Pamestique 

Is anyone doing this ride? It starts at the Oceanside Pier and travels down to Torrey Pines and back.

I don't know much about it; how it is organized etc. I have a friend who is a new rider and I agreed to do the ride with her (we are signed up to do the 50 mile route). Right now she is doing about 20 miles on the weekend and 1 ride of 10 - 15 miles during the week (with me as training). I keep telling her she needs to amp up her speed a bit, distance and intensity and we need to start doing some hill work (right now rides are fairly flat). I looked at the route map and am trying to figure out if the route goes up the Torrey Pine grade or turns around just before - anyone know? If we are climbing the grade, I need to get my friend out doing stuff like Newport Coast or Santiago Canyon.

Any insight would be helpful - note I have ridden down that way a number of times so think I am familiar with the route and climbing through certain areas but just want to be sure...

Thanks,
Pam

GP

The route turns off before Torrey Pines.

I live along the route in South Oceanside and work at the pier and the routeslip is confusing to me.

CommuteCommando

I ride it every year, and will probably renegade it this year. I will probably ride to the start from home (7 mi) then deviate from the route to climb Torrey Pines. This will make the half C closer to a metric. Here is my recommended detour if you want to do Torrey. (This starts where you would make a left turn on the official route.) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3333298 This shows it ending at the SAG at Performance bikes. I will probably go under the freeway at Sorrento Valley Blvd to Vista Sorrento, unless I decide to register. The climb to El Camino Real is longer, and not as steep this way. I won't use the SAG if I haven't paid.

As far as your friend goes, if you skip TP, this is one of the flattest Century (and 1/2 Century) rides you will find in S. CA. The only really steep climb is the on after the SAG up to El Camino Real, and it's only a quarter mile.

Chaco

Your friend doesn't need to worry -- that's about as flat a route as one can get along the north county coast. There's a slight grade through Del Mar, but that's about it, except for a few "kickers" along the way. Looks like they're taking you through the residential portion of Del Mar, so be careful for traffic -- lots of beachgoers in that area, and streets not really designed for cycling. On the way back, you'll have some minor hills on Camino Real. By the way, when you're going north on Camino Real, the stretch just after you pass San Dieguito Road to Via de la Valle is in pretty bad shape. No shoulder there either. I usually take the lane, after getting two pinch flats in potholes there. Some of the soccer moms in their SUVs may get impatient, but it's just a 1/4 mile stretch of road. Have fun!

Chaco

Didn't mean to repeat what you said! Anyway, I might do what you're doing -- ride it without using the SAGs.

Pamestique 

It's confusing to me too - I just assume it would be the straight shot down PCH and its all over the place. Well not climbing Torrey pInes will be good for my friend. I am concerned she can do 50 miles in early November! The other thing is riding on the road and busy roads at that. While I don't like it I am used to it; she is not. Last night I took her on a little ride on busier streets. She is so squirrely it sort of freaked me out especially since she blew through 3 stop signs and almost got hit!

Oh well I have 2 months to get her ready... wish me luck!!! Look for me... I will be riding my Landshark. Hard to miss, all girly colors - green to sky blue with pink roses. My friend is on a new Trek Domane; very pretty - white and candy apple red. We are both old ladies who need to lose a few (well more than a few) pounds!

CommuteCommando

PCH through Oceanside(A lot of us locals still call it Hill St.) ain't pretty on a bike, and the planned route is definitely safer. (think Grand Ave Santa Ana) You should have no trouble since the confusing part is right at the start. Just follow the crowd. Most of the route after that has wide shoulders or bike lanes; Sharrows through Leucadia and Solana Beach.

Pamestique 

I assume it's marked on the road... I am usually good about following arrows/markings...

Not certain if we will have a crowd to follow. My friend is slow (like 5 mph slow); she also tends to be late... I told her it better not be a 10 hours 50 miler... I will shoot her! Also she needs to show up on time to get checked in and ready to ride with the group - we will see... last night I changed my plans to ride with her... we were suppose to ride at 5:30 - she didn't show until almost 6... I reminded her it gets dark by 7 so next time, be prompt!

