Hi All! How are things going out there? Doing good here. Nothing really new and exciting to report, so I'll just give you the run down of this weekend's training rides.
Yesterday, I loaded the car up, and headed out to Harrah's Casino to begin a session of repeats up and down Palomar Mountain. As I drove past Lake Wohlford at 8am, I took note that the outside temperature was already eighty degress. It was going to be warm for sure!
I started pedaling at 8:30am, and settled in to a nice steady pace up Highway 76 towards South Grade Road. I told myself not to push it to hard, that this training ride wasn't going to be about how fast I could reach the summit, but rather just keeping it steady, and making sure I didn't cook myself knowing I was planning on multiple climbs to the top.
I reached the summit, and made sure to stop at the market and refill the bottles. I didn't want to repeat the same mistake I made two weeks ago up there, and run out of water elary in to the climb up East Grade. I shot down East Grade, turned around at Highway 76, and began climbing back to the top.
About half way up the road, another solo ride caught up to me, and we started chatting. He was riding from and to Rancho Bernardo, quite a long day in the saddle! It always helps having someone riding with you, especially up the long, steady grind up East Grade. I much prefer climbing South Grade, even though it's rated a tougher climb. The numerous switchbacks on South Grade help to break up the climb in to individual sections that I like to tackle one at a time, whereas East Grade has long, straight sections of road, that seem to last forever. Plus, there's a lot more shade on South Grade, which on a day as hot as Saturday was, is a huge benefit!
I stopped again at the summit for more liquids, then shot down South Grade to Highway 76, turned around and started back up. As I reached the infamous Palomar Mountain photographer, Rick Clemson, he shouted out, "how many times are you climbing the mountain today?". "This is my second run up South Grade, one up East Grade, and maybe another up South Grade", I yelled back.
After reaching the summit, I pulled up in front of Mother's Kitchen, and walked to the rear outside patio where my friend Rogleio was having lunch. We laughed when we say each other, especially when he saw me covered in salt all over my jersey. It was hot out there, we both exclaimed. My computer was reading 107 degress in the direct sun for the majority of the ride, so I knew the actual temperature had to be near 100!
I visited with him for awhile, then decided to ride back down South Grade Road to where Rick the photographer was capmed out. My computer read 9300ft of climbing for the day, and I figured Rick was about 700ft down the mountain, so after reaching him, I'd make my way back to the summit one final time, and then rocket back down the mountain to my car. That's exactly what I did. 68 miles, 10,014ft of climbing, and 2800 calories burned. I was tired, and had minor cramps most of the day in my thighs from dehydration, but other then that, ok.
Today I had planned to stick more to the coast and shoot for a good four hours on the bike at a nice endurance pace, but ten miles from home, I was just shifting the bike in to the big ring for the first time, when SNAP, the cable busted, and I was reduced to the little ring. Crap, I thought, it looks like my day's over before it really began. What to do? Improvise! Don't need a big ring for hill repeats, right!
So off I pedaled towards Twin Oaks Valley Road, and San Elijo, and spent the next 2-1/2 hours climbing up and down. 4x San Elijo, 4x Twin Oaks, 1-1/2x Double Peak Park. 39 miles, 5000ft, and 1300 calories. Not a bad ride considering how it started!
Hope everyone's having a great holiday weekend so far. Be safe, and have fun! Until next time...
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