San Diego Descenders Cycling Club

DeLuz Ride Report-2 June 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Bill, Peg, Hodges, Tony, Sheehan, Paul, Rob, Diane & Bob (friend of Tony)

The Descenders ride group met at Gopher Canyon on Saturday. Mike Hodges and I came decked out in our new Eliel kits. We had met with Jordan Baab the day before to go over the Eliel options for a potential new Descenders kit. Lots of work still to go, but we both liked the Eliel products we saw and so we even bought a kit of the same style that will be used for our team kits–Laguna Seca bib shorts and the Rincon jersey. Hodges squeezed into his large jersey and complained a bit about tightness. He might want to consider a larger size or push back from the table earlier. I think I looked resplendent in my XL bibs and jersey, you be the judge. We showed off the new kits to the Descenders on the ride. More info soon.

We climbed up Circle R and made our way over to Couser Canyon and then Rice Canyon. Bob turned off way back on West Lilac while Diane rode back along Old 395 after climbing Rice, while the rest of the group rode to Temecula. We stopped for a water break about mile 25, then headed for the Rancho California climb. Everyone regrouped at the start of DeLuz Road, then Bill and Paul did some nice long pulls in the tree covered roads. I tried to pull away from Tony & Peg to no avail as we all sped along before stopping at the DeLuz school house for another water break. Sheehan needed a quick nap on the picnic table, he pushed himself pretty hard all day. Between mile 40 and 50, the climbs back up to Fallbrook took lots out of our legs. It was a beautiful day, even with a bit of a headwind. The pace was club ride level all day, lots of good conversation and fun. At Mission Road, we headed down to Olive Hill Road. Hodges and I were on point and we spotted Simon Planken riding north on Olive Hill. We were not in team kits, so Simon did not know it was the Descenders group until well after we passed each other. Simon saw the team kits on the other riders, but we were long gone. Sorry to have missed riding with Simon. Bill then took point and pulled the group down to the last water stop near highway 76. Paul snacked on a cheeseburger and others followed.

Sheehan was cooked so he went straight on Camino Del Rey while the six remaining riders rode up West Lilac Road. Bill led us out with Hodges holding his wheel. I tried to stay up with them; Hodges purposefully accelerated when I faltered. He hid on Bill’s wheel and they spun off into the distance. I was able to keep them in sight and started to close the gap when Hodges fell away from Bill. The stop sign was up ahead and I pushed hard to catch Hodges but he rolled to the line just ahead of me. I was now very tired and pulled over along the bridge with Bill to wait for the others. Paul came up soon and he had to descend down Old 395 to get back home, great day out riding with Paul; he is very strong.

Peg and Tony swept up our now smaller group of riders. Bill again held point while Hodges and I followed. Tony left his legs at the last water stop so he and Peg were losing time to us, thanks to the efforts of Bill. We all regrouped before the turn back onto Circle R and the last descent back towards the start. We had covered 70 miles and 6,400 feet of climbing, super fun ride. The link below goes to the photos from the ride. The other attached photo was taken by Tony.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mWLCHdrKXEHpfHbU2

Tucson Cycling Trip Ride Report

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Len, Bernie, Shawn, Jodie, Ruben & Rob

Len had been to Tucson about five years ago and done a number of great rides in the area. Todd Calloway was recently there and rode up Mt Lemmon twice, stud. Len pushed the Italian cycling trip gang to consider Tucson as a riding training adventure. We opened it up to the Descenders and a small group planned to head to Tucson. Our goals were to ride the following climbs:

• Kitt Peak Observatory
• Mt Lemmon
• Madera Canyon
• Mt Graham

On Friday, 13 April, Len, Bernie, Shawn and I loaded up two cars and headed for Tucson. Due to work, Jodie and Ruben planned to meet us later that night at the hotel. We made good time across I-8 and headed south to get to Kitt Observatory, just 40 miles west of Tucson. It was not until about 3:30 pm that we started our 12 mile climb up to the top. It was cool and breezy at the bottom and got colder and winder as we climbed. Bernie was way out front. Shawn and Len passed me at about the 5 mile mark and I swept. The views were awesome and we fortunately had a bit of a tailwind for most of the climb as the road circled around the mountain covered in white observatory domes. I got to the top at about 5 pm. We took a few quick photos and put on any extra layers we had; they were not enough. It was cold and blustery. Wind gusts around corners pushed us sideways and almost stopped us at times; we took the descent cautiously for sure. The ride total was only 24 miles with over 3,500 feet of climbing, nice warm-up for Mt Lemmon. We drove into Tucson and got to the Comfort Suites in Sabino Canyon in time for dinner. Len took us to the Eclectic Cafe. We had a nice meal and then met up with Jodie & Ruben who had just arrived.

The next morning, we had the complementary breakfast and were ready to tackle Mt Lemmon. Our route took us east on Tanque Verde Road and then north on Old Soldier Trail, we rode through a nice park and looped back to get to the start of the climb. Mt Lemmon is about a 24 mile climb up to Summerhaven, we did not go to the ski slope just a few miles farther. We do get to over 8,000 feet and climb for a long time. The road is clean, smooth and has a nice shoulder. The grade averages 4-5%, but there are plenty of rises that drain your reserves. We spread out on the climb with Bernie way out front. Len and Shawn passed me about mile 5 again, Ruben passed me about mile 15 and Jodie swept. The views were stunning; lots of photos in the link below. I was passed a few times by much better riders. I pushed to catch a wheel and hung on for as long as I could; burnt a few matches. The sun was out and it was not windy or cold, a perfect day to climb Mt Lemmon. My paced slowed and I was out of water. At mile 20 there was a bathroom and water pump near a hiking trailhead. I stopped to refill and eat my banana, I felt much better. Refreshed, my pace increased a bit as I neared the end of the climb. After mile 21.5 and after topping over 8,000 feet, you do a fast one mile descent and then retake the same elevation again for the final miles into Summerhaven. I caught up to Ruben as he was experiencing a bit of oxygen deprivation from the altitude. He said he would go slow and/or wait for Jodie. I headed up the last bit to get to the Cookie Cabin, where we planned to regroup. Bernie, Shawn and Len were relaxing on the outdoor patio in the bright sunshine. It was a beautiful day in the mountains. We ate and drank a bit with Ruben and Jodie joining us soon after. We put on finger gloves and layers, something we sorely needed the previous day at Kitt Peak. The first mile or so climb out of Summerhaven jolted the legs and then there was the one mile descent at mile 21.5 that you now had to climb, but overall it was a 20+ mile epic descent. Bernie, Shawn and I stopped at the same water hole I found at mile 20, Len kept going. Bernie waited for Jodie and Ruben so we decided to chase Len. The descent was one of the best I have ever experienced. Car traffic was light, the road was smooth and I passed a handful of cars. I averaged well over 30 mph for about a 14 mile stretch, the bottom came quickly. We all stopped on the side of the road to take off layers and regroup. The final 8 miles home to the hotel were a straight shot along East Catalina Highway, we finished with 70 miles and just under 7,300 feet of elevation gain. It was worth all the pain, great climb.

The gang relaxed at the hotel, hit the pool & spa and then got ready for a quick trip down memory lane. They were all gracious enough to join me in going to Cafe Molina, only a mile or so from our hotel. Cafe Molina is an old Mexican food establishment that has been there since 1947. My parents were there every week when my mom was finishing her education degree at University of Arizona and my dad was in flight school for the USAF back in 1956. I ate there every week a few years later when we lived in Tucson until late 1961. The food was fine, we had fun enjoying a cheese pizza and other Mexican specialities. I had a nice margherita and Negro Modelo as well. I took some photos for my parents that we also included in the trip album. We had a nice group dinner and headed back to the hotel for bed.

