Meet Felicia

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My relationship with Felt Bicycles has gone to the next level.  The benefits of our new partnership are mutual.  Felt Bicycles recognized the value of supporting an influential member of the local recreational and racing scene race.  Additionally, they realized that being associated with a recognizable name in the Ultra cycling community would provide them with yet another potential market– the Ultra cyclist.  Their support helped facilitate the purchase of my new bike.

I will be riding the Felt F2 with Di2 for the remaining races I have on the calendar.  I am very pleased to be working with Felt Bicycles.  The ride quality of their bikes, in particular the  F2 with its Ultra High Modulus  carbon fiber, are truly fantastic.  The bike comes equipped with electronic shifting which is simply amazing.

Below are some pictures I took with my Blackberry which aren’t the highest quality but you get the idea that this is one sweet looking bike.  And then just for kicks, I put on some lightweight tubular wheels and the weight dropped from just under 17 lbs (with a Power Tap training wheelset) to 15lbs.  Very nice!!!

If you haven’t considered a Felt bicycle then you owe it to yourself to take one for a ride.  You will be amazed at the incredible ride quality and will be truly surprised by the bottom bracket stiffness.  I have ridden MANY different bikes and currently own a wide variety of bikes and I can honestly say this is one of the very best riding bikes I have ever ridden.

Zipp Zed Tech 2 Ceramic Bearings super light weight and aero!

LA Daily News Captures the Red Eyed Vireo on Film

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On Thursday when I previewed the Tour of California Stage 6 route, I had a car come up alongside me.  There were two gentlemen in the car.  One was driving, of course, and the other was holding a DSLR camera.  He identified himself as working for the paper and asked if he could take a few pictures and ask a few questions.  I didn’t mind but I also wasn’t going to slow down to have a good ol’ fashioned chin wag.  I was less than two miles from the Dawson Saddle summit, 7901 elevation, on the Angeles Crest Hwy, and I had been climbing for over 3 hours on the 35 mile climb from a starting elevation of  600 foot in Duarte.

He snapped a few pictures asked a few questions asked my name and then was off.  I didn’t think much of it at the time.  Actually, I didn’t think they would use pictures of me in their story but a few days later I saw the article online.  Here is the article on The LA Daily News site There is a video available on their site and from there I performed a few screen shots for you below.

Warner Loop with Long Intervals

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Sticking to my theory of consistency and quality– I did the Warner Loop again tonight after work.  I was fortunate to hit a few lights just right which allowed me to the opportunity for two good long intervals.  The intervals were 16 minutes and 29 minutes long. My training goal was to find my new threshold number.  My lack of training has lowered my Functional Threshold Power (FTP).  I think I am more around 260 watts (3.95 w/kg)  instead of 280 watts (4.25 w/kg) as I had it set for before.

Entire workout including warm up, two intervals and cool down

Data for entire workout

Interval #1- 16 minutes 3.7 w/kg avg.

Data for Interval #1

Interval #2- 29 minutes 3.6 w/kg avg. Three traffic signals caused the noticeable drops in power.

Data Interval #2

I have included a graphic below with data derived from Training Peaks.  It shows your recent weeks and recent months activity.  As you can see there is a significant decline in hours of training, miles, TSS and Kjs in the last couple of months.

Hours and miles are self-explanatory. TSS or Training Stress Score — think of it as a rating system of your rides.  If you ride at your FTP for one hour then your TSS would be 100.  So the closer the intensity is to your FTP the higher a score or TSS you will receive for your workout.  Kjs — easiest and less complicated description is the amount of work or calories expended.

Another way to look at your training graphically is through the use of the Performance Management Chart provided by Training Peaks Software.

Pink–  Stress put on your body over the last 7 days

Blue– Cumulative Stress put on your body over the last 42 days

Yellow– The amount of recovery you are giving your body.

You will notice that the peaks on the Pink line are on 4/17, 5/1 and this week.  4/17 was the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic 5/1 was Breathless Agony.  I didn’t ride in the two weeks in between each of those events hence you see a spike and then a long decline on the Pink line and a sharp ascent on the Yellow line depicting rest, recovery and um…no motivation to train.  So while my legs were well rested they were too rested and I lost lots of fitness.

