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...
Hello All!
How you doing? Good I hope. I finally managed to kick the cold I had for a few weeks, and have been back to training full bore for the Boulevard Road Race. Not much to report on the mountain biking front, seeing as how I haven't had a mountain bike for over two weeks now! The free hub broke on the Niner, my LBS had to order another, and apparently it must be shipping from Afghanistan, because it's taking way too long to get here! Fortunately though, this has forced me to focus all my energy on the road bike, which really is where it should be directed with Boulevard looming on the horizon.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my enthusiasm has been wanning a bit on the road side of things, but this last weekend I had my battery completely recharged on a training ride in the East County hills, which left me totally wrecked, but feeling extremely confident going in to the racing season. That's all I'm going to say about that!
Hope all is well with you all, and look forward to seeing you on the road! Until next time...
Hi All! Happy New Year!!! Personally, I have high hopes for 2010. I just have a feeling there's going to be some major changes happening this coming year. All good I hope! Now on to the reason for this entry.
I've been spending the last four weeks doing some major research on 29" mountain bikes after purchasing my Specialized 26. I have to admit, at first I was a little turned off at the sight of 29-inch wheels on a mountain bike. I just looked strange to me. But after viewing them on the internet, and seeing a few out on the trails, they began to grow on me. The more research I did on 29er's, the more advantages I began to discover over riding a 26-inch.
Better traction due to more tire contact on the trail. Better able to roll over objects on the trail due to the larger tire diameter. A more forgiving ride. A better fit for taller riders such as myself. The list goes on and on, all these advantages at the cost of nominal weight gain.
Well after all that research, and saving my money, selling my TT bike, and rear disc, I pulled the trigger and bought a Niner EMD9. I found it ever so slightly used on Mountain Bike Review from a guy in Michigan. Wired the money on Monday, and the bike arrived on Wednesday! It's a beauty, and today I was able to head over to Lake Hodges for my first ride.
What a difference 29-inch wheels make! WOW! It really is a major confidence booster, and after riding road bikes for the last eight years, 29-inch wheels feel right at home. The bike rides great, the rider on the other hand! Let's just say, my technical skills need some work. I didn't crash, but I did do a lot of hiking. It's not that I'm afriad per say of crashing. It's just that when a mishap could result in taking a 20-50 foot tumble down a hillside covered in sharp rock, I choose to walk. As for the fire roads and smoother single track, I think I can hold my own just fine. The engine works. And give me a long steady climb, and I'm off!
Now my new dilemma has become, do I ride the road bike, or the 29er??? What a terrible problem to have! Here it is...
Until next time...
Hi All! How's everyone out there doing? Great I hope! Well it's happened. The mountain bike shoes finally arrived last week! I've since been able to get out on about four rides with proper shoes. What a difference! I had planned on getting out today for a good 2-3 hour epic ride in the dirt, but a cold front blew in yesterday and San Diego actually received a fair amount of rain! As it turns out, I spent Friday washing and cleaning the heck out of the mountain bike, so I had no desire to take it out in what was sure to be some muddy trails today. I know, I know, it's a mountain bike, but there's a big difference between cleaning dirt and dust off a bike as opposed to mud!
The four rides I have gotten out on have all been in Discovery Hills behind my house. What a great place to get a quick ride in! There are miles and miles of trails up there, with quite a few good single tracks. As funny as this sounds, as soon as the trails dry up, it may be awhile before I get out on my road bike again. It's a really nice change to get out away from the cars and traffic and just surround yourself with nature all while getting a heck of a good workout. Really peaceful and zen-like. I've also been checking out quite a few videos of XC mountain bike races on the internet, and I have to tell you, it looks fun as hell! The idea of a race that starts in a sprint followed by a time trial just might be right up my alley. Time will tell! Until next time...
