Ursa Minor At Months End

Standard Ursa Minor route today.

Several randos needed a late month 200K to keep their R-12 hopes alive, so a post up ride was advised. Of course it was listed as a "training ride" on the sdrando blog. Nice response for a short notice: Keith Olsen from Point Loma, Oceanside Mike Shaw and Mac Imacseng from Solana Beach would be joining up for this 0600 start time. Several other randos emailed me to show their interest, but other commitments nixed their adventure. John Fry would normally ride with us, but he is almost recovered from his recent mini-crash. That will give him time to build up his new bike frame he recently purchased.

Meeting up a the 7-Eleven start, Mike showed us his latest creation from the cutting room: small glass wiper for those rainy days (or foggy starts)! Mike is retiring later in the year and of late is coming up with all sorts of neat gadgets for cyclists. I was limping around a little due to a nasty hi-speed downhill hit I took last Thursday in La Jolla Cove by the park. The usual knee, elbow embedded road trash along with the hetoma left hip/thigh area. This time I scampered uphill and got lots of ice on the wounds. That really seemed to help the healing and with a few Tylenol would keep me on pace today.

Mac was waiting to join up on Del Dios Hwy. Seemed he rode over to Escondido Auto Pkwy before he realized where the route was! (And this guy is riding PBP in August! Good luck at not getting lost in France, Mac!) Our small gruppo made good time thru Rancho Santa Fe and the rollers to the coast. We didn't stop at Solana Donut, but instead cycled north toward Swami's Park in Encinitas. Mac picked up a racer guy and blasted off ahead. Regrouping at Swami's, we ate a few bars and munchies we had with us before riding north thru Encinitas. We made fast time up to Carlsbad, where we stopped for a water/ice refill at the local 7-Eleven. Then off to Magee Park to the bathrooms.

Ripe banana info. Add ice cream for a rando treat!

Thursday OFR gruppo were there getting ready for their 0830 ride to Dana Point. Guess we'll mix in and have a chat-time. Large group by now as we entered Camp Pendleton. Mac & "Goose" were off to the races on the first climb with a few of us tracking them down. Bruce Tipton and Keith were closing up for our 20mph gruppo blast off thru the camp. Only separation was achieved with the help of the 2 rollers. Nice workout as we regrouped at the Las Pulgas exit.

Our rando group followed ahead, joining up with 2 other "Boeing Jersey" riders who were cranking-up good. 19mph to bathroom #1, where we all decided to stop. Good water there and it's always nice to feed the bees around the spigots! A couple of crackers later the randos left. Boeing guys stayed and might have turned around? Just us randos now as we tracked the route thru San Clemente and onward to Doheny Park.

Easier riding now as the tailwind pushed us eastward on the San Juan River Trail to SJCapistrano. We decided to stop at the new McDonalds instead of Carls Jr. this trip. Burgers were the favorite here while I laced my Hot fudge Sundae with a Peanut Butter GU gel pak and dipped my almond butter crackers in the mix. I added a well worn banana to make a makeshift banana split. After a nice break and Mac's cellphone call, we were off on the return trip.

We made good time with a lite tailwind to San Clemente. Spirited climb thru town and didn't even stop at Carl's Jr this trip. Instead we hit SO Campground #1 again for water. Mac and Keith were hitting it hard down to Las Pulgas Road. I rode over and checked if the "Construction... No cyclists allowed" sign was still up on SB I-5. Yep, it's still up so we chatted with a touring rider on the detour thru the base. We joined a line of cyclists who were just off a SAG stop at the parking lot. Seems they were on a Metric Century to San Diego. The Marine gate guard was yelling orders about "no cameras & single file". Mac said we were doing a "Double Metric Century" today.

Touring rider had to "detour" thru Camp Pendleton today

Once in the base, a fast group broke away from the Metric group, and of course we dropped right in with them. They seemed a little "jittery" in a pace line so I backed off just a bit. All was well till we hit the first roller and after a set-up, we passed them. Later on we had a rando regroup and mixed in with the Metrics again till they stopped to help someone with a flat tire. Exiting the base, we had a water stop along Harbor Drive. Mac would be leaving us here and riding south back to Solana Beach. Just Keith, Mike and me now.

Temps were warming up as Mike led us on the SLR Bike Path. It's close to home for him and he knows all the bumps. The helping tailwind pushed up the speed to the hi-teens. Once on Hwy 76 Keith really liked the push-wind and took off. After several red lights, I was spinning 25mph to close the gap by Bonsall town. Time for a recheck at McDonalds. I tried the CC Cookies this time. Dropped a little powder in the bottle and iced it up. Time for the last climb ahead.

More comfortable riding on Camino Del Rey with the tailwind. This was about to end as we turned onto Old Hwy. 395. New sun-warmed asphalt greeted us warmly as we enjoyed the smooth mini-climb toward Old Castle Road. They even had the lines sprayed on this trip! The 3rd 1000gm Tylenol knocked down the hip discomfort as I paced shirt-flying Keith up Champagne Blvd. After a regroup we were off downhill back to the finish in San Marcos.

