Busted In DeLuz Permanent

Busted In DeLuz Garmin Stats.

Set this ride up for Michigan George. He's back out for a week and riding well. John Mestemacher and new rider Dave Voss showed up at the start too! Just the 4 of us at the LaCosta Circle K. Gary Knabe was supposed to start the ToughRider 400 from there at 07:00 too, but we never saw him around the start time.

We rode a reverse route, well almost anyway. Newbie Dave wasn't used to the longer distance riding, since he only ride-commutes every day to the train. More riders out this fine morning in Oceanside and the San Luis Rey Bike Path. We took Hwy. 76 from the full Bike Path end over to Bonsall and then north up Mission to Green Canyon, Oak Canyon and around and down to Temecula. A few short cuts dropped us a 7-Eleven/Carl's Jr real quick.  20 minute break there.

We looped around Old Town and up Rancho California Road. Waited at the top for Dave and decided to cut over on Sandia Creek instead of DeLuz Road. Dave was suffering good by now after that 17% shortie. We regrouped at Fallbrook turn and then rode down to the JIB for a control break. We adjusted the route and rode down Mission Rd., Hwy. 76 to the SLR Bike Path again and down the coast to the finish. We finished together. New guy Dave learned a lot about heavy bikes (Novara loaded randonneuring bike) and overweight riding! On the ride home, I felt way off and stopped at the Taco Bell for a shortie and picked up some tacos for Zaharah.

what a day,
kellyjay

Montezuma Mesa Express Permanent

Garmin Stats from the Montezuma Mesa Express Permenent

Hoped to meet up with the OFR Thursday Gruppo at Magee Park in Carlsbad on the way south from San Clemente before 8:30 AM. Never made it. BIG south winds put a hammer on any hi-speed runs down through the campground. No riders to hook up with.

I passed by Magee Park at 9:00 AM and missed the OFR regroup at Swami's at 9:30. I did manage to catch the group at Torrey Pines. Rode with them through the Rose Canyon Bike Path. I then went over to Monena Blvd and on to San Diego State. Nice push on the way back with the tailwinds.

So-so ride. I was cooked after fighting the wind from San Clemente down. Finished up OK.
In the book.

-randorides

Mission Bay Bike Path - DART Recon Ride

I needed to check out all those other Bike Route/Paths that were included in the round-about way to get from USCD to downtown San Diego. It also traced the Stagecoach 400 route from downtown out to Lake Hodges, as part of the routes I made up for the June 1, DART shortie.

Bike path route from UCSD to SD

I plotted out a gpx file and put it in my Garmin 500. Maybe I could sort-of follow it on the "bread crumbs" tracker trail. I started the Bike Path route at UCSD and went tracking from there. It sort of worked... it shows a arrow and the arrow changes direction as you ride along the route OR get off the route. Better than nothing, but not much.

From Rose Canyon Bike Path and Santa Fe St., I went straight over to the Rose Creek Bike Path. Then jogged over to the Mission Bay Bike Path as it winds around Anza Cove, Fiesta Island and connects with the Sea World Bike Path. Then it's off looping around confused on Dana Landing and Quivera roads before crossing over the bridge and onto the Ocean Beach Bike Path.

Mission Bay Bike Path speed limit!

From Dog Beach, the route hits Brighton, Bacon, Sunset Cliffs streets and a big climb up Hill Street before ending up on Scott Street. From there pick up the Bike Way along Harbor Drive/waterfront to downtown San Diego. I did get turned around one time and took a scenic ride out to Shelter Island!

Looks like this route will work for a DART route. Nice way to get downtown instead of the shorter Mission Bay Dr./Pacific St traffic lanes!

keep lookin'
-randorides

MB Bike Path by Anza Cove

Ursa Major Permanent Saturday Route

Garman Stats from Ursa Major on May 18.

Keith Olsen had the idea for this ride, so I decided to post it up on the SDrando message board at the last minute. Started at the scheduled 7:00 AM and Tim Knowles and Ed Shepherd took off, with Keith Olsen in pursuit. Bill Stevenson and myself just paced along and chatted as we watched the boys far ahead. Too early to get excited now!

Nice day for a ride, with tailwinds pushing up the coast and on both Bike Paths! We hooked up with several racer groups through San Clemente and the campground on the way south. Took some stretched out breaks, including a nice one at Carl's Jr, but who cares? Group of Keith Olsen, Tim Knowles, Ed Shepherd, Bill Stevenson and myself splintered near the last climb up Champagne Blvd.

Saw two auto accidents up close and nearly personal near Las Pulgas exit and Quince St. in Escondido near the finish. Bill and I were riding back to catch the Sprinter train and saw Keith on Valley Pkwy. Looks like all riders finished up in good order.

Great day for all and thanks to the riders who had fun.
-randorides

Santa Ysabel Truck Trail Recon

Start of Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail

I planned on catching the FLEX Bus from Escondido to Ramona and getting off at Bandy Canyon to start the next recon portion of a possible new rando route in the dirt. However, not to be! As I got to the Transit early, 2 bikes were already stacked up on the small bus. That's it. I pondered my situation for a bit and then cranked out to ride over to Bandy Canyon on Hwy. 78. I stopped at Ysabel Creek road to take a pic and a bike van pulled up for a chat. She said they have a storage warehouse on Ysabel Creek somewhere. Heck, I thought there was just one farm along that desolate road.