The Blue line is trending down so much it looks like the Stock Market is crashing 😉

Performance Management Chart from April 11-May 16

Now let’s compare the above Performance Management Chart to chart covering the first part of the season when I was motivated to ride and train.  The PMC below shows graphically my cumulative stress (Blue line) rising steadily as I was increasing my mileage and intensity during my early season races.  Notice also the HUGE spikes in the Pink line from my Brevets and Double Century.  Now looking at the Blue line isn’t that a much better stock to own 🙂

Performance Management Chart from Feb 6-May 16

Quick ride after work – Warner Loop

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As I try to get back on my bike and back into my training mode I need to recognize that consistency is important and sometimes more important than quantity.  Furthermore, the QUALITY of my training is most important of all.  I need to not be so focused on getting in big rides with big miles and elevation gain.  Even if I just go out for a short ride as long as I stay consistent and keep quality in mind I will get back into good form. Today marks my third consecutive day on the bike.  It’s been a long time since I’ve done that.  I hope to do another ride tomorrow.

Keeping consistency in mind I went out today after work for an easy spin and then an interval on the return leg of the out and back loop.  It was only 1 hour 19 minutes and 21 miles.

Entire workout

The graph and data box below show a 25 minute interval I did on my return leg from Warner.  I started out steady and continued to increased the power.  You will notice a lot of drops — unfortunately when you ride the coast there are a lot of traffic signals.  Nonetheless, I had a good interval and I can use this workout/interval as a benchmark and check back in a couple of months to see how my fitness has progressed.

Training Peaks for interval

Data from 25 minute interval. My Normalized Power of 246 watts is 3.74 w/kg

Two Tempo Workouts Today

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Warner Loop from the shop

Data for Warner Loop

My first workout was a 20 mile loop from the shop to Warner.  It’s as flat as you can get around here.  My workout goal was to ride Tempo.  I was surprised that my legs didn’t feel as bad as I thought they would considering the amount of climbing I did yesterday.  As a recap I climbed up to Dawson Saddle on Hwy 39 and more.  Look below for the graphs.  Without the descent back to the car the ride was tough I did 12, 275 feet of climbing in 74 miles.

Just the climbing section was 12,275 feet of gain in 74 miles -- 166 feet gained per mile more than Breathless Agony by 6 feet

Data for just the climbing section 12,275 in 74 miles wow!

Source

Breathless Agony claims to be the toughest century in Southern California.  Well I will definitely say that the Breathless is one tough century.  Just by chance it looks like I have found more vertical gain in the same amount of miles.  According the table above the Death Ride has 136 feet of climbing per mile, Breathless has 160 feet per mile, and my ride from yesterday had 166 feet of gain per mile.

Workout #2– San Clemente Loop

After doing the Warner Loop I stopped in to visit my friend Ryan at his jobby- job.  I got a little lazy and almost bagged it for the day.  I was off the bike almost an hour visiting and it was getting harder and harder to get on the road. But hey it was my day off and I needed to do more than just 20 miles right? I thought and thought about where I would go for my second ride of the day.   Eventually, I decided to ride to San Clemente and back.  Not very original I know but since I don’t commute all the way to Encinitas (used to commute 70 miles each way 2-3 times a week) anymore I rarely go that far south for training rides.  To make the ride more interesting I would “attack” the rollers and make it harder than just a “coastal ride”.

Attacking the rollers really sapped my legs.  On my return trip, I climbed Newport Coast Dr (1.55 miles at about 6.5%) and could barely hold 230 watts.  Fatigue had set in and I was limping up the climb.  But amazingly I recovered on the downhill of San Joaquin Hills Road and did a few sprints just to really finish off my legs on the rollers in the final miles of my ride.  I hit 615w, 746w, 916w, 1,004w,  and 979w on my last one.  No my legs were thoroughly thrashed ….until tomorrow 😉

It was a good two days of training.  I haven’t been on my bike much in the last two months so these two days were a kick start into my training.

