I'm going to need more fingers to count the Tuesday Riders: we had a record-breaking ten cyclists today. I'll forgo the full roll call and simply give a nod to Judith from La Mesa and Mike from Ramona: Welcome Aboard, folks.
 
Our route was the oh-so-popular Del Dios Loop, which we seemed to finish in rather quick fashion despite two flats. I guess everyone had their climbing legs today. Or maybe it was just the excellent fall riding weather. In any case, we were soon enough in Escondido and re-fueling at Peterson's Doughnut Shop. Hey, I would have steered us to a health food store for dried tofu crackers and spirulina tea, but it's hard to find parking for ten bikes. 

Next Tuesday we will start at 8:30AM (it's getting colder), and once again it's time for group choice of route...
ACHD Ride
Date: Tuesday November 6, 2012
Time: 8:30AM
Anything Can Happen Day. Group choice for route... Usually easy??

This Saturday's ride will also start at 8:30 (I think I said something different out on the road today.)  We can set up carpools to leave from the RB/Poway area about 7:00AM, which probably means we should shoot for meeting at 6:30AM. Look for an email to discuss carpools... 
 
Borrego Five-O
Date: Saturday November 3,  2012
Clip-in Time: 8:30AM
Start/Finish: Borrego Springs (Christmas Circle)
Distance: 50 miles
Elev. Gain: 4,600'
 
Cheers,
Steve

Had the hard-core group, undeterred by the we-wanna-rain-on-you clouds, out for today's ride to Del Dios & Elfin Forest. And since those clouds didn't actually douse us, it turned out to be excellent cycling weather for Ed, Mary Ann, Robert, and me. As a photographic bonus, the clouds provided some drama to the ride pix.

It was an interesting day for the Honey Springs Brevet. The ride started and ended with drizzly/wet conditions along the coast , but featured some clear skies inland.  At least it wasn't too hot or too windy for the backcountry portion of the ride!
  
Kudos to the randonneurs who took on the challenge of riding 140 miles with 9,000' of climbing, including VVV riders David Teixeira and Ed Shepherd.
  
Cheers,
Steve

Despite a couple of late arrivals, the main body of the group got started on time today, and it was an impressive turnout, too.  The seven riders leaving Valle Verde Park (Jeanette, Liz, Mary Ann, Pam, Bob, David, and Ed) were met on the route by Jerry and me, for a record-tying gruppo of nine.
 
The route featured Woods Valley & Lake Wohlford, which we did as a climb up Valley Center Road, then along Woods Valley and Lake Wohlford, with the twisty descent down from the lake to polish things off.
 
Oh, and of course there was the mandatory stop at the Lake Wohlford Cafe for revitalizing coffee and... Well, coffee and whatever - options ranged from super healthy Poached Egg on spinach, or oatmeal,  to the always deelish Fried Egg sandwich with cheese and bacon, or the Texas Size Cinnamon Bun!
 
Next week we visit...
Del Dios & Elfin Forest
Date: Tuesday October 23, 2012
Time: 8:00am
We'll ride the loop clockwise: Del Dios descent and Elfin Forest inbound to Escondido. (Yes, coffee stop in Escondido.)
 
Lastly, here's advance notice for an upcoming Extra Credit ride, likely date is Saturday, November 3rd. The route: Borrego Five-O. More details later!
  
Cheers,
Steve

Kind of a longer effort for a Tuesday ride as we made our semi-annual ride to Little Italy. As always, this route provides plenty of opportunity to practice those urban riding skills. But all that effort pays off with the sweet rewards offered by Cafe Zucchero's pasticeria. 

Thanks to our early start time we managed to avoid most of the heat today, and it was easy going out of Rancho Bernardo as we started on the Del Dios Loop route. But... since today was an ACHD ride, we naturally decided to modify the course - this time cutting off a few miles for the pleasure of going up the Zumaque Climb into Rancho Santa Fe. I think everyone was happy to get that one done and enjoy the zip down the Del Dios highway. That left the big climb up to the dam between us and Escondido Joe's. Well, that and a spin along the Escondido river bike path, which featured a police car rolling along it.  Anyway, no worries on Del Dios: it just added to our appreciation of the cafe's iced drinks and the air-conditioned comfort! 
  
Next week we belatedly do a Columbus Day ride to...
Little Italy
Date: Tuesday October 9, 2012
Time: 8:00am
Urban riding: A special (almost) Columbus Day visit to Cafe Zuchero!
 
Cheers,
Steve