Over the last couple years, I've found one of the most frustrating parts of finishing tough cycling events has been finding them in the first place. No detailed list of the kind of events cyclojunkies like me are interested in has existed. To this end, I've attempted to compile a very complete list of events for the state of California.
For your schedule-building pleasure, my list of California metric centuries (MC), centuries (C), double-metric centuries (DM), and double-centuries (DC) through May 2011:
January
1st: Borrego Springs Century (MC, C) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
15th: Stagecoach Century (MC, C) - Ocotillo, Southern California
February
12th: Tour of Palm Springs (MC, C) - Palm Springs, Southern California
19th: Camino Real Double (DC) - Irvine, Southern California
March
Unknown: Death Valley Spring Double (DC) - Furnace Creek, Central California
12th: Solvang Century (MC, C) - Solvang, Central California
19th: Tour of Borrego (MC) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
19th: Tour de Sewer (MC) - Bell Gardens, Southern California
26th: Solvang Double (DC) - Solvang, Central California
27th: Tour of the Unknown Valley (MC) - Orlando, Northern California
April
9th: Mulholland Challenge (C/MD, DC) - Agoura, Southern California
9th: Julian Death March (MC) - Julian, Southern California
10th: Primavera Bicycle Tour (MC, C) - Fremont, Bay Area
16th: Mt. Laguna Bicycle Classic (MC, C) - San Diego, Southern California
16th: Sea Otter Classic Gran Fondo (C) - Monterey, Central California
16th: Bike Around the Buttes (C) - Meridian, Bay Area
16th: Hemet Double & Century (C, DC) - Hemet, Southern California
16th: Tierra Bella Century (MC, C, DM) - Gilroy, Central California
Unknown: Devil Mountain Double (DC) - Bay Area
24th: Tour of Orange County (C) - Costa Mesa, Southern California
30th: Alpine Challenge (MC) - Alpine, Southern California
Unknown: Avenue of the Oaks (MC) - Fallbrook, Southern California
Unknown: Borrego Springs Double Ordeal (DC) - Borrego Springs, Southern California
May
1st: Wildflower Century (MC, C) - Chico, Northern California
1st: Delta Century (MC, C) - Lodi, Northern California
Unknown: Grizzly Peak Century (MC, C, DM) - Moraga, Bay Area
7th: Breathless Agony (C/MD) - Redlands, Southern California
7th: Wine Country Century (MC, C, DM) - Sonoma, Bay Area
7th: Tour de Cure - San Diego, Southern California
7th: Central Coast Double Century (DC) - Paso Robles, Central California
Unknown: Anderson River Park Century (MC, C) - Anderson, Northern California
Unknown: Cruisin' the Conejo (MC, C) - Ventura, Southern California
Unknown: Tour du Green - Ventura, Southern California
21st: San Diego Century (MC, C) - San Diego, Southern California
28th: The Heartbreak Hundred (C, DC) - Frazier Park, Central California
29th: Great Western Bike Rally Century (MC, C) - Paso Robles, Central California
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Santa Barbara Century
A few months ago, I got wind of a new century event coming to Santa Barbara in the fall. What I know now is that the Santa Barbara Century is an epic event and it will be a popular one for those of us endurance cyclists looking for one last hurrah before the cycling season winds down.
Being a first year event, I waited until pretty late in the game to get signed up (it was also a struggle getting time off work). I was worried their might not be many riders, or that the route would be somehow deficient -- wrong on both counts. In fact, the healthy 800+ rider turnout is a testament to just what a great place Santa Barbara is for cycling, something I've come to cherish since moving here. But on to the event!
My roommate Casey and I started just after 6:30am, planning to ride with a group of riders we had been training with. They left a few minutes ahead of us, so we were hurriedly moving along the bike path along the wharf when Casey flatted. Ten minutes later, we were a quarter-mile farther when he flatted again. In the darkness of a foggy, misty morning we hadn't noticed the large piece of glass protruding from his tire. Just before 7am, close to defeat, we left the bike path and hooked onto a group of 50 or so local riders in the hopes of making up time -- and did we ever! By the first rest-stop, which saw the large group all the way down to Carpinteria and over Gobernador Canyon, we had caught up with our group and were feeling better despite a little rain.
The second section of the event featured several short but testing climbs (Toro Canyon @ 7.5% for 0.6mi, Ladera Lane 10.5 @ 0.9mi ), both of which we had scouted ahead of time. Ladera was a nasty addition that saw riders zig-zagging, triple spinning, and stopping along the way to the top. I felt bad for them know that Gibraltar Road lay ahead.
