San Marcos Century

Basic San Marcos Century map

New route today with lots of local climbing. Permanent #2413. After a look-out, added additional rear lights to the SOMA and another headlight. Fog-A-Lot this morning. Not your usual misty fog, but real heavy, wet and lo-visibility type. You could maybe see 100 meters if you had street lighting.

From the start, I felt my way northward on the usual route. Couldn't find the Nutmeg St. turn and rode past it and under I-15. Did a quick U-Turn in the fog and finally found it with the help of my helmet light. Finally climbed out of the fog as I rode north on Centre City Pkwy. Nice and wet now as was everything else around. Good thing I wore my arm warmers. They were covered with a nice sheen of moisture. After crossing Deer Springs Road, I could see fog lined valleys far ahead. It was getting a little lighter out now and visibility was back to near normal.

Very lite traffic today climbing up Circle R and around through the rollers on Lilac Road. This is a nice section to ride in the morning. Always a steep climb up Couser Canyon, but the reward is a nice multi-mile downhill on the other side. Started up Rice Canyon at a moderate 10 mph pace, but eventually geared it back as I was sucking wind on those steep little uphill rollers. Stopped at the Rainbow Market bathroom and wiped things down.

Super heavy fog when I left San Marcos at 0500.

Lots of traffic down Old Highway 395 and on Mission Road to Fallbrook. Must be the Marines heading for duty at Camp Pendleton. Relaxing ride down Oak Grove and Green Canyon. I stopped at Bonsall for a GU gel induced sunday to go with my banana. Iced down my bottles before heading out.

No wind to speak of on Hwy. 76 this morning. Uneventful turn onto the SLR Bike Path westward. Did pick up a racer guy and we diced it out to Oceanside. He was on a Specialized and had been in the gym lifting weights of late ( from looking at his pronounced triceps). Not very talkative as he was having an effort at my pace. So was I! Stopped at the Carlsbad 7-Eleven control for a 20 cent Reece Piece. Picked up a bunch of fast riders going down Coast Hwy. and followed them to Encinitas. Stopped by Nytro for my normal fuel load which I carried on my back in my carry along strap bag.  

Cruised by the Mobile Station control after the first climb up Lomas Santa Fe. This next section to Rancho Santa Fe would be really nice if they would add about 2' to the bike lane (or lack of bike lane). Del Dios Hwy. always has a few riders any time of the week. Warming up some on the climb past the Lake Hodges Dam. Water didn't look so algae green as last trip. Escondido Wendy's is a sort-of necessary control before embarking on the Harmony Grove route to San Elijo.

Dude dusting off scooter at San Elijo Control.

At the San Elijo Chevron, there was this scooter guy who kept putting quarters in the air machine to "dust off" his ride! I watched him a while and even took pic of this event. Got a 99 cent drink and filled my bottles with ice. The route reverses course with a long climb up San Elijo Road to the top where it turns into Twin Oaks and a 50 mph downhill to San Marcos. To avoid the crossover of Hwy. 78, esp. later in the day, a short loop around CSUSM and back to the finish.

This is a tough little route for a century. Lots of climbing at the start and at the end of this one.

Route video at: http://youtu.be/_QFGdl8iCeM

Heavy fog at the start..clearing later with sunny skies
Hi: 83     Lo: 56
103 miles with 7800' of climbing

-randorides