Around 9 of us Randos started on a damp, cold 4:00 AM start from Temecula.
We were heading for the desert!
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One less returned... it was Jims last event.
Climbing up to Sage Road, Jim asked me on how to stop his squealing canti brakes on his orange Ritchey BreakAway.
I suggested the Kool-Stop pads. He was toeing them in already with a paper gauge.
We won't hear any brake noise again.
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I was surprised at Jim that he didn't take the long cut via Wilson Valley Road to Aguanga. He made a promise to himself never to go on that section of Hwy. 79 from Sage to Hwy 341 again. It was too dangerous!
He would take the long 14% climb out of the valley instead!
No matter, only 9 cars passed us on 79 that early morning.
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In Ocotillo, Jim was googled-eyed on my bike frame. he was planning on buying a SOMA, lugged frame this Spring, and riding in the FC-508 under "Classic" division.
We had talked on Hwy. S-2 about that frame, tubing type, chrome lugs and the handling.
And, he liked the only color selection....BLACK!
Jim never ordered that frame.
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Joseph Maurer from Frisco and I had separated from Jim's group of Nicole Honda and Chris Hansen before the Coast Highway section.
We rolled up on the accident scene and I can't describe what I saw.
Jim didn't get to take his rider nap in O'side like the rest of us did, before finishing the route.
His rest now is eternal.
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We rode that last 133 miles up the coast to Newport Beach, eastward on the Santa Ana Bicycle Path to Corona, down to Lake Elsinore and back to Temecula.
We didn't talk much on that last 133 miles. We were thinking of Jim and what a nice smiling guy he was besides being a world class rider.
Jim didn't get to enjoy the sunny skies we had.
Where Jim Swarzman is, the weather is always perfect.
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kellyjay