20th RUSA Anniversary Ride: Blow-Hole & Lost Vest

20 Anniversary Ride-Down Today

Randos USA has been around for 20 years or so now and local SDrandos are celebrating with a ride from Mission Bay to Dana Point and return. RBA Dave D. set up this ride with a picnic at the end. I don't do picnics, so how about a early ride down and ride north with the gruppo for a bit anyway?

Sounds good. Several randos showed some interest in this so I sent my normal detailed email around to a dozen or so riders. Needed a early start to meet up with the Anniversary Gruppo at 0700 near Sea World by the Bay.

Rolled out at 0330 on my Diverge gravel bike with 35mm tires. Soon picked up a start receipt at Mulberry 7-Eleven. Swung by the real start point at Albertson's. No Sam, Bruce P. or others. I boogied out before 0400. 70F, no traffic and dark. Cygolite 800 on regular beam was plenty bright as I cruised past Ralph's, then Lake San Marcos. Palomar Airport went quick and the 25mph downhill to LaCosta Ave. was smooth. I thought maybe John M. might be hanging around the corner turn to the coast, but no luck on that. He was moving back into his home nearby after a termite tenting mid-week. He said he might drive down to the Start. Vulcan Ave was barren of cars, except heavy parking along the road.

Stopped by the construction site near Swami's to use the Porta-Potty. Rather dark inside! Blazed off down Coast Hwy. 101 looking for Mac in Solana Beach. Not to be. I refilled my bottle at the corner fountain, looking around for his headlight. Nope. Off I cranked southward up to Del Mar, still not meeting any riders on either side of the roadway.

Finally did meet several riders creeping down Torrey Pines. One gal was riding the brakes hard, as her 3 headlamps looked like airplane landing lights! I held at a 9mph cruiser pace up the hill and made good time thru the UCSD Campus. No problem with the construction zone along Rose Canyon either. It was slightly after 0600 so I pulled into Mission Bay Dr. McDonald's for ice and water. Mission Bay traffic merge was no problem this early, so had ample time to cruise the Ocean Beach Bike Path to 7-Eleven. Grabbed a receipt off the floor, re-iced and headed over to the Start past Sea World Dr.

Abundance of these 20-year jerseys

Put my vest in my back seat bag, watered down and hung around as riders were milling around a car in the boat ramp parking lot. Chatted with Mike Shaw and Keith Olsen (who was wearing a RUSA vest)! Finally, Dave D. took a few pics and around 16 riders were off at 0703. I figured this would be like other rides (like last weeks N-S Brevet), where several groups would develop: racers, pacers, wanna-bees and cruisers. Bingo! I had planned to spend some time with each group. Worked out well.

By the time the gruppo turned on Santa Fe St. toward the Rose Canyon Bike Path, race on! Patrick S., Robert Abraham, Shai S. and surprisingly big James Allen. James said he might hang with the racers if he could handle the few climbs OK. Nice pace as we climbed up Gilman toward UCSD @18mph. I was feelin' good after the 47 mile ride-down work out. I stopped off for the next group just before the Torrey Pines downhill.

Around 8 riders in this group, including Wei Sun, Tim S., Kline couple, Mike S., Kerin H. & a few others. Nice pace @17mph, as I had a chance chat a bit with each. Some racer guy blasted past by the State Beach flatland. Wei Sun took off after with me in close pursuit on the Del Mar climb. When I went by, I told the disheartened racer: "It's OK, he's a RAAM rider!" Smooth ride thru Solana Beach & Encinitas. At Poinsettia Lane, I waived "adios" and pulled over for the next group.

I was munching a fig bar from my seat bag when 2 randos passed. I quickly caught them and one was Dr. Oliver from Yuma, AZ. We had a nice chance to chat about gravel riding, since he has a Specialized Cross Bike. Time flies when you ride with company and such was the case. I pulled over at Canon Park. Looked back and didn't see the next rando group anywhere, so I hit the bathroom there. Then I noticed by back bag was 1/2 open!!! OH SHIT!

I was a little pissed, to say the least. Lost my kelly-sewed running night vest (had to bring it up to RUSA specs for night riding)! Mmmm.. Dumb Shit! Reverse course in search. LOL on that. Rode part way on the wrong side. Met Keith & Mel around Palomar Airport Rd. Rode back to Poinsettia Lane and retraced my route northward. No vest. With all the riders today, someone got a nice custom night vest. I was off to the races to catch Keith & Mel. Max effort now. Enough of this cruiser-stuff.

Almost used my Dyno-Plug today

I was on fire thru the Carlsbad round-about. Must be a sprinkler by the lagoon, my leg is getting a nice cool mist! NOT! That's Orange Sealant from my front tire. Must have run over something big and sharp!  Every rev of the tire brought another eruption of orange mist. Round and round. Another mile and I pulled over, putting the spraying side down. Nice puddle on the tarmac now.

Time for the John M. Plug Kit. (John M. gave me this neat tool). Can't find the hole cue due to a coating of orange sealant on the tread. Oh, well. Time to pump up to 30psi and roll to San Marcos. Nice and comfy ride. Located the hole, all plugged nicely by Sealant now. No need for the Dyno-Plug now.

Stopped off at Biggs Harley Davidson in San Marcos!

Time enough to stop by Biggs Harley Davidson and see Zaharah. She has a booth there today for the big Harley ride. Sunny skies and warm temps now. Live music and free burgers! After a quick stop-by and a look-see at the Harley's, I was off with a orange juice toward home. No burgers yet.

Only 1130 AM and 91 miles. ( Walkin' The Dog, #2557) Good enough for today! Nice workout too.

- randorides