CommuteCommando

Although this ride is pretty flat, by Southern CA standards, there are some hills, and one, though not very long is kind of steep. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3599187 The steep bit starts right after you cross under the freeway. An alternate adds about a half mile but gets you to the same point over a longer, shallower grade. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3599993 You may want to try it, or not. Just thought I would throw it out there.

Both segments start at the halfway SAG. The route sheet has riders go all the way down to Vista Sorrento then double back to the SAG. If you want to try the alternate, lust turn left into the SAG when you pass it, then continue on to the alternate route.

GP

You passed my house about 1045.

Mike F

Did the 50 mile with my wife. We had alot of fun. As I posted in the "watch out" thread, I was a little surprised by the Sheriff motorcycle guys writing tickets to the participants - But... we were warned. Wonder if the motorcycle group rides - that actually have a hairy oaf physically block the cross traffic so the rest can run the stop sign, will get the same treatment.

CommuteCommando

The commander of the Encinitas Station of the SD County sherifs dept has gotten a wild hair recently about bikes, and instituted a Zero Tolerance policy aimed only at bikes. I did the 100, and second time round the Moonlight SAG, The guy at the SDCBC table told me the cops were abruptly pulled off the harrasment patrol, and that some local lawyer is taking on all those tickes pro-bono.

I am guessing the lawyer is Duquette. He keeps spam bombing my Linkdin acct. If it is him, he has reversed some of the negative image I had of him.

Another thread addresses this issue. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...tas-on-PCH-101

Mike F

Thats good to know. If I was the Encinitas Mayor and/or the Board of Supervisors and invested all that money in the bike infrastructure improvements, I would be a little annoyed at some "rogue" Commander preying on cyclists we chose to allocate money and institute road improvements for.

jsigone

I was out along the coast, got a late start for the day. Didn't hit the coast til about 10 then rode to torrey pines and back. Was a nice day. I missed most of the larger packs I saw going the other way. Which was a good thing....some people I saw were extremely shaky on the bike + diff in speeds had me out in the light traffic allot.

Chaco

And if I were a business along 101, I would be tremendously pissed off. Bicyclists bring in a lot of business, and many studies have shown that bike friendly infrastructure actually improves business quite a bit.

Mike F

I bet, The owner of "Ride Cyclery" posted in the "Bike,Walk Encintitas" FB page, an incident where Deputy Garcia cited a participant from Las Vegas for a legal move during the event, What a shame.

Pamestique 

So did the 50 miler with my friend. She did great! I was alittle worried for her as the route had some hills after the turnaround. I rode ahead and was into the last sag stop almost 40 minutes before her but she showed up still smiling and we rode in the last distance together.

I loved the fact there was a bike valet service after the ride. That made everything very convenient. Got my medal and my food tickets, sat and had lunch and then watched some of the century riders come in while my friend was having a celebratory beer (I could not get in as I didn't have my license with me).

Some observations: The route was nice. In fact can't wait to show some friends the route around the marsh at Torrey Pines and over on the other side of the freeway. The sag stops, although not innovative or particularly interesting, had addequate resources and thankfully alot of potta porties. Never had to wait long to get in or out... Weather was really nice although it was cool in the morning it warmed up nicely and then the fog came in (which was interesting) to cool things back down.

I rode with alot of nice people. There were the typical "squirrels" that I hate about event rides. Although volunteers told people not to run stop signs or signals lights, people did. There was no reason for that especially being in the back of the pack were I was. Stopping briefly would not kill anyone but oh well... there were several very large packs of riders that were annoying. One in particular would come flying by sortof forcing people over then they would stop to regroup and then come flying by again. One reason why I rode away from my friend several times was just to get ahead of these numbskulls. "You - you know who you are - trust me - you weren't all that!"

Finishing up the 50 - it was cool to see the century riders heading back out... not certain I could go back around again if I went through the finish line first... kudoes for those that did. Alot of people were very happy to do the 50 as this was their first event ride (like my friend). It was a good introduction to other event rides and my friend is now excited about doing others... me not so much as been there done that...

CommuteCommando

Glad you had a good time. I was a little concerned that I had over hyped how easy the hills were. They are by comparison to other rides around here. Glad you friend had fun.

This area has several large clubs, and those large groups may not have been part of the BTC. We got passed by the Swami's group, which is probably the most competitive club around here. One woman commented about how rude they were while we were waiting at the light at the turn off the coast toward Sorrento. I assured her that some of them are nice guys. Last week I got some rather rude behavior from a large group from SDBC, who I have ridden with. Sad to say, for every nice guy riding with a club, there is one or more world class ego.

I have the good luck to live in the greatest cycling spot in the country, and am looking forward to going to Solvang in March, which I hear is even better.

Pamestique 

The club I was speaking of was neither Swami or SDBC, both clubs I know. I get the riders in "this" club were fairly inexperienced as most were young (20's/30's). I had lunch with my friend today and she commented how they would roar past her (causing her some concern) and then just stop right in the bike lane to wait for buddies causing her to go out into traffic to past or just stop until they moved out of the way... it was rude, inconsiderate and just clueless behavior.

Hills: All relative... I agree its a flatist course but to someone whose new - it was hilly. 1500' is the most my friend has done to date! 2 personal bests for her (distance and elevation). Now we need to work on her time (it took her about 6 hrs total time to complete the ride) and how to get in and out of sag stops quickly. I had already waited at least 30 minutes for her and then had to wait another 20 - 30, at the last stop over 40 and then another 20 so an hour total! Geez my legs were stiff!!!

She was going on about the 1500' and I explained Sunday did a MTB ride with my crew where we did 3500' in 18 miles; now that was hilly!

And good luck with Solvang... its a beautiful ride although I much prefer the Wildflower in April just up the road in Creston...

Pamestique 

Photos from the ride...