San Marcos Century (Sam Thomas returns from Albany)

Garmin tracked the route today: San Marcos Century

Sam returns to SoCal for a week from the humid and warm Albany, NY. Sam has been training with a Albany bike club all spring/summer and looked the part losing 15 lbs!. I had scheduled several rando rides for Sam this week per his request. He goal was 500 miles and that shouldn't be a problem depending on his motor! I'd plug it into my normal Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday ride schedule. That might work?

Nice group already chatting as I rolled up on the Fuji. I had switched over to a newer set of G'skin Hardshells 28mm for this ride. Needed to minimize the chances of a flat today. My normal HB bag was filled up with several bars, gels, cashew butter crackers, air/cartridge pump and my other normal help-drugs, energy enhancers and bail out cremes! I was trying the Joe recommended INFINIT powder in my bottles laced with an equal amount of CARBO_PRO. (INFINIT was way too salty tasting at the normal mix) No electrolytes tabs in the bottles, it was in the INFINIT.
John Mestemacher had ridden the route in from Solana Beach. Mac Imacseng, Lisa Nicholson, Mike Shaw, Sandy Aniya, Sam Thomas, Keith Olsen, Dan Phillips and Steve Schechter made up the group of 10 riders today. For 3 days notice, a few emails and only the sdrando blog posting, I figured that was really a good turnout. We milled around a bit waiting for Steve to unload his car and get ready. Of course Sam was already telling his riding/workout stories even before we started. Gal from the restaurant came out and was chatting about parking around there. Seems Saturday was the really big day at the restaurant. Not so, as I live close by and check out this lot all the time. We rolled out 5 minutes from our official start time of 0700.

Sam Thomas came out from Albany, NY for this!

Group deviated from the cue sheet and took Ivy Glen over to Jesmone Dene. It's always been a nice climb in lieu of the rougher and busier Centre City Pkwy. Mike Shaw was feeling it early as several riders caught the Old Castle Road red light. Most all regrouped on the Circle R climb. Sandy and Keith were the sweepers. Mike and Mac were out front. I was riding with Lisa, Dan and Steve through Lilac and toward Couser. Couser Cyn. Road has a new surface and the downhill is much safer now for cyclists. Grouped up with Mac & Mike up Rice Canyon climb. Mike was lead out and Mac was complaining about his pace. Dan, Lisa and Sam were just behind. Soon we saw the log house and the climbing was over. Rainbow Oaks Market had a big monthly Art & Crafts Sale outside and it was packed around there. We all sat at the table and watered up. Seems that the pak of 3 cookies was a hot seller. John said Sam was on a cell call on Rice Canyon and didn't sound too happy. Sam never showed up at the Market. (Later said he went straight through Rainbow and turned left onto Old Hwy. 395. Met the group as they were leaving the Rainbow Market!) As the group was leaving, Steve rolled in. He said he turned right on Hwy. 76 instead of left. (Good job. He was heading toward Palomar Mtn.!) I waited for Steve to fill his bottles and eat a cookie. Sandy and Keith hadn't shown up yet*.

We could see the group of Mac, Mike, Lisa, John, Dan and Sam far ahead on our route toward Fallbrook. I thought we might see them again at the Carlsbad Control. Steve has a new 2014 TREK Domane with Di2 shifters. He really likes his new bike for long comfort. I found the shifting was really noisy!  After a Bonsall red light, Steve was putting his bottle back in and hit the curb and went down. His hip was sore for sure. We went back to AM/PM and put a ice bag under his shorts. That should keep the swelling down real quick. He refused any Tylenol or Advil for the pain and suffering! I did the lead out all the way to the coast. Once there it was heavy Amtrak Century riders. Hundreds of riders on the road. The rando group was still at the 7-Eleven Control when we got there. John had ridden ahead and back home do to time constraints. Chatted up a bit as Steve refilled his ice bag. Mac and Mike took off ahead as the rest of us mingled with the Amtrak riders and stopped at each red light. Some fast riding along the coast with a tailwind. We all met up again at the Loma Santa Fe Mobil Control.

Mac had french fries in hand as we parked in the shade. Ice cream was a hot item here. There was a great cool breeze blowing through as we refilled our bottles. Had to pry Sam out of the chair, but we were finally climbing again toward Rancho Santa Fe. Mac was blazing off the front as Mike set the pace for the others. A smallish regroup before the Del Dios climb past the Dam. Mac rode out ahead as I rode with Dan over to the Escondido Control. Temps were in the mid 90's as the tailwind didn't cool things off much. I went to Albertson's for water and the bathroom. then back to Wendy's. No Mac. Mike spotted Sam at the far red light. I jumped on my bike and rode over to alert him of the Control he missed. Back together again, we sat around in air-con comfort. Outside, Lisa gave a few tips on sea-salt and hydration. We were soon off on-route again.

New Amtrak Century jerseys were all over the coast today!

Mike pulled a bit on his TREK Domane through Harmony Grove burn area. We split up on the climb to San Elijo, as I had the gears-in-sync and all figured out for this one. On the one way street, some SUV kept on his horn behind me. I had the lane and was turning left into the Chevron Control. I waved him over and gave some hand gestures. He was still on his horn as he went around! Some drivers just don't get it and never will. Long wait regroup at Chevron in the shade. 2 racer guys were sitting in the shade at the tables saying how great their bikes were. If I had those rigs, I would already be done! No Mac. No Sam now. Lisa said Sam was right behind her on the climb. We finally left, but spotted Sam across the field. I said "carry on" and U-turned to the sidewalk back to Chevron (One-way street). Dan followed and we met Sam there. Of course he had to refill and drink something. Sam was "cooked". His fast Mohawk-Hudson River Bike Path training wasn't paying off much now. Our group of 3 left for the last climb of the day. After several regroups, we started the long fast downhill to San Marcos. Only could get 47 mph this trip, due to the headwind. Sam dropped off the map on this one. By CSUSM campus, Sam said he was loosing air and the tire was a little "squirrely" on the downhill. WHEW! We finally got back to the 7-Eleven finish. Nice job?

Mac was there. Sandy too. No Keith. Sandy said he got to Escondido and took the straight road back. He said later that Keith bailed at Rainbow. Don't know how he got back to his car. This was a hot, tough route. Anyone who got through it was a real die-hard rando, for sure!

I felt good all day, especially on the climbs. Didn't bring enough of the new INFINIT for that final refill. That stuff seemed to work really good with the high temps today. A little "salty" tinge to the mix. No cola, no caffeine today, just a few bars, water and powder. Did my usual recovery mix with Soy Milk, Cliff Recovery Mix, Carbo-Pro and Instant Breakfast when I got home. Did the ice, shower and food thing too.

Video of the route:
http://youtu.be/_QFGdl8iCeM

Thanks to all who showed up and rode. That's what it's all about.
Sam & I will be riding 2 more Permanents this week and then the Palomar ride on Saturday. Hopefully?

Clear skies all day.
Hi: 100     Lo: 66
104 miles

* Keith later email and said he wasn't quite up to par today. He stopped at the Rainbow Oaks Market, sat in the shade and waited for his wife for pickup .

-randorides