2010 Tour of California Stage 6 Recon

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On today’s ride I previewed a portion of the Tour of California Stage 6. I began my ride from Encanto Park in Duarte.  The TOC will start in Palmdale but I didn’t want to drive all the way out there 😉  So my ride started in Duarte which is 617 feet above sea level.  I then climbed Hwy 39 to Hwy 2, Angeles Crest Hwy.  I then continued on Hwy 2 up to Dawson Saddle 7901 Elevation.   From Dawson Saddle I descended towards Wrightwood.  Along the way I climbed up to Blue Ridge at 7381 Elevation.  I rode through Wrightwood and descended until I made the junction with Hwy 138.  From there it was basically 20 mile climb back to Dawson Saddle. From Dawson Saddle it is essentially a 35 mile downhill back to Encanto Park in Duarte.

From Training Peaks the entire activity with Elevation, Power, Cadence, and Heart Rate

Lap times

You’ll note the third lap says “3000 to water stream” which stands for from the 3,000 feet elevation sign until the water stream.   So let’s talk about nutrition and planning your fluid stops.  The key thing you need to know about this ride is that services are VERY LIMITED.  Once you leave Encanto Park in Duarte there aren’t any stores until you get to Wrightwood (about 50 miles and 8,400 feet of climbing away).  However, about an hour into the ride or 14 miles you reach a gate.  From this point forward the road is closed to vehicular traffic except work vehicles and I guess there are a few residents that have access.

Gate closure about 14 miles into the ride from here ride at your own risk there are no services, rarely do you see another car or another cyclist for the next 21 miles and 6,000 feet of gain until Dawson Saddle at 7901 Elevation

I’m not a big fan of camelback hydration systems so I generally won’t use them.  On today’s ride I took an extra bottle for a total of three.  The weather was fairly cool considering I began my ride at 11am.  Later in the year I like to start this ride at first light.  It can be really hot at the lower elevations in the summer months.

At about 4,000 elevation there is a stream coming through the wall.  I drank one bottle from the start in Duarte to the water stream and refilled ONE bottle.  In hindsight, I probably should have taken in more calories by drinking two bottles and then refilling two bottles at the water stream.  I left the water stream with three bottles that lasted me until AFTER I had climbed back up from Hwy 138 ( approx 3:47, 6870 feet of climbing, 42.69 miles and 1925 kjs).

Once again the weather was cool but on a hot day you would have to probably take another bottle — total of four OR take a hydration system.  Just a personal note– I don’t like to stop at stores when doing epic rides like this.  The last water stop was a visitor center with clean restrooms.

In case I’ve thoroughly confused you here are my stops:

1.  Water stream about 20 miles into the ride and 4,000 feet of gain (ONE bottle refill)

2.  Vistor Center outskirts of Wrightwood 3:47, 6870 feet and 42.69 miles later (THREE bottle refill)

My nutrition consisted of Infinit Nutrition powder mix and a few bars for chewing sake.

No other stops for fluids or food.

The turnout across from the water stream.

The water stream-- icy cold water even in the summer months.

The climb from Duarte to the water stream

data for the climb from Duarte to the water stream

Duarte to Dawson Saddle

The climb from Duarte to Dawson Saddle is almost 8,000 feet of vertical gain in one straight shot.  There are a few rollers here and there but essentially you climb for 35 miles and gain 7700 feet.

Living at sea level doesn’t stop me from getting my climb on!  You have to love California.  I drive 40 minutes from my home and I can climb all the way to 7900 feet from 600 feet.

On my return from Wrightwood I climbed up to Blue Ridge at 7381 Elevation for the second time.  Only this time it was late in the afternoon and the typical weather pattern for mountain regions made itself known.  There were storm clouds and I knew I needed to get off the mountain as soon as possible.  I was fortunate not to get rained on.  However, once the clouds covered the sun the temps dropped quickly above 7,000 feet.  I knew of course that once I got to Dawson Saddle at 7901 Elevation it was “all downhill from there” and the weather would get warmer as I dropped in elevation.

Probably hard to read but this is Blue Ridge at 7381 Elevation.

Tuesday Coffee Crew & Crash

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After a long hiatus from morning group rides, I made a commitment to a friend to join him on the Tuesday Coffee Crew ride.  I felt good in the early part of the ride when the pace was easy.  The pace on this ride usually picks up as we go around the old Marine Corps air base.  Luckily I had good position and found good wheels to follow and kept hidden from the wind.

You can see the surges in Power over 600 watts and then you see the big drop in Power, Cadence and Speed as I crash going 18.6 mph-- yes on an uphill.

