Rando Gravel Route III

Troy's Garmin plot of his ride today.

After our illustrious gravel ride a few weeks back, I had been working on several "gravel" type routes to submit to RUSA for permanent approval. Not MTB type routes, but what they call around here "gravel grinders". That is, maybe 1/3 gravel and the rest roadie riding. I had to up the ante and shoot for more like 50/50! Only the hardcore randos would make the time cut on those.

Rando Sam Thomas just sent me an email noting he was claustrophobic and needed a ride this weekend. That sparked an email to my buddy John M. and he said he was all in. I'd post up a last minute route, email a few buddies and see what happened. That done by mid-week, I hit the computer and fine tuned a route I called Rando Gravel Route III (more advanced version of I & II).

Kelly's Scott boost 27.5 at the start

Several riders had shown interest, but it was just John & I at the 7-Eleven start. Today was to be the hottest day this year and my ride in was warm enough. After several attempts, John had the route up and running on his Garmin 520 and we were off at 0700. 1/4 mile and we were into gravel/trail mode.

Neither one of us could clear the first straight up single trak climb on  the Melrose Dr. to El Fuerte St. trail. Once again, I had traction, but messed up on the gears. Heavy overgrowth on the downhill side had you wondering where the trail was. Thistles were in abundance as my legs and hand would verify. Much easier riding on the downhill El Fuerte Wilderness Path. Sand laced and a fast downhill to where Troy Buss on his TREK full-sus MTB was taking a few pics as we passed. Sorry Troy, just us two riders today!

Troy & John at Ridgeline Trailhead

Chit-chat as we graveled around the Carrillo Elementary School and onto the busy Rancho Carillo Trail. Walk the dog and family day today. A short blast down Melrose Dr and soon we were onto Dove Tail gravel side path and single trak behind San Elijo Albertson's. This is a nice trail and today was marked with BWR signs. This route had us taking every gravel side path up towards Double Peak instead of the easier "roadie" smooth climb.

Lakeview Trail was another matter. I was following Troy and John as we dodged the few hikers out today. Just as we were getting ready to blast up the last little steep climb to the Trailhead, two hikers appeared and it was H-A-B the last 10' to the water stop. Time for a refill and some candid pictures. Local ranger was chatting with several horse riders about riding the trail today. We commented about blasting around Lakeview Trail and meeting up with a few horses! OUCH!

Around the gate and we were off down Attebury Dr., past the pond and new home build site. I
reminded the guys to enjoy this because we would be grinding up Questhaven on our second trip up Double Peak later today. A short side path took us to Seaquest Trail and more downhill dirt. At Elfin Forest Road downhill, I told John to "take off, cause you got the road bike". He was soon gone out of sight as Troy and I labored behind on the rollers.

Hikers relive the old days at Lake Hodges

Turn on Via Ambiente and around the vehicle gate brought some nice dirt again... Escondido Creek Trail. Decent fire road that follows along above Escondido Creek. Troy stopped to take some shots as John motored ahead on his Schwalbe 35mm G-ONE tires. Around several yellow vehicle gates with a short steep concrete downhill, water crossing and back onto dirt again as we wound our way toward horse country estates.

With several "hellos", we were past the guard shack and back onto side paths again along Via de las Flores, Aliso Canyon and Lago Lindo. My water bottle was missing and John offered one of his. Surprise easement route between estates brought us out onto Del Dios Hwy. Some roadie riding brought us down to the Paridise Produce Market at the bottom. Pricey water here, but at least I had enough to get to Mule Hill Chevron. We noticed lots of road riders heading south on Del Dios. Must have been the San Diego Century riders. Several were stopped under the shade talking with a CHP officer, lights flashing and all! OH, OH?

Santa Fe Trail is a good one. Today is seemed busy. As we climbed our way northward toward the bridge, we met several BWR type rigs. On a climb, several hard body gals were stopped, pondering their next move. We sort of rode around, but I ended up nearly bumping into John, who was stopped. I veered off some and ended up with a full sagebrush in my front wheel. Heck, after a restart, my forks got a quick dust-off from the rotating bush!

Troy & John at Del Dios town.

Bridge regroup and on we rode, meeting several riders trail-side doing repairs. Most had gravel bikes and indicated they were doing BWR recon today. LOL. Troy mentioned his Garmin read 104F and climbing! Short photo-op overlooking Lake Hodges Dam. Some old guy we passed earlier, motored by on his heavy Walmart full-sus special! Onto Lake Dr., where we met a couple on gravel bikes. Even with matching kits, they didn't look happy at all.

We did a vehicle gate ride-around to miss the first part of the San Dieguito River Trail around Lake Hodges. Troy led out, as we worked our way thru hikers, dog-walkers and oncoming racers, stopping several times to let traffic clear. The last narrow rocky section before the parking lot always was a H-A-B for me and today it was for all of us. Pit stop at parking lot, as I listened in on a few aged hikers sitting in the shade, recanting old times.

Troy checks out Filipino Flyers at Mule Hill Chevron

Just a few bikers out now as the temps started to rise riding around the Lake on the lower, main trail. Rough riding, rock gardens, fine red dust galore and even the little ladder bridge over the steam seemed caved in. About time for some hydration as we amped it up toward the Mule Hill Chevron. There we were greeted by a group of Filipino Flyers with their carbon kits! Vitamin Water for me. Troy hit the quart Gatorade and John swallowed a liter of water with his warm sandwich. Yummy!

Time for a new plan. I popped a Tylenol for my shoulder (SUV roll-over my head last September), John was beat up bad and Troy had his sore foot. We were over half-thru the route and hard stuff to come including a trip up Double Peak from the South. I suggested we continue on the route over to Harmony Grove Road, cut off and go to the BWR Expo in San Marcos. No deserters here. The only caveat was the Gamble Road climb! Hehe.

Old blown Chev PU had over-heating problems

 Bike path to the El Ku bridge, then a dirt trail to hard surface again. Climbing toward Citracado Pkwy., we stopped by a overheated 55 Chev. PU with a blown big block. He finally got it started as we sighted the Gamble climb ahead. Up we went. I really luv my 10x42 cassette for 17% stuff like this. Add to this the single 30T chain-ring in front and it's all up for me! Harmony Grove here we come.

We stopped at Harmony Grove/Country Club Dr. Troy showed us the 4th Of July Park where there was water and bathrooms. Nice to know. There John & Troy decided to continue down Harmony Grove to Elfin Forest and on homeward. I would ride over to San Marcos and check out the BWR Expo. I gave John his loaner bottle back and away we went. 40 miles on route was a good effort. Add to that the ride in and back and figure 60 miles for the day.

Belgian Waffle Ride Expo in San Marcos

Belgian Waffle Ride Expo. Large event for the area. Big name cycling vendors like Shimano,
Cervelo, Lost Abbey Brewery and a host of others. Many cyclists were picking up their ride packets and partaking of the freebies. I cruised thru, took a few shots and stopped at the desolate Nytro booth stuck in the corner. Chatted with gravel Dave a bit before heading out to the Joslin Center where Zaharah had a event today. There were all packed up by the time I arrived so I rode home.

Tough ride today, with the surprise high temps, dusty riding and lots of climbing (around 5000') for such a short route (42 miles). I felt OK, but when I got home I couldn't drink enough!

Rando Gravel Route III Video

- randorides