Sunday had us up early so we could drive to Madera Canyon and still allow Bernie and Shawn to drive back to San Diego. Ruben had to leave that morning, so he missed the ride. We drove about 45 minutes south of Tucson to Green Valley. The road stopped after 13 miles. Bernie and Shawn headed out right after the group photo. Len, Jodie and I took our time getting prepped and starting our ride. It was warming nicely and there was no wind, another nice morning to ride. We climbed slowly up the two-lane road with very little traffic; probably as many riders are cars. Early on we passed what appeared to be a bee hive right on the side of the road. All the bees were just in a pile, swarming and buzzing around. From a respectful distance we watched and took some photos. The gradient was only 3-4% with some pitches as we made our way toward Mount Wrightson in the distance. About mile 10.5, Bernie and Shawn were descending fast towards us. They flew by, went back to the hotel to clean up and then drove back to San Diego. Len, Jodie and I pootled our way up the steep 15+ degree pitches the last few miles to get to the hiking trailhead of Old Baldy Trail. It takes you to the top of Mt Wrightson. Len met two couples from Canada that were on vacation . He made his best moves on one of the wife’s; at least they were still kind enough to take a group photo of us. We had another speedy descent back down to Green Valley. We took in the bees again, they had moved a few feet close to the road. The ride was only 26 miles in total with about 2,600 feet of climbing, we were saving ourselves for Mt Graham the following day. At the bottom we relaxed at Posada Java, where lots of cyclists go, to have something to eat and drink. We hit the pool/spa again and then decided to walk around the University of Arizona campus. It is a nice campus and I was able to take a photo of my mom’s sorority house. I dropped them at the hotel and spun by my old home, just a few miles south of the hotel. I was a wee lad and remember nothing of the place but captured a photo for my parents. Len, Jodie and I hit Eclectic Cafe again and had a nice dinner. We had been checking the weather at Mt Graham and things looked bad for our planned Monday ride–20+ mph winds at the top. We decided it was not wise to drive two hours to the start of a climb to 10,000+ feet with cold temps and high winds predicted; plan B started to be considered.

Our last day in Tucson and no Mt Graham. Len knew of a ride along Old Spanish Trail to the Saguaro National Park. We left from the hotel by 8 am and spun about 10 miles to get to the park entrance. Len had his Senior Pass so we got in for free. Inside the park is a beautiful 9 mile loop road of one-way traffic. The saguaro cactus, ocotillo and tons of other desert flora provided dramatic scenery. Jodie & I snapped a number of photos at many of the vista spots along the hilly, curvy road loop. We met a local cyclist who recommended we continue on Old Spanish Trail for 10 miles and do the Pistol Hill Loop. It was a nice addition to our ride and we then spun back towards the hotel with a reroute along one of the many "river" pathways. The "rivers" are all dried river beds, there only to avert flooding if/when it does rain, but they do provide a nice platform for paths on both sides that cuts through the east side of Tucson. We got back to the hotel with 52 miles and 2,300 feet of climbing; no Mt Graham but a fun morning of riding. We relaxed again in the pool/spa and packed up for the trip home. For dinner, Jodie found a pizza place called Falora; they had vegan options. Falora was only a few miles from our hotel and it proved to be a great find. We had a nice dinner and then went back to finish packing.

There was some discussion to have us drive via Kitt Peak to tackle that climb again on the way back to San Diego. Fortunately, that crazy talk quickly died. Our legs and bodies were done. The drive was uneventful and we discussed the good news around Jodie’s new Sociology book she is having published. Thanks to Len for driving his car. We dropped off Jodie and then Len got me to my home by mid-afternoon. The Tucson Cycling Trip was a great time. The Descenders should do one in the spring or fall in the next couple of years. I will go again and plan to tackle Mt Graham on the next trip. Enjoy the photos.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RMK9qJsc1B67Zo5V2

HVR & OJH Ride Report-24 March 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Rick W, Shawn, John A, Garet, Justin, Hermann, John M, Sheehan and Rob

As I suspected, no one was there at the top of Black Mountain Road; I rode solo over to the group start. I was even ahead of schedule, rolling to the Pomerado corner before 8 am. Rick W, Shawn D and John M were already there. Others joined and we were just getting ready to roll when Sheehan showed, we now had a total of 9 riders. We rode as a group to the HVR climb when all hell broke loose. The fast guys spun off; Sheehan and I settled into a nice pace up the climb. It was our birthday celebration ride so we chatted a bit on the less steep sections. Hermann rode with us up HVR, with John M sweeping. At the school at Archie Moore Road, we regrouped and bid adieu to Garet and Justin. They could only ride for a quick loop. Rick W must have been anxious to get going, he pulled the group at a blistering pace over to highway 67 where we said good-bye to Hermann; he had to go to work. We were down to 6 riders. Rick W again pulled the group along Dye Road to San Vicente. We lost John M but continued on towards Old Julian Highway.

Rick, Shawn and John A cruised off at the turn to OJH. I waited for Sheehan and we rode up the climb with John M sweeping. There were tons of motorcycles out and lots of cars. When we got to the top for the regroup, a huge line of "race cars" were coming up on their way to Santa Ysabel. We road cyclists don’t care too much for noisy motorcyclists and lots of fast moving cars out on the back country roads. That said, it was a nice day to be out on a bike. Rick W hammered on the descent back to Ramona. I held his wheel for most of the descent but eventually lost contact. Shawn and John A tried to catch me to no avail. We all regrouped at the corner before another quick pull into town. Sheehan and I shared a pop tart treat to celebrate our birthdays, which don’t really happen until this week but that was our last ride together before the big events.

We had a brief respite at the gas station before we rolled back to Dye Road. Sheehan was feeling the last of his oats as he pulled the group to highway 67. I fell off and John M was sweeping. At the light Rick W turned towards Mt Woodson. Sheehan, Shawn and John A waited for me as they were heading straight back down HVR. I turned left too but never saw Rick again. John M was somewhere behind me. The road going south on highway 67 is just as bad as my experiences from the week earlier. Rumble strips on the side of the road, lots of traffic and more concerns for the centerline plastic pipes so cars drive even closer to cyclists. The parking near Mount Woodson forces us to ride in the road, another dangerous section of roadway. I decided to get off highway 67 and turned right onto Mina de Oro to descend High Valley Road. I did capture a nice photo of Lake Poway on my way to the steep descent. By the time I got home, I hit 70 miles and over 5K of climbing, another great club ride. Photos are in the link below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/p0lu3OLw1RObzKAO2

SPP, Mussey, HVR & Del Dios Ride Report-18 March 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Hermann, John A, John M, Quoc, Oleg, Neil B & Rob

Late winter rains forced us to move our group ride from its usual Saturday spot to Sunday morning. Tony lined up a local ride for the group to tackle. I was late getting going so did not meet anyone on the 56 bike path as I pedaled over to Spring Meadow. It was a crisp early spring morning, but there were some rays of sunshine poking through the clouds trying to warm up the day. I dropped off at Mike Hodges house his new bibs but did not see anyone yet…thought I might have a lonely ride ahead. Fortunately there was a small contingent waiting for me at the 7-11 store. Oleg was able to join us since the ride was on Sunday and he did not have any camping trips for the weekend. We also had Neil B out for the first time since his crash on highway 67 down in Lakeside. Neil was not sure he was ready for a Ranchos ride yet.

In all, we had seven riders ready to head toward SPP. We spread out on the climb with Neil B, Oleg and John A pushing the pace. After a regroup at highway 67, we headed north. I quickly saw why the Descenders have not ridden along 67 in almost a year. The rumble strips on the side of the road make it very challenging. There is also a new guardrail that narrows the road as you climb towards the Poway Grade light. Traffic is going faster and seem more concerned about center barrier plastic tubes than cyclists on the right side of the road. It is a bit of a scary section of road, all the way until you get to Mussey Grade. We did a quick regroup at the top of the 67 climb by Mt Woodson and Oleg/Hermann took turns pulling us to Mussey, impressive power.

On the descent, Neil B, Oleg and Hermann pushed the pace. John A, Quoc and I hid as well as we could; John M rode in his parallel universe. We stopped to enjoy the views of San Vicente Reservoir at the bottom of Mussey Grade and took a few photos. The recent rains brought out the lush green hillsides on the horizon, beauty day. The climb up was at a fairly pleasant pace and we regrouped before riding over to HVR. We held a nice paceline until Neil B picked up the pace, we held it together at the faster pace until the turn towards the middle school. I was hiding on a wheel and still managed a PR for a segment. The group split a bit more on the rollers before the descent of HVR. Neil B and Oleg headed out first. Hermann, John A, Quoc and I rolled when the group got together. John M continued in his parallel universe.