All was fine as we headed towards the last two climbs of the day Ridgeline and Newport Coast Dr.  We turned onto Ridgeline and began the first climb.  I was riding second wheel on the inside of a 2×2 pack.  The climb is at about 7% grade and then has a false flat.  As we neared the false flat the rider on my left surged ahead and I followed.  I shifted up a couple of gears and the rider surged ahead again so I shifted to the big ring.  I crept up too close  and touched wheels.  As you and I know very well,  when your front wheel hits the rear wheel of the rider in front of you …YOU are going down — 99% of the time.  I was no exception to that rule today.

I was completely embarrassed and apologetic to the rider I took down with me.   He didn’t seem too happy and actually I think he was quite annoyed with me.  I can understand the way he feels and publicly I say to you dude– I am sorry I took you down.

So what is the damage report?  I was riding Rebecca, a bike that rarely gets ridden.  I scraped both Dura Ace Shifters, tore my jersey, arm warmers and tore a small hole in my left knee warmer.  Physically, I have road rash on my left shoulder, left elbow, left hip and left knee.  But you know after all that the only thing that hurts is my pride.  I hate going down and I hate when I involve other riders.  This is the first time I have gone down in a group ride and I don’t like the way I feel about it.   Additionally, I am not well-known within the group and so I have not established a reputation as a safe rider yet.  The funny thing, in my haze from the crash, I can’t remember what the other rider looked like.  I just hope he doesn’t cold cock me the next time he sees me.

2010 Breathless Agony Ride Report

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On Saturday May 1, I completed the Breathless Agony Century.  It is without a doubt a “climbing century”.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a first timer’s century.  The time cut-offs are listed below:

To complete the 3 or 4 Pass Options, you must begin the climb to Angelus Oaks from the Mill Creek Ranger Station Food Stop by 10:30 A.M.

The Angelus Oaks Rest Stop closes at 1:00 P.M. and you must leave there before 1:00 P.M. in order to complete 4 Passes of this ride.

The Onyx Summit Rest Stop closes at 3:30 P.M. and you must arrive there before 3:30 P.M. in order to complete 4 Passes of this ride.

Source: Breathless Agony website

In my opinion, the ideal rider is someone who has been riding for sometime and loves to climb!  The stats are 114 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing.  However, the timed portion of the event, is 11,000 feet of climbing in the first 75 miles!

I’ve done this event several times and have had mixed results.  I have provided the results and the links to the event website below.

2004 Time of 6:50 45th place

2006 Time of 5:58 34th Place

2007 Time of 5:40 21st Place — Personal Record

2008 Time of 6:09 66th Place

2010 Time of 5:59 68th Place

SUMMARY

Today’s ride was very tough.  I have been in a funk lately and haven’t been training.  The last time I rode my bike was April 17, two weeks ago, for the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic (MLBC).   My race report is here.  Prior to MLBC I had also been off the bike for at least two weeks.  By the way, I would consider MLBC a climbing century as well.  It is a century with 10,000 feet of climbing. With all this time off the bike my result today of 6 hours, probably isn’t that bad but I am really hard on myself.

I had many “WTF moments” during the ride particularly at times when I was barely pushing the pedals and merely producing 150 watts.  I also battled with the same cramping issues I had at the MLBC.  But I have decided it is just from poor fitness or better yet NO fitness.  In the last 45 days I have done less than 10 rides.  That would be one ride every 5 days.  But that’s how funny averages and math can be because I was off the bike much more than 5 days at a time.  Back on April 3-4 weekend I rode Saturday and Sunday doing the Hell’s Gate Hundred and Towne Pass century plus. But then  I didn’t ride for two weeks until the April 17th.  You can’t expect to do well at a climbing century if you are not fit.  I got ‘er done but it wasn’t pretty.

Clothing— Bike Religion kit, short sleeve base layer, Furnace Creek 508 vest, Wool gloves, Wool knee warmers,

Bike — Rebecca– Cervelo R3 SL, Compact Crank 50/34 and 11/23 Cassette, Power Tap Ant + and a Garmin 310XT.

