Dirt Devotion Derby: 60km/100km Combo Route

Cycling memorabilia inside Rouleur Brewery

Late start from home as I spun up the hills on Palomar Airport Road toward the 3D start at the Brewery off Faraday/El Camino Real. I finally arrived and cruised around the parking lot, checking out the hi-end gravel hardware most riders had. For sure, not only was I the only rider on a MTB, it was a 27.5" Plus too! John was sitting on the curb next to this Eric guy, chatting about Randonneuring. I handed over a Rando Card and had a few word to say on Eric's shiny GT titanium ride. He just put on a set of Schwalbe Big One tires, 35mm. Just like what John was running on his SCOTT Addict 10 Gravel bike.

Great signage on trail to Questhaven Rd.

Riders all looked slim and tall as I checked inside for water. A few bikes and many wheelsets on the wall as I waited in line at the bathroom. Rouleur Brewing Company... neat place with lots of cycling pics on the wall too. Wandering outside, organizer Dave said we would start a little late.. not a good sign. Different groups went off as we waited for the last 60km group. Soon we were on our way for the first section of the 60km route.

Group soon split up as we hit different traffic lights on the road. At the first gravel section, the main guru rider led his minions off course. John & I just smiled and followed the Garmin track ( plus we had a Pre-Ride last Saturday), commenting on the advantage of a course recon first. We were alone and enjoying ourselves when the group finally caught us at a stoplight. "Guru-man" soon led the group off course again, leading the clones off toward Copper Creek trails.

Deep Attebury Pond. Dan fished for bass here long ago!

"Adios Amigos" as we picked up a few others riders ( who shortcut) before the steep trail up behind San Elijo Albertson's. John & I had commented earlier on how many riders would HAB (hike-a-bike) up here. Two dudes just ahead of me couldn't make it and I managed to ride around both of them. Same with John. Alone again as we wound upward on the gravel path toward Questhaven Rd.The group following some distance behind.

Short regroup as we climbed toward Double Peak. One lone hard-body woman made the gap and we chatted a bit. Her legs were ripped and cut like a gym instructor. She had no computer and didn't know which way to go. We were giving instructions as we met a few more 100km riders heading the wrong way. These guys had a cue slip too small to read!

Near SeaQuest Trail

We quickly made our way over toward Ridgeline Trailhead thru a busy trail packed with dog-walkers, hikers and a guy with his fishing pole, looking for a way down to the pond below. Short water break at the Trailhead, where there were a bunch or riders grouping up. We left them there.

Fast ride down Attebury, past the deep pond and a large new home under construction. More riders ahead at the Seaquest Trail entrance hanging around waiting for their buddies, who were coming in from another direction. We rode around them at the gate and continued on the dirt trails. Time to pick up the 100km route down San Elijo Road. Others were following a few hundred meters behind. At the bottom of Harmony Grove Road, we made the turn to catch the Escondido Trail. Others were not far behind.

Start of Escondido Creek Trail

Horses! We waited at a trail turn for them to pass. Cowboys were friendly enough and after some small talk, we were off on the fire road again. Can't get lost here, so I dropped back of the group to check out the equipment. Lots of carbon and 35mm cross tires. One quiet girl was riding well on her new blue gravel bike.

John was pulling the load as we offed the trail and on to the rough, water district steep downhill road, cross Escondido Creek and more rocky fire roads to end up at a residential guard shack. Back on roads again, I opted for the horse path along side. Other soon followed as we turned on Camino del Norte and more roadside gravel.

John & I pulled off as the others rode by. We would now ride over to pick up the 60km route again. After a few road miles, we spotted a few 60km riders ahead! Huh? We weren't dragging way behind after all. Next up was the neighborhood gravel paths near John's house. Even though we pre-road these, John lost sight and missed a turn. Trail-side sawgrass cut my right thumb as blood covered my shifters/brake lever. We came across the group again looking for a water stop. We mentioned that we were stopping at the Circle K near mile 25.5.

Buba The Security Guard at end of Escondido Creek Trail

More gravel and we ended up at LaCosta Ave./El Camino Real. The others soon joined up. I chatted with the green jersey "leader" and mentioned the next stop was Sage Creek High School/Calavara. Calavara? He didn't like the sound of that and indicated that he didn't know the 60km route went there. John & I went to Circle K. We think the others went to Starbucks.

Wildflower Trail near Coast Hwy. 101

Two'fer sale on Vitamin Water today. I grabbed a few and two ice-cream sandwiches as John patrolled outside while phoning home. Ice'd up and ready to leave, I saw three riders riding north on El Camino Real. I sure thought it was our 60km comrades? Enough already?

John amped up the speed as he tried to chase down two TT riders westbound on LaCosta Ave to Coast Hwy. 101. We made good time to the jump off for more trails and RR side-roads. Someone had mowed down the trail-side flowers, which made riding much easier, but I was a little disappointed in not having wildflowers stuck all over my bike again.

