Recovery Update: Week ONE

Right hip & liver after 1 week-Swelling down

Joe Morgan says he'll pick up the bike from Bonsall Fire Station in the next few days and see what it will take to get it fixed up. I know the rear wheel is shot and a few scratches to the frame. Joe is a long time friend and now is manager at Nytro Multisport in Encinitas,CA. Thanks Joe!

I emailed my ol rando buddy John Mestemacher several times since the accident to keep him updated. Good ol John, he' got enough to worry about with all his family stuff. That guy would do anything for ya.

I'm moving around much better after 6 days. Tried walking with my old walker, but it doesn't work good. I can actually stand up with care. My real pain is in the right groin/pelvis area. Real hard to move it at all without some super pain. I only take 4 tablets of Advil OR Tylenol per day now.

When possible, I amble over to the computer. Takes about 10 minutes to go 12 feet!
Eating and shitting good. My urine has cleared up with more water intake.

I've been through this hip recovery before and know the exercises that help out.
Need some crutches, since my old walker doesn't work well.

-randorides

Rando vs. Dodge Ram

Rando jersey took a hit along with me!

I was riding around on Tuesday and after stopping by to see Joe Morgan at Nytro for a  few gels, went by to see Dan at Bussey's Auto in O'side( to pump him up for the Saturday ride), I rode out to Bonsall. When in the turn lane, I was promptly dispatched from the rear by a white dodge Ram pick-up before 3:00 PM.

I was taken to Fallbrook Hospital ER, where I languished around for hours. Got the normal X-Rays, blood work, etc. and also a CATSCAN, due to cantalope hematoma on liver side + elevated liver function. ETC., ETC.

Poor bike was rear wheel taco'd, from what I could see.
My new Giro MTB rando helmet looks worn with one big hit on the right side!

Here are some of my goodies:

6- Nasty bloody jumbo abrasions
5- Pretty blue contusions
4- Melon Hematomas
3- Finger fractures
2- Fractured ribs
1- fchippy r. hip(sort of)
AND a partridge in a pear tree!

In addition, I'm blessed with a 1.25 cm hernia, 1-6mm gallstone and a cyst? on the kidney.
I got busted up real good n the right side.

I'm home now; trying to type with 1 finger and crawling around like a old man. hehe.

Still shooting for the Solana Beach 400 on the 16th, if I can move my right hip and mod a bike, I'll  give er a go!

-randorides

Corona 300 Brevet

SART (Santa Ana River Trail)

Rain stopped at 3:00 AM and John picked me up for the drive down at 5:00 AM. Wet roads and around 38 degrees F. 27 riders had signed up, but fewer showed up for the 6:00 AM start. Several were still loading bikes when we rolled out on time. I hit the front right away. That way I can say hello to riders who pass me! Good idea? I had 3 wool layers on up top, new SDrando wool layer looking good. Long wool knee high socks, knee warmers, arm warmers and woolie cap with warm neck tube! I was dressed for the super cold.

Warmed up quick as guys were hammering up the coast. I kept it at a steady 17 mph for the long day ahead. I was going to ride with John Mestemacher. His last outing was less than stellar! A few others joined up, namely Robert A., new guy Keith Olsen, Jeff Cole and Bruce Shank joined up before San Clemente. We had a group of around 12 riders as we rolled up I-5. Most dropped as we hit the rollers and the climb up through the campground. I did a Carl's Jr. quickie stop, the rest went down to the listed Bagel Shack. Robert and John stopped by 7-Eleven. When we rolled by the Bagel Shack, riders rushed out, hoped on their bikes to join up! I luv it!

Nice steady pace as we rolled up through Laguna and on to Newport Beach. I stopped a Mickie D's instead of the Starbucks. Hit the head, water refill and got 97 cent ice cream cone to eat on the way. As I rolled by Starbuck's, John joined in. A few others rushed to join up. I was the only one who had done SART several times and yelled out the correct turns. We decided to stop at JIB in Corona, as several were lagging and needed some caffeine for a kick! This was not the listed stop, but one we always use. Free water and warm bathrooms. John and I were planning on going around Corona on another route. But with the large gruppo, we decided on using the routeslip route through town. As we passed, Amy and Mike Shaw just had stopped at Shell Station and rushed to join up. As we went past the listed Control at 7-Eleven downtown, they looked surprised as they had to stop. Never did see them again.

