Rainbow Ramble 200 - Ride Down

Mike & Osvaldo help RBA Dave with tire

Didn't really want to spend the whole day Saturday on a road ride, but had another weird one: start a rando route early from north county and pick up the randos doing the scheduled 0700 start Rainbow Ramble 200 in Pacific Beach/Dog Beach. Had just the route in "Walkin' The Dog".

I was off at 0400 dark to 34F temps under clear cold skies. Long wool socks, knee warmers, arm warmers and my wind reflective home-madie vest should work fine. Also added a neck warmer that I could pull up over my mouth for the super cold valleys. Traffic was the expected nil this early. Double rear blinkies covered my backside as my cygolite worked up front. Felt good as long as I was moving along. Hangin' around was another matter.

Rando gruppo riding eastward on path

All the lights seemed green for me as I rolled along down Coast Hwy. 101. Only saw 1 rider headed northward the whole trip. After the warm climb up Torrey, the Garnett downhill was freezing. A few water puddles were still roadside as I sped onto the Rose Canyon Bike Path. Several mud crossings there, which totally clogged up my brakes against the carbon 60mm rims. No way around them. I sort of picked a little of the mud off, but it was the sticky reddish kind and made a worse mess.

As I crossed the SD River Bridge near Sea World, my watch read 0650. Should I turn on the Ocean Beach Bike Path or take the advertised route in reverse? A little adventure time as I hit Old Town and turned right onto Sports Arena Blvd. I couldn't remember exactly where today's Brevet route went, so after a few turns I ended up on the Bike Path! Duh. A few minutes more and I was pulling into the Bacon St. 7-Eleven. Fortunately, the gruppo hadn't left yet.

"Uncle Zeke" pushing in Poway

Keith Olsen was heading over to the local bathrooms, so I followed in hopes of cleaning off my brakes/wheels. No such luck as the bathroom was closed! After waiting around the group was finally ready to roll. Once on the OB Bike Path heading eastward, RBA Dave D. had a flat. The group waited around as Mike & Osvaldo offered flat tire help (standing around checking things out.

New guy, Roberto, had a carbon BMC racer... no bags, no storage and one bottle. Looks like he was ready for the long ride today. Sandy Aniya was atop his new TREK Domane, as was Mike Shaw. Nice. Lisa Nicholson rode her heavy duty rando bike with fenders and big tires as did Osvaldo. Keith was grinding hard on the fixie climbing up past USD. Hector joined the few riders up front. Looked like a race pak to me.

Lisa compliments Keith on fashion colors

We were soon off to the races, as I joined the 3 riders up front. Route cuts eastward on Miramar Road and then climbs northward on Pomerado Rd. thru Poway. We had several red-light regroups along the way and were treated to the ultimate cart-man at a light stop on Poway Road.  I called him Sandy's uncle Zeke!

I dropped back later and chatted with Keith, who was commenting what happened to the camaraderie of long distance riding? Recent rando rides have been a "race-type" atmosphere I concurred. Big regroup at Chevron just after crossing Lake Hodges. Great photo op there and I got a few. The next climb up Sunset really broke up the group. By north Broadway, they were scattered along.

New rando Roberto on carbon BMC

After a farewell to Keith and Sandy, I turned westward on Country Club Dr. My riding day was soon over. Not quite 90 miles and it wasn't 1100 yet! After a check-in at the San Marcos 7-Eleven, I was finally on my way home. As Keith reminded me earlier, I would be washed up, filled up and watching the SDSU Bowel game and he would still be riding toward Rainbow!
Go figure,


- randorides