Knarly Calavara Trails. Took a header near here!

Roadie ride on Canon Road brought us to Sage Creek HS, where Joe Morgan was waiting with
water/Official Aid Station. We chatted a bit before other riders started to come in. We were off to the not-beloved Calavara trails. John dumped here last week, so he was especially careful. Not me, as we missed a turn and backtracked down to the wooden walkway over the marsh. I barrelled down and did a endo. Buggered up my elbow and right shoulder. All body parts attached, we continued on with the rest of the rutted, knarly ride thru Calavara. Several 17% climbs and we were finally out of there.

Next up was a spell of road climbing and then the peaceful trek thru Buena Vista Park trails. We got passed by two dudes on cruiser bikes to start off. After the peaceful U-turn ride thru the tree lined trails, the Elite 100km riders passed us as we jumped onto Melrose Ave. Those guys were lone gone. We opted to follow them for an additional mile of final trails off Melrose Dr. At the first steep trail climb, I missed a gear shift and added a HAB to my repertoire. Another group of riders also couldn't make it and also HAB. John & I follow mercifully behind as we finished the trail onto FaradayAve. and finally to the FINISH.

Tree lined Buena Vista Park trails

I went inside Rouleur Brewery searching for water. Looked like some riders had been there for hours, as they were already rowdy. Some lady asked me what route I rode, when I signed up, etc. If you signed up before a certain date, you got pizza and free beer. If not, you were out. I disappointed her as I stated: " We rode a 85km route today. Thanks anyway, but I don't drink beer!" I was out of there. Not a good set-up at the finish.

John & I rode around the lot a bit before heading out for the ride home. We hopped the El Camino sidewalk southbound. We soon bid "ado" as John was riding south and me eastward. Heavy traffic as I finally made my way to McDonald's on San Marcos Blvd. Choc Shake $2 Special for me. Soon I was home, put the dirty MTB in the garage and went inside for a couple of Tylenol.

John checks rotor alignment on his SCOTT Gravel Bike

Interesting riding today. We had a 53 mile route.. which is 85km. Then the ride in/back of 16 miles. Looks like a 70 mile day for me. John had similar. With a fly-in from Phoenix Friday afternoon and dog-sitting all night, John had little sleep. I fared little better, with the 100km preride on Tuesday and a Fuji road route on Thursday (mixed in with 100km sections). Rode a bit on Friday.. so I wasn't rested at the start. Then take into account my Calavara header and I would be a sore for a week or so.

I thought for Dave's first adventure into route organizing, he did only OK. A little over-zealous with the emails and so many route revisions and notes. Might be best to just do one final route the week before. At the finish, there was no check-in. How did they know who went where? Crashes? DNF's? Forget the early registration for free beer. Either all riders get it or none.

John & I noted how ill prepared most riders were. Especially the ones we were in contact with. Cue sheet? Forget it on a trail route like this. Pre-ride preparation was solely lacking in some cases. It was follow the leader.. even if the leader didn't know the route well.

I found that the recon rides I did, along with the training route last Saturday really helped with a carefree ride, not having to wonder where you are. I'll attempt to make some of these trails/paths into a decent Rando Certified route soon.

- randorides

Dirt Devotion Recon Training

75km gravel training route

John signed us up for the Nytro sponsored "Dirt Devotion Derby- 100km/60km ride on April 22nd,  so why not a recon training ride thru some of the same gravel? I rode the route earlier and added a few dirt paths and roadside gravel paths. The ride was around 75km and mostly followed the 3D 60km route.

We left the Vista Business Center Dr. 7-Eleven/JIB slightly after 0800.  Dan had his 29'er and brother Bruce his Surly Fat Bike. John Mestemacher rode from home on his new SCOTT Addict 10 Gravel and I my SCOTT MTB-27.5"+. Late to arrive is hard core MTB'er Greg Armstrong with his Ti gravel bike. Off we went!

John, Kelly, Dan, Greg, Bruce at gravel regroup

Riding north on Business Park Dr. we hit a trail over to Melrose with a HAB (hike-a-bike). Then following the 60km route, we added several gravel path sections as we worked our way toward Double Peak. Picked up Troy Buss and his TREK full sus MTB near Poinsettia Ln. Met Rando John Fry jogging on the Melrose gravel path.

Nice trail riding as we rode near Copper Creek, behind San Elijo Albertson's and follow the path up to Questhaven Rd. Instead of following the road upward, we opted for the roadside gravel path to the Double Peak "Y". Then onto the nice, busy path up to Ridgeline Trailhead for a bathroom break. The 13.6 miles we rode seemed like 30! Reload with water, a bike check and off we went.

Troy pushes back!