Gibraltar Road was a climb of 7mi @ 6.5%, which puts it firmly in the list of toughest climbs in the country, according to John Summerson's "The Complete Guide to Cimbing (By Bike)." Lance Armstrong puts his stamp of approval on it every year, when he uses Gibraltar as one of his winter training rides. For me, everything went well until I cramped about 100 yards from the top. For almost ten minutes I watched riders pass me as I tried to stretch my right quad enough to get back on the bike.
The next section of the ride featured beautiful views on either side of the mountain as we road down to the end of East Camino Cielo Rd and then back to where Camino Cielo meets Painted Cave. By then the cumulative effect was making the little climbs along the route seem daunting, but as I reached Painted Cave I knew I was home free.
The final third of the ride features a bumpy descent of Painted Cave Rd and the locally-popular Old San Marcos Rd, followed by a long and flat ride out to Goleta and back to the boardwalk. Casey and I used drafting as much as possible, picking up lone riders at a decent clip. As we reached the finish, the familiar feeling of a body delightful spent greeted me and I took a rest out on the grass by the beach.
I cannot stress enough what a cool idea it was to have a Santa Barbara Century, and even more so because at 100mi with 9,800ft of elevation gain, it is a real climbers delight. I look forward to making use of the optional Gibraltar timing chips next year, and making this event a mainstay on my cycling calendar.
Being a first year event, I waited until pretty late in the game to get signed up (it was also a struggle getting time off work). I was worried their might not be many riders, or that the route would be somehow deficient -- wrong on both counts. In fact, the healthy 800+ rider turnout is a testament to just what a great place Santa Barbara is for cycling, something I've come to cherish since moving here. But on to the event!
My roommate Casey and I started just after 6:30am, planning to ride with a group of riders we had been training with. They left a few minutes ahead of us, so we were hurriedly moving along the bike path along the wharf when Casey flatted. Ten minutes later, we were a quarter-mile farther when he flatted again. In the darkness of a foggy, misty morning we hadn't noticed the large piece of glass protruding from his tire. Just before 7am, close to defeat, we left the bike path and hooked onto a group of 50 or so local riders in the hopes of making up time -- and did we ever! By the first rest-stop, which saw the large group all the way down to Carpinteria and over Gobernador Canyon, we had caught up with our group and were feeling better despite a little rain.
The second section of the event featured several short but testing climbs (Toro Canyon @ 7.5% for 0.6mi, Ladera Lane 10.5 @ 0.9mi ), both of which we had scouted ahead of time. Ladera was a nasty addition that saw riders zig-zagging, triple spinning, and stopping along the way to the top. I felt bad for them know that Gibraltar Road lay ahead.
Gibraltar Road was a climb of 7mi @ 6.5%, which puts it firmly in the list of toughest climbs in the country, according to John Summerson's "The Complete Guide to Cimbing (By Bike)." Lance Armstrong puts his stamp of approval on it every year, when he uses Gibraltar as one of his winter training rides. For me, everything went well until I cramped about 100 yards from the top. For almost ten minutes I watched riders pass me as I tried to stretch my right quad enough to get back on the bike.
The next section of the ride featured beautiful views on either side of the mountain as we road down to the end of East Camino Cielo Rd and then back to where Camino Cielo meets Painted Cave. By then the cumulative effect was making the little climbs along the route seem daunting, but as I reached Painted Cave I knew I was home free.
The final third of the ride features a bumpy descent of Painted Cave Rd and the locally-popular Old San Marcos Rd, followed by a long and flat ride out to Goleta and back to the boardwalk. Casey and I used drafting as much as possible, picking up lone riders at a decent clip. As we reached the finish, the familiar feeling of a body delightful spent greeted me and I took a rest out on the grass by the beach.
I cannot stress enough what a cool idea it was to have a Santa Barbara Century, and even more so because at 100mi with 9,800ft of elevation gain, it is a real climbers delight. I look forward to making use of the optional Gibraltar timing chips next year, and making this event a mainstay on my cycling calendar.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
KOM Stage 3: The Heartbreak Hundred
Yesterday, I completed the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Century Challenge and today I took a 40 mile victory lap with Reuben, Sarah, and Johanna. There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with completing something so difficult, and an equally humbling feeling that comes with finishing 103/111 in the 49 and under category (though I do have the honor of being the youngest finisher this year). But enough about the series. Here's The Heartbreak Hundred breakdown:
Almost all the way to the first rest-stop is spent climbing at what looks like a very minimal grade, but turns out to be a beast greater than the sum of its parts. First, asking me to climb right out the gate is like asking a teenager to take the reigns of a multinational company. It takes me twenty miles just to get warmed up. It didn't help that my riding partner Reuben (all 125lbs of him) climbs like a Nepalese sherpa. I mean that in a very real sense, because this event starts at over 5,000ft of elevation, peaking above 8,000 near the first rest-stop just under 25mi in. We started near the back of the pack and steadily passed riders all the way to the top. By the time we'd reached the rest-stop, I was done for the day. In moving and starting a new job all in the last week, I hadn't done my research properly and I paid the price.
