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 Post subject: TR - Arch ride preview
PostPosted: Mon Mar 26, 2018 11:44 pm 
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For the second year in a row I won't be riding the official arch ride as it conflicted with some other plans. I was able to jump in with a few volunteers who set out to pre-ride the course on Saturday.

Leaving San Elijo Hills in San Marcos
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Up and over La Costa
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Had to stop pretty soon into the ride and insert some tire bacon into a puncture in Andys tire
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Rolling toward Elfin Forest, it was obvious that spring is here
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Some extra credit around Equine Incline at Elfin
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Dropping down to Lake Hodges we came across this new-ish wood sculpture of Hodgee
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After a snack break at the lemon twist fruit stand in Del Dios Gorge, we carried on through San Deguito River Park.
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Crosby switchbacks are up next
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Then into Lusardi Canyon where we spotted the first poppies of the season
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We stopped at Black Mountain for a break after a stout climb out of the canyon. Then it was on to Doug Hill and the traverse to McGonigle Canyon
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The Arch Ridge ends at Green Flash brewing, but we had to ride the Tunnels and Penasquitos Canyon to get there.

I was feeling good and had lots of time left so I decided to split off from the group and add some extra credit of my own by riding home through Tri-Canyons rather than finish at Green Flash.

My route would take me up to UTC the back way rather than up to Mira Mesa.
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I dropped into Rose Canyon and followed the trail around into San Clemente Canyon. Things were nice and green there too
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Then it was up and over Clairemont Mesa and into Tecolote Canyon. We used to have to poach this crossing from the golf course but it is an official trail connection now.
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It was getting on to 6:30 as I exited Tecolote. I still had a few miles of bike path to go. It was a pretty awesome view crossing the bridge over to OB
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I continued on the OB bike path to Dog beach and got there just as the sun was starting to go down
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I would usually take shoes off and step into the surf to finish the ride but the waves were a bit big for that
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Settled for watching the sun go down from the jetty instead. Pedalled home before dark.
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Great day out. Nothing better than hitting about 10 different trail systems in one ride!

With extra credit it came out to 62mi and 6,800ft climbing. I've been wanting to do this extra credit version for a long time so I was stoked to be able to pull it off. Awesome being able to do a ride like this on mostly dirt out your back door!


Last edited by evdog on Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 1:15 am 
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DAMN!

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 8:26 am 
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Favorite Trails: La Costa, PQ, Daley, Sycamore
Wow nice work! So it starts in San Elijo this year?


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 1:16 pm 
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Now I'm thinking I should ride home after the official ride.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:25 pm 
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Ride to the start as well!


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:45 pm 
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You are a beast

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 27, 2018 8:29 pm 
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This is just his leg stretcher for the AZT300 :shock:

As always, nice TR evdog

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PostPosted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 9:13 pm 
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Gonna tag this onto last year's TR

A few of us pre-rode the 2019 Archipelago course a couple weeks ago. A few changes mostly back to routing used a few years ago which I like better. Was looking forward to this for all the greenery and blooms.


At the top of La Costa looking south. The peak at center is where we'll be in a few hours time, which is at about mile 25 or so.

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And they're off

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Got into some nice flowers right away. Was told they were a lot better on the west facing slope

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First of a few water crossings

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No keeping your feet dry on this one

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A few bits of nice singletrack were added

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Rest stop

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Hitting Elfin forest and its steep techy climbing just as temps warmed up

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After a water fill it was down to Lake Hodges. So green down there....

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A few people bailed just beyond the Hodges dam. We stopped for snacks and drinks then continued on to the Crosby switchbacks

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No way this is drying up soon

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New detour around some private property

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Not many huge patches of poppies but there were a few nice ones

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Quick water break at Black Mountain and then we continued on. Saw this guy just above the Tunnels. A solid 4 footer. Was pretty chill, still waking up I guess

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climbing out of Tunnel 4

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Trying out some new bikepacking gear meant no pack was needed today.

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Heading down the Shits. Someone rebuilt these switchbacks recently. I give it about a month til people pull the debris off and start straight-lining them again. Strava!!!

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Not sure if it was damaged by storms but this suspension bridge was swaying a lot more than it used to

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The rest of the group climbed up to the ride's end at Green Flash brewing. I decided to ride home again, another 20mi

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Didn't quite make it to the beach for sunset, but I was close enough.

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Stats 62mi, +6,400/-7,000

Great day on the bike!


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:48 am 
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Anyone else riding this year?

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:22 pm 
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Yes

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:06 am 
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Anyone else riding this year?


Eventually....