I checked out the San Dieguito Trailhead area and set off climbing up Hwy. 78 towards Ramona. Stopped at the Clevenger Trailhead to chat with Ranger Tom. He had some whoppers to tell. Gave him a rando card and continued up the road, looking around and taking pictures. Only 2 short sections of Hwy. 78 had no lane for bikes to this point. Another 1/2 mile up the road was my turn onto the unmarked Truck Trail with a big yellow gate. This looked real good.

Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail

I slipped around the gate and proceeded along the overgrown trail. At 1.3 miles, the trail splits at a "Y". Left goes up Orosco TTr and right is the Lower Santa Ysabel TTr over to Pamo Road, north of Ramona. Right. I stopped to roll up my knee covers(warmers) and my arm warmers. Tick protection. I needed it after checking my knee high wool socks. Creepy crawlies there already!

This is a great single track following ravines through the hills. No big climbs here. Several miles down the trail there is another gate with a more defined road on the other side. Here is where hikers come up from the Pamo Trailhead. More defined truck trail here with a trail junction and shooting signs nearer to Pamo Road.

Serine riding here!

North on Pamo Road. Hard surfaced for the first mile, then gravel. No cars here. One farm house. All this land is owned by San Diego and they operate a ranch here. Up the road a bit is the Upper Santa Ysabel TTr. This is a whole different ride.

Upper Santa Ysabel is dirt road that starts climbing from the start. I figured the first 3 miles are up. Some of it is up to 11-13% grade. Traction is good, with a few loose rocks. Up on the mesa, the road turns to rollers and has more rocks and erosion in it. Great views here and you can look NE and see Black Canyon Road coming down into the valley. Mostly downhill next with sections of eroded road. Nice little climb up to Black Canyon Road at the end.

USYTTr on right, Blk. Mtn. Road far ahead

Excellent route for a MTB/Fargo type  Rando bike with nice wide tires. This will make a fine middle section for the longer route up to Lake Henshaw and back. Lots of pictures on this recon. Better take lots of water if riding in the warm weather. In spots, you can hear water rushing along in the ravines below, This is good stuff!

Preview video at: http://youtu.be/_Z2v5YDL_78

Happy Trails  -randorides

Los Penasquitos Recon

Los Penasquitos Trail Map

Took some time today to ride down through Escondido and continue with the Stagecoach 400 route recon
in reverse. I jumped the route at the Santa Fe Trailhead, near the Fruit Market on Del Dios Hwy. Joined up with the Lusardi Loop to Black Mtn. Park, then rode down Black Mtn Road to the Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead near Mercy Road.

Followed the Los Penasquitos Trail to Sorrento Valley, taking pics and doing some backtracking along the way. This Trail is made for MTB, however a cross bike with some wide knobbies will do well too. Only met a few riders and did take a small hit while checking out one of the several stream crossings under heavy cover.

Looks like this may make a nice rideable Rando route. Local short DART route, I don't know. Maybe not enough Randos like this sort of thing. Go figure.

Sam's Back! Trifecta Riding

Sam in the Borrego Desert in 2010

Sam Thomas is back in the area from May 5 to May 12. We did 3 local rides together along with a few friends to get him back in riding condition again. Not much conditioning, but we had lots of fun.

May 7:
We rode the shortie rando route called Coffee At Peets. Around 82 miles including bike paths. We also stopped at Nyto Multisport in Encinitas to chat with Joe Morgan. While there, Sam picked up a set of Reynolds Carbon Aero rims to try out. They installed and fine tuned his bike and we were on our way. We later stopped in Oceanside to chat with our buddy, Dan Phillips at Bussey Automotive.

Toward the end of this cruiser ride, we had to hustle to the finish in order to make the time cut!

May 9:
We hooked up at 8:00 in Oceanside for the Bike Path X Two route. Both SLR & SR-56 Bike Paths. Joined up with the OFR gruppo at Magee Park in Carlsbad for the ride south to Swami's. After a regroup, we rode with them to Del Mar and then turned inland alone to Poway, Escondido, Bonsall and back to O'side to finish off the route. Weather was good with some nasty headwinds toward the coast.

May 11
Aztec Century today. 100 miler down and back to San Diego State. We met up at the Chevron, Benet St. & Hwy. 76 in east Oceanside at 8:00. As we started westward on the San Luis Rey Bike Path, we met Dan Phillips and Bill Stevenson. Sam chatted all the way down to Swami's, where Troy Buss was waiting to join up for the ride. Dan and Bill left us in Del Mar, so it was just Sam, me and Troy for the rest of the route to San Diego State and return. Not a lot of traffic up to State. We stopped at a near empty McDonalds for lunch around 11:30. On the way back, we did get some stronger headwinds. Troy left us before Carlsbad. After the finish, Sam & I rode over to College, where he went to his friends Daryl's house and I hopped a bus to Vista.
Of note was the fact that my left Crank Bros Pedal broke a spring and I was without a clip in for around 30 miles on the return leg. First time I ever had a problem with a Crank Bros pedal system. Go figure.

NOTE: Sam managed to pick up some super deals locally at Nytro Multisport with Joe Morgan. A couple sets of carbon wheels, Conti 4000 tires and a nice shiny new Garmin 810 computer for cheap! Good score Sam. Sam left on Sunday Night, May 12 after watching the pros really do it on Stage 1 of the Tour de California in Escondido. From cruise ship to TdeC, Sam had quite a 3 week endeavor!

-randorides