From there, we had a beautiful decent into a valley, a spot that would have made for great pacelining had I left anything in the tank for such efforts. Instead, we spent the next several hours laboring along with Reuben stuck at the front in the role of wind-shield until we reached somewhat of a desert badlands. Every scattered tree we passed seemed to have a person we'd seen all day sitting under it, looking for a bit of respite. The cramping set in right as we reached what we were told would be the most painful part of the day.
It's my belief that the Heartbreak Hill is only painful because of what had come before it. Had I not totally exhuasted myself in the first two hours and begun to cramp, it would have been a pleasurably short climb. Note to self: take it easy out of the gate next time! When I reached the top, around the bend I found the familiar faces of Johanna and Sarah (our girlfriends and KOM support-group) and Reuben (who had dusted me up the hill). It was at this point we started noticing the double-century riders in our midst, and I felt very weak.
The final stretch began with utter exhaustion, but as we got within a few miles of the finish, I crossed over into the undead and began pulling at the front for Reuben again. We traded turns at the front, each turn becoming stronger, more desperate than the last. We worked ourselves into a frenzy. We yelled and grunted, pedals whirring, tires and chains making their familiar sounds. And that was all there was in the world. We left no reserve unspent, and as we crossed the finish line there was a moment of utter joy. This moment was closely followed by ten minutes of stumbling around, mostly incoherent, as my body fought its urge to collapse.
These endurance events take the human body to a place it rarely goes; to a place where mind-body roles are reversed. The mind gives the body legs to continue, even as the body's legs reach the point of betraying the mind. These event aren't about how far a person can push the body, but rather how far the body can push the mind.
Almost all the way to the first rest-stop is spent climbing at what looks like a very minimal grade, but turns out to be a beast greater than the sum of its parts. First, asking me to climb right out the gate is like asking a teenager to take the reigns of a multinational company. It takes me twenty miles just to get warmed up. It didn't help that my riding partner Reuben (all 125lbs of him) climbs like a Nepalese sherpa. I mean that in a very real sense, because this event starts at over 5,000ft of elevation, peaking above 8,000 near the first rest-stop just under 25mi in. We started near the back of the pack and steadily passed riders all the way to the top. By the time we'd reached the rest-stop, I was done for the day. In moving and starting a new job all in the last week, I hadn't done my research properly and I paid the price.
From there, we had a beautiful decent into a valley, a spot that would have made for great pacelining had I left anything in the tank for such efforts. Instead, we spent the next several hours laboring along with Reuben stuck at the front in the role of wind-shield until we reached somewhat of a desert badlands. Every scattered tree we passed seemed to have a person we'd seen all day sitting under it, looking for a bit of respite. The cramping set in right as we reached what we were told would be the most painful part of the day.
It's my belief that the Heartbreak Hill is only painful because of what had come before it. Had I not totally exhuasted myself in the first two hours and begun to cramp, it would have been a pleasurably short climb. Note to self: take it easy out of the gate next time! When I reached the top, around the bend I found the familiar faces of Johanna and Sarah (our girlfriends and KOM support-group) and Reuben (who had dusted me up the hill). It was at this point we started noticing the double-century riders in our midst, and I felt very weak.
The final stretch began with utter exhaustion, but as we got within a few miles of the finish, I crossed over into the undead and began pulling at the front for Reuben again. We traded turns at the front, each turn becoming stronger, more desperate than the last. We worked ourselves into a frenzy. We yelled and grunted, pedals whirring, tires and chains making their familiar sounds. And that was all there was in the world. We left no reserve unspent, and as we crossed the finish line there was a moment of utter joy. This moment was closely followed by ten minutes of stumbling around, mostly incoherent, as my body fought its urge to collapse.