SAN MARCOS WEATHER
Fog early, clear later
Hi: 78     Lo: 64
W: SW 11mph
127 miles

-randorides

Riding To RAW

Loop route we rode today

Days are more rando friendly now, which I interpret as at least 13 hours of good daylight for riding. I've been riding a few fill in routes to keep in marginal cycling shape this month. Of course, the June hi-lite around here is the Race Across America start from Oceanside. A big event in the cycling world, we planned a loop rando-fixie route that day which started/ended in Oceanside.


Keith Olsen & I left Oceanside at 0500 and were soon joined by Mac Imacseng on our way down the coast on Hwy. 101. Mac is prepping for PBP (Randonneur Paris-Breat-Paris) in August and has been hampered by a "sprained tendon". I was making a video of the ride today and had the GoPro mounted on the Madison SS with the Canon hand held around my neck. Keith opted for his regular geared bike as did Mac.



The guys were pushing the pace as we hit the SR-56 Bike Path eastward. The Madison SS was geared in lo-climb mode for this route, so the slight uphill on the Bike Path was right in my range! After a nice stop at the Camino del Sur Circle K, we took Dove Canyon route to Rancho Bernardo.

Hirokazu Suzuki

OOPS! I noticed my bottles were missing! Left them back at Circle K. Guys kept on route... I turned around and paced it back to pick them up. From there I rode SR-56 to the coast and picked up a group of racers to Oceanside. From there I rode the SLR Bike Path to College Ave. and waited for Keith and Mac there. A brief bathroom break took me off-sight before waiting till 1130 for them. Cranked it up to the coast not to miss the RAW (Race Across The West) noon start time. They had already arrived and were watching the start! Somehow I missed them on the SLR?


Mac wandered off near the Oceanside Pier, as Keith & I met up with a few North County Club riders as we watched the RAW start. I usually pick out a few riders and follow their progress online via the RAAM website. I was watching Hirokazu Suzuki and Alan Johnson (recumbent). I was commenting that Hirokazu looked really thin and wondering what "heat" training he had done in Japan? 58 year old Alan Johnson looked a little bulkier. In a interview he stated that he climbs slower on the "bent" but makes up for it on the flats! Not a lot of flats on the way to Durango. Unfortunately, Hirokazu pulled out after 145 miles and Alan stopped in Prescott due to the accumulated effect of the desert heat. I'm sure both will be back next year. I was thinking about the mental effect a DNF has on the crew, sponsors and all the money it takes to participate. That's quite a load to carry.

Alan Johnson at RAW start in Oceanside

Keith, Jimbo Wisener and I went over to the pits to check out the RAAM solo riders (who would start a bit later). Chatted with Rando Greg Sherman before we left the pier area.

Of the 21 solo RAW riders, 14 DNF'd.
RAAM riders fared better with 20/41 solo finishers.

Credit to all the riders for even rolling to the start line. It takes a whole lot of planing to make this thing happen!

-randorides

Tar Balls & Randofried

Sandia Creek Century route in the heat

Days are getting longer & warmer now that it's June. That means early daylight starts and longer rides. Rando Keith Olsen and I have done several full Permanents over the last few weeks, some mixed in with the Thursday OFR Gruppo and some not. Also I've been doing my usual weekly rando rides to keep things loose, changing from my once tempered Tu-Th-Sat routine to a more flexible Mon-Th-Sat one. Including in there the usual trips to Bike Shops & Walley-Mart. Nothing too exciting to write about.

Forecast around San Marcos today was temps approaching 90F and lite winds. Sounded good as I had planned on starting out early, but heavy local fog & a kicked cup of Mr. Lees Green Tea put the dampers on that idea for a while. Maybe green tea has some magical floor cleaning enzymes? Also checking out a new electrolyte powder packet: GU brew. (Mixed a sample last night for Zaharah and it was awful! Tasted like warm sea water. Diluted it by half and added a bit of Gatorade Endurance to help it out.) Added my Garmin soft HR Strap this trip. Put dabs of gel on the contact pads. HR reading of 77, so it must work? Time to clear out.

Thought I would get in some climbing today, so loosely followed the Sandia Creek Century route. Not much going on early along the coast and even the SLR was passive. No normal headwind as I plodded eastward to Bonsall. Stopped at McDonalds, where there is on-going new construction to the parking lot and entrances. Hit the head, iced up my bottle and headed northward to Green Canyon Road. Temps were in the mid 70's as I got into a rhythm under the shady tree lined road. Could only get my HR up to 148. Must be tired? Saw 3 riders crossing ahead on Reche Road. Thought I might have company on Live Oak Park, but they continued on Reche Road. I usually avoid that road since the rando Bobbi Fisher accident years ago.

