Hi All! How's everyone's weekend going? Had another good one myself. Nothing new to report on the work front. Managed to get in another solid week of trianing, and the form is beginning to come around.
Did a nice 2-hour easy spin on Monday out to the coast and back, just clearing the legs out from Saturday and Sunday's beat down. Took Tuesday off to rest. Wednesday did some extremely difficult hill intervals over on San Elijo Road (such a gem of a road for repeats or intervals). I feel lucky to live so close to it! One time up Twin Oaks Valley Road at a nice easy pace to get the legs warmed up. Then three times up San Elijo Road (about 2-miles from top to bottom), keeping the gas on all the way (170+bpm's all the way up). Then to cap it off, a run up to Double Peak Park, easily one of the most incredible views in all of San Diego County, and a heck of a climb hitting 19% at one point. If you've never been there, you really owe it to yourself to go. Another 2-hour easy spin out to the coast and back Thursday to clear the legs out, then rest Friday. Saturday, due to the rain I opted to ride on the trainer for 60-minutes, with three sets of intervals. One at 20-minutes, 150-160bpm's, then two 5-minutes efforts at 170+bpm's.
Today, a 5-hour ride from the house to the summit of Palomar Mountain. Always a ride that leaves little left in the legs! The weather was incredible! After yesterday's storm, the air was crisp and clean. Mark Palmer, John Bailey and myself, met up at the base of Lake Wohlford Road, climbed that, headed down Valley Center Road to Highway 76. All the way out to Palomar you could see a cloud blanket sitting at the base of the mountain, and sure enough, as soon as I hit the 3000 foot mark, it was like riding in to another world. Visibility went down to about 50 feet, and the temperature really began to drop. By the time I reached the 5000 foot mark, snow began to show on the sides of the road, at around 5100 feet, I broke through the clouds in to bright sunshine. I decided not to hang out long on the top, 40 degrees!. I stopped in front of Mother's Kitchen, put my leg warmers back on, gloves back on, zipped up the vest, and headed back down the mountain for what was one miserable descent! COLD!!! Rode strong and felt good throughout the ride, so I'm hoping that's a sign that I'll be ready for the upcoming races.
Next race on the calendar, the Santiago Canyon TT, March 6th. A "B" race in my book, so I'm not going to concern myself too much with my result, although I'm hoping for a top ten. Going to run it on my road bike seeing as how I have no TT bike now since selling it to purchase the mountain bike.
Hope all is well with everyone. Until next time...
Hi All! How's life treatin you? Good here at the moment. So I was suppose to report back to Federal Jury Duty this last Thursday, but after attending for one day, getting selected to the jury, actually finding the process interesting, my wife and I decided that given the current downturn in our business, there's no way we can afford to not have me there and pay someone else to work in my place. I called my jury foreperson on Monday to let him know I would not be there Thursday, and then called and spoke to the jury director (for lack of a better word), and explained to her my situation. She informed me that the only way to get released from serving is to write a letter to the judge, and then it's up to her whether or not I get released from serving the next eighteen to twenty four months of my life! I honestly would look forward to serving if I didn't have a business to save. Well needless to say, after not going this last Thursday, I received a voicemail from the jury director wondering why I didn't show Thursday! What! I called. Does this mean there's a warrant for my arrest out there now!!! On to the bike...
So I've been riding all week with stitches in my arm which really hasn't set my training back all that much. I just have to remember to hold the bars lightly or let go all together when I see a large bump approaching. The stitches come out this Thursday or Friday, so a minor injury in the big picture. I did decide however not to go race out in Imperial. I figured the last thing I wanted was to chance falling on an already stitched up arm, or have to ride guarded making sure another rider doesn't bump forearms with me during the race. Not worth the two hour drive!
I had a really solid weekend of training though. Five hours on the bike Saturday with my friends Mark, John, and Romero, through the hills of Highland Valley and Ramona. Pouring rain, hail, and low temps made for a memorable day. That and some high-intensity climbing made for one tired boy Saturday night! Sunday a really cool experience!
Received an invite to ride with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team this Sunday. John Bailey and I met them at the resort they're staying at for their Winter Training Camp, and rolled out with them shortly afterwards. I haven't had an opportunity to meet many pros, and definitely not a chance to ride with them, but the Jelly Belly guys are some of the nicest riders I've met in the sport. They made us feel welcomed, and made it a point to chat with us as we made our way down the road. The pace was very manageable for the first hour or so. Then about an hour in to the ride the group of about fourteen of us split in to two, the front group continuing up the road, while our group pulled off the side of the road. A couple of the riders explained that they were going to pick up the pace, nothing too hard, just a medium intensity, and that they would also be doing some paceline work. John and I decided that it would be best for us to just hang in the back and stay out of their way while they went about their work. A great chance for us to observe and pick up some pointers.