Weight— 144lbs

As you can see from the map above Breathless Agony starts and finishes in Redlands. The call-outs are:

1. Mile 17.8 – left turn onto Jack Rabbit Trail

2.  Mile 22.0- right onto Highway 60

3.  Mile 26.6- Beaumont Ave checkpoint

4. Mile 43.6- Mill Creek Ranger Station

6. Mile 54.6- Angelus Oaks

7.  Mile 74.2 Onyx Summit

There are three options for the ride.  You can do two passes, three passes or the whole enchilada of four passes.  I have always done the four pass option.

Power Chart for Timed Portion Only
Data for Timed Portion 

The graph above is from Training Peaks 3.0.  It shows only the timed portion of the event.

Orange– Elevation Profile

Yellow– Power

Blue– Speed

Green– Cadence

I rolled at 7am with the Santiago Cycling club.  It was a massive group of at least 30 riders.  It was nice to ride out with a big group and benefit from the draft for the first few miles.  New for this year, or least since the last time I rode the event in 2008, is a checkpoint at mile 12.  The checkpoint was a surprise to me (no I don’t read the route sheet on this event 😉 .  As I was coming up on it I saw a large crowd of cyclists huddled around someone and my first thought it was– CRASH!

Redlands to Jack Rabbit Trail

Data from Redlands to Jack rabbit Trail

Data above is from the start in Redlands to the left turn onto Jack Rabbit Trail — Pass 1.  We were moving at a good pace with an average speed of 19.3 mph and my normalized power was 209 watts (3.2 w/kg). I got dropped on the first little climb but I knew that wasn’t my pace anyway.

Jack Rabbit Trail

Data for Jack Rabbit Trail Climb

The climb on Jack Rabbit Trail is always sketchy. But I found the trail to be in really bad shape on Saturday.  It seemed to me that the potholes and ruts were bigger. The sand and gravel patches were bigger.  The road was so bad in some areas that they were barricaded to ensure riders wouldn’t fall in what appeared to be sink holes.  It’s hard to maintain and even and steady effort through this climb.  I faded a little and let riders pass me that I thought on any other day I would be passing them.  My average speed for the Jack Rabbit Trail climb was 10.2 mph and my normalized power was 207 (3.2 w/kg). So far so good not a stellar performance but not THAT bad.

Oak Glen Climb

Oak Glen Climb Data

I consider the hardest climb of the four passes to be the Oak Glen Climb.  The other climbs are longer but the pitches are not as steep so they are easier to climb.  I made my up the climb thinking to myself “Man I really should be training more often”.  By the time I passed Chuck Bramwell’s water and photo taking spot I was really in the hurt locker.  I couldn’t produce any power and was just limping along.  I crested and began the high-speed descent down towards Mill Creek Ranger Station.  My average speed for the Oak Glen climb was 8.3 mph and my normalized power was 182 watts (2.78 w/kg).

Angelus Oaks Climb

Angelus Oaks Climb Data

After a quick stop at Mill Creek Ranger Station it was now time for the 30 miles of climbing that take you to Onyx Summit.  The next section is an 11 mile climb.  The hard part in my opinion is the section of road called Damnation Alley.  The weather was mild on Saturday.  On a hot day that the “Alley” can roast you since there is no shade to be found.  What I find tough about this section of road is that you can’t tell you are climbing but sure enough your legs struggle to keep the speed up.  I was really dragging and just turning the pedals over.  It wasn’t until I reached the Forest Falls turn off where I came into a spurt of energy.  I was able to maintain that momentum until Angelus Oaks.  My average speed to Angelus Oaks was 8.3 mph and my Normalized Power was 180 watts (2.75 w/kg)

Onyx Summit Climb

Data for Onyx Summit Climb

The last climb isn’t that hard but you are fatigued and so it feels harder than it really is.  Additionally, you are at altitude from 6,000 feet to 8,443 at Onyx Summit.  Leaving Angelus Oaks the road has a lot of rollers and you get a chance to recover from your 11 mile climb.  It is a 19 mile stretch from Angelus Oaks to Onyx Summit but it’s not until the last 10 miles that you reach a sustained climbing section.