A few cars distracted us from a nice smooth and fast descent of HVR, but we still flew down one of our favorite local roads. John A and I caught Oleg and Neil on the flats as we rode to Pomerado. At the light, Hermann and Neil B turned left while Oleg, John A and I turned right and over the Lake Hodges pedestrian bridge. Quoc soon followed; John M rode home via Bernardo Center Road. We stopped at the gas station for water before riding onto Via Rancho Parkway to Del Dios. Quoc turned towards Harmony Grove to go abuse himself on Double Peak while Oleg, John A and I rode on Del Dios to RSF where I was able to capture a quick good-bye wave from Oleg as he headed for the coast. Oleg got in over 90 miles by the time he cruised home. John A and I returned to PQ via Three Witches and got back home with 67 miles and 4,800 feet of climbing; a fun Descenders Sunday ride. Photos in the link below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/82sUMCAtsDjao7Pw1

Oceanside & Sleeping Indian Ride-24 February 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Sheehan, Bob P, Rick W, Garet, Len, John M, Marisa & Andrey, Ethan, Tony, Bill & Peggy, Hodges, Bill W & Rob

It was a cold start to the the ride. I pedaled to meet the group at CDS, where Proulx also joined us. We had not seen Marisa & Andrey for a number of rides; they came with their friend, Ethan. Bill Wood was out again to ride with his US buddies. It was sunny, but cold; everyone was bundled up well. It was super cold in my wimpy view; I could have used a jacket to cut the wind. We cruised on the bike path and headed for the coast, picking up Len along Carmel Valley.

We all rode mostly together up through Del Mar to meet Bill & Peggy on the corner as we rolled into Solana Beach, the group was now more than a dozen strong. We did well until we passed Las Olas & Ki’s, when Ethan hit a sunken manhole cover and flatted. I pushed hard to get the group to stop while Andrey stopped to help fix the tire. We stopped just past the goofy surfer statue. Many decided to continue to roll north. Rick W, Bob P, Sheehan, Bill B and I stopped and chatted. Garet decided to turn back and take Manchester back to his home. The tire was finally fixed and we spun north on the 101. Rick W kept the paced spirited, everyone did some pulls. Bob and Sheehan turned at La Costa, where we met up with Tony. Our small group sped up into Carlsbad where we saw Marisa and Bill W stopping for coffee; Andrey & Ethan joined them.

The rest of us cruised into Oceanside and regrouped at the bathrooms on the harbor. It was sunny and a pretty day, bright blue skies and lots of boats. We took a few group shots and everyone said they were riding inland. Everyone except Rick W.; we convinced him to join us. We had riders 8 heading to Sleeping Indian. Rick was on point and did the lions share of the effort along the San Luis Rey path. He kept going straight toward home when we took the turn to Old River Road, the climbing was about to begin. We all spread out on the climb up Sleeping Indian and regrouped near the top. I took then point but missed the turn onto Morro Hills, we all just kept pedaling to the very end of Sleeping Indian. It added a few miles as we crossed Burma Road and rode the full length of Olive Hill to the gas station down by highway 76. After a short water break, we rolled out again to Little Gopher Canyon Road, then hit Gopher and turned right onto Twin Oaks Valley; more climbing. The views on the climbs and from the tops were awesome, definitely a highlight of the ride.

We all made our way down to Deer Springs and then Tony led us towards Cal State San Marcos where we turned onto Barham Dr. and rode towards Escondido. Tony had us take the bike/walking path that eventually connected into town and hit Centre City Parkway. Tony turned a few streets before us to get home. I took the turn first and headed fast towards the mall. Apparently Hodges flatted at the corner and I never saw the group again. The winds increased, the temperatures seemed to drop and it was a brisk ride back past Lake Hodges and 4S, behind Black Mountain and finally to my house. I did a fly-by and noticed I rode past Bill & Peggy’s street about 12 minutes before they finally got there. I know Hodges followed my route and went all the way down Black Mountain, John M should have gone that way too. Len had to ride back towards the coast to get his car. Long rides for everyone. My Garmin said about 85 miles and 4,300 feet of climbing, legs felt that for a few days. Some nice photos are in the link, come out and ride sometime!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FuBbz7YbmFTr427P2

Five Faces of Soledad Ride Report-10 February 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Tony, John M, Shawn, Garet, Monica, Guido, Don, Rob, Len, Neil & John

Most of the riders met along the 56 bike path. We started with a handful of Descenders and also had Don, an ex-Rancho who has ridden with us before, join us. It was Garet’s 40th birthday, so Happy Birthday to Garet! We had a slight tailwind, so Guido and John M pushed the pace and flew along the bike path. Neil met us as we got closer to the coast, he had parked on top of Soledad and rode towards us.

We all climbed inside Torrey Pines and met up with Len before pedaling off for La Jolla Shores. Garet looped back home first by going straight on Genessee Road to celebrate the rest of his birthday with his family. There were lots of riders out on the road. It was a nice day for climbing. Guido left us as we started our first ascent of Soledad. Neil took off and sped up the hill and we all eventually regrouped at the top. Neil’s brother, John, now joined the ride as well.

Hodges just cannot get enough of the Descenders. He was not on his bike, but had his family and out of town guests at the top "sightseeing" as we all regrouped following the climb. Riders started to head out as Shawn and Don descended Via Carpi while the rest of us rode down to to begin the climb of Country Club Road. Once again, Neil flew off the point and disappeared while the rest of us powered up the climb. John and Monica were both very strong on the climbs. We stopped for bananas and water before heading back down for the third ascent.

Once we all got back to Soledad Mountain Road, we headed down to tackle Pacifica. John M was grinding out the climbs on his new Fuji but it only had a 25 rear cassette, he was cooked after the 4th climb. Back at the top of Soledad, it was only the two Rintoul brothers, Len, Tony, Monica and Rob left to head to Via Valverde for the fifth face of Soledad. Legs were hurting but we all made it back to the top before heading towards home.

Len went towards Soledad Mountain Road, Neil and John kept riding while I descended down Via Capri. I thought Tony & Monica would be with me, but they were gone. I slowly climbed Calle Del Oro and turned towards UCSD campus. I thought about riding through campus when Tony & Monica caught up to me. We pedaled back towards Torrey Pines, descended to the beach and rolled along Carmel Valley Road. I was pooped and hid behind Tony as he did most of the work.

We got back to the bike path and made our way towards PQ. I bailed to get back home while Monica and Tony had to ride back to Poway and beyond to get home. My ride was only about 60 miles, but the 5,800 feet of climbing was a good workout; another great day for a Descenders ride. The link below are the photos from the ride.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5kMCfgVrIy1os9z33

HVR, Mussey & Pamo Ride Report-3 February 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Sheehan, John M, Bob R, Rick W, Jim W, Garet, Justin, Tony, Bill & Peggy and Rob

Tony set up the ride to have the group climb up HVR to avoid Highway 67. I pedaled over alone from PQ because I was late to meet Jim W. It was a cold start to my ride but the sunny day warmed up nicely by the time we started our HVR climb. The group met on the corner of Pomerado and we pedaled off with a small group. John M was out on his new Fuji Transonic 1.1 carbon bike, he is suggesting that Fuji be the new required club bike; I am good with that. Rick W flatted within the first two miles due to a large staple in his tire. While he fixed his tire, Garet and Justin joined us. The whole group now headed for the bottom of HVR, that road continues to deteriorate with more holes and cracks, gotta love our local infrastructure. Justin almost lost his front wheel in one large hole, the group motored on.

The climb started and we spread out as we headed up to Ramona. I tried to convince Bob R to ride up Camino Del Aguila since we had ridden up HVR just last Saturday. He wisely declined, so we all pedaled our way up to Archie Moore Road. We met up with Bill & Peggy at the top of HVR by the school. They said they started earlier than us to meet at the regroup spot, but I suspect that they were out doing some early HVR repeats in preparation for the Monster Climbs trip and Italy cycling adventure. They are both riding strong.

