Saturday, January 2, 2010
Chilli's Ride Jan 2, 2010
I thought this would be a good day to go do the Chilli's ride. I have been doing this ride about once a month for the last three months, so today was the day. I haven't been since completing the cycling camp out at Borrego Springs and also, I've been doing the Ranchos ride consistently. I was really curious how much improvement I've made in the fitness area. Aerobically speaking that is. Right now, I've just moved into the muscle endurance phase of my training program, so I have been building quite a strong base over the last few months of base miles. I have not concentrated on high intensity intervals, just low intensity. The saturday group rides are the one day of the week where I go out and ride competitively with the group. When I say comopetitively, I'm sure that the other guys are in an off season phase of their training as well, so you have to consider the results of the ride with a grain of salt. But, I am seeing the same guys each ride, so atleast there is some consistency to the make up of the ride and the route is the same on the Chilli's ride, so there are some definite fitness indicators.
Ride Report:
There are three decisive climbs during this ride. The total distance was 34 miles today. The first :20 it's a nice slow roll out. Once we turn onto Marina Blvd going North the pace picks up. You want to stay about mid-pack and the right side as the wind is coming from the left usually. The whole point is to be in the front group, conserve energy, yet still put in enough work to not alienate yourself from the group. I was able to get into a good position, as we went onto the bike path that would take us to the first, short climb. If you want to have any chance of being up front for the climb, without working too hard to get into a good position, you have to be in the front 5 or 6 at the end of the bike path. I was about # 6 coming onto the climb and able to stay in good position until 3/4 the way, where one guy came by. I latched onto his wheel and eventually passed him at the top. I came across the top soft pedaling in the front with a couple guys next to me. That was a great place to be, as I hadn't been able to get myself in that position on the previous two rides with this group. If you are getting the idea that there are some serious tactics involved during this ride, you are right. It's not neccesarily who is the strongest rider, it's the strongest at the right times.
There is a soft pedal regroup at the top of this climb. The next interesting part is to hop on Interstate 5 North at Gennesee (yep that's I-5). We are only on for about 3/4 of mile, but it's downhill and fast paced. A mistake at this point would put you down on the freeway with weekend traffic in southern california. Once we exit, we get onto Sorrento Valley Road, where nobody really wants to work with the "five minute" climb coming up on Carrol Canyon. I put in my time at the front and waited for someone to break away. Sure enough, a few guys came by and we caught their wheel. Red light going up hill. Had to stop, since it's a blind off ramp off of 805. This allowed quite a few riders to catch up that never would have otherwise. Once green, we went another 1/4 mile and turned onto Carrol Canyon. There is about 3/4 mile of flat before the road pitches up. It's not so long or even so steep, it's just a part of the ride that is ultra competitive. I had good position at the bottom and ended up with one other guy at the halfway point with the pack looming about 15 yards behind. Knowing that they would be coming or atleast a handful of them would, I was conserving, even when the other guy peeled off. When the group came by, I was able to latch on and keep up to the top. We ended up with about 6 guys at the top. I was at the back of that 6, but with them. I think I used a little too much energy at mid-climb. That combined with my weight (184) when most of these guys are in the 150 range is still a hinderance.
There is a regroup at the top and then the final run down Kearny Villa south running parralell to I-163. Actually, Kearny Villa is the old 163 for all of you familiar with San Diego. This is the last decisive part of the ride and ends with a sprint just before crossing over the 52 freeway. Last time, I mis read the sprint and thought it was just before crossing over the 163. Oopps! This time, I had great position all the way down. A break away group came flying by with about 1.5 miles to go. I latched onto them and got into another good position at 3rd inline. We were up to almost 30mph now on the flat. The guy in front of me went and I followed. He was up and kicking pretty good. I was still feeling really fresh, just upshifted and rode by him, continuing to upshift and still in the saddle. I could've upshifted once more and stood up, but there was no one who was coming around me, so I didn't need to.
The rest of the ride rolls back to Chilli's on Camino del Rio. A lot of people peel off during the roll in. I felt great and was happy with the ride. Tactics, fitness and strength all came together today. I guess it doesn' happen too often, but it did today. Cheers!!!!
Ride Report:
There are three decisive climbs during this ride. The total distance was 34 miles today. The first :20 it's a nice slow roll out. Once we turn onto Marina Blvd going North the pace picks up. You want to stay about mid-pack and the right side as the wind is coming from the left usually. The whole point is to be in the front group, conserve energy, yet still put in enough work to not alienate yourself from the group. I was able to get into a good position, as we went onto the bike path that would take us to the first, short climb. If you want to have any chance of being up front for the climb, without working too hard to get into a good position, you have to be in the front 5 or 6 at the end of the bike path. I was about # 6 coming onto the climb and able to stay in good position until 3/4 the way, where one guy came by. I latched onto his wheel and eventually passed him at the top. I came across the top soft pedaling in the front with a couple guys next to me. That was a great place to be, as I hadn't been able to get myself in that position on the previous two rides with this group. If you are getting the idea that there are some serious tactics involved during this ride, you are right. It's not neccesarily who is the strongest rider, it's the strongest at the right times.
