDSU on Monty Road was quiet. Only a few groups in for Fall Orientation and the campus tour as I rode to the McDonald's Control. A little after 0800, so I got some ice for my right tendon and had a parfait yogurt with a gel pak on top! Stayed too long after refilling my bottles with water and ice. Return trip stated with a nice fast downhill into traffic ahead.

2-81mg Aspirin for the guy

Met a couple of SDSU students on older road bike heading to Mission Bay. They tried to amp it up at the turn onto Friars Rd. That didn't last long as they tired out and dropped back real quick. Seems as though I had a tailwind going up Morena Blvd. this trip. Asian couple riding up Rose Canyon Bike Path. Lady was dragging behind and trying to shift on the last climb. Riding with her, I suggested she shift before the steeper climbs. Her chain and drive-line were all rusted on the old MTB. Turned onto Gilman and started the climb. Then it happened!

1-.3mg Nitro to ease the pain

Climbing the curve on Gilman, there was a man lying alongside the road. Another cyclists pulled-up and called 911. I talked to the guy who was winching in pain holding his chest. He said he had a heart attack! I asked him a few questions and calmed him down, then went to my bag and gave him 2 - 81mg aspirin with water from my bottle. Also a Nitro pill for under his tongue. In about 10 minutes the paramedics arrived with a fire truck. They blocked the road off from traffic and attended to him. I explained to one paramedic what had transpired. He said what I gave him might have made a difference. After a bit, I cycled up the hill with the other cyclists who was going to work at Scripps Research Lab on Torrey Pines Road. Good job!

I was feeling good as I was climbing up to Del Mar, that is, until I noticed a racer was closing fast! I amped it up a bit to no avail. This guy was flying. We chatted at the light as he sped away. Hooked up with another rider and rode to Encinitas, where I stopped at Nytro for some chain oil. Joe wasn't there, so I filled my bottle and sat outside. Looked like Jimbo Wisener across the street northbound, so I chased him down. Jim and Bill Stevenson are back from their big Markeville Death Ride last Saturday. Jim outlined the details of their 4 day trip. Jim turned at LaCosta Ave as I soloed back to Oceanside. Stopped at the Transit Center to renew my transit pass and headed to the finish. Then cycled uphill in reverse of earlier route to the station and hopped the Sprinter back to San Marcos.

Weather was nice today, cloudy all day. No riding rhythm all day. Hi-lite was helping the guy by the Gilman roadside. Right achilles tendon was a little off all day. Finished up in good order with all the extra stops today. Leaving earlier made for less traffic and red-lights

Cloudy skies
Hi: 78   Lo: 67
97 miles

-randorides