Bike Path X Two Populaire, Racing TREK Di2

I slightly modified this Bike Path route today.

SD Randonneurs Dudley's 300 Brevet today. I'll do a short route with an early return on this Saturday. Left San Marcos start around 0600. I did the Escondido loop and picked up the regular route there. Stopped on the Nutmeg St. climb to pick up a red "Survival Backpak" with goodies inside. Several bars of survival meals, a couple of ponchos and several tube tents. Heavy load, trying to strap onto the top of my HB bag. One rider riding on Camino Del Rey today. At the Bonsall AM/PM, I pulled out the "goodies" from the backpak and rolled it up. Strapped the other things on top. That worked much better. Reloaded the ice at a packed AM/PM and got a cheapo item for receipt.

Rode solo on the San Luis Rey River Trail. Not a lot of action there, nor headwind yet. Today's weather was clear from the start. Looks like a warm one inland later-on. Massive amounts of riders along the coast hwy. I stopped at Magee Park for the bathrooms and filled my bottle(one) there. Tried to hook up with different riders along the ride south, but they don't stop at red lights like I do. Finally got behind several SDBC riders, who were very passive with their riding today. Possibly because their group had the big head on crash at Fiesta Island on Tuesday night. Swung by Nytro. Nothing going on there, but at least they were open early this Saturday. Followed up with a race-a-pace up through Del Mar.

Picked up a rider in blue as I turned onto the SR-56 Bike Path. He had a dirty TREK using Di2 electronic shifting. He kept clanging between big and small chain-rings and not using the rear cassette much. As soon as I pulled in behind him, he picked up speed as I expected. I wasn't into racing today, so I just hung around. He could climb OK and we diced it out till the last longish climb up to Camino Del Sur (where the Circle K stop is). He took off up the climb and I answered. Part way up he was done & I was feelin' it, so I backed off and chatted with him. Said he was on his way home. There was the normal water coolers and bananas on the Bike Path at the Camino Del Sur Street. I think some Filipino riders set it up. Kudoz to them. Didn't stop there as I needed a receipt from the ice cream sandwich. Sat outside on the curb and didn't stretch my legs. Ate my tuna sandwich and chatted with a couple of local riders.

Picked up a 5 lb. roadside "Survival Kit" on Nutmeg Street today.

Started up the Bike Path toward Poway and my quads tightened up like violin strings! Had to stretch the out on the bike. Climbed up to Sabre Springs and never stopped at the 7-Eleven on Poway Road. Never did like that stop much. Instead I stopped at the bathroom part way up Pomorado Road Rolled over to the Lake Hodges Bike Path and needed ice water bad. Stopped at the Mule Hill Chevron and got a 99 cent fountain Gatorade in my bottle and filled the cup with Mtn. Dew. Some dude there was telling me about his luck with the Lotto Scratchers. Left there and climbed up through South Escondido, over to Quince St. and followed the Inland Rail Trail back to San Marcos. Filled my bottle with ice at the 7-Eleven and got as far as the Fire Station on Mission Rd. when my front tire went low.  I might have been able to ride it home, but decided to change it instead.

I soon pulled into the vacant, shady Joslin Center and picked out the glass. Quick tube change in the shade and I was soon on my way over to the Harley Dealer on Furniture Row against a warm headwind. Zaharah had set up her knitting booth there for some Harley event today till 3:00 PM. Checked out things there and headed home. Didn't even get a free burger or cola! Drank a bottle of recovery mix, one iced Vitamin water and started another one. Shows how dehydrated I was today. Bad move with only one bottle. Last trip one worked good, this time it was 15 degrees warmer with clear skies. Duh.

Clear skies all day
Hi: 90's   Lo: 64]
81 miles

-randorides