After your first day of cycling, one dream is inevitable. A memory of motion lingers in the muscles of your legs, and round and round they seem to go. You ride through Dreamland on wonderful dream bicycles that change and grow. -- H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance
RECYCLERS WEEKLY BULLETIN:
October 5, 2006
This week's blurb (and it's long, but the pictures are great)
GENERAL INFO and Grins: Folks, as we've been talking a bit about the rich history of the Recyclers Bicycle Club (don't forget, Bob Groff's brief history of the "Recyclers" is on our web page http://www.sdrecyclers.org/history), Marty and I thought you might be interested in some of the names that were submitted for consideration before the name, "RECYCLERS", was chosen. So here they are, in no particular order: 1) Biking Jocks, 2) Not "over the hill" Bikers, 3) The Freewheelers, 4) "X" Jocks, 5) Over 55 and Biking, 6) 2 Wheels and a Heart, 7) Recyclers, 8) Pacemakers, 9) Old Sprockets, 10) Broken Sprockets, 11) Rusty Sprockets, 12) S.O.B.'s (San Diego's Old Bikers), 13) Sandy Ego's Cycle Club, 14) Old Farts Cycling Club, 15) Gray Panters, 16) Rusty Pedalers, 17) Lean Mean Sr. Machines (Well, some of us anyway), 18) Sr. Sprocketmen, 19) Sexy Sixty Sr. Cyclists, 20) Wayward Riders, 21) Pelicans, 22) Team Le Tour San Diego, 23) Down the Hill Gang, 24) Bicilete Amigos. These were the names submitted and voted on. The rest (as they say) is history!!!
More new news: As I'm sure many of you have noticed we've had some new faces join us recently. The Zieglers, for one (or should I say two), have been riding with us for the last couple of months. I've added Mike and Carol to our email list, so they now will be subjected to all of our mailings. Sorry Mike and Carol, it's the price you pay to ride with us (ha ha). They both know the city quite well, and Mike recently led us on a nice variant of our "Cabrillo Monument Ride", by leading us down Sunset Cliff's Blvd and over to Catalina, rather than our more traveled route of Voltaire to Catalina (I really enjoyed the new route, albeit, a bit steeper than what we've been doing, much more scenic). Also, friends of the Zieglers, Diana and Lowell Lindsay, have ridden with us and would like to participate in more rides, so they've been added to the email list as well. I haven't spoken with them much, but I get the sense that they both ride a lot. In any case, welcome aboard Diana and Lowell.
LAST WEEK: This last week we did the Mission Trails Visitors' Center to El Monte Park Ride. It was fairly well attended (11 of us). Yours truly thought it was a very enjoyable ride (and work out...a few ascents, as Marty calls them). The day started out a bit foggy and chilly, but warmed nicely as the morning went on. By the time we got to El Monte park, where I found out Marty lost his father for an evening many years ago (he'll have to tell you, but search lights were involved), the day was bright and beautiful. That wasn't the only history we learned on Sunday. The route back from the park actually took us by the house that Dave Nunez was "hatched" (his words!) in (see picture below). I believe the city was either Lakeside or Santee.
Dave Nunez's childhood home.
As the ride continued on, the typical Recycler verbal exchanges were flying, and all was well. The trip, of course, was made especially nice in that we descended upon Bob Groff (at his home) for our coffee and doughnut stop (doughnuts courtesy of Marty and his wife, coffee courtesy of Groff). There we had a very nice visit (thanks so much Bob!), presented Greta with a few going away/good luck trinkets for her ride in Melbourne and then headed merrily on our way (I was tired!!!). Below are some pictures taken at the start, and along the way (Pictures courtesy of Jeff and Greta).
Ready to Ride
On the road to El Monte Park
El Monte Park
Bob Groff's House
Greta
Sat. 10/7: Yes, Saturday! The San Diego Bay ride from the County Administration Building to Coronado, take the ferry across the Bay then return. Anyone that read Monday's UT article about the Starlite Donut Shop in Imperial Beach, will understand why I'm calling this ride (the bakery is not open Sunday). We'll detour a little bit to reach the bakery for their legendary donuts and then continue west to Imperial Beach, south along the coast for a while then return and pick up the Strand in to Coronado. Meet at the County Administration Building on PCH.
Sun. 10/8: Solana Beach train station to Oceanside Marina and return. Meet at the Solana Beach Train Station (northeast corner...we generally park just outside the train station parking lot, due to an over zealous rent a cop).
Other Upcoming Rides:
Sun. 10/15: Spring Valley to Alpine and this ride is BLAST! Actual starting point to be determined but we'll pick up Jamacha Rd. to Willow Creek Rd. to Dehesa Rd to Tavern Rd into Alpine. Did I mention there is a climb of several miles into Alpine? Take a coffee break at the famous Bread Basket restaurant and then head to Arnold Way which begins the best part of the ride - 9.8 miles of downhill. Take Arnold Way to Harbison Canyon Rd to Dehesa Rd to Willow Creek Rd the way we came. Total ride will be about 37 miles depending on the starting point. More details to follow. Suggest sunscreen and lots of water.
Sun. 10/22: Jeff Glenn-Levin is planning that ride for us. It will include coastal north county with some Rancho Santa Fe thrown in. Mark your calendars for that day, as we'll be treated to yet another new ride.
Sun. 10/29: This is Marty's infamously famous 5 city ride. This is a must. You'll be able to tell your friends you rode through 5 cities all in one morning. Here's the description, as submitted by the man himself, known, of course, as Marty's 5 City Ride (to include the cities of San Diego, La Mesa, El Cajon, Lakeside & Santee).
Starting at Windmill Farms on Del Cerro Blvd between College and Madra Ave. in San Diego, right on College Ave, right on Navajo until it merges with Fletcher in La Mesa. Take Fletcher left and down into El Cajon, left turn on Marshall than right on Vernon, which becomes Greenfield Dr and will take us out to E. Main/Olde Hwy 80 where we head east until Lake Jennings Park Rd. Go left up over the hill and down into Lakeside at which time the road has become Mapleview. Through Lakeside (route TBD), west on Woodside into Santee, left on Magnolia then right on Prospect to a let turn on Fanita. What does down, comes up and Fanita is a challenging ascent which will take us up to Grossmont College. Pick up the bike path along Hwy 125 for about a mile then right on Navajo and backtrack to the starting point. The route is about 35 40 + miles and will include down hills, ascents and some good straights to put the pedal to the metal. Don't know about the refreshment stop, but perhaps some of you East County people can suggest a place. Also when we're at Woodside & Magnolia, we're around the corner from Groff's Coffee, Donut & Bike shop. Just a suggestion, though.
To get to the starting point, take I-8 into San Diego, north on College Ave then a prompt right on Del Cerro Blvd (Chevron Station on the corner) and Windmill Farms is a half a block on the left.
Final Tid Bit: Please start thinking about how many Recycler Jerseys you might want (they make beautiful XMAS gifts). We're going to place an order in the next couple of weeks. I believe they run about $35.00 a pop (but I'm not sure here...talk with Marty). There's been some discussion about arm warmers as well
Stay well friends. Hope you can make one, or both, of our rides this weekend, and remember to RIDE SAFE and have FUN!!!!