We all regrouped and then spun toward the end of HVR. Rick W took point and split the group in the final few miles to the light at Highway 67. Everyone turned right at the light to make our way to Mussey Grade. Garet and Justin kept going on 67 while the rest of the group turned left onto Mussey. It started benign enough, but the pace quickly lit up before we got to Dos Picos Park Road. Jim W, Rick W, Bob R and Dave S, with me hanging onto the last wheel; sped down the five mile Mussey descent. Everyone rotated to take a fast pull, except me; I hid the whole way to the bottom. The pace was over 28 mph average, lots of matches were burned. I took a couple of photos while screaming down and another photo of the four studs overlooking San Vicente Reservoir. The rest of the gang joined us for the climb back up.

I pootled along with Sheehan, who was still shaking off a cold. We had a momentary interaction with a local driver who kept honking at us along the quiet country road, Sheehan went to discuss the rules of the road with him while I waited for him at the corner of Dos Picos. We met back up with the group at the top of Mussey. Bob R had already headed home, Sheehan went back down HVR to get some business work done. Besides, he had already burned lots of matches on Mussey. The rest of us grabbed a quick water refresh at the gas station before cruising along Dye & San Vicente Roads. We cut through Ramona and made our way towards Pamo. Bill & Peggy had not ridden down ever before so we gave everyone a quick recap of the dangerous, off-camber corners. Everyone had a safe descent and we regrouped at the bottom. Everyone except John, he turned back early to climb up Pamo early. He made his way to the Ramona gas station and started back down 67 before Rick W and Jim W finally caught back up to him; his new wheels are fast!

I pootled up the climb with Tony & Peggy. I snapped a photo of Tony at the rock wall he knew all too well. He is riding great and not looking back. The day was warming up and we had gorgeous views of the valley. We regrouped with the rest of the gang and spun off towards Ramona. I decided to descend Ramona Grade and made my way home via Bandy Canyon, HVR and around 4S. It was a long 5 hours in the saddle, some awesome riding and over 77 miles with 5,600 feet of elevation. Another great Descenders group ride. The link below has the photos from the ride, enjoy and come ride with us soon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fWArWUNFl7vZi6DY2

Highland Valley Road & Old Julian Highway Ride–27 January 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Rick W, Tony, Garet, Bob R, Hermann, Shawn, Geoffrey M and Rob V

It was a bit brisk leaving PQ early enough to ride over to the RB start. We had a nice group ready to tackle HVR. We all rode together to the start of the climb and spread out, with Rick W and Garet charging up the climb first.

We all regrouped at the top. Garet, Bob Raibert and Geoffrey had other obligations so they rolled out along Archie Moore towards Highway 67. The rest of us finished the top section of HVR with Rick W pulling us along. At the main intersection light, Hermann turned right to ride Mussey Grade before going back home; we were down to four riders.

Rick pulled us along Dye Road and over to the start of the HVR climb. Shawn kept on Rick’s wheel while Tony and I backed off the pace. We all regrouped at the top of OJH. Tony was on his way to Santa Ysabel to tackle Mesa Grande, then Palomar and finally Cole Grade. He met up with Len, Jodie and Ruben in Santa Ysabel. He just finished, almost 110 miles and 10K of elevation, phew! Big ride Tony, well done.

We had some gusts of wind in our faces as we climbed OJH, so the descent back into Ramona was a quick one. Rick sped out while Shawn and I chased as best we could. We did a quick regroup at the gas station before retracing our ride along Dye Road to Highway 67. Shawn went straight back down HVR while Rick and I braved the open roads of Highway 67. Rick pulled me along and I hid on his wheel as best I could. We flew down Poway Grade and over to Twin Peaks before Rick turned for home. I pootled from there back to my house, just over 70 miles and 5K of climbing. I only captured a couple of photos…too cold. They are in the link below

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kfkQ7uMoXgKUyACP2

RSF, Del Dios & HVR Ride Report-20 January 2018

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Bill & Peggy, Bob P, Shawn D, Guido, John M and Rob

It was a nice, cold and sunny start to the ride. I met John, Guido and Shawn at Black MountainRoad. We picked up Bob P at Santaluz and then Bill & Peggy joined us at the top of Three Witches.

We spun quickly along Apajo and climbed to Stud Loop. Bob P pushed the pace as we spread out a bit before regrouping back at Del Dios. Guido, Bob and I pushed the pace until we started the climb, then Guido backed off. I caught back up to Bob before the Lake Drive turn, he kept going straight while I cruised down along the lake. I caught up to Bill & Peggy, who skipped Stud Loop, before all got back together at the corner of Via Rancho Parkway.

The section to the mall was a spirited pace, but we all hung close together. There was not much enthusiasm to climb HVR by some of the group. Bob, Guido, John and Shawn rode towards Pomerado while Bill, Peggy & I climbed the first mile of HVR. We descended Bandy Canyon, cut through Ysabel Creek Road and endured Milky Way, that road is one of the worst with lots of holes and ruts, along with no shoulder. The climb up Summit was nice, then a fast descent down Mary Lane and back past the mall.

We rode over the Lake Hodges bridge again and spun to the houses just south of Lake Hodges, where Bill and Peggy live. I tried to attack a segment, but the legs were not playing along. I was now alone for the final miles through 4S to get back home. Only 51 miles with 3,900 feet of climbing, but a fun ride. The link below shows the photos I took.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WwFVEgjLxRtOmM0l1

Oceanside & Sleeping Indian Ride-30 December 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Hodges, Len, Guido, John M, Bob P, Shawn, Rob; Cal Coast Cycling Crew-Rob, Todd and Dave; special appearance by Keith Sherwood

It was our last group ride of the year, a coastal cruise to Oceanside with an option for Sleeping Indian. We hammered it up PCH, split some as we rode fast into Carlsbad before one of the Cal Coast guys got a flat.

I ran into Keith Sherwood while we waited for the mechanical fix. Keith rides for Intuit but has joined the Descenders on a few rides in the past. He was also on his way to Oceanside. I snuck away before the pier and passed John M, who was out in his parallel universe, well before the turnaround, another V in the books. We regrouped at the bathroom and then the group split. Some guys went back down the coast, while the Cal Coast boys, along with Hodges, Len, Keith S and me, decided to tackle Sleeping Indian. Keith had never done the route before, he was in for a real treat.

The Cal Coast boys kept a brisk pace along the San Luis Rey bike path. We made our way up the Sleeping Indian climb before descending back down Morro Hills and Olive Hills. Remnants from the Cedar Fire could be seen; lots of charred woods on Olive Hill. We took a quick break at the gas station before Highway 76, then cruised along Old Gopher Canyon, up Twin Oaks Valley and finally climbed Deer Springs Road to get back to I-15.

We regrouped often enough to keep most of the guys together. Hodges was complaining of a sciatica issue, so he and Len pootled a bit behind. The final push down N. Centre City Parkway to the mall was fast. A stop at the gas station was needed. The Cal Coast boys sped off just as Len and Hodges showed. The final four of us–including Keith and me, spun over the Lake Hodges bridge and then cruised around 4S to get back to our homes. It was a meaty 87 miles with 4,700 feet of climbing. Great finish to the year. I only took a couple of photos, they are in the link below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pZVNrOOChT7Rd6rG2

Udo Heinz Memorial Ride Report-18 November 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Neil R, Larry M, Rick B, Bernie, Paul P, Len, Hodges, John M, Shawn DeKalb, Hermann & Jeremy, Jeff & Eileen, Dave Ernst and Rob plus almost 200 other riders

The Ranchos were sponsoring a ride to remember Udo Heinz, a former Rancho rider who was killed while riding back in 2013. They organized a great event and it was well attended. The widow of Udo was there and she made some remarks prior to the start of the ride. It was a bright and slightly crisp fall morning, a beautiful day for a ride and a chance to remember Udo. There were close to 200 riders and we were able to meet some new friends as well as ride with some old friends

We all met in the parking lot of Stone Brewery in Escondido. Neil & Larry looked resplendent in their Ranchos kits. Rick B was sportin’ his Kudos jersey from BWR last year. Jeff & Eileen looked great in their Wolfpack garb, while Hermann & Jeremy were decked out in BMC and SDSU kits. Shawn DeKalb, who is new to the Descenders, was looking spiffy in his bright Astana kit. The rest of us were in our Descender blue kits except John, he went retro in the older white Descenders jersey.