I was struggling with cramps and just overall fatigue.  I was counting down the miles and half miles too.  I passed the 7,000 elevation sign and remembered the last time I was on the mountain.  Brandy and I had done a training ride to Big Bear City.  She was on her multi-speed and I was on my Fixed Gear with a 49 x 18 gear.
I remember climbing ahead of her and taking pictures of the elevation signs and my bike parked in front of them.   I was really suffering and my pace was slowing dramatically.  I then see the 8,000 foot elevation sign.  I think ok 443 more feet of gain and this freaking thing is done.  Back home there is a hill called Newport Coast and it is 450 feet of gain in 1.5 miles.  Thank goodness because I wouldn’t want to go another mile more.

When I reached the summit, I got my picture taken, grabbed my “medal”, grabbed some strawberries, a banana, chips, water and I was headed down the mountain immediately.   I don’t like hanging out on the top of the mountain because the descent just gets colder and colder the longer you stay up there.  Besides there is much better food available at the finish.

So there you have it my Breathless Agony report.  I didn’t experience being “breathless” because I couldn’t ride hard enough.  I was fatigued, cramped and just plain out of shape for a climbing century.

This painful event served as a wake-up call.  No matter the funk or personal strifes going on in my life I NEED TO RIDE BY BIKE.  My bike has always been my way of keeping myself sane and physically fit.

What’s next for the Red Eyed Vireo?  I don’t really know because I am required to work the weekends I don’t have my son.  So unless I start racing on the weekends I have my son I may not have races to report about here on my blog.  The Furnace Creek 508 looms over me as it is May now and I have only five months to get ready for it.  I won’t have the benefit of doing events at race pace.  Training alone just doesn’t replicate the demands of racing.  But you know, things have a way of sorting themselves out over time.

Thank you for reading my blog.  Please pass it along to your friends, subscribe to it, and post comments if you feel so inclined.

 

UPDATE: 2011 BREATHLESS AGONY RACE REPORT

Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic- April 17, 2010

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The course is really simple three major climbs with three long descents on Sunrise Hwy for recovery.

Official time 6:14
Official place 11th

Clothing– Skins compression bib longs, Skins compression base layer, Bike Religion Jersey, Bike Religion arm warmers. Furnace Creek 508 vest (Hincapie)

Bike set-up — Rebecca (Cervelo R3SL)  Compact 50/34 Crankset 11-23 cassette (I wanted close ratios) Velocity Orion II with Power Tap Ant+ hub, Garmin 310XT

Huge props to:
AdventureCorps for putting on a fantastic event- well organized, well supported, challenging, rewarding and a great vibe and atmosphere. Adobo Velo for your support on the course and the post-ride food that was cooked seemingly to order and so it was fresh and tasty.  And lastly, the AdventureCorps family of volunteers you are what make the event special.  Thank you!!

Summary
I am happy with my result.  There were faster riders present that just plain rode away from me. I am a little concerned with the the amount of cramping I was experiencing.  I can’t remember when I have ever cramped as much as I did on Saturday.  I couldn’t get it resolved throughout the day.  The first time I summited I took four Endurolytes.  I then took four more at the gate for Kitchen Creek (about a 1/3 of the way up the second climb).  On my second summit of Mount Laguna I took eight Endurolytes from the volunteers- four at the rest stop and four more to take on the descent.  I took that many Endurolytes because I was concerned about cramping on Pine Creek. A 20% grade is the last place you want to cramp when going 4mph.  Of course it would look really funny just toppling over.

Start to Mount Laguna Summit
Start to Mount Laguna Summit Data

I left with the first wave at 6am.  I heard people saying it was in the high 30’s and some saying low 40’s F.  Regardless of the exact temperature it was cold not chilly.  It was cold but I knew once we started the climb to Guatay I would warm up quickly.  I went with my 2009 Furnace Creek 508 vest and dispensed with it after the first climb.  The pace was good, not too hard, but we split the group fairly quickly.  I looked around and recognized a few people like Ton “Desert Fox”, Jack B “Blackbird” Adam “Rock Rabbit” Bickett, and Jim Knight,.  The group got really small as we turned onto Sunrise Hwy (from the Julian side) for our first ascent of Mount Laguna.  Now we were only six.  When you look at the elevation profile you will notice it isn’t one continuous climb-rather it is a rolling stairstep climb.  Adam “Rock Rabbit” Bickett was setting tempo and soon it was just he and I leading the rest.  I looked back and there was a noticeable time gap.