Well needless to say, their "medium" hill pace, is this Cat 4's high-intensity pace! The five-hour ride through the rain, hail, and hills of North County chasing John, (who's a Cat 1), the day before, probably didn't help! I slowly slipped off the back while John managed to stay with the guys. My heart rate was 180+, and the wind breaker I was wearing was really heating me up. All along the ride the team photographer was pulled off the side of the road snapping pictures as we rode by. As I rode by her coming up the hill, alone, I gave out a quick "hello". I'm sure she saw the suffering on my face, and I was glad there wasn't any of the pros with me at that point for her to get another picture! I managed to latch back on with the group as they turned around, but didn't last very long again when they hit the flats and the pace went back up. I can say, it was really cool to see how well they worked together to stay out of the wind, working as a tight unit.
After getting dropped again, I decided that I'd had enough, pulled off the side of the road, shed the wind breaker, and at that point realized how hot I had gotten by how wet my jersey was. I began slowly pedaling towards home, spinning in low gears, trying to clear my legs out. Eventually John caught up to me and we talked all the way back about the experience, marveling at how fast and smooth pros are on the bike. Definitely something I won't forget! A BIG thanks to the team for letting us train along with them! I'll try and post some pics if possible.
Hope all is well with everyone. Be safe, and I'll talk to you soon! Until next time...
Hi All! Well, the training and racing schedule has been slightly derailed again. Nothing serious, but enough. After five and a half weeks of having my mountain bike in the shop for repair (that's another story in itself that I prefer not to talk about), I went and picked it up this last Tuesday and decided to take it for a quick one hour ride when I arrived home. Not a good idea! Considering the upset frame of mind I was in, I should of just went to the gym with my wife and called it a day.
I geared up, and rolled out of the garage with a plan to head a little ways up Discovery Hills, then back down and home. As I rode down the dirt walking path through Discvoery Hills neighborhood, I came upon a stream crossing that I've ridden through a few times prior. This time was slightly different seeing as how the stream was running deeper and faster now due to the recent rains we had not too long ago. I made the decision to ride through anyway. It wasn't the water that posed the problem, but rather the algae covered rocks that lay beneath the water that was the challenge. That, and a single large rock that lay above the water line on the opposite side of the stream.
Your bike will go where your eyes are looking. My eyes were glued to that large rock! I managed to wheelie the rock with the front tire, but the rear tire hit it, popped up, and as it came back down my left foot came unclipped from my pedal, effectively taking away my ability to drive forward. With all forward momentum halted, the fall was inevitable.
Unfortunately, the fall was in the direction of a piece of jagged concrete curb (why there's a piece of concrete curb by a stream???). I knew the fall couldn't be stopped, and I saw my head was headed for the concrete, so I threw my left arm out to take the blow. It did.
As I lie there, in a stinking, slimy algae covered daze, the first thought that almost all cyclists have after a crash entered my mind...how's my bike?! I gave the bike the once over, nothing wrong. Good news! Now me. Everything was moving ok. Good, no breaks. No noticeable pain, that's normal, numbness seems to go with crashing fortunately. As I picked myself and my bike up out of the stream (before anyone noticed), I saw blood dripping from my left arm. Crap!
Right in the middle of my left forearm, was a large, deep gash that had to of been a result of my arm hitting that concrete curb. It didn't look good. Game over, time to head home.
Long story short, (too late!), a trip to urgent care, and five stitches later, I sit here typing this. Not upset it happened, crashing is a part of cycling, but bummed that I won't be racing this Saturday, and even more bummed that the training has taken a detour, but not for long. The biggest change as a result of the crash is the fact that I've decided to sell the mountain bike.
What! Call me a wimp, quitter, whatever you want. I've decided that although I do like riding in the dirt, it does involve hitting the deck a lot more then riding on the road. At least in my case. It's funny how time erases bad memories. I've had three total rides on the new mountain bike, two which have ended in bloody crashes. I remember now why I hung up the fat tires and traded them in for skinny ones eight years ago. I've never had good balance.
All my life, my lack of balance, and bad feet (one of the causes of my bad balance), has kept me out of many sports. It wasn't until I came across road riding that I found a sport I was able to excel at. I started out on mountain bikes ten years ago, but always struggled with crashes, coming home bloody quite often. My technical skills weren't good, but what I did have was a good motor, and the ability to out ride my partners in distance. This is where the road bike came in to play. I thought, take out the rough terrain, and all you have left is your fitness as the obstacle. That I could do! Made the switch, and never looked back. Until recently. Enter the crashes. Lesson learned. Game over. Back to the road.
Sorry for the long post, but I needed to get that out. Hope all is well with you all! Until next time...
Hi All! Happy Valentine's Day! Hope everyone is having a great weekend thus far. Those of us who are blessed enough to call Southern California home sure are "livin the dream" these past few days. The weather here has been nothing short of spectacular! I sure hope anybody living in other parts of the nation, especially on the east coast, isn't reading this, (I'm pretty sure they're not!). I don't want to rub it in, but c'mon! Eighty degrees today on my ride through the hills of Valley Center! Eighty degrees in February!!!
