Ranchos, NCCC & Lake Henshaw Randos

Lake Henshaw Century route we rode today.

Weather check before I left home indicated chance of a shower toward the mtns. Like a ding-dong, I strapped on a rain jacket to my HB bag, just in case.  Also the recent cool front indicated a 3-layer top and no leg covers. Arm warmers over my long sleeve layer came off real quick as early skies were threatening but no rain drops for us today.

Posted this route up last week on the SDRando forum and response was lite. Osvaldo came up from San Diego and was on fire most of the day. He brought a new riding friend along, Milton on a red Fuji.  Our Albany friend Sam Thomas... now almost retired...dropped in from Fallbrook and was plagued all day with cassette problems on the steeper climbs. John Fry took a few days off from running to join us and was giving fueling advice to newbie. Usual others were busy or the route had too much climbing for them.

We were off rolling on Mission Ave at 0700. Osvaldo shortly turned around and picked up his buddy Milton, who was a minute too late for the start. They would track us down before Escondido. Easy riding thru town as it's flat and no school today. Saw a large group of riders ahead turn south on Andreason. Never figured out who they were. Might have been from CSUSM.

First climb of the day up Valley Center Road, passed a rider in red. Sam seemed to know him and they chatted a while before he dropped back. Osvaldo, Milton & John cleared the hill in good order while I was sucking wind already. Regroup before the Woods Valley turn.

Decent pace line before the construction zone flagman. Always something going on Woods Valley Rd. Scenic for sure, but traffic makes it sometimes tough riding. Easy blast down Rincon Grade to Harrah's Casino. We took the road and stayed away from the "bike lane". 7-Eleven is a premier rando stop. Even the bathrooms are clean! A few NCCC long riders came in while we were getting ready to leave.

Older pic shows Sam, Bill, Mac & Keith on Mesa Grande climb.

John & I were pacing up Hwy. 76 grade as the others were out ahead. A few of the elite NCCC riders came flying as we approached Henshaw and proceeded to track us up the road. Group of 10 Rancho racers passed as we started the Mesa Grande climb. I was looking for air and John Fry was following close in. We cleared Sam who was doing zig-zags up the steep stuff due to cassette slippage. After the INFO regroup, Sam joined up as we pacelined into Don's Market. The Ranchos, NCCC & us few randos were all together as we fueled in Santa Ysabel before noon.  Had a chat with Robert Abrahim and Tony Long, among others. Ranchos left first and we followed a bit later.

We had just chatted about a nice pace-line into the WSW winds buts Sam was soon on his own off the front. A little coolish at the higher elevations today but that soon changed as we tracked downward toward Ramona via Old Julian Hwy. Another quick trip and a back alley brought us into JIB, where the vagrants hang around counting their coins on the outside tables. Water refill, bathroom break and we were shortly off into the headwinds under warming skies.

Several nice pace-lines till we hit the rollers where Sam & I took off. We know every hill & vale here and soon lost touch with the others. We pulled off before the Highland Valley twisting downhill as John indicated maybe Milton had a flat. Several passing NCCC riders verified this. Ten minutes later, we were back together on the downhill and soon lumbering along HVRoad into the headwind.

We brushed by the Chevron en-route and split at Citracado Ave. with most clinging to the route up steepish Gamble Lane, while I showed Sam (cassette problems) the longer bike path route and finally a regroup on Country Club Dr. for the relaxing ride in to the finish.

Weather displayed clear skies and much warmer after the Highland Valley Road plunge.

With the headwinds, 1 flat tire, shifting problems and multiple stops, 8:31 was a decent time on this route today.

Lake Henshaw Century Video


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Ursa Minor To San Juan Capistrano

Ursa Minor route we rode today

Had a little rando ride today, doing the Ursa Minor ( 209km/130mi) with others in the group. Weather was overcast the whole day and not a bit of sunshine on us. Nice group of eight randos managed to do some damage.

-Sandy Aniya, still concerned about his "Top To Bottom" Brevet being cut from the SDRando Calendar (all others were also dropped from the list - No RBA)!

-John Fry, a few days off from running, was Mr. Steady while riding and climbing today.

-Keith Olsen, laid back from cycling some these days, as his garage cleaning duties surfaced.

-Mac Imacseng, looking for a reason to ride more and retire from his Acupuncture business.

-Greg Armstrong, mixing it up on the road from his normal strong dirt MTB activities

-Ben Hain, always looking for a fast pace and maybe he could log a few more traffic tickets today?

-Greg (lightbelt) Sherman, aero deep-dish wheels & didn't need his lightbelt today

-Kelly DeBoer , had a  decent ride today till the long, back hurting Champagne section

Left in a timely fashion from the friendly 7-Eleven, where they know to give us receipts for the paltry items we buy for "proof of passage". Convenient rando pace leaving San Marcos and the nice short cut over to Del Dios Highway via Country Club Dr. Group stayed together thru the rollers past Rancho Santa Fe town and plenty of vocal warnings about the next control at the bottom of the hill approaching Coast Hwy.

Control Stop Solana Donuts had recent remodel.

1st Control/Donut Shop didn't have any Red Velvet. I think they stopped making them for us. Sandy was nice and bought donuts for most of us. Mac lives close and joined the group for donuts before the ride north. Public bathroom and water at the shop's sink make this a nicer stop now. Ben & the Gregs were mostly off the front as we picked up the pace northward along the coast. Encinitas was quiet this time of morning but we did latch onto several riders as we picked our way to Oceanside.

