Fix My Bike Populaire

Fix My Bike route we rode today.

Keith wanted to do a Saturday ride to keep his RUSA P-Series alive, so it's ON. I sent out notes to a few regular rando riders at the last minute (Thursday PM) to keep them in the loop. Looks like Mike Shaw will join up and Dan Phillips might ride in from Oceanside for this one. His buddy Bill Stevenson is riding the Santa Cruz 600 up north today with Mac Imacseng.

Soaked my left ankle in Epson Salts and rubbed it down good. Normally I wouldn't be riding today, but I figured I could manage at a moderate pace and take a few days off later. I packed a bag of electrolyte tabs for Keith and headed out at 0630. Forgot a packet of Chamois Creme, so I turned around and went back to pick one up. Always carry some extra stuff, just in case! Took the north route to Mulberry 7-Eleven. Mike and Dan were there already. Went inside and looked for a Reese Piece for 20 cents. None. Got a duplicate pre-start receipt and chatted with the boys. No Keith yet. We waited till 0700 and rolled out, per schedule. I saw a couple of riders at the Albertson's parking lot and we turned in there, figuring Keith might have parked there as before. Nope, just a couple of "big" guys. Something must have happened, as Keith is usually quite punctual.*

Followed the route through Harmony Grove and down Del Dios with Dan setting the pace as we were talking. Not a lot of traffic for Saturday morning. Rancho Santa Fe town was sleepy as we rode the rollers to the coast. Stopped at the Solana Donut Control and picked up some Red Velvet donuts for receipt. These are supposed to be a baked donut. I threw out the notion of a Yuma ride to the guys. Mike said Sandy wanted to do it. Otherwise the idea was lukewarm. Weather was really good as compared to the last few weeks of HEAT.

Red Velvet donut at Solana Donut Control for receipt Yummy!

Several fast groups along the Coast today sprinkled in with regular riders. Rolled northward past Nytro, where there was the usual gruppo at the feed station for their Saturday morning ride. Further north, I got a rear flat on the well worn-out Gators. Pulled over into a mobile home park and sat down by some garlic flowers! Nice and stinky. Made a standard change and we were soon on our way northward again. Stopped by at Magee Park for water and a bathroom break. Large group at the park church this morning. We talked about the cyclists who was left for dead over on N. River Road last week. I mentioned I wanted to go over and check it out today for it's just off route.

We turned off the SLR onto Douglas, then a left on N. River Road to the end of the cul-de-sac. There was a white bike by the sidewalk for a memorial. We checked the scene: police had tagged evidence locations with green paint numbers. They were scattered along a 75 foot section including tire marks along the curb! Parts were still lying around and we spotted a amber turn bulb under a bush. What a mess.**

Rode over to College and picked up the SLR again. Mike led out on Hwy. 76 over to Bonsall for a control break. We stopped at McDonalds where it was busy. The boys got fries or fish and I opted for HF Sundae. I had to go back several time to remind them of my paltry order. Guess they should be making $13 to $15 per hour soon, that would help the service? NOT!

Cyclists accident scene on N. River Road.

I led out along Camino Del Rey at 16 mph. Mike pulled off at Old Hwy. 395 for a climb up Day Lilly Hill and down Lilac through Bonsall and back home. Nice long ride for him today. Dan & I pulled in behind a racer looking guy heading sourthward toward Escondido. We soon caught him on the first climb. He kept checking us and looked maxed out. He stopped at the Gopher Cyn. light and checked us over up close. A lean mean machine with yellow Pedros jersey riding a Kline and a old dude with a torn RUSA jersey riding a heavy steel bike! We slowly pulled ahead up the little climb and Dan opened it up past Lawrence Welk. This guy was gone now for sure. I mentioned to Dan to start his clock as we passed the Lawrence Welk Village driveway. 12 minutes is a good rando time to the light. Of course Dan ramped it up when he saw some scattered riders ahead. We were both in the big chain-ring and I was holding his wheel but couldn't get out of the saddle due to the tendon pain. 10.7 mph was the norm for the climb today. Dan was on it and I was limping in his draft! I stopped at the top for "medical and a red light". 11 minutes for a good climb today. I applied some "White Flower" to the outside tendon as Dan slo-rolled up the road. We made good time back to the Finish into a cool headwind. Dan got a Gatorade as I opted for the cheapo Reese Piece (yes, they restocked!). It was only 1230 for an early finish today! Dan was riding home, so we rode together over to Vineyard and up Woodward.

Too bad Keith didn't make this ride today. The guys were looking forward to it. Dan had nearly a 100 mile day and Mike rode good too with almost 90 miles. I limped around and ended up doing OK up Champagne. It was a 3 Tylenol day and lots of White Flower to keep moving. I soaked the ankle well in Epson Salts and did my normal muscle rub thing when I got home. Call it overuse or tendonitis, which ever suits your needs? Looked like a 3/5 day to me. 

* Keith later emailed that he "wasn't feeling up to the ride today for various reasons"

** Police traced the Kia car parts later in the week to a San Diego driver and questioned him. The cyclists lay there overnight before being spotted by a plant employee going to work at 0530 the next morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Overcast early, clear later
Hi: 78     Lo: 61
69 miles

-randorides