Stagecoach 400 Ride-In

Our micro ride down to Start route

The annual Stagecoach 400 bikepacking route starts down in San Diego this year. At the USS
Midway Park under the "Kissing Couple" statue. Interesting place to start. Great for a ride down to check things out.

Several of the local randos/riders were interested, but only John Fry and my buddy, John Mestemacher were serious. Start time for the SC-400 was 0800 down in San Diego by the bay. Needed to start early to allow plenty of time to make it.

Stepped out the door and realized I might need a vest for this morning freshness. Home made reflective vest on, I rolled into the local 7-Eleven before 0400 for a ice fill-up. A little spit of drizzle and I plunged down to meet John Fry at the bottom of R'cho Santa Fe/Melrose Dr. John pulled in a few minutes later, lights blazing. After a short chit-chat about the mini-drizzle, we were off up the climb to meet John Mestemacher near LaCosta Ave.

2019 Stagecoach 400 riders at Start

There he was, rash and all. John had gotten into some poison oak on a recent MTB ride and his arms were rashed-up and itching. Which way do we go? Don't know, just keep riding. John led up Garden View Way and down to Encinitas. We stopped at Swami's Park at the announced time of 0515, enjoyed the waves below and left on time at 0520. Only the three of us southward on quite roads and swooshing waves.

Up over Torrey Pines and down thru Rose Canyon, where work is still going on there. Short stop at Anza Cove for a bathroom break and shower fill the bottles. Soon off into the sunrise onto Pacific Highway into San Diego proper.

Quiet waterfront till we got near the "Kissing Couple" Park. There bike-packers were prepping their rides for the journey ahead. Got a few riders on video, chatted with some I knew and cruised the pits, looking at the different bike set-ups. I should be riding today instead of hanging around in "wantabe" mode.

Real Deal: 2019 Stagecoach 400 Route

At 0800, they promptly left the harbor and started the long ride up to Laguna. We followed them out to the Sweetwater Bike Path and a bit further on the gravel trail. Time to finish our own loop and head toward the ocean.

Bayshore Bikeway was laced with headwind, as usual. John M. did most of the pulling and we rotated on occasion. Nice and sunny as we waited for the next Ferry. John M. bought tickets for us and we relaxed on the short trip to the Convention Center. We rolled thru town, around Anza Cove and made our final stop at the McDonald's near Rose Canyon.

John-John watching riders on Sweetwater Trail

Of course, no regular ice cream, but they did have choc shakes! Go figure. John Fry bought one for us both. Add a pack of GU Gel and I was good for another 2 hours of tempo riding. John had to tell a story of his recent trip up to Oregon and his daughter's "scare the neighbors dog away with gunshots". Interesting to say the least.. Reminded me of stepping out the door of our hi-plains home east of Colorado Springs and lobbing a few rounds at the packs of feral dogs on the loose. Managed to drop a few and had to "return them to nature" like a good guy would.

Chit-chat and relaxing on the Ferry crossing

Nice riding along the coast and soon John F. led us via Falcon and LaCosta Ave to John M's home. A few good-bys (not much hand shaking, due to oak rash) and we were off downhill where John Fry peeled off for home. Long day for him. He's riding good after his foot surgery. I wobbled up the hill and thru San Marcos town into a final 7-Eleven stop. Greeted there by owner Najib Azzam and a free ice cream for my efforts. Thirty minutes later, I was home and eating everything in sight.

Interesting ride of 116 miles/187km with John-John. John M. later reported new rash on his back! Trip to the dermatologist tomorrow for sure. Managed to throw together a video of some of our ride today.


2019 Stagecoach 400 Ride-In Video


- randorides