Rainbow 200 Pre-Ride (Short)

San Marcos Century route mimics most of Rainbow Brevet climbing

Rainy stuff has cleared out on Sunday, so after a day to settle things down, it's off for some climbing on the Rainbow 200 Brevet route (January 17). Packed up the SOMA with my normal sandwich, banana and cashew-spread crackers before hitting the road at 0630. Still dark enough for a headlamp blinkie and rear lights. Took the safer route through San Marcos via Country Club Dr and up historic Hwy. 395. A little cool on the Champagne downhill with only arm warmers. Sun was trying to warm things up early, but there was a "humidity layer" of morning orange holding it up.

Nice quiet climbing up Circle R at a decent pace and without sucking much wind this trip. Roadside hills looked green and nice with only a few cars along the way. Lilac Road was a different matter with increased early traffic heading southward. I followed my normal line up the double digit Cooser climb, hugging the center-line to eliminate the steep angles hear the ditches. The long downhill was another matter; damp roads on the corners! Sun hadn't reached the those spots yet, so it was brake-OH-automatic time. Rear brake made a hellva weird noise on one corner. Must have some "junk" on the pads? Road spray in abundance from my well worn G'skins. Always nice to cross the bridge while eating a snack at the bottom. Rice Canyon climb was next.

RC climb has always been a tough one for me. I finally figured out that if I lower my speed and not try to hammer, I'll arrive in Rainbow feeling much better. 8mph seems to work out OK. Once I saw the log house on the left, it was only 2 miles to the Rainbow Market. Stopped at the bathroom and sat down on the bench, while repacking my arm warmers with the pair of scissors I picked up earlier on the road. Finished off my banana, added some powder and water to my main bottle. This was a 5 minute timed stop. With snack in my mouth, I rolled out on time feeling good.

Seems the light wind was blowing from the NW now, just enough to really ramp up the downhill speed toward Fallbrook. 32 mph this section before passing cars across the I-15 overpass. Legs weren't feeling it on the 7% climb on Mission Road. Live Oak Park was another matter with no traffic and easy pedaling. Missed the down-shift on the 8% Reche Road transition and had to fumble around a while before catching my rhythm. More hi-speed blasting down Green Canyon Road. With the slight tailwind and smooth roads, I thought I was really fast! Hehe. SDG&E was still working on the tall power pole at the Mission Road intersection. Traffic flagmen at the corner. 10 minute wait for bikes!

Stopped by to see Dan Phillips

Made up some time on the downhill into Bonsall. Stopped at Mickie D's. Three bikes parked outside. Two looked familiar. Roberto's Giant and his buddies Trek from last week. Went inside and got my normal HF Sundae with a splash of GU on top. Chatted with the boys before they left for the RT back up Champagne Blvd.to Escondido. Roberto says he would like to do long rides when he retires from his Rincon job. Sat around a bit, before riding away in the nice warm sun.

Slight sidewind on Hwy. 76 this morning. Still made for a fast trip. Hit the San Luis Rey Bike Path and made the turn off on Benet street and over to Hwy. 76. Got some help from a car tripping the light as I waited forever in the Canyon Rd. turn lane. Spun up the 9% climb and made my way over to Bussey's Auto to see Dan Phillips. Short stop just to remind him on the Wednesday sign-up deadline for the Rainbow 200. He said Bill was waiting for the last minute to see if it would rain on Saturday (if so, they would bail out). Soon I was riding south along Coast Hwy. 101.

Made a short pit stop by Carlsbad Beach. Picked up a few racers boys and dropped them on the first shortie climb. They ran the red light at Poinsettia and I was soon chatted with a young TREK rider with long blue socks. Said he got them for Christmas. "See you later", as he rode off. I did see him later, as I passed him on the tiny La Costa Ave. climb. Slowed up and chatted with 2 fully loaded touring riders riding to Mexico. Sounded like a Euro accent. Stopped by Nytro to pick up some Shot Bloks. Joe was in a meeting so Harvey took over. Chatted a bit before riding south.

Picked up a rider from Seattle. Big guy on a carbon bike. Had buddies in the Seattle Randonneurs group. Said too much rain up there so he Fed-Ex'd his bike down for a week of riding. Dropped him off at the Java Hut in Solana Beach (which is usually packed with lycra-bodies! Made the turn on Loma Santa Fe for the climb inland.

Found good pair of Harbor Freight scissors

Little weak on the first climb, but after a few more I was doing OK. Rancho Santa Fe was quiet as usual. Didn't see any cyclists till I got near Lake Hodges. 2 racer guys pulled across the lane and were taking pics of the lake in my bike lane. They blocked the lane, so I had to ride out in the traffic lane. Nice guys! Dropped down into the 34 ring for the last climb past Via Rancho Pkwy. (This last climb section always adversely affects me!)

Quiet along Harmony Grove Road till you near the new housing development. Too bad about that, but it is better than the decade old stinky chicken ghetto they had before. Slugged up Elfin Forest Rd past the fire station and was soon making the last turn for the long climb away from San Elijo town. That 8% starts to wear on you after the first mile. Another real fast downhill into San Marcos with the loop around to finish up at my favorite 7-Eleven.

This start point lets you have an option of the full Rainbow Brevet route (Rainbow 1.24 Permanent) or most all of the climbing only (San Marcos Century). I opted for the latter. Weather was a little cool at the start but remained mild all day with clouds inland toward the end of the route.

Clear to partly cloudy
Hi: 68   Lo: 53
103 miles

-randorides