Sandia Creek Century-R: "Leg Buster"

Garmin Stats of the Sandia Creek-R route today.

Been several years since I've done Sandia Creek from Fallbrook side. Vivid memories of last trip was not that great. Sort of a lame 27T cog with a 34 chainring in the front plus a little skipping around made some tough climbing work. Said I wouldn't be doing it again for a while. I'M BACK!

Rolled out at 0700DST...errr that means 0600 regular time. I'd be doing the official REVERSE Sandia Creek Century RUSA Route #2366 today... if I could remember it. SOMA was without the GOPro due to lack of proper HB bracket. Didn't have any at the local San Marcos Best Buy. Decided I would glue on a front and back piece to reinforce the lame bracket the had which was due for failure. More on that later this week. Hung the trusty old Canon 1100 Powershot around my neck and away I went. Might make a video of this reverse route someday.

Sandia Creek Road 20% climb looms ahead!

Headed north up Nutmeg and Centre City. Did meet one lone rider slugging his way up Champagne Blvd. Temps were warming up under clear skies this morning as I had a nice roll through the great riding Camino Del Rey to Bonsall. Stopped at Mickie D's for a water refill and took off the arm warmers and woolie cap. Cycled north with average climbing all the way on Mission Road admist busy traffic into Fallbrook. No control stop at JIB, but did take a picture. Quick downhill into DeLuz valley with a stop or two for pics.

Climbing starts with the right turn onto Sandia Creek Rd. Gradient starts out real easy with 2% and slowly builds up to the first 14% climb. Next up is a little leveling off before the jumbo 20% leg buster. I was huffing and puffing up that sucker. It's got a false top and another 15% after that. The fast turning downhill @14% before the never ending rollers. I figured it was 8 at 13%. Some racer dude came from a side road and blew by me on his racing lite bike. Also met 4 other riders heading south. Couldn't wait for the long downhill on Rancho California Road. Of course, there was construction happening with a car traffic stop. They let me blow thru and that was nice! Took the usual back way around Temecula Old Town and stopped at the 7-Eleven on Bedford Ct. Time for a refill, banana and ice cream sandwich.

SOMA by Sandia Creek Rd. orange trees

Seemed to be warming up some as I made my way up Rainbow Canyon climb @6%. Turn-around rider was waiting at the top and let me go by before passing me to show how fast his downhill was to Rainbow. I almost pulled him back on the mini-climb to the I-15 turn, but he was soon out of sight on the Old Hwy. 395 downhill. I was climbing to Fallbrook instead. Managed to take some good shots of Live Oak Park and Green Canyon downhills. Hellers Bend is my favorite short road as the quiet is deafening! Another alternate stop at Bonsall for another banana and yogurt cup. After a refill, I was off with sunshine westbound into a headwind.

Waived at the moto-cop hiding by Singh Way tomato fields. Thought about a moving pic of him, but decided otherwise. Quiet turn off onto the San Luis Rey Bike Path. More headwind and only a few cyclists this time of day. No one to hook-up with and no racers passed me this trip. Followed the route and exited the SLR onto Coast Highway and thru the Surfrider Chevron Control for a picture. Then it was off for a short photo shoot at the Oceanside Pier.

March flowers along Green Canyon Road

Not much action along the coast today. Managed a stop for some video clips south of Carlsbad. Made the turn on La Costa thru road glass. Decided to stop at the La Costa Circle K Control for a water refill and some photos. Picked up a 39 cent carmel for a receipt and then hit the climb past John M's house before turning onto So. Rancho Santa Fe toward San Marcos. Followed the route to LaPosas and past Palomar College, trying to get a moving shot of the college thru traffic. Checked out at the handy 7-Eleven for a 8 hr ride day.

Sandia Creek Century-R Video


Clear skies all day
Hi: 93     Lo: 51 (Garmin Stats)
Wind: W-10mph
94 miles




-randorides