Progress...that's the feeling I've been having lately on the way my fitness and form has been coming along so far. I believe it really paid dividends to have taken the time off the bike back in December when I came down with my usual December cold, rather then try and push through it like I did back in 08'. It's so much easier to come back after only two weeks off the bike, as opposed to seven. I feel as though I'm right on track, and Boulevard was proof of that. Granted 29th wasn't the result I was hoping for, but that was more a result of needing to work on positioning in the pack, as opposed to not being able to stay with the pack or the lead group.
Today ended another solid three-day training block. Ten hours, and 169 miles. Friday a good ride down to Del Mar and back, steady pace with a few hard efforts. Saturday, the Swamis ride, followed up with some extra miles down the coast, up Torrey Pines, and back to my friend Mark's house in Carmel Valley. Don't need to tell you the pace of that ride for those who've been on it! Today, fifty-one miles through the hills of Valley Center, with some good solid tempo climbing.
Still contemplating heading out to Imperial next Saturday to race in the Imperial Classic. I know I said I was through with crits, but I did race this track back in 08' and have fond memories of the day. A fairly safe course, as crits go, and a large group of SDBC riders make the long drive out to race this one. Might be fun to partner up with them, and play a little. We'll see. That's all for now. Until next time...
Ah yes, Boulevard, the race that never fails to deliver wonderful weather in one form or another. Woke up at 4:45am Saturday morning to get ready to leave for the race at 6am. I invited my father-in-law Marv along this time to help out with getting the car unloaded, setting the trainer up, taking some pics, being at the finish line when the race was over to pick me up. Why you ask? Because the weather report for the race was nothing short of heavy rain, winds, and the possibility of snow in the mountains! And after last years experience, it definitely is a HUGE help to have someone lending a hand in inclement weather, and being an avid cyclist himself, Marv is no stranger to being around bikes. Good guy to have in your corner!!!
We arrived at the course about 7:30am, and the first thing I noticed was that it was much warmer then last year. Forty seven degrees to be exact. That doesn't sound warm by Southern California standards, but anyone who raced Boulevard last year knows what I'm talking about. The race went off as planned at 9:30am. As we rolled out I was just trying to get comfortable riding within a pack under racing conditions. I hadn't raced with a pack since last May, nine months ago at San Luis Rey. Not a hundred feet down the road, two guys started bouncing back and forth off of each other for no apparent reason. Quite a few people in the pack began yelling at them to get it together. Eventually they did, but it served to rattle me a bit.
All was going well as we headed down the road towards turn one, which is followed very quickly by turn two. The one thing I took note of was that I was giving up a lot of spots and letting guys move ahead of me. I kept telling myself, I need to get my nerve back and be more aggressive, but also not to worry too much, because I could just hang near the back, and then move up when we reached turn three and the La Posta climb. But I was also aware that if I gave up too many spots, I'd be too far back at the beginning of the climb to be in the lead group when they began motoring up the climb. Well, as it turns out, that's exactly what happened!
The good news is, I had great legs this day. I was able to pick up a lot of spots going up both the La Posta, and Old Highway 80 climb. I was pulling a gear or two more then I have in the past, and was climbing within my limits, all the while passing people who were attempting to stay on my wheel, but eventually falling off. The bad news is, the lead group, a rather large lead group, was far enough out front that I didn't see them the rest of the day, finishing a few minutes behind them at the end according to my father-in-law.
The numbers...100 riders registered. Probably around 70 at the start. 58 riders finished. Me...29th!
Now, if I can just figure out how to keep the form, even improve on it before the Omnium RR, I should do just fine! Until next time...
Hi All! Why is it that I get so anxious the week before the Boulevard Road Race? Is it because it's the first race of the season? Is it because the race is so damn hard? Is it because the weather is sure to be crappy in one way or another (forecast for race day...high of 50, with showers!). Who knows, it's probably all of the above.
The good news is my fitness is well above what it was this time last year. I did get my usual cold in December as I always do, but this year I was smart, and took time off the bike to rest, preventing the cold from turning in to bronchitis as it did last year. My training has been solid, and I have high hopes of placing well. If I don't, I won't be too upset, I always seem to find my form way too late in the season, (ie September). That never helps me much considering most of the races are early in the season.
I finshed my last hard training block before Boulevard this last Sunday by riding the race course with my friend Mark. We rode two full laps, the first mellow, and then we pushed it harder the second lap. The course is in great shape, at least as great as one can expect in the hills of East County. The back half of the course, the descent, other known as Highway 94, has been completely repaved, which is sure to keep the speeds high this year. Maybe the rain will keep that in check?
As I'm sitting here writing this, I have the news on in the background. The weatherman just gave the forecast for the week through Saturday. Cold, wet, and windy Saturday, especially in the mountains as the first El Nino storm enters the area! What to do??? Until next time...
