Solana Beach 600-Loop1 Preride

Loop 1 preride of the Solana Beach 600 to be ridden on April 20, 2013


Great video of the route can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ez8adoJPnA

Loop 2 route map

Loop 2 elevation plot

Riders: Dan, Bill, John, Keith, Jim & (Kelly)

Good company, great weather and a nice tough route too.
-randorides

Solana Beach 400 - Mystic Cane Ride

Solana Beach 400 Route Map

This tale doesn't relate to "first to finish" or a super fast time, but instead tells the story of a lonely Cane. Not just any Cane, mind you, a San Diego Randonneur Cane.

A while back, a mystical black carbon-like Cane appeared. It had emblazoned on it "San Diego Randonneurs" in graphic white letters. I remember RBA Mike Berry making such banners in years past for the group. Perhaps he had something to do with this? It wasn't anything special looking, just a black thing with a 2" add-on at the bottom where the rubber tip is. Zaharah (my wife) found it laying by itself in a Escondido Thrift Shop one day. Maybe Kelly can use that! He was busted up while riding in February, one of those rear end things with a Dodge Ram. It fits me perfect!

That's how it all started.
Solana Beach 400 was next week. My nice long distance Rando bike was on the mend. I couldn't walk and hardly get on a cycle. One day, the Cane was leaning against my black bike in the garage. They seemed to form a unique bond. It merged with the top tube as one. It brought it's own aura with it! Are you kidding me? What hocus-pocus is this. Mmmm, this might work. I developed an enlightened attitude!

Weird stuff started to happen.
My long time riding buddy and Rando good guy, John Mestemacher, emailed me he was now riding and wanted to ride with me. Is this a joke? Nope. The real deal. He would be willing to give up his good time performance and help me through it. My broken stuff started to heal up and feel better! On the trainer, my right hip had good cycling motion again. My dyno hub front wheel with 700x28mm tires suddenly fit and the light mounted seamlessly. Whats going on here? This might work. I looked over to the Cane and wondered.

Good to go now.

San Diego Randonneurs Mystical Cane

There were a few comments about the Cane at the start. It didn't faze the Cane at all. It just rested on the top tube and took it all in. It was slowed up while we anticipated late arriving Jeff Cole on Morena Blvd and listened to Gary Kanaby describe his failing tendon and riding easy was the key. It observed how John fixed Ed Shephard's front derailleur approaching Mission Gorge climb. It didn't lift a finger to help John fix my double flat nearing Descanso in the warm sun. Or Ed Shephard recovering from cramping up on the Cuyamaca climb. I started to wonder how a Cane could influence good things happening.

Not a problem.
The Cane was watching as John pulled be mile after mile. 12mph on the flats and 6mph on the climbs. It's mystic nature was having an effect on me. The neck pain was subsiding, the hip was loosening up and the sore butt wasn't getting worse. It helped me hobble into the controls and felt warm when John's wife brought surprise hot soup at Deer Springs Control. Some for Sandy and Mike too! It was there till the end as I climbed the 16 stairs to get home.

Moral of the this tale
Next time you are wondering about your cycling.. it's too hard, too long or too much climbing, there's a Mystic Cane* out there, and it's got your name on it. JUST GO FIND IT!

-kellyjay
RUSA #3932


 * My Cane will be retiring soon and re-enter the realm of the mystic again!

Recovery Update: Week THREE

Set up the Fuji Stealth Carbon in the garage on the trainer the other day. Doing spin sessions for 30 minutes 2X per day now. Stacked up a bunch of old thick computer books on the floor so I can climb up on the bike. Seems to work best if I swing the left leg over the saddle to mount up!

Rode the Fuji carbon over to the Thrift Store on Tuesday, March 5. Picked up a cane for $4. It's 2 inches too short, but I use it till I find one that is longer and cheaper! However, it's a perfect fit for Zaharah! Ride was a little shaky, especially over the bumps. Seemed to un-clip OK from the pedals.

Got an email from my riding buddy, John Mestemacher. He asked about next week's Solana Beach 400. I answered that if my hip would move, I would give er a go! If I decide to ride, I'll leave 10 minutes late so as not to burden any riders who would want to help out. That 400 is a tough route, with 80% of the climbing on the front end. Since I can't get out of the saddle or put much down pressure on the pedals, it would be a real challenge! We'll see how the week goes.

Almost 1.5" of rain yesterday. Of course the garage flooded out. Comes in under the door. I did take some efforts to quell the slo flow, but it didn't stop it all. The garage floor is lower than the driveway. Poor cheapo construction. For years, I glued down a 1x3 to the floor and it worked well. With the new garage doors installed, I had to remove it. Bummer.

-randorides

Recovery Update: Week TWO

Around 16 days out from the Dodge Ram hit. Moving around better with crutches now. Take a walk outside each day over to a little kids park across the street. Getting up and down those 16 concrete steps is still a real chore.

Went in to see Dr. Pearson, my doctor, today. Zaharah borrowed a car and drove me around! I actually felt quite relaxed instead of the usual hyper-tense riding with her. I arrived early and of course waited in the exam room forever. Fallbrook ER finally sent some records down. Dr. said not much to do on the busted ribs or fingers. Suggested compression socks for the blood pooling and ankle swelling. He said no real busted up hip, as first suggested, but instead bone chips and massive trama and swelling. Guess that's why I can't move the right hip much. Oh, well.

Supposed to get an repair estimate from Joe Morgan at Nytro Multisport soon. He took a few pics after picking up the bike last week. Said it had a bent rear wheel and bars were a little wonkie.Look like it came out in better shape than me... steel is real!

Hoping to get the trainer set up soon and see if I can get up on a bike. Need to feel if I have any correct leg movement for cycling anymore.

Crista Boras, the perminista  from RUSA, broke her ankle on Monday. We're trading recovery secrets via email.! Hope she heals quick. She had planned a June trip to the Alps with gruppo!

-randorrides