After some opening comments, The A pace group of about 75 riders turned left out of the parking lot. Neil, Rick, Bernie and Shawn went with that group. Larry was one of the designated leaders of the A team. We relaxed for a few minutes before rolling out as the B group. There were about 75 riders in our large group as well. We all stayed together as we rode through San Marcos and the Escondido Country Club neighborhood before the first split at Jesmond Dene. Those that wanted to avoid the dirt hit Jesmond, most of us rode on to do the climb up Cougar Pass. Jeremy and Ernst hit the dirt fast and hard. I tried to stay close to Dave. The big group spread out along the climb, At the top we had more road climbing to do before flying down Mountain Meadow Road and regrouping at the fruit stand, just before I-15.

I saw Bernie there and asked him where the A group was. He said he flatted on Cougar and would ride with us now. I heard he was leading the A group up the climb when he flatted. Bernie led most of the way for the rest of the ride for the B group; A team loss was our gain. After a 5 minute or so break we spun over the freeway and descended fast down Deer Springs Road. Paul P led us on point for much of it before Jeremy and Dave E went out front. A long line of riders followed our lead. We turned on N. Twin Oaks Valley Road and headed north. We have ridden this road many times, but usually from off of Gopher Canyon, this time we rode it toward Gopher. The curvy descents were cool to watch all the riders in a line. Ernst and Jeremy again attacked as did Bernie. I rode with Jeff and Eileen, surrounded by the other Descenders–Hodges, Paul, Len, Hermann and John. We regrouped at Gopher Canyon. Ernst had to head back, so he turned right, while the rest of us went left to Little Gopher Canyon Road. This road has a few bumpy spots, but it is fun to cruise in a group. We made our way to Old River Road and looped over more dirt & bumpy roads to climb another section of dirt road. Hodges was out ahead but I caught up to him along the climb. The group eventually made our way to Olive Hill for the descent to Highway 76. The rest point was in the parking lot.

We were now at mile 30. The A team was long gone from the rest point, if they indeed had stopped at all. We got drinks and snacks. Jeff & Eileen headed out as they were on a tight schedule. Hermann, Jeremy & Paul decided to ride back toward the start. I planned to do the West Lilac, Circle R and Camino Del Rey loop to get back to the same stop by mile 48. I decided to roll before the legs got cold and rode with a few other riders before we started the climb. I was now alone and rode the 5 miles up to the I-15 bridge by myself. I saw no one ahead or behind. I crossed the bridge and then looked back to see Bernie near the front of a group coming up on me pretty fast. I increased my pace and tried to hold them off, they quickly passed me. I grabbed the wheel of the 6-7th rider for about a minute but could not hold their pace. They motored on while I continued to ride alone to Circle R, down to Old 395 and then over to Camino Del Rey. Just as I got back to the bridge before Highway 76 a few other riders joined me. We went to the checkpoint for more drinks. Bernie was there chatting with some of his fast, young riders.

I decided to head out as I was certain Bernie would catch me again. I rode back over the bridge just as Mike Hodges was coming towards me. He skipped the checkpoint and got on my wheel. We rode along Old River Road until it turned into East Vista where we met up with a rider named Shawn from the North County Cycling Club. The three of us pedaled together, turning onto Warmlands Ave and making our way back south to the finish. We had a few climbs and some rollers before turning onto Foothill Drive. I picked up the pace and rode alone for a mile or so. Just as the road turned into Buena Creek Road, I looked back to again see Bernie pulling a group of riders towards me. I pushed hard up the final climb and flew down towards Twin Oaks Valley Road. They swept me up but I was able to hold their wheel. We rode south towards Cal State San Marcos, turned onto Barham and rode to Nordahl Road.

We were only a few blocks from the hospital and Stone Brewery. We rode in with about 68 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing. The A team guys were long done, having averaged 3 mph faster than our 16.5 mph effort. Many were in Stone Brewery drinking a well deserved beer. It was a great day to ride, a great memorial ride for Udo, full of fun riders and good times. Photo credits to Hodges and Paul. The link below shows the photos from the ride. Thanks to the Ranchos for putting together this event.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/0W5bErK3a7VEEGud2

Julian Fall Ride Report-11 November 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Len, Hodges, John M, Bernie, Tony, Hermann, Jeremy, Stephane, Jodie, Bill, Peggy, Jim W, Andrew, John, Neil R and Rob

It was supposed to be cold early for the ride, but by the time we arrived for the start, it was sunny and well into the 50’s with bright sunshine. Hodges came ill prepared and had to borrow my gilet, which he hardly ever wore. I had full finger gloves, which were really never needed; it was a gorgeous day. We had a large group of 16 riders ready to explore the roads around Julian. There was a core group of long time Descenders and a number of folks that had never ridden Wynola, Banner or Engineers; they were in for a real treat. I explained the first part of the ride to the group and said we would all get back together at the Julian Pie Shop up in Julian.

Hodges led us out on the early climb up toward Julian. He had been complaining of sciatica issues on the drive to the start and quickly fell off the pace. We had a natural separation of the "A" team and the rest of the group before we got to Wynola Road. Jim W, Neil, Bernie, Jeremy, Andrew and his buddy, John, comprised the fast guys. They were off the front before the rest of us got to the Wynola turn. The remaining riders quickly regrouped at the corner and rode the 4 miles along the beautiful tree lined road around to near the top of Banner grade. Hodges led a large group down Banner while I waited for the last riders before we headed down. I enjoy the Banner descent. I nod in remembrance as I fly by the corner where I crashed hard on the Julian Fall Ride back in 2009, best fall of my life! I caught up to the end of the group and cruised down to the Banner Store where most of the riders turned. It was fun watching all the speeding riders taking all the corners; you can see pretty far ahead on some parts of the descent. Hodges and I kept going another mile or so before stopping to take a photo and begin the climb back up. I pulled Hodges for a bit before he fell off.

The day had already warmed nicely and the skies were super blue. The climb up Banner went by quickly and I finally caught up to a few folks as we entered Julian. The pie shop was busy and folks enjoyed coffee and eats while we waited for the A team guys who had ridden all the way down to Scissors Crossing. Jim W and Neil added even a few more miles by talking Wynola back round and coming into Julian from the north side of town. I got the non-A group to head out so we could stay together on the many turns on Pine Hill Road, Eagle Peak Road and Boulder Creek to get us to Engineers, Jeremy joined us as well. The A team stayed at the pie shop to finish their eats and relax bit before heading out to catch us.

Jeremy and I waited at each turn to make sure we had the group together until we got to the climb up Engineers Road. I took off and expected Jeremy to quickly close the gap. He stayed behind and kept up a relaxed pace while I tried to get to the fire station ahead of the A team. They must have eaten a whole pie because the A team guys came after most of the rest of the group got to the fire station. Lake Cuyamaca looked good, with Stonewall Peak in the background. We relaxed in the sun for a few minutes, filled the water bottles and prepared for the return ride back to the start. Some riders headed up the hill early, I took off and passed a few folks before Jim W and Neil blew by me. I stayed on Neil’s wheel until we hit the steep descent when I hit a sharp rock in the shadows and flatted my front tire. The air released quickly but I was able to slow and get to the side of the road. The rest of the riders flew by me and I waved that I was fine, just a flat. Bernie came back to help assist me, he was a much more patient and helpful tire changing partner than my most recent tire escapade on Laguna Mountain. We quickly replaced the tube and I correctly used my CO2 canister to get the front tire ready to ride. Bernie led me back down to the bottom of Engineers where we caught up with Len and Hodges. The four of us rolled together back to highway 79 where a small group of Tony, Bill & Peggy and Jodie were waiting for us. We all headed left to get back to the start; the pace was quick over the last few miles. I tried to sneak away but Bill B quickly closed the gap and pulled back the group; we all finished together.

Some of the guys were at the cars. John M had led Andrew and John back up to Julian from the Pine Hills Road turn to take the Wynola loop back around, a bit of gratuitous mileage and climbing, but that is the planned route. The rest of us were ready to call it a day. Riders got in between 50-60 miles and 5,500 to 6,500 feet for the most part. The weather was perfect and everyone said they really enjoyed the news roads; a successful group ride. The link below shows some photos from the ride.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wqTDqZtzSiSiRqrA2

Danube River Cycling Trip-13-20 September 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Serena and I flew into Prague a couple of days early so we could go visit Cesky Krumlov, an old medieval town in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, and relax in Prague, one of our favorite cities. The trip was a cycling event with Backroads and AmaWaterways combining resources. There were about 140 cyclists of all ages, mostly 50 years and up couples, on a full cruise ship run by AmaWaterways. The group met in Prague and took buses down into southern Germany where we started our riding in Tittling, Germany. The lengthy bus ride provided time for the Backroads guides to cover all the safety and procedure details of the week ahead.