There is a soft pedal regroup at the top of this climb. The next interesting part is to hop on Interstate 5 North at Gennesee (yep that's I-5). We are only on for about 3/4 of mile, but it's downhill and fast paced. A mistake at this point would put you down on the freeway with weekend traffic in southern california. Once we exit, we get onto Sorrento Valley Road, where nobody really wants to work with the "five minute" climb coming up on Carrol Canyon. I put in my time at the front and waited for someone to break away. Sure enough, a few guys came by and we caught their wheel. Red light going up hill. Had to stop, since it's a blind off ramp off of 805. This allowed quite a few riders to catch up that never would have otherwise. Once green, we went another 1/4 mile and turned onto Carrol Canyon. There is about 3/4 mile of flat before the road pitches up. It's not so long or even so steep, it's just a part of the ride that is ultra competitive. I had good position at the bottom and ended up with one other guy at the halfway point with the pack looming about 15 yards behind. Knowing that they would be coming or atleast a handful of them would, I was conserving, even when the other guy peeled off. When the group came by, I was able to latch on and keep up to the top. We ended up with about 6 guys at the top. I was at the back of that 6, but with them. I think I used a little too much energy at mid-climb. That combined with my weight (184) when most of these guys are in the 150 range is still a hinderance.
There is a regroup at the top and then the final run down Kearny Villa south running parralell to I-163. Actually, Kearny Villa is the old 163 for all of you familiar with San Diego. This is the last decisive part of the ride and ends with a sprint just before crossing over the 52 freeway. Last time, I mis read the sprint and thought it was just before crossing over the 163. Oopps! This time, I had great position all the way down. A break away group came flying by with about 1.5 miles to go. I latched onto them and got into another good position at 3rd inline. We were up to almost 30mph now on the flat. The guy in front of me went and I followed. He was up and kicking pretty good. I was still feeling really fresh, just upshifted and rode by him, continuing to upshift and still in the saddle. I could've upshifted once more and stood up, but there was no one who was coming around me, so I didn't need to.
The rest of the ride rolls back to Chilli's on Camino del Rio. A lot of people peel off during the roll in. I felt great and was happy with the ride. Tactics, fitness and strength all came together today. I guess it doesn' happen too often, but it did today. Cheers!!!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
One last post for 2009
Happy New Year!!!!
42 mile ride this am. Low intensity. Showing 2700+ miles since August 16 this year. If I kept this up I could hit 9 or 10k next year. Looking forward to a great next year. Cheers....!!!!
42 mile ride this am. Low intensity. Showing 2700+ miles since August 16 this year. If I kept this up I could hit 9 or 10k next year. Looking forward to a great next year. Cheers....!!!!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas Weekend Ride Recap....Ranchos
Went out and did the Ranchos ride on Saturday. I've been going on their rides for the last three Saturdays and getting pretty comfortable with the group. Lots of riders, lots of energy and pretty agressive riding. When I say aggresive, I'm talking about their tactics, not their physical riding style. I have really grown to appreciate the aggresiveness, as it really pushes me. I have been hesitant to committ to this ride as my "regular" ride, but I'm ready to commit now.
I told myself that I would take it easy on this ride and stay midpack, just to see how it works out. On most rides, especially Saturday rides, I've used quite a bit of energy making this ride my "one day/week hammerfest". I've tried to start many a ride with this group and others and tried to stay in the back, but it never seems to work out. I was determined on Saturday.
I stuck with my plan at the beginning of the ride. We headed out of NCF and North up to Champagne and onto Little Gopher Canyon. I saw there was a split occuring, but purposly didn't want to be in the front of the group. The hill was pretty short, but pretty steep also. I found myself about mid pack at the bottom and started getting into a good rhythm as this was the first climb. I passed a couple guys on the way up and had about a 50' gap to the front guys at the top. There was one guy that I was closing in on just before the crest, but I thought he would soft pedal over the top, wrong! He bridged the gap to the front group. I had one guy beside me at the top and we attempted to bridge to the front group. It was about a 3 mile shallow descent. It's one of those things thats hard to explain to a non-cyclist. This group was about 300' in front of us. I was working my ass off to catch them and just couldn't do it. I split some of the work with Dave, the guy with me. He didn't have much left in his legs, so I ended up doing most of the work and never caught them until a turnoff, where there was an unofficial regroup. As it turns out, there were two guys off the front of the group in front of me that were being chased down, thus the pace of 42mph at one point. That's what I get for being mid-pack I guess. I could've easily been up in this front group coming over the top and been with them all the way to the turnoff. Point taken, if you want to be mid pack, stay there, don't try to bridge a gap without sufficient help. It was a good lesson for me. Those gaps can be insurmountable. I used so much energy trying to catch the group that it hindered my performance for the next climb, which was up in the Fallbrook area.
