I will be visiting family in San Diego one of the next few weekends, and I am looking for a Saturday group ride to do. I have heard about the Swami’s ride, and the SDBC ride. I will be staying in Rancho Bernardo, and will probably drive to the start.
I am a decent cyclist, and I regularly ride with roadies on some pretty challenging rides here in AZ. I have heard that the Swami’s ride is a good, tough ride - is it large enough that I can expect riders of various abilities - so when I drop from the front, there will be people to follow who know the route? Or is all pro roadies and triathletes? I just don’t want to wind up lost somewhere between Escondido and the coast.
What about the SDBC ride? Which ride does anyone recommend? Does the local road racing calendar (socalcylcling.com) effect how large these groups are? Or should I blow off the groups and just climb Palomar, which I have also heard is awesome?
Any help would be appreciated - including start times and locations. Thanks!
I’ve done SDBC from time to time over the years (not for two years, though). It leaves from the Costa Verde shopping center on Genessee one block south of La Jolla Village Drive; which is 1 mile east on La Jolla Village Drive from the 5 exit. They meet in the parking lot behind Trophy’s restaurant.
The 8 am departure group will be 50-60 strong, with really fast folks off the front, and the MOP gang bringing up the rear. A great loop, about 40 miles through rolling terrain. They go inland and then end up on the coast highway in Encinitas and come back down to La Jolla. It’s a typical roadie ride, with hard bursts up the short climbs, and one nice stretch of fast pacelining.
Swamis ride is a good workout. Depending on the race schedule on the particular Saturday it can be a full on race. Guys like Jurgen Zack, Stadler, Luke Bell, Macca. Plus the local pro roadies, Jacob Erker, Ben Brooks, etc. the group goes real hard up the rises usually splitting things up. Its pretty easy to hang in the front group if you stay near the front on the hills. Guys get spit out the back and let gaps open so if you ride near the back you will always be sprinting around people to get back on. The bunch regroups at a small church in Escondido and then you can decide to go long up around Lake Wolford (90+ miles total) or short back to the coast(40-50 miles total)
I used to do the Swami’s ride on a regular basis. Make no mistake about it, if you ride at the front with this group, it is a very hard ride. I finally decided it was too hard for me. I could ride and stay with the back of the lead pack, but it meant I was redlining the whole way. I found that it was counterproductive for me. I like to go hard, but there is a point where something is too hard and not worth it. It can also be a very dangerous ride. I have seen some very nasty wrecks on this ride. If you have a problem, mechanical or otherwise, don’t expect anyone to stop in the group to help you. Someone might, but don’t count on it. If it were me, my choice would be to ride Palomar. The first trip I ever made out here to visit for a couple of days, that was the first thing I did, an abreviated Lake Henshaw loop that included part of Palomar.
If it were me, my choice would be to ride Palomar. The first trip I ever made out here to visit for a couple of days, that was the first thing I did, an abreviated Lake Henshaw loop that included part of Palomar.
Thanks, Mike. What would be the start/stop point for such a loop? Or could I just ride from Rancho Bernardo?
It would add about 50 miles (25 each way) to ride from Rancho Bernardo. I personally wouldn’t do it because I don’t like the shoulder/bike lane sitch though I know a lot of people don’t mind it. It is especially bad now because they are doing construction on Valley Pkwy and they have little or no shoulder/bikelane between the traffic and the k-rails. Locals may know another route but as far as I know that makes Lake Wohlford the only option. If I were you, I would drive to the bottom store, park and just do the climb itself.
actually the ride wouldn’t be that bad starting and finishing in Rancho Bernardo. Depending on which side of the interstate you are on. If you are east of the 15, get to Pomerado and go north to highland Valley Road. West of the 15, take West Bernardo Drive north, and once it crosses over the 15 it turns into Pomeraado. Then take the turn onto Highland Valley Road and follow this all the way to Hwy. 67 and then into Ramona. From there you pick up the normal Henshaw route. If you need that, e-mail me (tripower2000 at msn.com) and I can give you a blow by blow on the turns and distances. The added treat about going this way is that there are some steep climbs going up Highland Valley, and there is very low traffic volumne on that road. I would guesstimate the ride in total from RB would be about 90 - 100 miles. I know from Kit Carson Park in Escondido the loop is 81 miles.
The first time I was out here, about 8 years ago, I knew of the loop and had a map, but had no idea of where to start so I started in Ramona and went east. Was having a great time, lots of good climbs etc. After going down the Lake Wohlford climb into Escondido I thought I was doing great and started hammering through San Pasqual thinking it was flat the rest of the way and knowing there wasn’t many miles left. What I didn’t know at the time was that the way I did the course, I had to finish with a 5 mile climb back up to Ramona. Nice surprise at the end of an 80 mile ride.