Adam was riding his fixed gear again and I believe he was riding a 46 x 16.  His gearing is really close to the gearing I used on my fixed gear year at Furnace Creek 508 49 x 17.  It’s a tall gear but this event has a lot of descending and you need to gear for the downs as well as the ups.  Adam’s pace was a little tough for me and  I was dropped by him.  As I backed off Rock Rabbit’s pace the other riders in our six man “break” slowly crept up to me and passed me.  On one of the rollers I didn’t have it in me to push hard enough, close the gap, catch a wheel and a draft and was gapped significantly.  I couldn’t keep up so I went alone for a little while.

Kitchen Creek Climb

Kitchen Creek data

Nearing Mount Laguna Summit #1
(2 riders abreast not condoned)

I eventually caught the Desert Fox and a triathlete (camo painted bike) and we summited and descended together towards Kitchen Creek.  We began the climb together but I just couldn’t keep up.  I guess the lack of training since Hell’s Gate Hundred was really coming into play.  I had only ridden four times since the HGH and it was very apparent I am loosing fitness.   I let them go and then climbed at my pace. At the gate for Kitchen Creek I was passed by Cliff Clermont, with another rider and Sean “Crow” Cuddihy, a 508 veteran.  These three riders were on fire and had left on the 6:10am wave.  They had caught me in just 55 miles.  While on the climb I was passed by the eventual winner Drew Peterson.  He was part of the 6:20am wave.  Drew’s time was simply amazing at 5:22.  Great job dude!

I climbed at my own pace and felt defeated that I was passed by so many riders in the first 55 miles.  I was battling cramps all the way up this climb.  Cramping is something I am not accustomed to dealing with during an event or training for that matter. Even when I do cramp it subsides quickly and it doesn’t impede my performance for very long.  A couple of times I grunted aloud with the pain of the cramps.  I made my way to the summit a second time and took eight Endurolytes – 4 then and 4 for the descent. I was alone now with no other riders around.

The hard thing about riding long distances is how to pace and motivate yourself when you end up alone.  You loose valuable time because there is no one to push you and you get complacent with your pace.  Being in “no man’s land” between the lead riders and the slower riders is tough on your psyche.  The power meter helps with pacing but having another wheel in front of you pushing you out of your comfort zone.  Needless to say, I got comfortable with a slower pace and lost valuable time to the lead riders.

Second summit of Mount Laguna

Pine Creek Climb notice Grey line is torque.


Pine Creek Climb Data
Climbing Pine Creek Road
I rode the third loop alone.  I climbed Pine Creek alone and passed only two riders–  Jim Knight and Adam Bickett.  Is it fair to claim that I passed Adam since he was on his fixie and the climb had significant number of ramps of 20%?  I never dismounted.  Although I had to keep the intensity down because I could feel my heart rate soar every time I tackled one of the 20% grades.  
It was awesome to see handwritten signs on the side of the road on Pine Creek Road.  It motivated me to speed up and read the next one.  The quotes themselves were inspirational.  But even more than the quotes  was seeing the author’s name of the quote.  It made me think of the people and the time frame in which they were alive.  People like Churchill and Emerson and Buddha brought even deeper thoughts than the quotes themselves.  A big thank you to the responsible party for making those signs– very thoughtful. The signs  were strategically placed and we were going slow enough to ponder them.
At the finish with a V8 still trying to solve my cramping issue
The Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic is soon to become a classic in the true sense.  The event is in the East San Diego County mountains where vehicular traffic is significantly lower than that of urban centuries put on by other event organizers.  The climbs are epic the downhills are fast but safe.  The views are spectacular.  It is accessible from downtown San Diego within only an hour but yet you feel completely removed from anything urban especially when climbing my favorite climb — Kitchen Creek.  Put it on your calendar for next year  APRIL 16, 2011!  I’ll see you there.

The Hand Up

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I was reminded by the Furnace Creek 508 race director that your bottle Hand Ups must be executed perfectly to achieve success at the 508. I submit to you an exchange that was masterfully executed, and even more importantly, documented for posterity and educational purposes. The players are George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas, the bottle hand upper Terry Zmrhal, the photographer Brandy Deluca. Taken at the 2007 Furnace Creek 508– Fixed Gear .