These endurance events take the human body to a place it rarely goes; to a place where mind-body roles are reversed. The mind gives the body legs to continue, even as the body's legs reach the point of betraying the mind. These event aren't about how far a person can push the body, but rather how far the body can push the mind.
Monday, May 3, 2010
KOM Stage 2: Breathless Agony
Last weekend, Reuben and I completed the second stage of the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Challenge. Breathless Agony remains one of the hardest things I've ever done on the bike, but this year was definitely easier than 2009. We both felt stronger the whole way, and not cramping this year was a huge morale booster. Both of us also improved upon last year's times, and frankly, I actually enjoyed most of the ride this year, whereas before it had been almost total misery. In fact, the only real bummer is that I seem to have temporarily branded an outline of my saddle into my hind quarters. It's time to investigate shammy cream.
Getting saddle sores isn't the most unusual thing that happens during these things, though. Something very strange goes on in my head near the end of each event, and in the next few days afterward. I go through this cycle of "glad I'll never have to do that again" to "well, it really wasn't too bad" to "I bet if I continue to train I can improve my time significantly." The mind forgets the pain very quickly, and the body follows the mind, much the same way it followed the mind up the mountain in the first place.
While riding the last oxygen-depriving bit of Breathless (some 8,000ft above sea-level) I spoke with a guy wearing his KOM jersey. I said I was surprised how long this last part was taking, as I had expected to be farther ahead of last year's pace. His response was innocuous first, but later became troubling. "You're not supposed to get faster each year...it's the other way around," is what he said. Now given, he was more than twice my age, actually probably closer to three times. Still, what a shame for a man to feel that way while completing one of the toughest events in the country on par with a 22 year old. I have a different philosophy.
Certainly, I will improve with age and experience over the next ten years even without increasing my effort, but who's to say it should stop there; that wherever I am when I reach the conventional peak of athletic performance, that's where my inevitable decline begins. Whether built for it or not, anyone who finishes one of these events is a climber. The only decline I'll have anything to do with is the one right before the next mountain comes into view.
Getting saddle sores isn't the most unusual thing that happens during these things, though. Something very strange goes on in my head near the end of each event, and in the next few days afterward. I go through this cycle of "glad I'll never have to do that again" to "well, it really wasn't too bad" to "I bet if I continue to train I can improve my time significantly." The mind forgets the pain very quickly, and the body follows the mind, much the same way it followed the mind up the mountain in the first place.
While riding the last oxygen-depriving bit of Breathless (some 8,000ft above sea-level) I spoke with a guy wearing his KOM jersey. I said I was surprised how long this last part was taking, as I had expected to be farther ahead of last year's pace. His response was innocuous first, but later became troubling. "You're not supposed to get faster each year...it's the other way around," is what he said. Now given, he was more than twice my age, actually probably closer to three times. Still, what a shame for a man to feel that way while completing one of the toughest events in the country on par with a 22 year old. I have a different philosophy.
Certainly, I will improve with age and experience over the next ten years even without increasing my effort, but who's to say it should stop there; that wherever I am when I reach the conventional peak of athletic performance, that's where my inevitable decline begins. Whether built for it or not, anyone who finishes one of these events is a climber. The only decline I'll have anything to do with is the one right before the next mountain comes into view.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Breathless Gameplan
After discussing how we'd both like to ride Breathless Agony this time around, we've decided to do a few things differently than last year. Hopefully, this will lead to me launching Reuben into the last section of climbing so that he can max-out his effort. He's better suited for these sorts of events than me, so I'm excited to set him up for a good time improvement over last year. Anyway, I was given a 15-minute penalty on Mulholland for missing a sticker stop, so Reuben's already in better position. Of course, we're in the bottom third of the pack for the King of the Mountains, but it'd still be great to see one of our names climb a bit in the rankings.
Section 1: Redlands, across Timoteo Canyon, through Moreno Valley, up Jack Rabbit Trail, ending at the base of the Oak Glen climb. This section took us about 2:15 last year, but we'll look to cut it to round-about 2 hours flat by taking advantage of pacelining on the flats through Moreno Valley. We're also going to conserve our energy going up the back side of Timoteo Canyon, as that's always been a climb that's hurt us.
Section 2: Oak Glen climb/descent. This section features the steep Oak Glen climb at 6.7% grade over 5 miles. The first section of the descent has some very technical turns (last year a guy got bloodied up from a hard tumble near the town of Oak Glen), but then flattens out for some high-speed descending. We've agreed that Reuben will probably go over the top of this one a bit in front of me, but I'm going to absolutely bomb the descent to catch him. Last year, this Section 2 took us 1:40 including rest stop time, but after doing the climb in 52 minutes (1:15 including the downhill) earlier this month I'm feeling pretty confident that we can do the section in less than 1:30. I fatigued a lot on this climb last year, so I will still be cautious!
