Gravel Route with Brevet Start

650b Diverge: WTB tires didn't like loose gravel downhills

Hi,

Another classic gravel ride... A few of us needed a little rando gravel action, so we thought it would be nice to offer some unison and start with the Sunday Brevet group in San Marcos.

Start with roadies: Only 4 riders showed up for the Populaire today. David Nakai looked like he just woke up from hibernation. RBA Dave had new Fuji racer. Keith had Sam-like matching jersey/socks, shoes/bike color, bag/helmet ! Nice! Mike Shaw back to more riding again.Great! I think Mac wanted to do the Populaire, but decided to ride the gravel route since he had his Ibis cross bike today. We all started at 0700 and the gravel group rode only a few blocks en-route before turning off for some gravel work.

Gravel

Mini recap of the days events:

- Troy started at the wrong place, we realized something was up and hooked up with him in a bit. Sam jumped on his cell and left a message.

- Slip slide downhill trail above San Marcos had been graded! Good thing. My 650b WTB Byway tires don't like downhill braking on loose gravel. Specialized Diverge 650b Conversion Video

- Sam was traction-less on the first Gardinia Trail loose gravel uphill!

- Troy took off and beat everyone to Swami's.. Why? Urgent bathroom break!

- Massive dogs on the Del Mar trail

- Troy did lead out on Coast to Crest Trail.. wrong turn again. Wahoo error? Caught up later and walked up a short short-cut dirt climb due to large rock!

- Saw Dr. Dan Marks as we were climbing El Camino Real. I think Sam must have went over to visit, because we didn't see him in a long time.

- So. Penesquitos Trail was light family day today. John took off like he was after a coffee!

- Race up Black Mtn. road climb. Mac was full-out here. I pulled a sneaky Kelly-cut on him! Sorry Mac, wait for you at the top!

- Sam & Paul missed the SR-56 Bike Path turn to Circle K. Sam said he couldn't find the .tcx file to download. Troy cell-located them and suggested to keep riding on the route.

- We found them chatting with some hot-chiks on MTB's. Of course, I handed out a handy RANDO CARD.

- Sam disappeared again. Said he went back to check out the hard-bodies!! Really?

- All climbing now. John was off to the races... Mac went by yelling: "come on, boys!!!

- Lago Linda side dirt trail.We followed John M. Sam had disappeared for good by now. Maybe a shortcut back?

- Massive 20%+ v. rough concrete climb up to Escondido Trail. Mac was off to the races, followed by Troy, me and John. Mac was hi on gearing and started a "mailman" This ended badly for him with a bad-form side mount, 2-roll & 1/2 twist later he took out Troys front wheel and rotor with some sign of skin!

- Blood-drop later, Kelly tools and John re-align quickie with Troys direction, we were off up the Escondido Creek Trail. For some reason, I had Mac's blood on my fingers and glove!

- Met Rando Jim Robinson, waiting up the Trail. He rode back with us.

- Mac's legs were mush after the minute blood loss and gazing around for 20 minutes.

- All climbing as we grouped up for the final push. Troys wheel kept true enough.

- Troy, me & Jim all pushed the light button at the top of Twin Oaks... Weeeeeee downhill

- All back nice and safe before 1:30 PM. No Sam yet! We chatted around about Mac paying for Troy's total wheel rebuild! Happy Birthday Mac (July)

- Waited till almost 2:00 PM. No Sam yet. 

- Later found out Sam made it in before 2:30. Seems Paul had a cable break before leaving Sam to finish off the route.

- randorides