RAAM Week Revisited: 12th - 17th June

2017 Litespeed Ti Gravel Bike Demo - NOT

Cycling enthusiasts around San Diego are fortunate to have another year of Race Across America starting in Oceanside. Middle of June every year for a long time. Years ago they started down at the San Diego Broadway Pier, but logistics of getting out of town were too much. With the Oceanside Pier start, it's just a few blocks and you're out of town on the San Luis Rey Bike Path heading eastward into the heat.

My plans for the week were to hook-up as many rando routes as possible. After a wet gruppo ride last Saturday (11-City Loop), Monday brought a recovery shortie called "Bike Path X Two" with a stop over at Nytro to see if the new Litespeed Ti Gravel bike was in for a demo ride. NOT! Tuesday was a meet up with rando John Mestemacher for a ride out to RAAM/RAW solo riders start at the Pier in Oceanside.

RAW Start: Keith Olsen, John Mestemacher, Dave Danovsky

Met John at the LaCosta Circle K mid morning and we huffed it over to the Pier. Nice to walk thru the pits, where riders are nervously waiting to race east. Met randos Lisa and chatted a bit with Paul Tourkin. San Diego RBA Dave Danovsky  and rando Keith Olsen were near the starting line. I was able to get a few videos and interesting snaps of riders leaving. After the Race Across The West (RAW) riders left, I scampered up to the pier walkway for few shots of the RAAM solo riders leaving. Enough footage, I was soon turning the cranks and heading back home to San Marcos.
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OFR Gruppo was riding to the Coronado Ferry on Thursday. Mmmm. Needed to figure out something to hook up for a bit with them. Decided on the my newish " Bonsall To Coronado Ferry XP" rando route. Officially, it starts at College Ave in Oceanside, with an listed optional start in San Marcos. Super! I rolled out before 0530 for the local start option. Back way up to Bonsall and hook up with the SLR Bike Path before heading south along 101.

Bonsall-Coronado Ferry XP Route

Donut break (bad habit from Sam T.) at Leucadia Donuts to kill some time before the 0830 regroup at Swami's with OFR. Bruce Tipton joined up for the ride to Encinitas, where I stopped to top bottles with ice at 7-Eleven. Ten of us rode south from Swami's, heading for the 11AM Ferry to Coronado. I did the normal route straight past SPAWAR, while the others took the Old Town way. Never saw them again till they dragged in at the Broadway Ferry Landing.

Bruce wanted to buy tickets for all, but was a little perturbed when the gal needed additional ID for his card. Single ticket time as others drifted in. Big line at the boarding gate. We were soon on our way, with a full ferry of cruise ship tourists. I tried to stoke up a conversation with a older couple, but they were in a "haze" from all their traveling. I enjoyed the ferry ride across the bay anyway!

Short bathroom break and I departed company with the OFR Gruppo (they were going to Burger Barn for bloat bombs)! Stiff side wind along the strand but soon welcomed the tail wind over the path bridges. More side-winds as I kept up a good pace northward and soon met up with a bike path stoppage (detour, tape, signs and all) near the marina. I jumped that but met with another one as workers looked on. I did a turn-around, slid under the SDG&E gate warning signs and hit the dirt trail following the abandoned RR tracks. Asked a jogger if this trail went thru... she said "yes", big downhill ahead. Nothing that a HAB & low gearing wouldn't cure. Soon I was on Cleveland Street, heading for breaktime.

For reasons unknown, I opted for a ride up Harbor Drive instead of the usual Roosevelt St. JIB break. Another bad choice, construction zone, bad riding and crap roads. Not to be denied, a downtown JIB chocolate shake would fix me right up. The place was packed with tourists. Added a power gel to my shake, refilled my bottles and headed into a headwind northbound.

Route goes inland from Old Town. Cool coastal riding was lost for hi-temps and a bunch more climbing. Qualcomm Bike Path, Black Mtn. Road and Dove Canyon went by with gobs of sweat. Gamble Lane added to the misery as I finally lagged in and finished up the route.  
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Saturday is here and still hadn't heard from John if he was riding to the RAAM Team start in O'side. Not to be deterred, I planned out riding "Fix My Bike" today. Leaving in time to do the south part of the route, stop at the Oceanside Pier for a little RAAM Team action, ride eastward with the teams and finish up the route. Well planned.. but stuff happens!

I did leave earlier than planned and soon I heard a CLACK, click...CLACK,click from the drive-train. Everything was cleaned up good, chain oiled and shifting OK. I played around with the RR Derailleur tension to no avail. Time to turn-around and head home!

Saturday, June 17: RAAM Team Start at Oceanside Pier

No clacking without pressure on the pedals... In the garage, I did all the tests and decided to pull the crank and check it out. Chain off, cranks out, BB out. Cleaned it all up, added grease and snugged everything up. Tooled around the street and all was well. Back on route again.

Made the loop around to Solana Beach, where the roads were laced with cyclists. As usual, I hung around for a racing group and latched on for a pull to Carlsbad. Stopped at Magee Park and watched several groups ride by. Break over, next up was the Oceanside Pier.

A few start videos, clips of teams ramping up and chit-chat with rando Tim Knowles. Worked my way thru the heavy car traffic and jumped on the SLR Bike Path. Just off Cleveland St. a team rider was fixing a flat! As I offered help, an old flag waving official was there and told me to get off the bike path. I continued my ride eastward, lacking the expected tailwind. RAAM riders were bunched up ahead of me, but I never could catch them. I looped around at College Ave for a few photos at the time-check control.

Official holds RAAM riders at SLR Bike Path/College Ave

Chatted with the official there as he was trying to match the rider numbers with the restart time there. No passing is allowed on the 7 mile bike path and riders are supposed to ride 17mph. Of course, they don't do it and arrive in different order as planned. Some riders were on time, most were early and had to wait a few minutes. Added some interesting videos to my stache and soon was riding off RAAM route to Bonsall.

McDonald's and time for a ice cream cone with GU!. I could see several RAAM riders blasting down Olive Hill as I relaxed cool inside. Getting a little antsy, I was soon off in pursuit @ 20 mph. First ViaSAT went by, then Team Oceanside. These guys were flying and I was gassed!

Small glory for me as I passed this RAAM rider on Hwy. 395

I did get the last hurrah in as I actually passed the Team Oceanside rider as we made the turn up Old Hwy. 395. Dropped him! Ahhhh, sort of... when the route flattened out by the campground, around he went. Oh, well, I had my moment of glory. A few cars of supporters were at the Gopher Cyn. park-n-ride, cheering as I went by. Sorry, not this year!

I tried to turn onto Old Castle Road. Traffic was horrific, so I bagged the idea and continued on up Hwy. 395 (Later found out John M. was at the Old Castle Rd. RAAM exchange spot  waiting for me) Hot and windy as I crawled up Champagne Blvd. Cut off at Deer Springs Road, downhill and went straight across Hwy. 78 to Ralphs. Picked up a few things and rode home, baked and dry. Route finished!

Video Hi-Lites

- randorides