Riders on SART

Further down the road leaving Corona, we did ride up on 3 older PCH randos doing their OC 300 Brevet. Wow. They were waaaay back and were going to have a long night ahead to finish. It's a real long haul from Corona to Temecula and not John's or mine fav. section. John saw a Brevet Card in the road and told me. I said "Are you sure?" Yes!!! I turned around and rode back. It blew across the road and I waited for traffic to clear and picked it up, being a good guy. They were long gone at 19 mph. I could just barely see them ahead as we approached Wildomar. I slowly caught up. I gave John the Brevet Card. NADA!!!  It was a look-alike piece of paper with some do-dad stuff printed on it! Thanks John! Big waste of energy for me. John pulled off a good one. Entering Temecula, we opted to stop at 7-Eleven/ Carl's Jr. instead of the listed Shell Station. Most riders put on another layer, as I mentioned we had 10 miles of downhills ahead. John la-de-dah'd for a bit as we finally persuaded him to get going. Little climb up Rainbow Canyon and onto Old Hwy. 395. This Bruce guy, turned off over I-5 to the Weigh Station and we had to yell him back on course. Jeff Cole had a flat just before the Champagne Blvd. climb. I went back, the group stopped and I suggested they go on and regroup. We caught up to the last rider at the top. Just before we got to Wendy's Escondido Control, George Vargas rode toward us, wrong way, looking for Amy Snyder. I said she was 20 miles behind. He took off.

Light chit-chat at last Control and I put on my wind jacket and pulled up my neck tube. Actually, nice toasty ride to the finish 45 minutes away. Bruce Shank took off just before Rancho Santa Fe. He finished only 2 minutes ahead of us. John and Robert mentioned "What was all that about?" Our gruppo all got the same time. Tim Sullivan at the finish, checking Cards. I went over and chatted with Bruce on being a nice rando and not a racer, since we helped him all through SART, etc. Several riders indicated it wasn't a good Rando protocol. We finished well before 8:00 PM.

I was a little tired when I got home, ate, soaked in my usual Epson hot bath and watched weather on TV before dropping off to sleep. Did my usual "recovery" ride on Sunday AM, spinning on Inland Rail Trail.

Good ride, nice company and no rain! It was a little cool for SoCal!


-randorides

Hemet 202

Route starts at this sunny day AM/PM

New route I made up for Mike Berry, based on the toughie "Toughrider 185". Over a similiar route from San Marcos to Hemet and return. No dirt on this route.

Thought I would catch a warm-up route for this weekends Corona 300. Rode over to the San Marcos AM/PM for a 7:00 AM start. Drizzling and fog. Had both lights in blink mode. That nasty weather followed me all the way until the downhill on Raninbow Canyon Road to Temecula. I didn't really dress for wet weather, with a regular wind jacket, knee warmers and my fav. long knee high wool socks. Did have a wollie beanie on that covered my ears plus long fingered gloves inside my fingerless riding gloves. It all got slightly damp by the time I climbed up Old 395 and stopped at the Shawn Harrison Memorial at the top near Lilac Road.

Lots of new construction around the Hwy. 76 junction. I see they had a new mini-transit center behind the Circle K. Several road plates and piles of dirt along the road. Cleared that area and road up and over to Rainbow. Didn't see any cyclist at all. Can't imagine why. Starting the downhill into Temecula on 395, I could see clear skies ahead! Nice. By the time I rolled into the Wolf Creek Park, it was warming up enough to take off the jacket, knee warmers and LF gloves. Filled the bottles and headed out to a few mild climbs as the route winds around to Butterfield Stage Rd. A turn on Hwy. 79 and then onto Anza Rd a short distance before the final turn onto DePortola Rd. It's nice here as you gently climb through horse ranches and wineries. Not much traffic at all on a weekday. Saturday and Sundays are a different matter. The wineries were cutting back the vines for the spring growth. Temps were up to 65 degrees now. Riding was very pleasant.

Damp, cool overcast ride up Old Hwy. 395

Turned onto Benton Rd for the climb to Sage. It was actually a town. All that is left now is a old adobe building frame at the junction and a few other foundations scattered through the area. Short little climb up Sage Road, past the Fire Station before the nice fast downhill into a headwind. Did meet a rider on State Street while approaching Hemet. Just before high noon, pulled into the Carl's Jr. Control. What a joke. Line to the door and still coming! I filled my bottles, went to the head, searched the trash for a receipt (none without ketchup all over it)  and left. Went over across the street to a donut shop just for "proof of passage". Temp was up to 72 degrees as I left Hemet with a slight cross wind.

Saw another rider rolling toward Hemet as I started climbing up Sage Road with a tailwind. Didn't feel too bad and had plenty of cogs left from the 13-30 home-geared cassette. One 14% grade on Sage, and several 8-10% on Benton before the nice long downhill on DePortola Road into Temecula. I saw a rider ahead and decided to go straight on Hwy. 79 through town. Mistake.. Big butt headwind all the way to the turn.

