Uni-Loop, Check It Out Ride

As compared to Albany Sam's weather OR Crista's Washington DC temps, it was really nice this morning around here. To me it was COLD at 40 degrees as I left home in the dark. After check in at the local 7-Eleven, I rode back home to pick up some thing I left behind earlier. Think I have a super slo-leak in the front G'skin. We've all had those that leak 10 lbs of air a day... you get your bike ready for a ride and discover it's 20 lbs low after only 2 days. Fix it now or wait till later? Mmmm, I'll wait till I get a real flat.

I watched F-35's dong touch & go's at MCAS Miramar

Took an alternate route up to Bonsall. Low 30's wind chill down Champagne must be avoided at all costs! When I finally hit the San Luis Rey Bike Path, the sun was creeping up and it felt really good on my back. No riding buddies around so I kept a even 17mph to Oceanside, where I stopped by the pier for a moment to check out the nice looking waves. Thought there would be more surfers around.

Didn't stop at Pacific Cycle to window shop today, but instead got to Magee Park's bathrooms and stripped off the warm stuff. Looks like a pleasant day today. Met up with OFR riders, Kiwi Stuart Smedley, Mike Tull and Rando Bob in the parking lot and we left at 0830 for the ride down to Swami's in Encinitas. Tom Hansen joined up along the way south. No pickups at Poinsettia Lane today. Chatted with Stuart about MTB biking on the way down. Nice group waiting at Swami's when we arrived.

Chatted with Jimbo Wisener and John Fry while there. John had a Dr. appointment and wouldn't be riding much with the group. Nancy and Mike VonNeuman are in for good from Atlanta now. Mike has some back issues and can't ride too long. They were both really strong NCCC riders while they were living here 4 years ago. Group left southbound at 0915. They were going inland to Peet's Coffee and then over to Rancho Bernardo and back to the coast. Jimbo and I big-ringed it up to Del Mar and waited for the "neighborhood" route group to catch up. I decided to part company and head up Torrey Pines. Adios!

Nice solo tempo up the climb and kept rolling straight ahead. Cut over and rode through UCSD Campus before the nice Gilman downhill to Rose Canyon BP. A few racers passed as I chugged along. Did the Morena Blvd route instead of the traffic Mission Bay thing. Thought about doing the full Friar's Rd, but didn't like the traffic. Instead ended up on Ward road for a 7-Eleven break for ice cream.

Roadside bag pick-up on Bear Vly.

Reversed course and decided to change things up a bit and turned off Morena onto Garnett. Always wondered where that road went. CLIMB, that's where it went. Eastward ho! After several long climbs road changes to Balboa Ave. Crossed the 805 with no traffic problems and then Hwy. 163. Sort of knew where I was now. Kept crankin eastward till I hooked up with Kearny Mesa Road. A left turn put me back on familiar roads as I was heading for MCAS-Miramar. I did a 15 minute stop alongside the road to observe F-35 touch and gos. A few Osprey also came in. Powerful stuff to relate to the book I just finished: "Fighter Pilot" by Robin Olds. Turned east on Miramar Road and headed to Poway via Pomerado. Yes, I still read hard cover books!

Nice bike lane climbing up Pomerado since the last time I was this way. New road surface and wider bike lane now. Downhill across Scripps Poway Rd and into Poway. Yelled at a TREK MTB rider who deliberately ran a red light. Rode with a cross rider on a old steel Bianchi out for a noon-time ride. Said he rode some of the Poway Trail on his hour lunch break. I was impressed as he said "adios" and left me behind easily. "Tony" was from Flordia and works over by Wal-Mart. Followed the BW 300 route northward.

Heavy road construction on Bear Valley Pkwy. I slogged up the climb northward and noticed a blue bag along the road. Did my normal turn around and picked it up, shook it off and packed it on my HB bag. Might be able to salvage it for home use? Rode all the way north till El Norte Pkwy. School was out and traffic was heavy. Rode westward into a stiff wind as I plowed toward San Marcso. Finally, made my final hook-up with the 7-Eleven in San Marcos and rode home, feeling good for today's effort.

Sunshine, on my window
Hi: 74     Lo: 40.8
Wind: W-12mph
126 miles



-randorides