Potato Chip Grinder

Our route for Potato Chip Grinder

Time for more gravel training. This time we'll chase the Ham-Hock Trail route, subtracting difficulties for the gravel bike riders. Jim Robinson just finished up his Specialized Crux build. Slick red carbon frame with some decent gravel tires. John rode his SCOTT Addict 10-G for this one. He seems to get along well with that 16lb gravel bike. I managed to get a first look at Bruce Phillip's new Salsa Cutthroat bike packing rig. Of course, I was riding my modified SCOTT Scale 710+, with carbon rigid fork and gravel 2.8" tires. Troy rode over from Carlsbad on his TREK full-sus MTB. He said he weighed it the other day and it came in well over 30lbs!

We left San Marcos Ralph's parking lot just after 0800. Weather was clear and supposed to be in the 70's today. I dressed light with only arm warmers and a single layer under the jersey. Worked just right all day. Jumped the Inland Rail Trail over to Escondido and then on down to Lake Hodges Mule Hill Trail. Loaded with runners along the valley, but we soon climbed up and out up the >14% road to Old Coach Trail. This led us around to the Poway Horse/Alley Trails and a short break at Garden View Park.

Troy in search of rattlesnakes!

Quick ride thru Poway and we hit the short Poway Creek Trail, which led to Hill Country Trail. Road riding was next from Pomerado over to Mercy Road. There is was 11 miles of dirt and we entered the Los Penasquitos Canyon network. Canyonside Park was a nice break, where John had his "stomach bloat" stretch out on the bench. We watered up and soon were climbing up Del Mar Mesa Trail. Several side paths and soon we were flying down into Deer Canyon.

Great single-trak riding as we entered Gonzales Canyon. Nice riding there, where we only met a few hikers on the trail. Narrow climbing as we finally were back on the roads again. El Camino Real over the bridge and Coast To Crest Trail was next. Straight to McDonald's for our final break. A few burgers were on order while I sucked down my Choc. Shake. Pumped my tires up to road pressure, 26/28psi with the handy Lenzyne foot pump. In short order, we finished off the Coast To Crest Trail to the coast.

Trail check: Troy, Bruce, John & Kelly

Busy along the coast today. Cyclists everywhere. We hit the Swami's tunnel and then the RR-Track Trail. Two miles of road riding brought us to the Rec. Trail around the golf course. Troy dropped off for his route towards home. A few neighborhood trails and old Rancho Santa Fe Road to the Tunnel Trailhead. Short regroup and we entered the rocky tunnel, then the loose powerline trail. The usual route up to Double Peak via San Elijo Trail around the town.

Once past the Trail Monument, it was all downhill on busy Lakeview Trail to Discovery Lake. Jim bid adios as he short-cut toward home. A short trip thru CSUSM and we were finished!

Looks like we all had a tough, fun ride today.

 Potato Chip Grinder Video

- randorides

Gravel-Itis Training

"Gravel-Itis" route we rode today

I've been researching out "gravel bikes" for a year now. It comes down to several models which meet my requirements, all which are hard to find and try out. 1x11 gearing, wide tires, buried cables, carbon or steel frame and of course price were my main parameters.
- Salsa Cutthroat
- NORCO Search XR
- Specialized Diverge Expert
- Ibis Hakka
These bikes meet most of my requirements.

Rando Sam Thomas has a NORCO Search XR on order.
Rando Jim Robinson is building up a Specialized Crux for gravel.
Bruce Phillips just got a Salso Cutthroat for bikepacking.

I always enjoyed doing dirt recon rides. Do some research online... you know, search RWGPS, Strave and any local blogs for new and interesting routes. Late 2016 and early this year, I did have the opportunity to do several road tests/reviews of the latest "gravel bikes". A mix of road and dirt technology with comfy long distance frames & wider tires. Do to price constraints, I did change my SCOTT Scale + 3" MTB hardtail over to a carbon fork and smoother tires. A little slower on the roads sections, but it has the gearing, traction and minimal comfort with the Al frame. Lots of interest lately in "gravel" riding, so I had been putting together several mixed surface routes. Doing the recon rides and making up the routes on RWGPS takes loads of time, but gravel riders seemed to enjoy it and it makes for excellent training.