Climb up Sage Road with 72 degree temps!

Fog and mist rolled in as I climbed Rainbow Canyon Rd. I was already chilled as I stopped at the Rainbow Market for a pee and to put back on the warmer clothes. Felt warmer after that. The climb up 395 to Day Lilly Hill was another matter. I always liked this climb, because you can get in a rhythm and just cruise up! I never did. First I got real hot, sweat hot. So I stopped and opened my jacket. Then I felt like shit. Anyway, I finally made it to the top, stopped, buttoned up and hit the rough downhill toward Escondido. Sucked up a GU gel and cruised up Champagne Blvd. feelin' much better. Rolled into San Marcos. Lot's of evening traffic, so I stopped near at the McDonalds instead and got a choc sundae for receipt! Nearly 5 o'clock so I turned around and rode home!

Fog and mist the first 1/4 of the route. Then sun and nice the middle portion followed by cool and overcast the last 1/4. Quite a day. I felt good till I got chilled climbing up Rainbow Canyon Rd. After that is was hang in their stuff. Oh well, rain in the distant forecast for the Corona 300. We'll see what happens.


-randorides

Crusin' The OC Permanent

Crusin Route Map

Good route one week before the San Diego Corona 300. Posted up on SD Message Board on Wednesday and had a good turnout for the short notice. At the Oceanside Transit Center for the 7:30 start were:
Kelly DeBoer

Frank Quan

Tim Knowles

Robert Abraham

Keith Olson
Mark Tolivar
John Mestemacher
Dan Phillips
Greg Sherman
Willie Hunt

Rode in a group of 8 most of the route. Took the I-5 option leaving O'side under cloudy skies and temps in the low 50's. No wind. Robert had a flat riding through the San Onfre Campground. We rode ahead and waited at bathroom #2. Sherman, Willie and Tim Knowles rode on ahead. Seemed like a 15 minute wait. After regroup, took the "neighborhood" route through San Clemente. Rode along Hwy. 101 to Newport under moderate road traffic. Lots of cyclists out today. Cut over to Bayside Blvd per route slip and stopped at Bayside Chevron for first Control. Waiting line at the bathroom! Got a banana, while Frank ordered a big Subway sandwich! Most refilled bottles. Tim showed up and said he was cooked and had 95% of max HR trying to hold with Willie and his yellow Aero-mobile. LOL Rookie mistake.

Met Isabel Drake at Orange Control

Nice part of route now as 8 of us rode together along the Newport Nature Preserve, Brown Trail, San Diego Bike Path and Peters Canyon Trail. Finally some road riding cllimbing up to the Orange Control. Saw longtime rider friend Isabel Drake there. We had a great laugh at the giant "lugie" left by someone in the mens bathroom. Some say Sherman left us a present there! hehe. Almost rolled on the road with laughter on that one.

Lost Keith and Tim on the roller climbing sections before we hit the long downhill to Cooks Corner. Waited there for them as we viewed the 500 Harley riders collected there drinking beer and other things. Lots of chrome and egos as they checked out each others bikes! Keith and Time never showed, so we set off on the climb up the short Oak Canyon, big downhill through Trabuco Canyon and on past the control store. We stopped a further 3 miles ahead at the JIB for water and refuel. While we were there, Keith and Tim pulled in. I don't know how they found us! Not on the routeslip.

Nice easy riding now and mostly downhill too on Antino Parkway. Dan had a massive front tire sidewall blowout. Part of the riders went ahead as John and I stayed back and "helped" him. He changed it quickly while adding a boot. We all regrouped at Ortega Highway and rode the full San Juan Bike Trail around San Clemente to the ocean. Shortie regroup there at the trail head before we picked up a fast paceline along 101, through the San Clemente neighborhood again and through the campground at 22 mph with a welcome tailwind. Off to the races on I-15 to Oceanside with a big tailwind again pushing our speed up to 24mph. I rode straight to get a group receipt, while the group followed the route along Harbor Drive back to the Transit Station. Never saw them again, as I had only 3 minutes after the receipt to catch the Sprinter to Escondido. I made it with 1 minute to spare.

Did Sherman leave this at Orange Control?

Quiet ride on the train, as I was the only bike. I thought perhaps Robert would make it too. Nada. I did some stretches, cleaned up and rode home from the station with only my froggie lights! They were just enough. I should have at least put on a regular blinkie. duh.  Not good, but felt safe enough.

-randorides