Section 3: Ranger Station to Angelus Oaks, via Damnation Alley. This part was the death of me last year. It's only 12 miles, but it's 3000 feet of elevation gain, making it the longest climb in the event. For whatever reason, the miserably long and straight portion nicknamed Damnation Alley does a particularly good job of living up to its name. Last year, my body totally locked up there, with cramps in my quads, hamstrings, and calves. This time, I'm going to stay better hydrated and pop the electrolyte pills beforehand, instead of after the cramping begins. I've climbed this route in 1:35 during training, but it took a little over 2 hours during last year's Breathless Agony. I'm hoping for about 1:45-1:50, but will consider anything under 2 hours sufficient. Again, Reuben will likely arrive 2 or 3 minutes ahead of me, but hopefully I can recover quickly instead of spending 30 minutes working cramps out at the Angelus Rest Stop.
Section 4: Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit, via Barton Flats. The first half of this section is mostly flat, so I'll sit on the front and let Reuben draft as much as possible. I'll try to hang for the first half of the last climb of the day and then send Reuben on his way to see the reaper. My work as domestique will be done and I can go at my own snail's pace from there. Of course, maybe that won't happen. Maybe I'll have the legs this time around, but there's just no way to tell ahead of time. Last year this section took us 2:30. This year, we'll be looking for just over 2 hours flat.
Overall, we are much better prepared, having done more off-season training and completing the Mulholland Challenge and Mt. Diablo this month. For comparison, last year I did 150 miles of riding in April. This year I'm just shy of 600. We'll be looking to improve last years times from just over 8:30 to somewhere in the realm of 7:45-8 hours. Despite early forecasts for rain and possibly snow at the top, the weather now reads mostly sunny and temperatures in the mid-sixties for most of the ride. Can't get much better than that. Now all that's left to do is let the suffering begin!
Section 1: Redlands, across Timoteo Canyon, through Moreno Valley, up Jack Rabbit Trail, ending at the base of the Oak Glen climb. This section took us about 2:15 last year, but we'll look to cut it to round-about 2 hours flat by taking advantage of pacelining on the flats through Moreno Valley. We're also going to conserve our energy going up the back side of Timoteo Canyon, as that's always been a climb that's hurt us.
Section 2: Oak Glen climb/descent. This section features the steep Oak Glen climb at 6.7% grade over 5 miles. The first section of the descent has some very technical turns (last year a guy got bloodied up from a hard tumble near the town of Oak Glen), but then flattens out for some high-speed descending. We've agreed that Reuben will probably go over the top of this one a bit in front of me, but I'm going to absolutely bomb the descent to catch him. Last year, this Section 2 took us 1:40 including rest stop time, but after doing the climb in 52 minutes (1:15 including the downhill) earlier this month I'm feeling pretty confident that we can do the section in less than 1:30. I fatigued a lot on this climb last year, so I will still be cautious!
Section 3: Ranger Station to Angelus Oaks, via Damnation Alley. This part was the death of me last year. It's only 12 miles, but it's 3000 feet of elevation gain, making it the longest climb in the event. For whatever reason, the miserably long and straight portion nicknamed Damnation Alley does a particularly good job of living up to its name. Last year, my body totally locked up there, with cramps in my quads, hamstrings, and calves. This time, I'm going to stay better hydrated and pop the electrolyte pills beforehand, instead of after the cramping begins. I've climbed this route in 1:35 during training, but it took a little over 2 hours during last year's Breathless Agony. I'm hoping for about 1:45-1:50, but will consider anything under 2 hours sufficient. Again, Reuben will likely arrive 2 or 3 minutes ahead of me, but hopefully I can recover quickly instead of spending 30 minutes working cramps out at the Angelus Rest Stop.
Section 4: Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit, via Barton Flats. The first half of this section is mostly flat, so I'll sit on the front and let Reuben draft as much as possible. I'll try to hang for the first half of the last climb of the day and then send Reuben on his way to see the reaper. My work as domestique will be done and I can go at my own snail's pace from there. Of course, maybe that won't happen. Maybe I'll have the legs this time around, but there's just no way to tell ahead of time. Last year this section took us 2:30. This year, we'll be looking for just over 2 hours flat.