Today we rode the Rando Gravel-Itis Training ride. It was around 65 miles with about 1/2 gravel/dirt and the rest made up of road and bike paths. John Mestemacher, Jim Robinson and Mac Imacseng joined in for the ride. Weather was warmish for this time of year and the route was much tougher than it looked on RWGPS. Fortunately, I knew all the dirt/gravel sections having ridden them before, so it knew where I was going. I tried to hang back to catch the riders in the GoPro shots, but that didn't always happen.

We all had a good time, getting back to the finish just as the sun was dropping in the west. At the Ralph's parking lot, rando Bill Stevenson just happen to drive in to get groceries as we were finishing up. Nice time to chat with him on the days events... namely a young skateboarder taking a header on the Discovery Lake bridge. Looks like he broke his arm. Of course, I happened to catch it all on video!

Next Saturday, we'll be doing another "gravel route" in the area. Riders interest looks good, but the weather is supposed to turn much cooler. That means mid-30's at the 0800 start time! Brrrr. I hope to do another video of that advenutre.

Gravel-Itis Training Video

- randorides

Wind & Fire 202

Regular rando Hemet route

Mild temp Santa Ana scheduled for today. What a great time to ride north to Hemet! DUH? Cool temps and light winds from the east as I left San Marcos in the dark and headed northward. Triple layers and knee warmers were adequate for the cool Champagne Blvd. downhill. Quick warm-up as I slogged up over I-15 and finally the fast downhill on new road surface to Hwy. 76. A little breezy sidewind as I climbed past Nessy Burger on Old Hwy. 395 and made my way up past Rainbow.

The sun was up as I looped around Temecula on Wolf Creek Dr. and managed to do a little gravel on DePortola before it passes the vineyards. Time to strip off some layers as I turned on Benton instead of the knarly DePortola via the quiet narrow road I sometimes take. My 28mm tires on the road bike don't like that gravel downhill.

Winds were picking up as I crested Sage Road and starting to gust on the quick downhill toward Hemet. State Street was a real chore into Hemet, so I opted to "get out of Dodge quick" and turned left on Domenigoni Pkwy westward. Weeee! A free pass on the speed as the winds were pushing me along at max speed.

Detour fire route back to San Marcos

A turn on Antelope Rd. landed me on Clinton Keith and California Oaks into Murrieta. Wind blocked Jefferson Ave led to Old Town as the dust, dirt and leaves were blowing everywhere by now. Next stop was at The Bike Shop, where my buddy Joe Morgan was now working. Time to check out gravel bikes. Thirty minutes later, Joe had my list and I was on my way south.

Everything was blowing now as I stopped by Wolf Creek Park. Filling my bottles, I looked at the hills
to the west, sun baked and dimmed by blowing dust. I thought: "Boy, a fire would go right up that hill with nothing to stop it". Palm branches and blowing leaves greeted me as I started the climb up Rainbow Canyon. Big winds were blocked by the surrounding hills. I was in the mid 30mph as I passed Rainbow.Wow, what a fun trip to Escondido on Hwy. 395 with this tailwind! NOT!

My turn southward after crossing I-15 brought unmanageable speed. With the side gusts, I had to brake hard to get the speed down to 12 mph or I'd go over the side. A lone fire truck passed me and then I noticed some smoke to the south. OH, OH. With few options, I decided to continue down Hwy. 395 to the junction with Hwy. 76 (Nessy Burger). There is was.

From the north, I could see smoke on the route

Fire burning from I-15, under the 395 bridge and up thru the mobile park and hills above. Also the fire was raging westward down the San Luis Rey River Valley along Hwy. 76. Option time. Go West! I did at super speed. I left the fire behind but not the smoke. Traffic both ways on Hwy. 76 was heavy. After a few stops, I made it to Bonsall McDonald's were I got a water refill and some fire chat.

Smoke was high above by now and time for me to plan a route back to San Marcos. Lilac Rd. and Camino del Rey wouldn't be an option as fire/smoke looked to be heading that way. Bonsall intersection was a mess with fire trucks, police cars, horse vans and car traffic.

OFR Group ride picture from Las Plugas           -Paul Nevin

I finally made my way west and turned south on N. Vista Way. Into Vista town, I followed Santa Fe Avenue eastward back to San Marcos. The smoke was all north of me now. Late afternoon and the smoke covered the sun... but I was home at last!

Yes, I left one bottle at the Temecula Wolf Creek Park water fountain! 

- randorides