Hi All! Just arrived back home from another great dinner at the in-laws, followed by a delicious chocolate mousse made by yours truly! The dinner capped off a great weekend on the bike, not the new mountain bike unfortunately, but the road bike. Rode 76 miles yesterday partly with the Swami's ride up Lake Wohlford, then the rest of the way with a good friend of mine back through Valley Center, then out to the coast via Del Mar, and eventually home to good ol' San Marcos. Today's little jaunt was with another couple of friends, starting in Carmel Valley and heading up in to Ramona via Highland Valley Road, then back down Scripps Poway Parkway, and returning to Carmel Valley via the 56 bike path. 56 solid miles in the books, and my legs feel like rubber! Tomorrow is spinning on a stationary bike, followed by some core work
Still no ride on the new-to-me mountain bike! My shoes were put on back order, so I wait! I'm just fortunate that I have a great road or TT bike to fall back on. Still really looking forward to hitting the dirt and changing the pace up a little. I think a break from the "road" scene is what the doctor is ordering. I've been doing some trail research on "Mountain Bike Bill's" website recently. What an awesome tool that is to find some great local, and some not-so-local trails to ride in So. Cal. I'm getting excited just thinking about it! Hope everyone else had a great weekend. Until next time...
Hi All! So I haven't been sleeping well lately. This happens when I'm unable to shut my mind down at night. And that usually is a result of a change in my life. What is it this time you ask? Mountain bike! Yes, that's right, you heard me. I decided to take the plunge and hit the dirt again.
My first adventures on two wheels came in the form of BMX bikes back in the mid-eighties. From there, my passion for being on two wheels evolved in to motorcycles. I rode motorcycles until the ripe old age of nineteen, grew bored with it, sold everything, and took a long break from the world of two wheels for quite awhile. Back in 1998, I decided to purchase a mountain bike from Target, (I know, I know!), and rode occasionally, but nothing serious, (obviously nothing serious on that bike!).
Then one day about a year after that, my cousin called and invited me to go on a mountain bike ride with him. Sure, why not! I, on my high-end Target special. He, on his $3000 Santa Cruz. Of course it wasn't long in to the ride that my curiosity took over, and I found myself navigating the trails aboard the Santa Cruz. BIG FINANCIAL MISTAKE!!! Since that day, I've sunk more money in to mountain bikes, and road bikes, that I'm sure if totaled up, would make me cry!
Well needless to say, for the last ten years it's been all about road bikes for me. And I've loved every minute of it, and still do. But...lately I've found myself getting a little burnt out so to speak. Maybe it's been the lack of racing, or maybe it was too much racing last season, but what ever the reason, I need a change.
Over the last two weeks, I've managed to travel to a couple of cyclocross races to watch some friends tear it up. This has ignited a spark in me to return to the dirt. Not cyclocross though! I have no desire to be forced off my bike to have to run and jump over barriers and any other man-made obstacles that stand in my way. I never raced mountain bikes back when I did ride them, but now that I've raced over sixty races on the pavement, I'm not as intimidated as I was back then, that, and I've discovered the unequaled joys that one can only get from racing.
So here is my latest toy. Picked it up yesterday used from a nice guy in Corona. Not the lightest rig out there, but that will give me something to work on, that and relearning how to even ride in the dirt again. I can't wait!!! Until next time...
Hi All! Hope everyone out there had a great weekend. I know I did. Got out yesterday and met up with some former teammates for the SDBC "A" ride. The pace was great for this time of year. Not too fast, not too slow, but just right. Rode some extra miles (the A+ ride) with about twelve other riders, and ended up logging 65 miles for the day.
Today, I met up with another former SDBC teammate of mine, Eric Lloyd for a great ride up to Camp Pendleton to watch some of the "Storm the Beach" cyclocross race. We watched the 4 race in the morning that included another SDBC rider, Alcino, who managed to get through his first ever cross race on a heavy mountain bike with a rear flat tire! The guy's got an engine! After that, Eric and I rode up to San Clemente for some lunch, then headed back to the race course to catch some of the Men's Pro 1/2/3 race before heading out just in time to arrive back at my place right as the sun was setting. Perfect timing!
It was nice to see some of the old teammates again, catch up on what's been going, and enjoy another perfect San Diego weekend with some of the nicest guys in cycling.
Hope all is well out there. Until next time...
