Congratulations to Les Medlin for completing the Randonneurs USA "R-12" challenge today. Earning the  R-12 requires riding a 200km (or longer) route, every month, for 12 consecutive months, and lots can go wrong on the road to R-12.
 
Les found attainment of the goal to be more difficult than expected when he crashed hard and broke his collarbone at mile 111 of the Davis Double Century in May. At that point he already had completed 11 of the 12 rides required and the double century was just a little extra work to earn a 2012 "California Triple Crown".
 
A less committed  rider might have sagged home, but he wouldn't let a little thing like a broken collarbone stop him from finishing the Davis Double Century. And of course, he did the hard work needed to recover in time to turn in a stylish June 200km ride to nail down the R-12.
 
Way To Go Les!
 
Cheers,
Steve

No June Gloom today!  Nothin' but sunshine for our intrepid crew: David, Bob, Mary Ann, and me, as we rode the Del Mar Breeze route. 
 
The early going was pleasant as we went over Black Mountain and headed to the 56 bikepath where we made a beeline for the coast. We could see the marine layer from a distance and hoped that it was offshore today. As it turned out: it was; and we enjoyed coastal sunshine during our coffee stop at Starbucks in Del mar.
 
The ride back took us past the Del Mar Fairgrounds - lots of traffic there, although most of it was going in the opposite direction to us. We were soon past that distraction and heading up quiet San Dieguito Road. The reliable onshore tailwind was with us today and helped ease the climbing back home. 
 
Next week, it is once again time for the...
ACHD Ride
Date: Tuesday July 3, 2012
Time: 8:30am
Anything Can Happen Day. Group choice for route.
Wear your Ride White and Blue kit!
  
Cheers,
Steve

Some pix from my partial riding of the Kitchen Creek 200.
 
It is a 123 mile route, but I was happy to end the day with 87 miles. By the time I reached the top of Mount Laguna (about 76 miles and 7600') I was too tempted by the long, easy, glide back to the start in Pine Valley.
  
Cheers,
Steve

Snapped a few shots before the start of RAAM 2012.
 
It was cloudy and cool with a steady onshore breeze blowing.
 
At least the riders would have a tailwind for the start of their epic ride!
 

Started out as three riders today: Bob, Liz (Yea! Welcome Back!), and me.  We were only a little way down Pomerado for the Old Milk Run when a solo rider named Larry joined up with us. He happened to be on his way to Highland Valley and Bandy Canyon, so we let him team up with us. (And we made numerous references to VVVelo.com as The Place to get connected.)
 
Conditions were perfect today, and the Highland Valley climb and Bandy Canyon descent were enjoyable as always. We then introduced Larry to both the current state of Ysabel Creek Road - Dirt! - and the Old Milky Way - Cows! - as an alternative to Hwy 78. As a native Michigander he found the fragrance of the cows on Bandini Mountain to be nostalgic. For good measure, we also showed him Old San Pasqual Road as a way to extend the Hwy 78 alternative. 
  
After parting company with Larry at Summit Road, we continued our route through the rollers on Skyline and Idaho roads in Escondido. Finished up by dropping down into town for some traffic, and... Tacos at Nayeli's!   
 
Next week, the classic...