I don't know the name of the street, but it looked like a short, steep pitch of a half mile or so. I actually accelerated off the front only to see around the next corner a long ways to go and backed off completely to conserve, as the previous effort had taken something out of me. As it turns out, the hill was about 3 miles long and in the 10-12% range during shorter sections, with most being in the 8% range. I made it over the top, but in no mans land between the first and second group. So much for knowing the route. I had never seen this hill before. Not knowing the route has always been a big challenge on the Ranchos ride. You really need to know where to conserve and where to go.
I ended up in good shape at the end of 60 or so miles. On the way back up Champagne, I actually felt pretty good and was up in the front at the top with a couple other guys.
This ride was the day after Christmas, so you'd think I would've been fueled, but I wasn't. Our family ate Christmas dinner at 1:00PM and had a light sandwich in the evening. So, I wasn't feeling great during this ride. That was one of the reasons for trying to stick midpack. Oh well.
I told myself that I would take it easy on this ride and stay midpack, just to see how it works out. On most rides, especially Saturday rides, I've used quite a bit of energy making this ride my "one day/week hammerfest". I've tried to start many a ride with this group and others and tried to stay in the back, but it never seems to work out. I was determined on Saturday.
I stuck with my plan at the beginning of the ride. We headed out of NCF and North up to Champagne and onto Little Gopher Canyon. I saw there was a split occuring, but purposly didn't want to be in the front of the group. The hill was pretty short, but pretty steep also. I found myself about mid pack at the bottom and started getting into a good rhythm as this was the first climb. I passed a couple guys on the way up and had about a 50' gap to the front guys at the top. There was one guy that I was closing in on just before the crest, but I thought he would soft pedal over the top, wrong! He bridged the gap to the front group. I had one guy beside me at the top and we attempted to bridge to the front group. It was about a 3 mile shallow descent. It's one of those things thats hard to explain to a non-cyclist. This group was about 300' in front of us. I was working my ass off to catch them and just couldn't do it. I split some of the work with Dave, the guy with me. He didn't have much left in his legs, so I ended up doing most of the work and never caught them until a turnoff, where there was an unofficial regroup. As it turns out, there were two guys off the front of the group in front of me that were being chased down, thus the pace of 42mph at one point. That's what I get for being mid-pack I guess. I could've easily been up in this front group coming over the top and been with them all the way to the turnoff. Point taken, if you want to be mid pack, stay there, don't try to bridge a gap without sufficient help. It was a good lesson for me. Those gaps can be insurmountable. I used so much energy trying to catch the group that it hindered my performance for the next climb, which was up in the Fallbrook area.
I don't know the name of the street, but it looked like a short, steep pitch of a half mile or so. I actually accelerated off the front only to see around the next corner a long ways to go and backed off completely to conserve, as the previous effort had taken something out of me. As it turns out, the hill was about 3 miles long and in the 10-12% range during shorter sections, with most being in the 8% range. I made it over the top, but in no mans land between the first and second group. So much for knowing the route. I had never seen this hill before. Not knowing the route has always been a big challenge on the Ranchos ride. You really need to know where to conserve and where to go.
I ended up in good shape at the end of 60 or so miles. On the way back up Champagne, I actually felt pretty good and was up in the front at the top with a couple other guys.
This ride was the day after Christmas, so you'd think I would've been fueled, but I wasn't. Our family ate Christmas dinner at 1:00PM and had a light sandwich in the evening. So, I wasn't feeling great during this ride. That was one of the reasons for trying to stick midpack. Oh well.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Mountain Biking, etc.
Went out mountain biking on Sunday afternoon. I have neglected the mountain biking, as road biking goals have taken the place of the 2-3 mtb rides per week. I have been riding the mtb maybe once per month lately. I decided to go ahead and put the Garmin 705 on the mtb for the ride. I've wanted to do this for quite awhile, but was always concerned with losing one of the sensors or worse, crashing and killing the unit itself. What the heck, I really wanted to see the stats on one of my mtb rides that I've been doing for over 15 years now. I rode over to the trail head, 10 minutes each way, then hit the lap on the garmin and rode one loop the normal way and one loop reverse, which is pretty harsh. I didn't do any record pace, just wanted to set a baseline and get it on the computer. When I got home and downloaded the ride I was pretty shocked. These trails have many climbs that are 19% + and one part at 24%. It was 2245 feet of climbing in 12.1 miles. Now we know why mountain bikes have the third chainring. On my road bike I usually do somewhere between a 2:1 and 1:1 ratio for miles of climbing vs thousands of feet of climbing, so this mtb ride data was quite shocking. This ride is very challenging today and has been over the years on different bikes including a Bridgestone MB-S and a GT Zaskar. My current mountain bike is a Turner Flux that weighs right around 25#s. So now that I have the data, I put the Garmin back on the Trek and went out for 61 miles this morning. Just some low intensity miles keeping the hr below 160, most of the time. I'm going to start back into my intervals tomorrow, as I've been slacking off without a cadence sensor. I got a new battery for the cadence sensor and hr strape and all is well now. Looking forward to another 60 tomorrow, Christmas Eve, and another 60 with the group on Saturday. Ranchos or NCCC? Not sure yet, we'll see how the pain meter wants to be tickled Friday evening. Happy Holidays.
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