Overall, we are much better prepared, having done more off-season training and completing the Mulholland Challenge and Mt. Diablo this month. For comparison, last year I did 150 miles of riding in April. This year I'm just shy of 600. We'll be looking to improve last years times from just over 8:30 to somewhere in the realm of 7:45-8 hours. Despite early forecasts for rain and possibly snow at the top, the weather now reads mostly sunny and temperatures in the mid-sixties for most of the ride. Can't get much better than that. Now all that's left to do is let the suffering begin!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Mt. Diablo Century
Despite having done several 3-hour rides since Mulholland, I've been taking it pretty easy overall in the last two weeks. Two days before Diablo I went out for a spin and came back 3 hours later with 50 miles on the ole odometer, which put me in a very confident mood.
Reuben and I decided to ride the Diablo Century unsupported, since it features half the climbing of Mulholland Challenge or Breathless Agony. We didn't think there would be much challenge to 100 miles and 6500 feet of climbing now that we're joining the ranks of the KOM riders. After a stellar first 50 miles that featured a speedy ascent of Morgan Territory and some pacelining to Sunol, things took a turn for the worse.
Realizing we'd forgotten sunscreen and had become a bit hungry from killing it through the first half, we stopped at a store for supplies. Upon returning to the route we missed a turn and ended up riding 6 miles down a valley road into a nasty headwind. By the time we'd retraced our steps back to Sunol, we'd wasted an hour and become noticeably fatigued. Nearly 3 hours later, we followed the wrong marker up a 15% grade. More fun. Sun blazing down on our burnt faces, we crossed the finish 9 hours in with an on-the-bike average of 14.3mph. Bring on the Chipotle and alcohol!
The Diablo Century was an often beautiful, but deceptively difficult event. Hopefully that will translate to the perfect final training ride before Breathless Agony this coming weekend.
Reuben and I decided to ride the Diablo Century unsupported, since it features half the climbing of Mulholland Challenge or Breathless Agony. We didn't think there would be much challenge to 100 miles and 6500 feet of climbing now that we're joining the ranks of the KOM riders. After a stellar first 50 miles that featured a speedy ascent of Morgan Territory and some pacelining to Sunol, things took a turn for the worse.
Realizing we'd forgotten sunscreen and had become a bit hungry from killing it through the first half, we stopped at a store for supplies. Upon returning to the route we missed a turn and ended up riding 6 miles down a valley road into a nasty headwind. By the time we'd retraced our steps back to Sunol, we'd wasted an hour and become noticeably fatigued. Nearly 3 hours later, we followed the wrong marker up a 15% grade. More fun. Sun blazing down on our burnt faces, we crossed the finish 9 hours in with an on-the-bike average of 14.3mph. Bring on the Chipotle and alcohol!
The Diablo Century was an often beautiful, but deceptively difficult event. Hopefully that will translate to the perfect final training ride before Breathless Agony this coming weekend.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Mulholland Challenge 2010 Results
We came, we saw, we conquered! It took 10:37 (9:15 on the bike) to finish, but Reuben and I both successfully completed Stage One of the King of the Mountains Series.
For me, the defining moments were: the sick paceline on PCH in the morning, going up Topanga and Old Topanga like they were anthills, the jarring misery that is Little Sycamore/Cotharin/Yerba Buena, feeling worn out...at the bottom of Decker, making it to the top of Decker and passing riders along the way, taking forever to reach the top of stunt while simultaneously realizing I was one "sticker" short, flying to the finish yelling "there's no such thing as pain," Reuben crossing the line on an entirely flat tire, finding out Mulholland was 13,500 feet of climbing this year.
Looking forward to Diablo later this month, followed by Breathless Agony and Heartbreak in May. Should be epic!
For me, the defining moments were: the sick paceline on PCH in the morning, going up Topanga and Old Topanga like they were anthills, the jarring misery that is Little Sycamore/Cotharin/Yerba Buena, feeling worn out...at the bottom of Decker, making it to the top of Decker and passing riders along the way, taking forever to reach the top of stunt while simultaneously realizing I was one "sticker" short, flying to the finish yelling "there's no such thing as pain," Reuben crossing the line on an entirely flat tire, finding out Mulholland was 13,500 feet of climbing this year.
Looking forward to Diablo later this month, followed by Breathless Agony and Heartbreak in May. Should be epic!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Preparing for Mulholland
Since my last post, I got over the bug I had and went for a mini-camp in the Bay Area with my buddy Reuben. I did Mt. Hamilton in San Jose in the first day, then met up with Reuben for Mt. Tam and Sonoma on days two and three. Totals for that weekend were 126mi/11,000ft elevation gain.
