Riding To RAW

Loop route we rode today

Days are more rando friendly now, which I interpret as at least 13 hours of good daylight for riding. I've been riding a few fill in routes to keep in marginal cycling shape this month. Of course, the June hi-lite around here is the Race Across America start from Oceanside. A big event in the cycling world, we planned a loop rando-fixie route that day which started/ended in Oceanside.


Keith Olsen & I left Oceanside at 0500 and were soon joined by Mac Imacseng on our way down the coast on Hwy. 101. Mac is prepping for PBP (Randonneur Paris-Breat-Paris) in August and has been hampered by a "sprained tendon". I was making a video of the ride today and had the GoPro mounted on the Madison SS with the Canon hand held around my neck. Keith opted for his regular geared bike as did Mac.



The guys were pushing the pace as we hit the SR-56 Bike Path eastward. The Madison SS was geared in lo-climb mode for this route, so the slight uphill on the Bike Path was right in my range! After a nice stop at the Camino del Sur Circle K, we took Dove Canyon route to Rancho Bernardo.

Hirokazu Suzuki

OOPS! I noticed my bottles were missing! Left them back at Circle K. Guys kept on route... I turned around and paced it back to pick them up. From there I rode SR-56 to the coast and picked up a group of racers to Oceanside. From there I rode the SLR Bike Path to College Ave. and waited for Keith and Mac there. A brief bathroom break took me off-sight before waiting till 1130 for them. Cranked it up to the coast not to miss the RAW (Race Across The West) noon start time. They had already arrived and were watching the start! Somehow I missed them on the SLR?


Mac wandered off near the Oceanside Pier, as Keith & I met up with a few North County Club riders as we watched the RAW start. I usually pick out a few riders and follow their progress online via the RAAM website. I was watching Hirokazu Suzuki and Alan Johnson (recumbent). I was commenting that Hirokazu looked really thin and wondering what "heat" training he had done in Japan? 58 year old Alan Johnson looked a little bulkier. In a interview he stated that he climbs slower on the "bent" but makes up for it on the flats! Not a lot of flats on the way to Durango. Unfortunately, Hirokazu pulled out after 145 miles and Alan stopped in Prescott due to the accumulated effect of the desert heat. I'm sure both will be back next year. I was thinking about the mental effect a DNF has on the crew, sponsors and all the money it takes to participate. That's quite a load to carry.

Alan Johnson at RAW start in Oceanside

Keith, Jimbo Wisener and I went over to the pits to check out the RAAM solo riders (who would start a bit later). Chatted with Rando Greg Sherman before we left the pier area.

Of the 21 solo RAW riders, 14 DNF'd.
RAAM riders fared better with 20/41 solo finishers.

Credit to all the riders for even rolling to the start line. It takes a whole lot of planing to make this thing happen!

-randorides