After a huge Oktoberfest type German lunch, we all got ready to ride. The 140 riders were divided up into 7 groups of 20 riders, each with their own color code; we were the blue group. Most of our group, who were friends before the trip, were medical professionals from the Spokane, WA area, led by my Oral Surgeon buddy, Mark Paxton. The other blue group riders were a family of adult couples who graduated from either Notre Dame or St. Mary’s; they were a bit older than me but we had some fun chats at dinners. With such a large group of diverse ability riders, things spread out quickly as we departed in waves and rode at a fun pace. There were e-bikes and tandems, along with a few Specialized Roubaix carbon bikes that were ordered special for riders who wanted to pay even more, but most us rode the standard Titanium bike with Ultegra components provided by Backroads.

The bikes never got onto the boat. We picked them up in our group color corral and dropped them in a similar location at the end of each day of riding. The shore crew from Backroads moved the bikes down along the river in vans while we sailed along each night. Our riding was mostly along the Danube River bike trail with side routes through small towns along the way. Our first day of riding got us to Vilshofen, Germany where we saw our cruise ship for the first time. The ship was low in the water to get under the bridges and through the locks as we sailed mostly east on the Danube River. Serena and I had a very nice cabin where we could unpack once for the week and not have the constant bag drags full of wet riding clothes. The food was awesome and constantly there. I had to ride lots just to keep the weight off. AmaWaterways put out a high quality product, first class accommodations, food and service.

During the week I rode just under 275 miles, selecting the longest and hardest ride option each day. There were usually three routes planned each day with options to go less or not ride at all if you wanted. Backroads gave us maps and Garmin GPS devices with routes loaded in turn by turn; it would have been hard to get lost. The young ride guides from Backroads were awesome, they all rode bikes well, were very friendly and lots of fun. Think about it, get paid to ride your bike for a week and party with a bunch of middle-aged guests, not a bad gig. They were from all over the world and most spoke multiple languages. The guides made the week even more enjoyable. I found a handful of other riders that wanted to ride a Descenders pace each day. I usually met up with Serena for our lunches in castles or in town squares. We rode together many days, regrouping as I took the longer loops or riding hard in the morning and then riding with Serena after lunch. There were some hills during the week, but a week of riding along a river valley did not provide tons of elevation options. My seven days of riding shows about 12,000 feet of elevation gain; an easy weekend for a Monster Climb trip. It was still enjoyable and beautiful riding.

We rode through the towns of Passau, Linz, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava, Esztergom, Vac and finally finished in Budapest. This got us from Germany to Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. When not riding we toured all the towns and sights; lots of history and culture. The weather was not San Diego sunny, but we expected lots of rain and dressed accordingly. It was wet or rainy on 5 of the 7 ride days, but that did not dissuade Serena and I from riding every day. We made the most of our cycling adventure. The old and new friends were awesome, a memorable week for sure. I highly recommend cycling weeks in Europe, a cruise down the Danube is just one of the many great options to consider. The link shows the week in cycling and all the sights and towns from the week.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kvwijq1no5Mxol9F3

Lake Wohlford Ride Report-28 October 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Rick W, Tony, Len, Bob P, Q, Bill B, Bill Wood and Rob

The riders from PQ planned to meet at the top of Black Mountain Road to ride over to the mall start. It turned out to be only me and Bob P. It was cool and sunny at my house when I pedaled off about 7 am. The fog hit as I rode to meet Bob P. I did not bring my arm warmers, a mistake on my part. It was a bit cold and the fog mist formed a nice wet sheen on my hirsute arms, looked neat but did not make me any warmer. I hid behind Proulx as much as possible as the fog finally cleared as we rode across the Lake Hodges pedestrian bridge. We rolled into the mall parking lot to only see Len (TE) waiting for us; thought it might be a better turn-out.

Even the Ranchos group looked slim–only 2 riders. Apparently the Ranchos were starting up by the Lawrence Welk resort, with a number of Descenders on hand for their ride. One guy called to find out and we got a visitor, Quentin, who was in town from Santa Maria, CA. Q, as he requested to be called, was a strong rider with a nice tricked out Trek Emonda. We invited him to tag along with us. Fortunately Rick W, Bill B and Tony all showed up just after 8 am, in time to roll out to Lake Wohlford.

The group stayed mostly together up Mary Lane and over to the construction areas near the start of the climb. I got away through some of the lights and decided to hammer up Wohlford until I got caught by others. I passed a few riders not in our group early in the climb and kept up a steady pace to the top; I think the rest of the guys were just taking it easy. Rick W arrived soon after and then I saw Q roll by. Rick said Q was on a tight time constraint and he had to keep riding. Q is welcome to join us on any other visit he makes to San Diego. We all regrouped at the bathroom and convinced Bob P to keep riding over to Woods Valley instead of heading back down Wohlford.

After leaving the lake, we came up on Bill Wood, back in town from Australia. Our group of 7 riders plowed along to Woods Valley and we did a short regroup before heading to Valley Center. Rick W went out fast and no one responded. We let Bob P pull the rest of us along for the first mile. Finally Bill B went to the front and I grabbed his wheel, before sticking my nose out into the wind. Bill and I separated a bit from the other guys. I tired quickly so Bill took back over lead pull duties. We all finally got back into our paceline near the golf course, with Rick W just a bit ahead; the gap closing fast. Bill B made a final push for the light. We all dug deep to close the Rick W gap, he actually just let off the gas.

At the Valley Center Road light, Bob P, Bill B and I turned left, while Rick W, Bill W, Tony & Len headed towards Couser Canyon. Those studs did Couser and Rice Canyon before looping back towards the start. We planned a shorter ride, spinning back down into Escondido and retracing our steps back by the mall. We rode back over the pedestrian bridge and headed along West Bernardo Drive. Todd Calloway had recently nabbed my KOM on a segment called Aguamiel to Alorada. It goes right by Bill’s house so he usually stops mid-segment. Bill hit the turn hard and sped off fast, Bob and I watched him hammer up the pot hole marked road and turn onto Alorada. Bill just missed Todd’s time by a few seconds but he took over my 2nd place position, good finish to the ride for Bill. He promised to get the KOM sometime soon.

Bob and I kept spinning along through the neighborhoods, back by 4S and around on Camino del Sur until we got to his north gate light for Santaluz. Bob turned towards home while I made by way back to the bike path and home-55 miles and 4K of climbing, and that was the short route of the day. Another fun Descenders ride, a few photos are in the link below.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ye9i8uIp8NOhtvC33

Kitchen Creek Ride Report-14 October 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Neil R, Bernie, Neil B and Karl G (Ranchos), Shawn DeKalb, Len, Tony, Hodges, Ran, Bill & Peggy B, John, Andrey & Marisa, Ian and Rob

https://photos.app.goo.gl/z6hrpO7yyQUodirh1

We had a nice sized group, 16 riders, meet just off I-8 for the start of the ride. It was cool and sunny at the start. The weather forecast predicted very warm temperatures and increasing winds; an early start was needed. It was clear we would be splitting up into various riding groups. The plan was to not wait, regroup some at the Laguna Mountain Store and then decide which route to take. There were lots of route options we covered before starting the ride.

There were two Ranchos riding–Neil B and Karl G. They claimed they wanted to ride with us due to the planned Ranchos route was not to their liking. I suspect it was to scope out more fast Descenders they could recruit to their rides! Good to have them join us, always welcome. We also had Andrey & Marisa back on a group ride. They were joined by their friend Ian.

Hodges decided to show his strong form and take point after our brief descent towards Guatay along Highway 79. This did not last long as he fell back when we hit the Old Highway 80 climb. The "A+" team pedaled away from the rest of the group–Neil R, Bernie, Shawn and the two Ranchos were out in front. Len and I kept up a good pace and split from everyone else but did not try to waste precious energy going after the A+ guys. We sped down into Pine Valley, the temperatures were cooler and it was a beauty start to the ride. We kept up a brisk pace the first 16 miles, until turning onto Kitchen Creek Road. At the start of the climb Len flatted but said he was ok and I kept going.