The next week I was on vacation, and though Johanna and I brought our bikes, we didn't do as much riding as I had hoped. Still, it was a great, active week of hiking and cycling, and a much-needed change of pace.
This last weekend, I previewed the Breathless Agony route by tackling Oak Glen and Part of Angelus Oaks. Day two was I cold, epic ride up Latigo/Mulholland/Stunt in the Santa Monica Mountains. Total mileage for the weekend was 77mi/9,000ft elevation gain.
Now I'm tapering into this weekend; just a couple more easy rides in Santa Barbara. Getting excited!
The next week I was on vacation, and though Johanna and I brought our bikes, we didn't do as much riding as I had hoped. Still, it was a great, active week of hiking and cycling, and a much-needed change of pace.
This last weekend, I previewed the Breathless Agony route by tackling Oak Glen and Part of Angelus Oaks. Day two was I cold, epic ride up Latigo/Mulholland/Stunt in the Santa Monica Mountains. Total mileage for the weekend was 77mi/9,000ft elevation gain.
Now I'm tapering into this weekend; just a couple more easy rides in Santa Barbara. Getting excited!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sickweek
As someone who plans far in advance, nothing is more frustrating than when a well-conceived plan goes awry. I've been sick all week, so I've taken time off the bike to focus the energy I have on coaching my tennis team. We had a great victory Thursday, which after 3 hours came down to the final set on court, a tiebreaker that went to 10-8 before our guy could close it out. Exciting as that was, it was tough to miss a week of training.
Today, I was scheduled to do the Solvang Century, a 100-mile event with 5,000ft of elevation gain. I did manage to get out with my girlfriend Johanna for a nice little ride of 26 miles with 3,200ft of elevation gain. We drove to Ojai and parked at the base of the section of Hwy 33 that heads north into the Los Padres National Forest. This is one of my favorite climbs, as it never gets too steep, features quite a few switchbacks, and has some excellent views of the ground covered and on into the ocean even as far as the Channel Islands. It's also a favorite of motorcyclists. In fact, shortly after starting the ride we were passed by all manner of emergency vehicle and finally came upon a fallen motorcyclist. He looked to be okay, definitely breathing, but they were putting him into a neckbrace. None of that for us!
In the past, Johanna has never tackled a climb more than a mile in length, so today was a big milestone for her. Not only did she make it up the climb, she did it pretty easily. Before long, I'm going to have a training partner in her, as well as a recovery or fun-ride mate. I'm excited about that!
Today, I was scheduled to do the Solvang Century, a 100-mile event with 5,000ft of elevation gain. I did manage to get out with my girlfriend Johanna for a nice little ride of 26 miles with 3,200ft of elevation gain. We drove to Ojai and parked at the base of the section of Hwy 33 that heads north into the Los Padres National Forest. This is one of my favorite climbs, as it never gets too steep, features quite a few switchbacks, and has some excellent views of the ground covered and on into the ocean even as far as the Channel Islands. It's also a favorite of motorcyclists. In fact, shortly after starting the ride we were passed by all manner of emergency vehicle and finally came upon a fallen motorcyclist. He looked to be okay, definitely breathing, but they were putting him into a neckbrace. None of that for us!
In the past, Johanna has never tackled a climb more than a mile in length, so today was a big milestone for her. Not only did she make it up the climb, she did it pretty easily. Before long, I'm going to have a training partner in her, as well as a recovery or fun-ride mate. I'm excited about that!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Background
In order to know where I stand and where I'm headed, I'm taking this opportunity to sum up my history with the sport of cycling.
Age 2: Learned to ride tricycle, promptly fell off and cut chin open.
Age 6: Started riding bikes with the neighborhood kids.
Age 11: Watched Tour de France for the first time (half-hour recaps on ESPN, with Bjarne Riis winning and Jan Ullrich, his teammate at Telecom finishing second). Began riding the 4-mile route to school once a week.
Age 12: Topped 40mph for the first time while riding down the only steep hill in my neighborhood. Also experienced high-speed wobble for the first time. Broken elbow and wrist, road rash everywhere. Stopped riding to school.
Age 14: Got my first road bike; it was a bright yellow, bottom of the line Giant. Several months later, had said Giant road bike stolen out of garage.
Age 19: Decided to buy a bike (red Specialized Allez Elite) to help my roommate Reuben train for Habitat for Humanity's Habitat Bicycle Challenge. His trip: 4,000 miles over 60 days, from New Haven to San Francisco in the summer of 2007. Our training: one month of rides 10-20 miles in length.
