Eleven City Loop...Rain Delay!

Eleven Cities Loop route

Often times when I submit a route to RUSA (Randonneurs USA), I'll make up a pre-ride route video and send in along with the application, cue, map, etc. I feel it gives the route checker a heads up on what the route is really about. I've done that with several dirt applications and they got a kick out of it, so what the heck.

I was working on a short Populaire of around 65 miles, which did the "square loop" thing, but the furthest north it went was San Marcos and Palomar Airport Road. I checked my old files and found 2 which were close.. one was a short Loop from the faulty "Brevet Week-2015. The other was Steve Elliott's Square Deal. With similar routes already on the books, this should be a no-brainer! Different controls, San Marcos start and a better overall route. With my local trick-shot street knowledge, this was a slam-dunk. Now time to make a pre-ride informational video.

With the route finished on RWGPS (Ride With GPS...online route maker) and all packaged up, I sent it over to Crista Boras at RUSA the other day. Now for the video stuff. The weather has been a little "iffy" of late (for SoCal), so I just decided to go today. Waiting till the early temps were in the hi 40's I was off around 0900 to partly cloudy skies and no rain in the forecast today. One short, one long sleeved underlayer beneath my generic $10 blue Performance Bike jersey tooped off with a pair of arm warmers and my wool knee-hi blue socks. Matched the jersey, of course! Also along was my woolie hat and my back up well worn blue doo-rag.

Old man by the sea

Cycling southward to the start at Ralph's near CSUSM, I figured this day could be along one with the cool headwind from the SE. Took a few shots of Ralph's and hit the route. Had two cameras along this trip: CanonA1100 Power Shot and mounted on the HB was the GoPro. Be taking a lot of video shots this trip.

Made good time the back way via Discovery St to San Marcos Blvd. Then off to the races on Palomar Airport Road. First stop was a the neat Chevron near the Flower Fields. Handy stop with same side location and easy exit. I was flying now  as I crossed over I-5 & the RR Tracks. Made the loop to southbound 101 and picked up a noticeable headwind. Time to stop for a few ocean shots. Also managed to get in most of the State Beaches on the way to Leucadia.

Winner Cadel Evan 2012 tour bike

The route included the normal traffic bypass in Encinitas and today was my usual stop at Nytro to fill up with water. Just in time as the big drop sprinkles were starting to fall. I was soon off to Swami's looking for surfers. No one out today, but lots of dudes watching the water. Never figured out what they were watching, but took some pictures of a few hard-bodies stretching out by the railing.

Proceeded southward under partly cloudy skies now and did manage a photo stop into Revolution Bike, where I tightened my GoPro mount with my handy multi-tool Phillips driver. Took a look at several of their Salsa Fargo bikes too. Can't do business with them with their paltry $10 new bike discount! Time for the Del Mar bypass route. I managed to sneak behind 2 riders and followed them around the alleys and finally back onto Coast Hwy. again. Of course the GoPro was doing it's thing. I cut off onto Carmel Valley while my 2 new buddies were heading for Torrey Pines.

Hard-bodies stretch at Swami's

Turning onto Sorrento Valley Road, the sun was out and it was starting to reach 60 degrees. Control is at Performance Bike, so I stopped and took a few pics. Also did some lookie-loo shopping inside. Not much going on there. After the turn onto Sorrento Valley Blvd., I stopped off at "North Of The Border" Bike Shop. Of course they were closed for Black Friday! Started the 10% climb as the dark clouds were building. That sucker is at least a mile long and eased off a bit after that. Capricorn Way runs thru a residential neighborhood and has speed bumps every 300 meters. By the time I turned onto Black Mtn. Road it was starting to rain.

I pulled off under a big sidewalk tree and put on my arm warmers. Also up to my knees were the woolie socks now. Still light rain as I started the 8% climb up Mercy Road toward Poway. Felt good to warm up. More climbing  in the 3-4% range with the cool reward on a fast downhill to the Chevron Control at Pomerado Road. Rain was starting to thump down good now with the sky getting real dark. Filled my bottle with water, added some powder and after a few shots, off I went. Passing thru Poway town, the car splash was making a mess out of riding. I finally pulled into a roadside park bathroom and rounded up some plastic bags from the trash. One over my HB bag and one inside my jersey. I'm toasty now.

Wet Pomerado Road in Poway

I waited around for 10 minutes till the rain eased a bit. Then northward on Pomorado. Hit one more heavy shower before turning on the Pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges. Chatted with 2 MTB guys there riding 26". Said they didn't get as wet today as I did! Rode by the North County Mall to lines of cars. A Black Friday thing again? Rain was all gone with my turn off Beethoven onto the Bike Path and up El Ku to Escondido.

At Felicita, a roadie with his 29'er buddy went by at a good clip. I jumped on and away they went. 23 mph with the knobbies singing a song. That dude was strong but I had their number today. My turn was at 5th St. so I said "thanks" and away I went channel hopping on the Bike Path westward. The route does the normal Harmony Grove to Kauana Loa and then Country Club to the Business Park. Light traffic on Barham Dr. took me into the finish as black clouds were building around north Escondido. Pulled into Ralphs, took a few pics of the pies and away I went. No rain caught me on the way home this time.

Casual MTB'ers at Lake Hodges

Checking the 90 pictures and 75 videos, looks like I'll have enough good stuff to make up a Informational Video for YouTube.

Route Video


Partly cloudy to rain
Hi: 69    Lo: 51
Wind: SW 9mph
73 miles

-randorides