Met up with a familiar rider on Old Hwy. 395 toward Rainbow. Forgot his name, but he related yesterday (Sunday) he and a buddy drove out early to Pauma store and started the ride up Palomar Mtn. via So. Grade Rd. Buddies rear deraileur hanger broke off, so they coasted back down and went home. Today he was doing the Rice Cyn./Cooser/Lilac loop to make up. Couldn't remember if I had given him a rando card before, but should have passed one on today. He cut off quick at Rainbow... opportunity lost.

GU brew taste like warm sea water, unless you spice it up!

New road surface from north Rainbow to the top of the downhill. Looks like they were getting ready to spray on some lines, as highway workers were milling around and having coffee. Smooth and nice, but still not adequate bike lanes in spots. Bitumen was hard enough to ride on without picking up chunks with the tires. Did the back way sidewalk loop-around to miss all the Hwy. 79 traffic and ended up at the 7-Eleven for a break. Noticed that temps were mid-90's after the plunge down to Temecula. Sat outside and ate a IC Sandwich. This 7-Eleven has a bathroom in the back and handy sink to rinse things off. Filled my bottles and ice'd up for temp increase ahead. Leaving the store, you wait at the light for green to turn left on Hwy. 79 and go under Hwy. 15. This works well, as the Hwy. 79 traffic has a red light and this allows you to avoid dodging cars for the short run to Front Street.

More construction in Old Towne ahead. Following the route on Pujol St., this avoids Old Towne anyway, passing thru commercial business area. Rancho California climb ahead.  What? "Expect Delays Ahead... Construction Sign" Wow, still working on that road for months now. Looks like a small ring climb to me as I pulled up to talk to the safety vest worker holding a "STOP" sign. He was under a canopy in the shade with his buddy. Good idea. Glanced down to my Garmin and read him the temp: "97 degrees".

After some chit-chat, he said I could go ahead, but watch the oncoming traffic as I would be riding in the left lane. Right lane had a thin coat of fresh tar and further ahead the trucks were laying down a 4" bed of hot asphalt. Riding at the edge of the molten fumes, my tires started to pick up tar and bits of bitumen. Man, it was really getting hot now as I grabbed another gear and continued to slow down on the climb. "Just Great. They released the downhill traffic." Nowhere to pull off, so I climbed between the speeding traffic and the steaming asphalt bed. Garmin read 114degrees and my HR was palpitating at 178! As the tar balls built up between my tire and the carbon crowns, I was getting slower and slower. The drag was noticeable and I kept grabbing a lower gear to keep my motion. Finally the balls chunked off and it all started over again.

Like this, Rancho California climb was HOT and dirty!

The grade eased after the last curve as I spotted another blue canopy ahead with a line of traffic waiting for me. How nice! Whew, couldn't wait to clear that mess. I stopped at the turn to Sandia Creek Road and chatted with a Harley rider, who ask me where he was. I pointed to Temecula and mentioned the dirty road ahead. I was sucking energy water and noticed my HR was down to 156 now. Looks like I won't pass out here.

Sandia Creek rollers are lots of fun, especially when it's mostly downhill. Temps remained in the lo-100's with pockets of "heat". Climbing the last 17%'er, noticed a riding coming up behind. Waited at the top while drinking more water. He rode by saying it was a little hot today. Built like Contador and riding a Cannondale Evo 6 racer bike. Met him again just entering Fallbrook. He was riding downhill. Makes you realize how slow you really are!

I was feeling good all day even with the heat and stuff going on. Made a quick stop at Fallbrook JIB for water/ice. Watched a lady outside pick out the bad raspberries from a box and eat the rest! Way to go! Downhill now to Heller's Bend and on to Bonsall. The turn onto Hwy. 76 brought strong, cool headwinds. This calls for a shady stop at McDonalds for a IC Sundae and Sunflower laced crackers. Yummy! Temps were into the 90's now, first time since leaving Temecula.

Nice normal tailwind along Camino Del Rey, where I managed to stretch out and take another B-6 tablet. These work good at preventing cramp when it's hot out. Stopping under I-15 in the shade, I noticed a sign ahead: "Road Work.. Construction Delays Ahead" Nice new asphalt on the climb up past the campground. The fresh tar glistened on the curbside as the temps soared into the 100's again. No lines on this new road yet. Stopped by traffic control just past the campground. New surface ended at Old Castle Road. Actually, I was looking forward to the Champagne climb! 

Decided to drop down into the 34T chain-ring for this climb, as the winds were in my face. Alternating the up-down saddle time, I was feeling good as I made the top. Didn't time this one, but managed to keep it at 9mph with the wind and heat. A whole lot cooler now as I enjoyed the downhill back to San Marcos. HR was under 100 now.

Fog early, Clear mid-morning
Hi: 114     Lo: 59 (Garmin)
Winds: W-10mph

97 miles

-randorides