Ursa Minor Windage

High Wind Advisory today inland. Flags were flying!

Hi-wind warning today for the inland areas with a fire danger warning thrown in too! Thought about the Hemet route but soon nixed the idea when @ 0500 winds were in the 20+ mph range up there. Looks like Ursa Minor in REVERSE today. Did a detail check of the SOMA G'skin Hardshells yesterday. Those suckers are just about done in. Esp the rear! Wearing thin with holes, cracks and slices. I did remove several small pieces of hidden glass from both tires. I'm running them to the cords, brother!

Left as the sun was peaking over the hills to the east. Headed north (reverse) and soon stripped off my arm warmers. Wearing the classic shredded RUSA jersey from the Feb. 13, 2013 rear end hit. Stopped at Bonsall McDonalds for a ice refill. Chatted with a old couple who said what a nice day for a bike ride! Yes, I agree. Any day you can ride with wheels is a good day! Big tailwind on Hwy. 76 westward as I was out of gears! SLR had a slight tailwind as I steadied at 19mph. Thought I saw Ron Peterson riding a recumbent with a windshield? Used to ride with him as he now rides with Pete Pensyres on Wednesdays from Bonsall. As I neared the harbor, the wind turned to NW.

Watched BP drug-search on I-5 near Trestles

Took the I-5 route northward, by-passing the Camp. Side wind along there. Hit the headwind after the Las Pulgas exit. No construction south of there, yet. Hooked up with 2 TT racers for a while. They soon left me as I went back to my norm of 17mph into the headwind, slogging up the coast. By the time I got to the bikeway north of San Clemente, my legs felt like rubber. Got a full shake at SLO and added a new flavor of GU: Orange Burst! The road back was much easier with the slight tailwind pushing. Nice push back up the hill to San Clemente! I hit that hard in a big ring combo. Stopped and watched the Border Patrol boys do a dog-drug search of a car along side I-5. Looks like they were a little disappointed in no positive results!

Maintained a nice easy 20 mph through the campground. Turned through the Camp and chatted a bit with the Marines on sentry duty at the gate. Stopped for 2 OFR riders who had left Orange early. They were ahead of the main OFR gruppo. Rode with them through the Camp. Nice easy riding south along the coast, as the slight tailwind made it enjoyable with little energy. I was blasting everything at 20 mph. The turn inland at Solana Beach was a different matter. Not much wind to Rancho Santa Fe town. After that it was a headwind slog up to Escondido. Took the Inland Rail Trail over to San Marcos under temps in the high 80's.

Middle part of the route was a slog into the wind. After that, it felt like I was riding good again! Hehe. Only the tailwind, bud!  Got in some hi-speed work with the TT riders and with the wind. Regular rating for this ride.

Clear sunny skies
Hi: 88    Lo: 54
125 miles

-randorides