Entering Oceanside, I made sure I briefed the group on the recent wave of police tickets on cyclists near the pier. Ben had just entered his personal info online for Base entry and was a little worried if they would let him pass. No problem as we passed into Camp Pendleton. I managed a roadside porta-potty stop and joined up with Sandy to later meet up with the group at the San Onofre Campground bathroom for water & stuff.

Decided to follow route thru San Clemente and a few red lights broke up the group. Ben had a flat tire entering Doheny Park. After a chat, the group continued on, as Keith & Sandy would pick him up and show him the way along the San Juan Bike Path to the control in San Juan Capistrano. We rolled into Mickie D's and ordered up. Quite a bit later, the others came in. Ate my banana and had a 79 cent cone as Keith ordered out his fav. Kids Meal Deal! We hung around for a while, checking out a ladies rusted hybrid bike.

Group split with Greg, Ben & Greg leaving SJC earlier, while the rest of us would later stop by to visit our rando, K-Hound buddy, Mike Shaw at his house, just off route before Bonsall. Mac, Keith, John, Sandy & I soon headed west into the normal headwind on the SJC Bike Path. A slight push helped us make good time up thru San Clemente and return via the Camp. Entering Oceanside, Mac wanted to split off route and head home to check his dogs. We talked him out of that idea, as Keith volunteered to give him a ride back to Solana Beach at the finish. A stronger wind moved us right along the San Luis Rey Bike Path. Sandy took over for the lead out to Mike's house.

Sandy snapped smiling Mike at home with the gruppo!

Mike is recovering from his recent shoulder surgery & looked good in his flashy blue plaid shirt! Mike has been doing lite exercising and trying to keep in some cycling shape. Soon we were off for the Bonsall Control.
Mike's Zesty Retirement Ride Video

Longish stop at McDonald's as if no one wanted to leave. Another nice tailwind push along Camino del Rey and no traffic to notice. Shorty climb split the group. On Champagne, I was sucking air as Mac & John easily rode away. No regroup on top as we were trying to beat the hour mark to the finish. That we did by a few minutes. The first group was in almost an hour earlier! 

Good ride and we got to visit Mike Shaw. too!

Ursa Minor Route Video

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I Lost My Beast, Joe Got A Indian!

New owner's picture from Flagstaff ride.

April passed & I've been riding more each week. Most of the month saw me riding 3x Permanents per week... shorter routes from 63 to 100 miles per. Mid April I tapered off some due to selling the C'dale Beast  MTB 27.5+ to someone in Arizona.

The well staged Craiglist Ad brought several calls.. the normal lo-ballers and junk trade stuff. One lady from Arizona showed interest and was coming out on Saturday, April 9th. Couldn't get off work so it was back & forth till she got her PayPal account set up. Finally had Joe Morgan at Nytro ship it out via FedEX the next week. They have double thick boxes that are "oversize". I noted all the wrapped parts got stuffed in good order. Upon arrival, fork & wheels were re-installed and all went well. Beast rode the Whiskey Run in Flagstaff the next weekend. The new owner loves that bike!

Without extras, Joe's new Indian looked like this

Followed up that slo-ride week with a 4-banger week. Weather cleared a bit so I hit the Bike Paths, Peet's, checked out 11-Cities and also Walked The Dog down to Ocean Beach. On one of those shorties, I stopped by Nytro and Joe was all amped up over his new Indian Motorcycle. He and April were planning on lots of cruising now! On the home front, I suggested to Zaharah about making some bike scarfs for them (matching the Indian moto colors, of course). She rounded up some yarn and was off to the races on the design. They worked out good with April getting a matching cap. Good stuff.

Zaharah used "Starry Night" for Joe's scarfs

Weird weather pattern of late, so clearer days dictate the ride schedule. May started out good riding a Permanent  with Sam Thomas & Keith Olsen. Pre-ride, I gave Keith a good book called "Killing Reagan" & a 10 pak of SDRando Cards. Felt OK on the ride, but limited breathing with the mini brace. Took it off part way thru and could get a full breath again before chugging up Champagne climb. Main topic of conservation was the recent RBA quit. Don't know if any of us really understood what was going on or not. My feeling was that there were other home factors involved in this. I'll need to get back the new, full box of SDRando Cards soon or they'll be lost in the maze.

So. Santa Fe, Damon Ave. & Morena Blvd had construction delays.

Followed that Monday ride with a full Permanent around University Loop on Wednesday. Hooked up along the coast with Chris. He recognized me and we rode down to Del Mar Dog Beach, where he did a u-turn back north. Chris works at the Encinitas Animal Shelter and now is remodeling his house close by. I met him years ago down around Claimont Mesa during a rando ride while he was commuting up to work. I think he recognized my RUSA jersey!

Santa Fe Street is a mess with pipeline/steel plate construction as is Morena Blvd. Promised I wouldn't return this way and opted for the inland route via QUALCOMM bike path. Slight headwind past MCAS Miramar, but it was warming up to my liking. Felt good fighting the Black Mtn. Rd. climb and others to finish off the route. Only a 2-Tylenol day.

Some off & on rain for the next few days, so I guess it's time to replace the aging zipper in my home-made reflective vest. Also need to add the front 3-M reflective striping.
Homemade Reflective Vest INFO

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