San Juan Creek Ride

Fuji carbon set up for rando riding with bags and 28mm G'skins

Month of August was a good ride month. Started off with some basic rando routes, Andrea's farewell OFR Thursday ride and then Sandy's 200km Brevet on Saturday. There were several weeks that temps soared into the 100's inland and even the coast routes were getting warmish. I luv that stuff enough to schedule several rides inland, combining with the Circle R, Lilac, Cooser, Rice Canyon up to Temecula topped off with the heated Rancho California and Sandia Creek. Good climbing in the heat to test the fluid mix in my bottles! I really like the early-dark starts.. but not the fog!

Had a birthday later in the month and did a rando route to meet up with Mike Berry's permanent from San Diego on Saturday. Only problem with that was I didn't see any randos because I was a day early. Getting older but not a lot wiser!

Paired up with rando John Fry for an early 0530 start on University Loop and a meet up with the Thursday OFR gruppo at Swami's. We managed the return inland route for a touch of heat and some more climbing.

One week I did knock off the toughie Rainbow 1.24 in good time and followed with the Ursa Minor. Also had time for a "reverse" type route and went down the Temecula-Pala Hwy to Pala. Hadn't been down that way in years and my timing was really bad around 0800 on a foggish morning! Of course, traffic was all going my way and I needed to wave them by on the curvy downhill. Years ago, I did climb up that road to Temecula and won't do it again with the limited bike lane.

September started out good, with the temps dropping into the mid-80's, making inland climbs more tolerable. Today, I left home aboard the Fuji carbon, riding the well used Gatorskin HARDSHELL 28mm's. I've been documenting the actual mileage on this set and now have 5598 miles. I just rotated for the last time, putting the boot tire on the back. (See I Got Screwed for details.) I needed to run over to Ralph's on Twin Oaks before starting the route. After the quick trip in the dark, I was soon off and heading via a revised route to Del Dios Highway. I did notice a "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" sign on our usual Citracado to Del Dios turn! Watch out there.

Nice easy rolling up thru Rancho Santa Fe and on to Solana Beach. No donuts this time as I luv those Red Velvet, but don't need them. I was keeping my eye out for rando Keith, riding his NOW route up from Ocean Beach for a short meet up. Stopped at the Carlsbad 7-Eleven for a $1.29 ice cream sandwich and rolled over to the tables at the Fish Cafe across the street. Sat there and enjoyed the feast while watching for Keith. Finally left and met John Fry riding in from San Marcos. Never saw rando Keith, so I figured he didn't ride today... rest day for him, I hope.

New resurfaced San Juan Creek Bike Path

OFR Gruppo was slowly getting their act together at Magee Park. Today they would ride up to Dana Point, so I'll tag along. John was cutting off early to get back home by 1:30 PM. After hitting the bathrooms and water refill, I waited around untill 0835 and finally rolled out, hoping to motivate the gruppo to start. My job was to push the crossing buttons on the red lights!

Riding thru Camp Pendleton, the pace picked up some as I followed several riders as the took off. Quite unusual, as several approaching drivers leaned out and yelled "single file". I chatted with Al and surmised that something recently had happened.. maybe a large group of racers came thru and set the cycling tone. Regrouped at the parking lot turn. I kept slo rolling northward and was soon joined by John Fry. I refilled bottles at San Onofre Campground Bathroom #11with the group. Nice pace to San Clemente.

Leaving the Trestles Bike Path, group split up, some returning to Oceanside, some deciding where to stop for lunch. I joined up thru the "neighborhood route". The group was soon near the sand & ocean at Doheny Park. I left them and proceeded eastward to San Juan Capistrano.

Even the old bridge has new board flooring.

Nice! New surface and striping on the San Juan Creek Trail. Welcome relief crossing the bridge to San Juan Capistrano... new stained flooring with recessed bolts! It's a 13 minute ride to McDonald's from the coast with the tailwind. Sat outside in the shade and spiced up a choc sundae with my carry along goodies. Quick turn around.

Headwind slowed the return to 15 minutes. Stopped at the beach bathroom, looking around for the group's return. Did a recovery pace till San Clemente, where I blasted straight up the climb in the big ring. Quick slight tailwind trip back to San Onofre where I stopped at Bathroom #1 and fed the bees some water from the tap. While waiting around the lead group racers went by. I was soon hooked up with them down to #11, where they stopped. I updated Bruce on the smooth SJuan Bike Path and was off.

Stopped at Campground and gave the bees some water

Met up with a OFR rider and we quick paced it down to Las Pulgas Gate. He stopped there and I kept rolling. Didn't see any riders in the Camp at all. Took the Harbor Dr. route past the pier and on to Magee Park for water. Hooked up with a faster rider on the way down the coast. He was telling me about his recent retirement and cycling achievements. Of course he sucked my wheel down to Encinitas, where I stopped at Nytro for supplies. Joe was busy, so I filled my bottles and headed down to Loma Santa Fe and back via Del Dios Hwy. Lake Hodges looks lower each time I pass. Need some El Nino rain soon.

Nice convenient Citracado to Harmony Grove route, eliminates several turns around Hale Street. Took Barham Dr. on to San Marcos and home. Not a bad day, but I felt a little "sluggish" all day. GU Gel never perked me up today.

Longtime rider and rando Sam Thomas will be in town next week for some riding. His new bio-tech job in Albany is working out well AND the cycling there along the Hudson River is great. We'll set up some rides for him and I'm sure he'll fit in with the OFR riders on Thursday.

Partly cloudy to sunny
Hi: 86     Lo: 65
Wind: WNW-10 mph
122 miles

-randorides