Kitchen Creek solo was a blast. My pace suffered due to my weak legs and also because my chain kept falling into my spokes; lots of stops to get the chain back on the rear cassette. I eventually stopped trying to use my largest rear gear. I tried to see the A+ guys as they made the turn past the first gate, no joy. As I made my way to the gate, I found 3 riders relaxing on the other side. They had seen the A+ guys strung out on their climb of Kitchen Creek. I kept climbing, enjoying the views and silence, until a firetruck came up behind me. The road on this section of Kitchen Creek is narrow, not very smooth, has numerous cracks in the pavement and places with dirt/sand. I slowed and let the truck pass me; back to a pleasant climb. As I neared the second gate, I saw the firetruck still there. Just as I rounded the last corner the truck pulled away; gate locked. No worries, a quick lift of the bike over the gate, a few photos and I was off for the final climbing section. I made it up and turned onto Sunrise Highway for the final push to the store.

As I rolled to the front porch I saw a young women who looked like a hiker. She said the A+ guys left a few minutes before and left us some extra water. We sat on the porch and shared in the beauty of the morning. She was finishing up her 3 month adventure hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Mexico. When the rest of the guys rolled up in waves some time later, she left the porch heading out to tackle the last 30 miles. We all relaxed on the porch and decided we would likely want to head south once we got back to Lake Cuyamaca. John came up and he decided to reverse course back down S1 and climb out of Pine Valley to get back to the car. He said he would wait for Andrey, Marisa and Ian; they eventually joined him on the shortest route back to the car.

The rest of us sped off along the top ridges of Laguna Mountain on S1. We still had Len, Hodges, Tony, Ran, Bill & Peggy. The road was broken up and super bumpy in spots. I got a rear flat and spun over to the lookout on the side of the road to fix my tire. I yelled to the group that I was fine; Hodges came back to help me. We spent about 10 minutes doing a Laurel and Hardy routine changing my rear tube. I had a hard time getting my tire off. Hodges said my levers were too soft. He used a metal tool to finally get part of the tire over the rim of the wheel. Hodges took out the old tube while I get my new tube ready for install. He was getting impatient with my process and took over the install by getting the tire back on the rim. It had been a number of years since I flatted out on the ride, I could not remember how my CO2 adapter actually worked. As I fumbled with my screw on adapter I found out my way was wrong. I wasted the entire CO2 canister so had to get one from Mike. He did not know how his adapter worked but we finally figured it out. I got the CO2 going and blew up the tire. It blew out of the side of the tire as Mike had not put the tube and tire in correctly. We now had used up all our CO2 canisters and my spare tube, fortunately Mike had a tube. I took out the blown tube and put in the new tube, carefully checking that the tire was on the wheel and that no tube was pinching. We used Mike’s hand pump to get enough air into my rear tire, the misfits tire changing show was finally over. We headed out in pursuit of the rest of our group.

They were waiting for us at the corner of Highway 79. The winds had picked up and there were some strong gusts. We all decided to head south and skip Julian. We kept up a good pace around the lake and headed for the descents. I went fairly slow since I was worried that my rear tire was not full enough to hit the corners fast, Ran waited for me a one point. We rode back to the cars where the rest of our group was just getting off their bikes. Our route was 62 miles and 6K feet of climbing. The A+ guys had gone up to Julian and down Engineers Road, the studs rode more than 90 miles.

It was another great Kitchen Creek ride, enjoy the photos.

Old Julian Highway Ride Report-7 October 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Rick W, Jim W, Garet, Bernie, Monica T, Neil (Ranchos), Shawn DeKalb and Rob

I suspected that I had about 50 miles of decreasing ability in my legs. Unfortunately, I signed up for a 70 mile ride; something had to give. I sped out on a brisk pace a bit after 7 am to try to meet any PQ riders at the top of Black Mountain Road. I was still trying to recover from my recent head cold acquired while returning from my European adventures. I had also been off the bike for almost two weeks; it was going to be a long day for me.

Jim W saw me on my way there and we rode together to the start. Jim helped me burn a few matches as we rode rather briskly; I managed to get in the top 10 of a 1.2 mile segment in a neighborhood in RB that I did not know was there. Jim rode it for the first time and is currently sitting in 3rd place, 7 seconds behind KOM holder, Garet. I have a feeling Jim will be riding that segment on Lomica Drive again soon, watch out Garet.

We got to the start to meet up with the other riders. It was good to see Monica out, Bryan had parent responsibility for the morning, he rode a nice 70 mile Oceanside loop later on Saturday. We also had Neil, from the Ranchos, show. I think he was looking for more Descenders to recruit but he said he wanted to avoid the DeLuz ride planned by the group that day. There was also a new rider, Shawn DeKalb, who joined us. He lives in 4S and is a strong rider. Rick W informed us that Saturday was his 50th birthday. Happy Birthday again to Rick. He was coming off a treadmill stress test, so his calves were aching. The group rounded out with Bernie, Garet and me.

We rode to HVR and started climbing. Jim, Neil, Garet and Bernie pushed off the front. I burned many more matches staying ahead of Rick, Monica and Shawn. After regrouping at the school corner, Garet pedaled off on Archie Moore Road to head back home while the rest of us went to the top of HVR, crossed 67, and spun in a nice paceline on Dye Road. It was not a true paceline since I never went to the front, did my best to hold onto the last wheel. We turned off San Vicente Road near Ramona High School and rode to the start of the Old Julian Highway climb. I held the wheel of Jim, Neil and Bernie for about the first mile before blowing up. Monica passed me and then Shawn went by. Rick’s calves held him back at bit. It was starting to warm up, but the clear skies and fun climb made for a pleasant ride. My legs were about shot when I finally crested the top. We gathered near the end of OJH before starting our descent. I fell off the back early on the way down but kept the group in sight. We passed Rick & Denise B, along with Amy, on their way up OJH. They had ridden up SPP and over to OJH for a more relaxed ride. Rick B was on his EliptiGO sweeping up the ladies. Bernie came back for me in the last mile of OJH, he pulled me back to the group for the final descent into town.

I definitely needed a break by the time we got to the gas station. I thought I mentioned to Shawn to just tell the group to go as I faded fast on our way back to Dye Road. Bernie again waited for me near Highway 67. We got back to the group and I made it clear, go on ahead. I slowly spun along as the group rode out of sight. Despite the current road hazards of Highway 67, the group decided to head to Poway Grade. I made it to the corner of Archie Moore and turned toward the Mt Woodson Golf Club. A nice 20 minute visit sitting on the porch overlooking the golf tees was a nice respite, but it did not improve the waning power from my legs. I was at mile 55 and knew there were 15 more miles to go. The winds were coming off the shore as I battled my legs, speeding cars, the rumble strips and wind gusts. I made it safely to Poway Grade and coasted to Espola. The slowing pace along Twin Peaks only made the grind last longer. I got home with just over 70 miles and almost 5K of elevation, nice baptism by fire back into the Descenders. Good fun. The attached link has a few photos from our ride.

Kitchen Creek in on the schedule for next Saturday, more details to come soon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Bn50j6lFiiUgrOjt2

Rob

A Descender Down Under – Brisbane’s Mount Nebo Ride Report

by Bob Proulx

Riders: Bob P., Jason White

Once again work brought me to Australia for two weeks, but this time with the weekend in Brisbane. I had managed to find a couple of Brisbane bike shops on line that rented performance bikes and had arranged for a rental from Bike Obsession (http://bikeobsession.com.au). Since I would be arriving in Brisbane after shop hours, they had offered to deliver the bike to my hotel and would provide a helmet, water bottle, and repair kit. Unfortunately, they did not have shoes available in my size but I was able to confirm they could provide peddles to match my cleats.

I had also done some homework before heading to Oz to find local Brisbane rides and had identified Mount Nebo as being a Descender worthy ride. Not being too sure about the best route, traffic, and particularly riding on the left side of the road, I had connected with the Brisbane Cycling Club (https://www.brisbanecyclingclub.com.au). I posted a notice on the Club’s Chat room to see if I could find someone willing show a Yank around Brisbane and got a reply from Jason White, volunteering to meet me on Sunday morning and take me on the Mount Nebo ride.