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:40 pm 
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Yesterday was the official Arch ride. Since I did the pre-ride a few weeks ago I had volunteered to sweep a section, and was assigned Black Mountain to PQ. Most sweeps ride the full course and then sweep their section which can be painful as you either have to ride slow or end up waiting for quite a while at an aid station for the previous section sweeps to show up.

Rather than do that I figured I'd do my own ride from home to meet my sweep team Black Mtn, pick up the course and sweep our section, and then ride home. I've done similar rides before and it comes out to 65-70 miles which is a really good day of riding. Set my alarm for 5am but the beers I had the night before said no way to that. I ended up rolling out at 7am which would be a bit tight getting to Black Mtn by our agreed time of 2:30. Figured see how it goes, I can always cut out some dirt and ride pavement to speed things up.

I live in Ocean Beach so I take the OB bike path out to Mission Valley. Its an urban path roughly following the San Diego river, which is more of a slough along here

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Lots of flowers out still. Some of the urban ones are more interesting than the wild ones

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Heading up towards Mission Trails Park I do some early morning bushwacking through sweet head-high mustard. Soaked!

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Into Mission Trails proper and starting to dry out

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Couldn't bear to spoil this scene by putting a bike in it

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Flower close-up

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Next I headed into Fanita Ranch where I did the most sustained climbing I'd do all day

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Poppies are still out

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Taking Slaughterhouse ridgeline north. That is Iron Mountain and Mt Woodson in the distance

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I crossed into Sycamore Canyon preserve and then linked over to the Poway trails

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The upper part of Poway trails follows an old rutted dirt road for a couple miles, almost singletrack and with some bridges needed over larger ruts

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Looking west. Black Mountain is that distant hill on the right side. My route took me off a direct path from it so it hadn't gotten any closer in the last 15 miles of riding

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After dropping down into Poway I crossed over to Beeler Canyon and followed that out, before climbing up to Costco. Best flowers of the day lined the road next to Costco. I had planned to stop in there for a hotdog and drink but was running a bit behind. Then I got a call saying my sweep ready to roll out in 5 minutes. This was at 1pm, 90min ahead of schedule. Apparently all the slow riders did the new half Arch version this year and everyone riding the full route was fast and/or had their shit together. I was still about 90 mins away by bike. Oops. They'll manage without me. Would try to meet up with them at the next aid station.

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I rode some trails through Poway and hopped on the road for a while. I'd pick up the trail again where it crosses under I-15 and heads into PQ. Bridge out and apparently people don't like the sign?

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The bridge had been here...

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The bridge that was wired in place was just slightly dislodged. The missing bridge is up on high ground in behind. Not sure how they're gonna get it back in place, its a wide heavy one.

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I pedaled my way through PQ and climbed up the Powerlines after letting the sweep team know I was headed their way. They replied that all the riders were through, aid station was packing up, and they were rolling out. I picked up the pace to try and catch them, but everyone was gone when I got to the aid station location. So I blazed through to try and catch them.

But never did. WTF? I know they're not that fast, and would have to follow behind any riders still on course. Unless they are taking no prisoners this year and shooting stragglers.

Finally caught up to Big Clyde and a few other riders on the climb up Lopez. That final climb is not super long but is pretty steep and painful after a bunch of miles. I was at mile 60 as I rolled into Green Flash. Turns out the sweepers and final riders did the Appendix trail loop next to the aid station which I skipped as I rolled through trying to catch them, thinking they had continued on the route. Makes sense why I didn't catch them given they were behind me! They rolled in to GF maybe 15 mins later.

A few beers at Green Flash hit the spot, and my knee which had been throbbing on that final climb had stopped hurting. Visited with friends for a couple hours but still had to ride home so figured I should get going.


Sunset from the trail, about to drop back down Lopez

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The rest of the route is one I often take when I ride home from work. Had a close run in with a coyote on this climb

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Did my best not to fall in here. Made it!

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Rode the Tri canyons circuit from Rose Canyon around to San Clemente Canyon, and then up and over the mesa and down into Tecolote Canyon. It's cool being able to ride so much dirt right in town.

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A few miles return on the OB bike path to the beach, and then a quick pedal back to my place put me at just over 85 miles on the day. Grabbed a beer and straight into the shower! Perfect day out on the bike.

No alarm clock for me today.... Surprisingly feel pretty good though.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:49 pm 
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Marching to the beat of a different drum. Nice!

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 1:50 pm 
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That is just over the top! Makes me feel like a big pansy.

:thumbsup:

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:06 pm 
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There's a lot to like about that post, especially beer in a shower!

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