Bike The Coast/TCSD Meet-Up

Richard invited me for a short TCSD ride today.

Richard Duquette sent me a form email about the Tri Club of San Diego doing a short ride to San Clemente today. Richard is the lawyer who helped me out way back in 2007 (road rage accident) and again last year (SUV run over in San Marcos town). They were leaving from Las Pulgas parking lot at 0830. Thought I would plug in a rondo route to hook-up.

Ursa Minor it was. Temps have been "cooling" of late with hi's in the low 70's. That's called a "cool off" around here this time of year! I layered up with a T-shirt & long sleeve shirt under my RUSA jersey. On top was my home-made reflective vest for the early start. Knee warmers for the first time this year too! I rolled out dark-early.

Normal route around thru Solana Beach. Along the coast I noticed more and more cyclists as I approached Oceanside. I pulled over and chatted with several ladies. They had numbers on their carbon bikes. Part of the "Bike The Coast" event today. Looks like it started at the Oceanside Pier. Thousands of riders massed in the area. I couldn't wait to head northward.

It was warming up by 0800, so I stripped off my outer layers at the I-5 NB Rest Area (took NB I-5
instead of thru Camp Pendleton route). Quite a few motorists sleeping in their cars there. Chatted with a few people before blazing north to Las Pulgas Exit.

Richard was there with others TCSD members. Chatted with him a bit and noticed a "fast" group doing a U-turn at the parking lot gate. I figured I could hook up with them so I left Richard and finally bridged the gap to the gruppo. Easy riding into a slight headwind from there to San Clemente. Made my way to the Donut Shoppe in SJC for a receipt.

Positive energy at Oceanside Pier: Bike The Coast

On the way back, had a slight hope of a tailwind. Instead it was neutral to the campground. After a refill had some easy peddling back to Las Pulgas hammering it out with a tri-rider. Left Richard a RANDO Card on his car before turning onto I-5 for the quick trip southward. Stopped at the Rest Area to strip off my long sleeve layer. Ahhhhh! Made quick work of the clean bike lane to Oceanside.

Massive "Bike The Coast" riders awaited me as I passed the Pier. Live music was blasting as I sat on a bench overlooking the amphitheater, enjoying the tunes. Hundreds of cyclists were milling around, paying homage to the food vendors. Lots of positive energy around here today. Chatted with one rider who said there were 500 signed up for the 100 mile ride and thousands signed up for the other distances. I could have sat in the sun for hours, but needed to head east to San Marcos instead. What a day.

- randorides