The rental shop provided a Bianchi intenso equipped with a compact crank and an 11:25 cassette – not the best for climbing – but I was pretty sure from the climb profile that it would be manageable. With an adjustment of the seat height and reversing the stem to adjust the handlebar height the bike was ready – with only one worry remaining. The waiver form from the bike shop had warned me that all their bikes were set up to Australian standard – meaning front and rear brakes are reverse. Right hand is FRONT brake and left hand is rear!

Jason showed up at my hotel at 6am ready to roll. Fortunately, we didn’t have much city riding to do and the road leading to Mount Nebo passed close to my hotel. In 1-2 miles we were on the edge of the city and by mile five were into the climb. Jason had explained that the climb was many ups and downs, not a steady gradient. A fair number of 10%+ for 100 to 400 yards and some sections of 5-7% for longer, but mostly not bad. We had clear skies and a great temperature for riding. The road to Mount Nebo goes through a beautifully forested area of the D’Aguilar National Park so we didn’t see too many cars on an early Sunday morning but there was one section with Bellbirds. One of the most amazing bird calls I have ever heard. A very loud single ping, just like the ringing of a loud bell.

We reached the normal turn around point at the local post office. Continuing further would have made a bigger loop around to Mount Glorious (perhaps another time). We stopped at Jollys Lookout on the way back for a quick view of the valley below (see pics) and then continued the “descent”. While it was, indeed, mostly downhill on the way back, there were enough mini climbs retracing our steps to make it a bit of work.

We stopped for coffee close to my hotel and enjoyed a brief chat as the local church bells rang. I didn’t feel the need to heed their calling since I had just renewed my spirit with a ride in the great outdoors. Jason had a few kilometers to get home and I posted a 37mile ride with 4500ft of climbing. A great day in the saddle down under.

Coastal Cruise Ride Report-09 September 2017

by Bernie Bogard

Riders: Bob R, Bernie, Rick B, Rick W, Andrew, Jim W and Rob

The coast beckoned as Rob V, Rick W, Rick B, Bob Raibert, Jim Wilkinson, Andrew W, and Bernie met at 56 bike path. Rick B put a tube in his tubeless tire and we were off. Rob V and Bob just put in cameo appearances and were gone before Rick W began to edge up the pace on 101. Jim W stepped it up when Rick needed a break. Rick B was hanging by a thread with the frantic pace, abandoned at La Costa (just kidding). Down to Jim, Rick W, Andrew and Bernie, the sprint at Oceanside had Jim holding off all even after leading us out to the sprint. Rick W was not to be cajoled to doing Sleeping Indian and he and Andrew headed down the coast while Jim and Bernie went inland paced by Jim, meeting up with Bill and Peggy Braamse, back from summering in Michigan where Peggy won a big race and their 5 year old grandson stayed for an extra week without his parents around. We found our way to 395 and headed south. Nice temps and company…U shoulda been there!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bQe1Dx0yWSWauXsn1

Five Faces of Soledad Ride Report-26 August 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Claus, John M, Tony, Peter, Bob P, Guido, Garet, Jim W, Bob Raibert, Hodges, Rob, Len and Jeff, a Ranchos rider who has ridden with us in the past

I was late to the 8 am start so the group was already descending from Black Mountain Road and the bike path. The group was larger than 10 riders and we got a cameo visit from Bob Raibert. It was good to see Bob R, hopefully he will be able to ride more frequently. We cruised briskly along the 56 bike path to the coast. It was still nice and fairly cool with a think layer of clouds. Garet and Jim W hammered up the outside of Torrey Pines, we picked up Len on the climb. Everyone regrouped at the top except Garet, he had to get home so he sped back towards Poway. Bob Raibert turned around after a quick break at the TP golf course. The rest of us rode towards La Jolla.

After a screaming descent into La Jolla Shores, we lost Bob P, Peter and Guido as they turned up Calle del Oro. We were still a good sized group when we hit the first climb up Hillside to the cross. Jim W and I put in a good push on the first climb, then everyone regrouped at top. The views were limited due to lots of clouds and fog, but at least it was not too hot. We headed down and then climbed up Country Club Drive, skipping our usual photo spot due to the fog. Jeff flatted at the top of the second climb and could not get his tire back in operational order. He abandoned and called his wife for a car rescue.

The third climb was enough for Tony as he was feeling the effects of some recent treatments. He is riding strong and ready for his trip to cycle in Europe. Len is ready for his trip too. We briefly saw Marci near the top before we headed down Soledad Mountain Road for the forth climb. My left calf started to tighten on the third climb and I blew up trying to get up Pacifica. I decided to call it quits when I got back to the top. The remaining 5 riders went down to tackle Via Valverde while I pootled my way up through UCSD and then climbed Sorrento Valley to Black Mountain and home. 57 miles and 5,500 of climbing, I was done.

Claus notched up another century ride and the guys that did the Five Faces–Claus, Jim W, Hodges, John and Len–all got in great mileage and elevation. Tony had ridden from home so he still rode almost 75 miles in the heat. Have fun in Europe Tony and Len, I am coming soon. Below are a few photos from the ride, before we really started climbing.

https://goo.gl/photos/feFVSrJdhh9bSTCE8

HVR & OJH Ride Report-12 August 2017

by Rob Verfurth

Riders: Farkas, Tony, John, Eric R, Jim W, Garet, Rick W, Bob P, Sheehan, Rob, Bill B, Jeff Callahan, Neil R and his friend, Ben

I rode over from PQ and met Jim W at the top of Black Mountain Road. Proulx, Hodges and Jeff Callahan all said they would join us there as well. We waited a few minutes and then pedaled toward 4S. We picked up Eric R on his way to the start. We had ten riders head out just after 8 am, Hodges was apparently very late and he never found us. Jeff Callahan was also late but he caught up to the group along the bottom section of HVR. We all hit the climb and spread out along the road. Farkas and Jim W hammered up HVR. It was a brisk pace and I burned a few matches getting to Archie Moore. Bill B was back in town from his Michigan travels and we found him out on the climb ahead of us. At the corner of Archie Moore we found Neil R and his friend, Ben, out for a fast paced ride. They rode off while we waited for the rest of the group to join us.

Bob P and Jeff C stopped at Bandy and turned back around to descend HVR and loop back to PQ. Sheehan stopped to chat with them so he was well behind. Farkas and Garet had to get home so they rode towards 67 via Archie Moore and headed back home. John M eventually rode by and he said he was last. We thought Sheehan must have turned at Bandy too. He made it to the top well after we left. Dave decided to ride Mussey and get a PR on the ascent solo. The pace along the top section of HVR was too much for me, I got split off the back with Tony. We rode through the light at 67 and stopped for some water at the fire station where the others were as well. The pace quicken more along Dye Road with Jim W, Eric and Rick W out front and Bill, Tony and me farther behind; John was off the back.

It got worse as we started the climb up Old Julian Highway. The three faster riders sped ahead while Tony, Bill and I had a nice relaxing climb; John was off the back. We got to the top section when the guys were heading back towards us. We all did a u-turn and started our descent. John turned as we blew by him. Bill and I could not hold the pace of the descent but we kept up a good rotation back into Ramona. We all regrouped at the gas station.

Eric R had to get home, so he left us early. The remaining 6 riders spun out of Ramona and we retraced our route along Dye Road. Tony and Bill continued straight to descend HVR. Jim and Rick turned left onto highway 67, I followed; John was off the back. I immediately fell off the pace of the two much better riders. I pootled along slowly until I got to Archie Moore Road. I decided to take a rest at the Mount Woodson Golf Course. I took a nice relaxing break on the porch of the clubhouse while watching golfer hack a few shots from the tee. Cycling is much less frustrating than golf.

When I finally got up enough energy to head back to my bike, I was still feeling the pains from an early push up HVR and limited time on the bike. I pootled home via Poway Grade and Twin Peaks. I did not see any of the other riders. I assume everyone got home, I finished with 70 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing; too much for me. It was a fun ride and I took a few photos as well, including one from the golf course.

https://goo.gl/photos/XK2NHJvqA3jQ77V36