I Got Screwed!

I got screwed good before the route started!

My rando riding of late has taken on a sort of rhythm of it's own. Mixing up the ride days and length of routes breaks it up some as last week I did the Rainbow 1.24 on a drizzle Tuesday ( loosing my vest/arm warmers on route and having to retrace miles around Fallbrook to find them), followed by Ursa Minor up to San Juan Capistrano joining the meager OFR part way and then a zesty Walkin' The Dawg down to Ocean Beach on Saturday (included a recon of Sandy's San Diego Top To Bottom Brevet route). Variety is the spice of riding and not getting into a habitual pattern is part of that.


Earlier in the week, I must have slept on the right shoulder wrong and couldn't raise my arm for 2 days! After heat/cold and muscle rub, I can move it some today. ( Had this before, maybe a rotator-cuff thingie)?Today found me leaving the house around 0430 and riding over to San Marcos Ralph's on Twin Oaks Valley Road to pick up some rando supplies on sale. A longer ride was on the board today with a "say hello" to the OFR gruppo at Swami's around 0900. Crossing the Borden Road bridge to Twin Oaks, I heard a "bump-a-bump and came to a sudden halt. Headlamp examination revealed I just got "screwed" good! Picked up a 11/2" screw on the bridge expansion joint. Went in the rear Conti and out the sidewall along the brake surface. Of course it jammed the brakes too!

Screwed that out and walked back home. In the garage, I quickly removed the wheel, tire and then set about filing down the rough-cut wheel braking surface. Some fine emory paper finished off the job. I grabbed a old worn G'skin, checked out the wheel rotation and was soon back on my way to Ralphs again, 35 minutes in arrears.

Quiet, darkish Ralph's in the early hours.

Inside Ralph's at this hour was a little darkish. I managed to pick up some Lemon Balance Bars on sale for $1, a few bags of Cola Blasts (same price) and 2-Cheese Jalapeno Rolls for Zaharah. Dropping them off at home, I was soon back on route at 0630. Time to crank it up.

Blasting down Champagne Blvd., I notice a rider on the other side attempting to turn around. He finally made it and was soon passing me. Biggish guy, Army jersey, on a new Felt B/W carbon bike. I soon pulled up to him and chatted. He lives up the road at Champagne Lakes and has time for a 1-hour ride in the morning beforedrive-commuting to work in Perris. Yes, it's a week old Felt and he doesn't like climbing much. Parted company as I turned on Camino Del Rey westward.

Made a short stop at Bonsall AM/PM to refill with crushed ice. Temps were now already up to mid 70/s. Big line at the register so I wasn't there long. Headed west at an up-tempo with the early tailwind. Made a stop at the Mace Park on College and was soon settled in at 19 mph on the SLR. Took the traditional way by the Oceanside Pier. Not many riders out yet. Swung by Magee Park looking for OFR riders at 0825. Nada. Jumped the Coast Hwy. 101 thru Carlsbad and noticed a rider wriggling around eating a Drumstick Cone ahead.

Rando Keith Olsen in another new dark grey jersey! This guy has more new stuff than Nashbar! We hashed out the latest news. Keith mentioned Mike Shaw is really fired up with idea of a 2015 K-Hound Award! Good stuff. I think Keith is too. Looks like they work good together. We finally caught up to a group of 6 OFR riders as we entered Leucadia. Next up was a stop at Swami's for a regroup.

Nice little group assembled there. John Fry was back riding again and after much anticipation presented his new Lynskey Ti ride with Ultegra components and Cris King Hubs. New things always look so good! Today's OFR ride leader Bruce Tipton started with a short talk on the recent surge of bicycle fatalities. Dr. Dan was telling Keith that he'll give him a free jersey if he takes off his grey one. Guess Dan implied that you need to be seen so you won't get hit! I was handing out cards and recruiting for the rando cause.  After some heated discussion, the group was off southward.

Keith, John Fry and I rode straight thru Del Mar and then up outside Torrey Pines climb. OFR'ers did the Del Mar "neighborhood" and inside of Torrey instead. Time enough for some water and a bathroom break at the top. I was still recruiting for Sandy's Brevet next week. Who knows, might get a few to join in? Chatted to Keith about a possible ride to Tucson late September or early October. Group turned off down to LaJolla Shores, while Keith a and I rode Rose Canyon Bike Path and over to Morena Blvd. Near India Street, Keith turned westward back home and daughters wedding plans for this weekend. Me, I headed up to SDSU.

More road construction in Mission Valley again. I won't come back this way for sure. Temps were in the mid 80's now and looked to be much warmer. After the turn-around, I decided to take the inland way back north. Chatted with a moto rider from Mexico who wanted to know how to get to Pacific Beach. I just said: "Go west to the ocean"! I also tried some fountain Vitamin Water for 99 cents. Sure didn't taste like the bottled equivalent... too sweet for me. Laced a thick Ice Cream Sandwich with a GU, refilled the bottles and headed out.

A little activity at Charger Training Camp today.

Cut off at QualComm and rode the Bike Path/streets past Charger Park. Seems some activity there. Team probably won't be here next year anyway. I could care less, I guess! Kearny Villa brought some tailwinds and little traffic. No riders around as the temps were now up to the mid-90's. I decided to climb over to Poway to check things out. Kept a nice steady pace but finally dropped into the 34T. Still a slight tailwind as my water was gone. No MTB'ers this time of day near Lake Hodges as it was heating up entering Escondido. Recent rains made green grass and trees grow in the lakebed. Made a grateful water stop at Mule Hill Chevron for the cheapest Gatorade they had. Lemon-Lime no doubt. It tasted too sweet for me, but I laced it with water/ice combo.

Garmin read a direct 104 degrees as I turned on Quince Street. Decided on the Escondido Bike Path to Harmony Grove and around thru Elfin Forest and more climbing. Really hot now on the long climb to the Fire Station, but the downhill was really a blast! Rolled into Ralphs for a reward and then back home. Worn rear G'skin made it thru another one!

After a questionable start to the ride day, things smoothed out and I felt good all day. Wore the HR strap for a change and was able to get a accurate calorie count.

Clear to partly cloudy skies
Hi: 104     Lo: 68   Avg: 82.9 (Garmin)
Wind: SW: 13 mph
123 miles
2348 Calories



Boot-Up!

MTB 29'r sidewall boot in place

The set of G'skin HARDSHELLS I was currently using was part of an accurate documentation of mileage test. The mileage to date was 4327, with rotation every 1000 miles. Since there was a lot of visible mileage left on the set, I decided to continue the test. This necessitated me making up a boot from a MTB 29'r flexable sidewall and carefully prepped the inner surface. After adequate drying time, I powdered down the tube and boot before installing.

Booted HARDSHELL back on rim

Initially, there was a mini-wobble at the boot spot, but this lessened over usage. I placed the boot even with the kevlar bead (on the inside and didn't interfere with the hook bead to the rim).  The goal is to reach 6000 miles from this set without a whole bunch of flats, etc.










-randorides