Ursa Minor Revisited

Garmin stats from today's training ride.

Left at 0600 for a ride with Sam Thomas from Albany, NY. Mike Shaw from Hewlett Packard. The second of
Sam's training rides for the week he will be out west. Mike is getting a feeling for what his upcoming retirement will be like riding mid-week!

Rolled out in the dark on my Fuji with only 1 rear blinkie and a headlamp. Plenty good enough for clear skies will bring an early sunrise. Also had my INFINIT with equal part of Carbo-Pro in my bottles and two extra 2-scoop bags along for later. Sam was already complaining about the added climbing past the hospital and on 11th Street. Nice riding along Lake Hodges, with not the usual super heavy traffic. Mike set most of the pace through these areas. After Rancho Santa Fe, I jumped to the front, eager for Red Velvet donuts at the next stop; Solana Donuts. Mike bought me a donut, as Sam was off readjusting his seat height again.

After a bit, we hit the road northward at a more leisurely pace . A few small "hill" races with local riders soon brought us up to Magee Park. Dee's group was riding south today and Ben Hassel and Eric Rix were both soon chatting with Sam at the bathroom. Hopefully they will get together on Thursday's ride. Cruised over on Harbor Dr. and soon launched on I-5 northward. Mike set a fast pace as Sam & I just followed along. I pulled from the Rest Area to Las Pulgas, where some riders were mingling around. I saw my old heavy singlet buddy on his MTB and stopped to chat with him. He rides almost every day and lost lots of weight from 284# down to 218# and still going. Good for him. I hooked up with a group of older riders and sneaked past Mike and Sam riding through the construction area. No stop at San Onofre Campground this trip and Trestles was having a big 10-day women's surfing championship, but we did make a stop at Carls' in San Clemente for water. Sam wanted to get a burger and fries. Mike and I vetoed that! Next stop, Sam.

Mike Shaw and Kellyjay near Sampson's Gazebo overlook

Lite traffic riding through San Clemente at this hour and the bikeway/Doheny State Park was near empty too.
San Juan Bike Path still has construction detour near the bridge, so we went off route a bit to challenge Sam to the steep climb up Cove Road. He made it without getting off to push! We settled in at the Gazebo Dana Point Harbor Overlook where Sam took a few snaps for his legacy album. Next up was Carl's Jr. where the boys got a burger and coke. I had an IC Sandwich which I laced with GU. Sam was hanging around chatting with the locals about his big ride today. We were there a long time, before sneaking out on the SJ Bike Path to Doheny Park.

Nice climb up through San Clemente and soon back on trak through the Trestles detour around the parking lot, which was full of wanna-be champions. Mike set a nice pace through the campground and it's a nice downhill to Las Pulgas Gate. Sam's license is still from MASS and I was giving him a hard time at the guard shack. Nice training pace through the camp and we stopped at the Harbor Dr. bathroom, where Sam had to make a deposit. I was starting to get stiff and had to do a little stretching out while waiting.

Sam Thomas with Cove Road behind.

Mike couldn't wait for the SLR and led out at a nice 17mph. Later on Mike said his Garmin battery was low and had to detour home for another one (or booster?). Sam and I rode the Hwy. 76 with a nice 12mph tailwind. We were flying along and ended up at Bonsall McDonalds again. Mike pulled in as we arrived. Mike and I had Choc Sundaes for $1.08 and Sam opted for a canned Coke with full caffeine charge from AM/PM. We sat around a bit, as I filled my bottles with ice and water for the last hot climbing for today.

We waited for Sam and he did a head-stop before we finally left Bonsall. As predicted, it is good riding with the tailwind along Camino del Rey. Temps picked up a bit as we headed south on Old Hwy. 395. Sam dropped off as the climbing started. A wannabe racer pulled in ahead of Mike and I at Gopher Cyn. Park & Ride. He was off to the races ahead. Mike and I saw him stopped ahead near Lawrence Welk Resort. I told Mike he was "waiting on us". He jumped in just behind us for the Champagne Climb. From Lawrence Welk Village Road to the top is often timed. I noted to Mike that "12 minutes" is a good time to the red light at Deer Springs Road. I paced up as the racer guy held firm on my wheel. Soon he was sucking wind and dropped off. I was still doing my "big ring ride" stuff and kept grinding up the hill. I stopped at the Flower Stand in the shade and checked the Garmin. 11:35. OK for this trip. "Racer guy" and Mike came in and we chatted. Seems this guy was doing training up the hill. He lives up Circle R and drove down to Gopher Canyon start! Cross trainer at a Escondido Gym. Sam rolled in. Gave him a Rando Card and said join-up next ride. He had a good attitude and asked a few questions. Good rando guy for the future.

We left for the new patchy Centre City downhill. Even Nutmeg had some new patches of road. Turned into a cooling headwind on Borden Road over to the finish. A good training ride for me... doing some low hill work and hydration tricks. Felt good at the finish, but still a long week in the saddle for me and Sam. My usual ice up, recovery drink and shower at home.
Long permanent on Thursday with Sam and Palomar on Saturday. Looks like a fun week!

Clear skies all day
Hi:  102     Lo: 71 (Garmin)
126 miles

-randorides