Lots of downhill now, as Attebury turns into Questhaven, then Seaquest Trail. Having pre-ridden this multi-turn section, I sort of knew where I was going. The Garmin 500 was a little lagging on the turn info, so we often waited for it to relay the correct route. Multiple "neighborhood" paths found us over by John;s house off Levante St. A quick path parallel to El Camino Real took us to another break at LaCosta Circle K-Mile 25.5.

We lingered around a while before some road riding took us to Coast Hwy. 101. Not for long. We were off thru fields of wild flowers and a gravel road alongside the RR tracks before turning on Canon for the longish road ride toward Sage Creek High School.Troy had turned off for home by the rails. Just before the school, it was pleasant riding on the gravel path alongside Canon Rd. Next up was Calavara trails.

Private dirt road thru neighborhood

I wasn't that familiar with Calavara, but Bruce was. The only thing was he was so far behind on his heavy fat bike, so no easy traks for us. Nice bathroom break before the rutted, bumpy climbs found John a bit scratched up. Greg & John had several HAB's here. A few 17% climbs finally found us out of there. Not really a fun gravel bike route there.

Road riding on Shadowridge Dr took us to Buena Vista Park. Nice trail riding thru here, passing by a pond, under roadways and over a bridge. Finally out on Melrose Dr., we were soon heading for the finish. Most of us had 45-47 miles on the Garmins for this ride.

Flower field trail near Coast Hwy. 101

After some chit-chat, the brothers Phillips packed up, as did Greg. John and I headed home for a few more road miles. I managed a stop at McDonald's for a cone reward! I was a dusty mess, as was the MTB! Next up is the Dirt Devotion Derby next Saturday. I've got some better "roadie" type tires ordered: Schwalbe Big ONE 27.5" x 2.8". Hopefully they will come in before the ride. (Never did)

- randorides

Lightly Damp 11-City Loop

Eleven City Loop Route

Mike Shaw organized a rando ride for today and with it's local start, I'm all in. Sam drove down from Sun City, John Mestemacher and John Fry rode in from LaCosta area, Keith Olsen and Mike drove in, Bill Stevenson rode over from home (across the street) and I rode over from north San Marcos. Today was the popular "Eleven City Loop" route. Not a lot of climbing, but a nice little loop route which included the coast and a trip thru Poway on the way back.

John's new SCOTT Addict 10 Gravel

We were off a little early, as riders had a few questions on Keith & John's new bikes. Keith had another fixed gear, this time black vs his other one which was a rust color (burnt orange). John has a top rated gravel bike in his SCOTT Addict 10 Gravel, laced with 36mm Schwalbe Big-One tires. Quick pace under damp/foggy like conditions as we made our was down Palomar Airport Rd. the first check point near the coast. Started to drizzle after leaving the Chevron Station.

"Butt-Crack" jogger near Del Mar

Not many riders out today, mainly due to the dampness. We rolled past the busy Leucadia Donut and made our way down the coast for a short stop at Swami's. Riding past Del Mar Dog Beach, John noticed a jogger wearing a "butt-crack". I managed to get a pic of this, which was quite humorous at the time. A few riders around as we cycled thru Sorrento Valley and our normal bathroom stop near Performance Bike. They were staging for their Saturday AM ride.

Mike was having some front derailleur problems and Sam took a look. We hung around for a while, as they worked it out (or didn't?). Next up was the only real climb of the day, touching at 9%. We all paced up and made our way thru the residential homes at the top. Bill was needing to get back home by 12:30, so he took the alternate route straight up Black Cyn. Road, loop to Dove Cyn. and Rancho Bernardo, cross over Hodges and head back to the start. The rest of us climbed eastward on Mercy Road to the final control at Scripps Poway Pkwy. Chevron.

Sam got "nailed" by Lake Hodges

Sam was on his cell on his "Flip My House" thing as the rest of us talked bikes. Skies had cleared by now and it was heating up quick. More cyclists out now as a large group headed up SPPkwy. We were off northward on Pomerado Road, with Sam off the front. Just before crossing over I-15, Sam picked up a nail in his rear tire. I took a few pics as the group hung around. Prompt tube change and we were winding our way across Lake Hodges, which had water under the bridge ( many years since that happened).

Gruppo at the finish

Sam mentioned he was buying donuts at Peterson's Donuts, so we rode straight up Escondido Ave. and made a stop. Sam, John Fry and I loaded up, while the others were still waiting for Sam to buy! After lingering around watching people line up, we were off for the Bike Path route on the way to the CSUSM Ralph's finish.

No record today as we turned a 5 hr ride into a 51/2 hour jaunt. After a few snapshots and some chatting, John Fry and John M. headed out for the climb up Twin Oaks and on to home. Keith handed out recovery Ensure (Costco Brand) as we parted for home. Nice ride after starting out a bit damp.

- randorides