Age 20: While I had been the stronger rider during our brief training sessions, when Reuben came back, he came back STRONG! I could not comprehend that he had ridden more than 100 miles in a single day, and he'd done it multiple times. Though I'd been a regular follower of cycling for three weeks of July for the last ten years, this was the moment I decided to become a cyclist.
Since that time:
2007: LA River Ride Century (DNF @ 20 miles after snapping crank off...learned I have some high-end power), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (DNF @ 72 miles due to a full day of 20mph headwinds), Tour de Foothills Metric Century (Finished the 62-mile course, but only just, and experienced first cramps while cycling).
2008: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 7:15, exhausted and sunburnt), San Diego Century (DNF @ 65 miles, having not properly prepared), Inland Express Century (Finished in 7 hours flat), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (Finished in 7:15 and, along with the 190 other brave souls who came back, got revenge on the desert wind in what was to be the last year of this event).
2009: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 6:40, feeling nowhere near as tired as the previous year), Breathless Agony (Reached the top in 8:48 after experiencing simultaneous cramping in quads and hamstrings beginning on Damnation Alley...OUCH!!!), Road the entire 70-mile Santa Ana River Trail from Redlands to Huntington Beach and back in a single day, Pedaled 350 of the 450 miles coastal miles from San Francisco to Malibu in five days on a family-supported trip.
2010: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 5:35 and just in time for a USTA Men's League tennis match, but was given a default when my opponent didn't show)
In summary, while I rode bikes in my youth like most kids, my experience with the world of endurance cycling has only just begun. I hope that I can inspire, encourage, or otherwise affect those that stumble onto this blog by sharing my experiences with this uniquely challenging sport.
Age 2: Learned to ride tricycle, promptly fell off and cut chin open.
Age 6: Started riding bikes with the neighborhood kids.
Age 11: Watched Tour de France for the first time (half-hour recaps on ESPN, with Bjarne Riis winning and Jan Ullrich, his teammate at Telecom finishing second). Began riding the 4-mile route to school once a week.
Age 12: Topped 40mph for the first time while riding down the only steep hill in my neighborhood. Also experienced high-speed wobble for the first time. Broken elbow and wrist, road rash everywhere. Stopped riding to school.
Age 14: Got my first road bike; it was a bright yellow, bottom of the line Giant. Several months later, had said Giant road bike stolen out of garage.
Age 19: Decided to buy a bike (red Specialized Allez Elite) to help my roommate Reuben train for Habitat for Humanity's Habitat Bicycle Challenge. His trip: 4,000 miles over 60 days, from New Haven to San Francisco in the summer of 2007. Our training: one month of rides 10-20 miles in length.
Age 20: While I had been the stronger rider during our brief training sessions, when Reuben came back, he came back STRONG! I could not comprehend that he had ridden more than 100 miles in a single day, and he'd done it multiple times. Though I'd been a regular follower of cycling for three weeks of July for the last ten years, this was the moment I decided to become a cyclist.
Since that time:
2007: LA River Ride Century (DNF @ 20 miles after snapping crank off...learned I have some high-end power), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (DNF @ 72 miles due to a full day of 20mph headwinds), Tour de Foothills Metric Century (Finished the 62-mile course, but only just, and experienced first cramps while cycling).
2008: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 7:15, exhausted and sunburnt), San Diego Century (DNF @ 65 miles, having not properly prepared), Inland Express Century (Finished in 7 hours flat), Tour of Borrego Springs Century (Finished in 7:15 and, along with the 190 other brave souls who came back, got revenge on the desert wind in what was to be the last year of this event).
2009: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 6:40, feeling nowhere near as tired as the previous year), Breathless Agony (Reached the top in 8:48 after experiencing simultaneous cramping in quads and hamstrings beginning on Damnation Alley...OUCH!!!), Road the entire 70-mile Santa Ana River Trail from Redlands to Huntington Beach and back in a single day, Pedaled 350 of the 450 miles coastal miles from San Francisco to Malibu in five days on a family-supported trip.
2010: Tour of Palm Springs Century (Finished in 5:35 and just in time for a USTA Men's League tennis match, but was given a default when my opponent didn't show)
In summary, while I rode bikes in my youth like most kids, my experience with the world of endurance cycling has only just begun. I hope that I can inspire, encourage, or otherwise affect those that stumble onto this blog by sharing my experiences with this uniquely challenging sport.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
