San Diego: Top To Bottom Brevet

Anxious riders at the Oceanside College Ave. start

Sandy Aniya was Event Organizer for this Brevet. Keith Olsen, John Fry, Dan Phillips & I were recruiting like crazy in support. Keith said most of his buddies at Cyclo-Vets, BackOFF and SD Touring Society thought 50 miles was a long ride & gave up on them. John had been working on several riders from Thursday's OFR Gruppo. Dan had persuaded his brother Bruce and Thailand Bill to join in. Looked like it worked!

Rolled out from San Marcos around 0530 and took Santa Fe St./Melrose thru Vista. Still too early, so jumped on the SLR and did a few local laps. Rolled into the McDonalds start early enough to grab some ice and take a few individual pics. Nice turn out with 12 riders at the start. Guy on beach cruiser & sandals wanted to know the route to the border. No problem. Several showed up after we departed at 0700.

John & Dave lead out on Santa Fe Street

Brisk 18 mph pace on the SLR toward Oceanside. Managed a few good video shots on the smooth path. Mike Shaw was waiting on Cleveland street to sign off the cards. Group was still together along Pacific St. and started to stretch out on Coast Hwy. 101. ViaSAT had their own little thing going off the front with James Allen. I turned around at Cannon St. in Carlsbad to meet up with Dan, Bill & Bruce. Group was growing now as we picked up Jimbo Wisner, Bruce Tipton and Doug Levy at Poinsetta Lane. Dave Horwitt was waiting near LaCosta Ave. Big group with a few identifying RUSA jerseys.

Steve Schechter was supposed to join up near Swami's in Encinitas and Tony Long after Del Mar. Never saw Steve and Tony reported later he had a flat tire riding in from Poway and missed us!  Gliderman Doug opted for the neighborhood route thru Del Mar. The rest of us took the tourist route thru town. Next up was Torrey Pines climb. Dave Horwitt took off like he was in Alaska and Keith was holding strong for a while. Those free bananas and water at the top looked real good as we were all lathered up. Temps in the hi-70's now.

Water & banana goodies at Bonita Park Control

Felt good cruzin along thru UCSD campus and down Gilman Drive. We were cranking good along Santa Fe street. Why not? Downhill with the wind! Rose Creek Bike Path was another matter as we slowed for a regroup before the turn over the bridge and on to Pacific Beach. Traffic picked up as we made our way thru this beach town. Entered the Park and rode past Sandy's Control in the parking lot. Dave chased us down and we found the water after all! Good photo-ops there.

New rando Brer Johnson said he is planning on a Oregon to San Diego trip in late September on his Velo-Orange bike. Got it all planned out and is looking for riding partners. After a few yells, Mel Cutler found the spot too. I grabbed a few cookies and some water refill. Bruce Tipton aired up he failing front tire on his Focus AG2R special edition! 10 minutes and we were on the road crossing over the bridge onto the Ocean Beach Bike Path with favorable winds.

Riders waiting for light in Old Towne San Diego

Our group still had about 12 riders, as others had dropped off the back or gone ahead. Pleasant riding thru Old Town and on to downtown San Diego with not a lot of car traffic. Did make our usual ride close in to the Convention Center. Harbor Drive past NASSCO Shipyard is still a mess and in spots real bad for road cyclists with the RR track crossings and rough roads. I thought the route along Tidelands would be better but was disappointed in the double rail crossings and rough roads. We did get to look at the new bike shop there Keith mentioned called Hub & Spoke Cyclery. Bruce's tire was due for a change, so I stopped with him just before entering the Bayshore Bikeway on 32nd Street.

Tube change took a little longer than normal, and we were wondering if the others had left the turn-around stop in Imperial Beach. We did amp it up some as we met the ViaSAT group just before entering the Bike Trail. A few minutes later we spotted the group and pulled into the Food Mart. I grabbed Keith's gallon jug of water and refilled before going into the Mart for a IC Sandwich. No time to sit down and stretch out as the group was getting ready to leave. Turning northward, we quickly felt the coastal headwind. Met three Brevet riders before we exited the path onto the Frontage Road.

Keith, Bill, Dan & Bruce at Imperial Beach Food Mart

Group strung out a bit as I tucked in behind the biggest riders I could find. Occasionally peeking out for a few pictures. When we got to 32nd Street, we decided to turn instead of taking Tidelands RR track route again. Good move. Back on Harbor Drive we did jump on the new, smooth Bike Path for a mile. Then it was more NASSCO parking and rough roads till we got nearer downtown Petco Park. Maybe someday they will put a real bike path past the shipyards? Bruce T. took over and led us on the Bike Path by-passing the Convention Ctr. traffic.

Group was stop & go with all the stoplights thru downtown. Had a wind-buffeted ride to Old Town, where Dave pulled over at the route turn (OB Bike Path). John & I said "bye" and made the turn. The others kept truckin' northward! Guess Keith & John Fry weren't alert and missed the turn?
Dan Phillips group was taking the short route to home via Mission Bay Drive. BAM! John & I hit the OB Bike Path headwind.

John plays with Mike's dogs at Bonita Park return Control

Some surfer guy with big muscle legs passed us working hard. We just cruised along and eventually passed him before our turn over the bridge. He was fading fast! Made the quiet turn to Quivira Basin and finally onto W. Mission Bay Dr. WOW! Traffic was horrific! We did a quickie right/left turn and rolled into the Bonita Cove Park lot. It was full house now. Mike Shaw and wife were in the shade waiting on any randos coming this way! Bananas and Coke time! Mike had his big dogs there and the wife was taking a few staged photos. We took the pedestrian way to get back into the traffic lanes and soon were dodging cars hoping for a quiet bike path!

Rose Creek never looked so good. Long light at Mission Bay Dr. but soon we were pacing up to UCSD. I was working the front on the climbs and John took the flat stuff. Kept a nice 15-16 mph pace up to Swami's, where it was time for a bathroom break. John mentioned a good photo-op of a speedo guy, with butt crack hanging over a bench. GOT IT! Cruised thru town and into the still persistent headwind. Not many riders around to hook-up with.

Rando John helps rider on SLR Bike Path

Lots of "tourist" traffic entering Carlsbad. Long lights and many beachgoers. We decided to take Sportfisher up to Circle K in Oceanside, where ice was free and the stops were quick. John noted that the coolers were nearly bare of bottled drinks, any drink! He ended up with a small bottle of Dr. Pepper for the road.

What a nice finishing relief... the SLR tailwind to College. I did manage to get some good photos along here.
1. John stopped to help some lady air up her rear tire.
2. Cute little dog in the rear basket of a 3-wheeler.
3. Absolutely buff chic on a MTB who we were struggling to catch!
Last little climb up to McDonalds and we called it a day. Sandy and James Allen were there having a chat. We joined in as Mike Shaw arrived. Just like sitting around the old campfires. I went over to Mickie D's for a choc sundae to join in.

John, Sandy & Mike enjoy "campfire" chat at Finish

Second trip over to Mickie D's for water, I noticed the time was late. I took off and rolled up Santa Fe Street to Vista and on to San Marcos. Got home before 0700. Welcomed the left-over hi-protein smoothie I made earlier today.  After a cold shower, had a bit to eat and did the normal iced-down of the tendons, knees and ankles. Feeling good, I bonked off to sleep at 9:00 PM. 

Partly cloudy early, clear later
Hi: 93     Lo: 68
Wind: WNW 12
157 miles


San Diego: Top To Bottom Video

-randorides