This report will be a brief one.  Straight off: my apologies for the ride schedule page that indicated an 8AM start time... Oh, the perils of reusing HTML!!
 
The turnout today was a very nice half-dozen: Rick, Jerry, Les, Beth and Bob, and me.  The ride out to the coast was fortunately cool and proceeded quickly enough, despite an abundance of traffic coming out of Escondido.  A broken cleat meant a stop at Nytro to purchase a replacement, so that served as our 'coffee stop' today... thanks for the Gummi Bears, Jerry.  I think I need
to invent a Gummi with caffeine!
 
Next week we do the...
  
ACHD Ride
Date: Tuesday September 6, 2011
Time: 7:30am
The 'Anything Can Happen Day' Ride... group choice for route and mileage... (but, I'm working on a route to visit: Juice-A-Rama.)
 
Cheers,
Steve

Had a nice threesome rolling out of VV Park this morning: Rick, Mary Ann, and me. Rick was using his psychic powers and predicted that Beth and Bob would meet us en-route to Jesmond Dene, and indeed they did, just south of Lake Hodges.
  
The psychic weather prediction for today said to expect above normal temps and the cloud cover did dissipate quickly. No surprise then that there were just a few wisps clinging to Bernardo Mountain as we crossed over the lake into Escondido. With Big Heat in the offing, it was nice that we were able to complete this ride in what must be record time: back to VVV park by 10:30. And that included a divine break at the wickedly good Peterson's Doughnut Corner. My chocolate-covered buttermilk bar was about the size of a bread loaf. Even I couldn't finish it all!
 
Next week we go long to get back to the seashore...
 
Coast Tour
Date: Tuesday August 30, 2011
Time: 7:30am
Out to Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Del Mar for some easy riding on the Coast Highway.
 
Cheers,
Steve
 
PS: Weekly VVV Time Trial... Wednesday at 8:30AM.  There will be a 20 mile-ish recovery ride at 9:15 leaving from the TT start location. 
 

A change to the ridership roster today as Beth and Bob returned from the White Mountains of New Hampshire to resume living
the SoCal dream; rounding out the crew were: Rick, Jerry, and me.
 
Lots of overcast sky to keep things cool all the way out to the coast today, and the overall downhill nature of the terrain meant a fairly quick arrival at Torrey Pines/Del Mar. We skipped the coffee stop today in deference to our hammerhead contingent!
 
There was some nice sunshine and a bit of tailwind on the return trip which helped keep the overall speed up.  When I got home and checked my average, it was 15.5/mph... and that's for someone who was at or near the back on the hills today.  Speaking of those hills: kudos to Jerry... he gave us lessons in how to fly up them.
 
Next week's ride is E-Z...
 
Jesmond Dene Jaunt
Date: Tuesday August 23, 2011
Time: 7:30am
A mostly flat route through Escondido and out to Jesmond Dene
 
Weekly VVV Time Trial news... Wednesday, at 8:30AM... there will be a 20 mile-ish recovery ride at 9:15 leaving from the TT start
location.
 
Cheers,
Steve

The core trio again made it out to VV Park for the today's ride to Valley Center: Liz, Mary Ann, and me.  We had some nice overcast clouds to keep it cool for the early riding, and it stayed that way until we got up the big climb to Valley Center.  After that it was all blue skies, spinning along Woods Valley Road and over to the Lake Wohlford Cafe.  Just a perfect day for rolling along through the oaks, hills, and by the lake, with the usual low-traffic dropping to zero at times (were they all home checking latest the stock market plunge/rise?)
 
The coffee stop at the cafe was deeply satisfying, as only a grilled sourdough with bacon, egg, and cheese can be.  To think that we got to follow that up with the thrilling descent of Lake Wohlford Road... it should be a crime to have that much fun.  We had plenty of time left over today for a side trip to Queen Calafia's Magical Circle where we visited the sculpture garden, and on the way out did some dirt riding on our skinny tires!
 
Next week's ride...
 
Del Mar Breeze
Date: Tuesday August 16, 2011
Time: 7:30am
An easy ride to the ocean for some cool breezes!
 
Final note: the VVV Time Trial is on Wednesday at 8:30AM.  There will be a 20 mile-ish recovery ride at 9:15 leaving from the TT start location.
 
Cheers,
Steve

Ridership was a little thin this week: just Liz, Mary Ann, and me at the start.  We decided to go with an E-Z route, and the flattest ride we could think of was to go north over Lake Hodges and continue on through town on Centre City Parkway.  We were enjoying the low-effort cycling when a call from Jerry arrived: seems that he missed the Tuesday ride time change and was at VV Park wondering where everyone was.  No worries, we just slowed down even more and eventually he powered his way to Jesmond Dene Road where we all met up.  And just in time, too... all that social pace, low-elevation riding had us prepped for a stop at the Delight Of France in Escondido. Judging by the amount of time we spent there, I'd say it was enjoyed by all. 
 
Next week's ride is a another good one...
 
Lake Wohlford & Woods Valley
Date: Tuesday August 9, 2011
Time: 7:30am
Scenic riding with plenty of hills!
 
A final note about the VVV Time Trial: this week it will be on Wednesday instead of the usual Thursday.  Same time, 8:30AM. 
There will also be a 20 mile-ish recovery ride at 9:30 leaving from the TT start location.
 
Cheers,
Steve