Commute To SDSU

Commute To SDSU Permanent Route today

Photo-journal type ride today for this new rando permanent #2592. When submitting new routes to RUSA, I really like to add in a route video along with the other required items. In this case, it didn't happen. Sometimes I don't always get the time or inclination to get it done early.

After loading up my trusty, beat-up old Canon PowerShot camera, I rode over to the Albertson's start point before 0800. Still using the same camera batteries: 2-Energizer Lithium AA inside. Already have over 500 pictures and counting on the initial pair. Add in 15 video clips and it's amazing they have lasted so long. They cost 3x as much as the regular Energizers, so I have been documenting how long they last. So far it's pretty impressive!  Arm warmers and woolie cap was it for extra clothing today.

Packed house at SDSU Control

Rolled out at 0815 and rode east on Mission Ave. Massive traffic with ample bike lanes. After the turn off on Linda Vista Dr., car traffic disappeared only to be picked up later on Palomar Airport Road. Not a super day for taking photos, as a high layer of thin clouds made for "hazy" looking pictures. Met several groups of cyclists riding east on La Costa Ave. Used Vulcan instead of busier Coast Hwy. 101 this route. A turn on D Street in Encinitas led to the first control stop at the handy 7-Eleven there. AA Energizer Lithiums finally gave out, so I popped in a new set.

After a few pics, chased a trio of riders on 101. Hard to catch them, as they were looping through each red light. Finally made contact near Cardiff, at which time they checked me over and tried to drop me. Sorry boys, not to happen today. They took the neighborhood route through Del Mar as I stayed on the straight route. Rode with a NCCC club girl and guy before they turned off onto Carmel Valley Road. Nice easy big-ring pace up Torrey, where I hooked up with a couple out for a short 2 hour ride today. They turned down to LaJolla for coffee. I hit the Rose Canyon Bike Path.

Construction on Qualcomm Bike Path

Nearly out of water, so I remembered the SportRX stand on Santa Fe Street. Filled my bottle and grabbed a free bar after signing their clip-board list. Handy place for me today.  Wish they would keep cars from parking in frot of the canopy though. Hard to see while blasting down Santa Fe. Rode straight past Mtn. Bike Warehouse and turned off on the tricky sidewalk path before climbing up to SM Morena Ave. Cruse control now with the normal traffic on the India St. turn. Took a few pictures along Friars Road of the Riverwalk Golf Course and as I rode through Fashion Valley.

Not much going on as I worked by way up to SDSU. Classes are in full swing again, so more traffic than usual up the Montezuma climb to the campus. Did the alley thing and was soon at the McDonald's turn-around control. Of course it was packed at this time of day. Got behind a student guy with green pants, green hair and green lipstick! What a fashion statement! Ate my tuna sandwich with the HF Sundae laced with a Root Beer GU Gel. Yummy? Iced up my bottles and started my return trip with a blast off downhill.

Murphy Canyon Charger HQ

Made a quick stop at the side path tree, before breezing through the traffic-tough Camino del Rio N. turn. Ward street turn brought me into the Qualcomm parking lot path. Construction Area! Bike Path was blocked off by SD Water District equipment. I stopped for a few pics before wandering around the lot looking for a way out. Packed over a chain-gate and rode a dirt path near the fuel depot. Finally back on the bike path riding north again. Couldn't wait to clear the busy Wal-Mart traffic & horn honking before finally some downhills on Murphy Canyon Road. Stopped for a few pics of the Charger main offices and practice field, before climbing around to Kearney Villa Road.

Noticed a rider with a packed bike walking wrong way up a on-ramp from Hwy. 52. Stopped to see if I could help. All I heard from him was "motherf&^$%$ queer bastard..." I kept riding northward on the fast, smooth Kearny Villa Road. Stopped to take some pictures of Marine Air doing touch & go's at Miramar Base. Saw a racer-guy riding wrong way towards me in the bike lane. He swung out into traffic as I took his picture. He immediately turned around and chased me down. When he passed, he had his cell-phone out and took my picture. I complied and took another pic of him as he dropped his cell-phone. As his phone was bouncing along the road, he asked "What that was all about?" I said I was documenting a route for Randonneurs USA. He answered: "Sorry, and I apologize". He turned around and went back for his phone. I kept on route with my business. Never saw him again. What a day so far!

Wrong way rider who dropped cellphone!

Kearney Villa Road becomes Black Mountain Road. Some nice climbing up to Hwy.56. After that, it has a series of rollers as I continued northward. Saw 2 cyclists on Carmel Valley Rd., just before I made my turn there. Started to chase them down. These guys were smoking! Finally hooked up just before my turn off onto Dove Canyon Rd. More rollers led me to Rancho Bernardo Rd. and back on familiar track.  Short cut through the neighborhood on Martinal Rd. with a high speed downhill past Westwood School. Soon I crossed the Lake Hodges Pedestrian Bridge with a stop on the other side chatting with a dog walker. Picked up some ice at the optional Mule Hill Chevron Station.

After the pleasant Kauana Loa Lane, the route finally takes in it's last climbs. The 'ol shortcut to San Marcos via Gamble Lane. This is one of Keith Olsen's fav. climbs. A shorty 17% before passing under I-15, then the longer 19% one. After passing over a vehicle chain-gate I rode around after school students and back onto Harmaony Grove double turns. A short trip through the Nordhal Business Park and through the tunnel back to the finish at Albertson's.

Shortcut Gamble Lane 19% climb

With the later start, good weather for riding today. Not that great for photo taking. Had about 225 images and several video clips. Found out later that the pictures I took of the racer dropped cellphone guy on Kearney Villa Rd. was a half-ass video clip. Have to extract an image out of that, if possible.

Info Route Video


Lite overcast all day
Hi: 91     Lo:  59 (Garmin)
83 miles

-randorides