Mike F

Wife and I are doing the 50 miles

MattCycle

I'm not but that ride is amazing! Small inclines, mostly flat, great view, weather and places to stop in between. The only down side is the construction which towards Torrey Pines. If you want to cut it in half, you can take the train back, and thus avoiding the largest elevation change (again Torrey Pines). Still the incline is doable but the construction mentioned makes it single lane both ways.

megalowmatt

My avatar picture is at the finish of the 50-mile route from last year. I rode it with a friend who had not ridden in years and helped him train in about that same amount of time. As others have said, it's pretty easy - a couple stretches of climbs but nothing too bad.

tunavic

Hi Pam. You may see me on this ride. I'm deciding between this ride or the Solvang Prelude (both are on the same day). I've not ridden either one so it will be a new experience either way. If it's this one I'll be sure to say hi

Carloswithac

I've ridden it. Just not a big fan of paying for a ride I can do on my own time. It's flat with some itty-bitty Hills. Nothing to worry about. You get free subway sandwiches at the 50 mile mark and is well supported.

CommuteCommando

I don't remember that. Since the Century is just two laps of the fifty, the halfway would be at the Start/Finish festival. Last year we got "meal tickets" worth, if I remember correctly, $5 to redeem at any one of the several food vendors there. I don't remember Subway. I usualy get fallafel from the Greek joint. There is a beer/wine corral. The beer is craft, may be Stone, but I don't remember exactly. The wine is nothing special. The Temecula Valley Century that I am doing next month has a much better wine selection.

Carloswithac

Has signage for the Temecula Valley century improved? I rode it the first year and many people got lost.

CommuteCommando

Two years ago was the inagural event and I rode in it. There were some downright angry people. One group wound up going up Palomar
Mounain. Last year things had improved, but there were bad flaws with the cue sheet. They drew the route with RideWithGPS and did not bother to proofread it. I did and sent them corrections, which they used without thanking me. I almost passed this year, but it's a good ride. They got better, and this year there is only one mistake in the RWGPS track. I may tell them about it. You'll find it the second time it goes through the intersection of Anza and Rancho California.

GP

I did Temecula Valley the first year. It was OK. The course marks were off but we knew our way around so we kept on course. IMO, it would be better if they had more of the route in De Luz and less riding through Temecula and Murrietta.

CommuteCommando

Bump.

I am registering today for the fifty, but plan to take an extended route that does Torrey Pines. I'll ride from home to the start. The RWGPS track shows me starting at a Park and Ride, if anyone else wants to try it. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/3574121 I may return to the Park and Ride via the same route I ride in if I am not feeling up to those two last hills on Rancho Del Oro. I have two even harder ones from the Park and Ride to home. I'll be passing the park and ride at about 6:30 which will give plenty of time to get to the official start of the 50 at 7:30.

GP

Where is that park and ride? Is it near the sprinter station at RDO and Oceanside Blvd?

CommuteCommando

It is exactly the Sprinter Station at RDO.

ahultin

The family and i are registered for the fifty. I will be on the tandem with the wife and the to kids on their singles. I am hoping to hold a 12mph average Say hi as you blow by if you see us .

Pamestique 

My friend and I still plan on the ride... we did a 40 last week and my friend breezed through it... I told her 50 will be a piece of cake or if not, she at least knows she can do 40 and she just needs to grit theough the last 10. My biggest problem leaving tomorrow on a business trip, get home Friday; do riding all week... maybe a good thing or bad... so look for me Saturday... I'll probably get passed by everyone!!!

CommuteCommando

I'll be wearing a yellow Jersey with this Logo.



AHultin already knows what I look like.

Pamestique 

I will be the old fat chick on the "hello Kitty" bike... I am probably not hard to miss (unfortunately)...

ahultin

We will definately not be hard to miss, I will be the uber clyde wearing the Clydesdale/Athena jersey on a tandem with my uber skinny wife in her Canari Komen jersey.