So who said you can’t get 9,000 feet of climbing on the coast?

Posted on by
Reply

I couldn’t go out to the mountains last weekend. So I thought I would check out the hills that shoot off of Pacific Coast Highway. I rode down from Huntington Beach to San Clemente. I was determined to get a 100 miles in and at least 7K of climbing. I ended up with 100 and 9K. In a 58 mile section I got 7,700 feet.

On my return trip I went up as many hills as I could take directly off PCH. Let me caution you and tell you that this was NOT an easy ride. Most of the hills were at least 10% grades with others significantly more. This ride is NOT for the beginning rider.

I started with San Salvador in San Clemente. Very steep

Then Palisades Dr to Bienvenido and some other dead end street. Very steep

Pacific Island Dr both sides. Steep

Nyes Place continue on Balboa. Very Very steep 1 mile section over 20%

Summit Dr and Bluebird Canyon. Very Steep

Alto Vista gated community. Steep

Newport Coast with Vista Ridge Steep.

At the end of my ride I was treated to about 15 miles of headwind. Good way to finish a hard day on the bike.

I commuted today. My wonderful girlfriend, Brandy, was up at 4am with me getting me ready to get out the door. She made coffee and a light breakfast and I was off. She really is the best at taking care of me.

Ticia if you are reading this you should be riding your bike. Get out and ride your bike!

All for now.

Not feeling it today…

Posted on by
Reply

Last week I completed my longest week of miles since my initial base period. Late November and December of 2007 I began a base building program to get ready for my first few events in January 2008. LAST WEEK I COMPLETED 429 MILES. I’m feeling it now. Typically, Monday is a rest day for me. I took my rest day as planned.

Today is Tuesday and I felt exhausted after my usual 6 hours of sleep. I awoke at 4am and just couldn’t see getting a productive day of training out of it. I felt exhausted and my legs were still aching. I was supposed to commute today (100 miles round trip). I will listen to my body and take another rest day.

I will resume commuting (training) tomorrow Wednesday. This weekend is the 4th of July and since I would rather be riding my bike than just about anything else during the holidays —I’m going climbing.

All for now. MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG AND YOU WILL GET ALL THE LATEST NEWS.

Training update for Furnace Creek 508

Posted on by
Reply


I have extended my commute to 50 miles each way. The graphs are above. I few more rollers and a good little hill on the way back to the car in the evening. You can see that on the elevation profile graph (exact opposite route).

I think I will keep it at 100 miles a day for July and then maybe by August start doing full commutes of 65 miles each way (130 miles a day). This is only for three days a week.

We’ll just have to see how the legs hold up. I am experience some pain on my left Achilles tendon I hope it goes away.

Training for Funace Creek 508 Update

Posted on by
Reply

Training for the 508 is coming along nicely. I have extended my commute to 45 miles each way. That’s 90 miles a day (with an 8 hour work day in between) and 270 miles for the week before the weekend starts.

Today’s commute was plagued with little annoyances. The morning started off great. I got enough sleep the night before and my legs only ached a little from the Tuesday night Criterium I do in Long Beach. One hour of high intensity effort. So less than 12 hours later on the bike again.

1. I drive 20 miles to my commute start point. I really needed to go to the restroom and didn’t have any idea where to pull over.

2. Well as I am thinking about where to pull over I realize I LEFT MY BIKE AT HOME!

3. My iPod wasn’t working yet it was fully charged

4. I had a headwind and warming up I said to myself “oh this is going to be a long ride”

5. I have four saddle sores now and they began to cause discomfort right from the start of the ride.

6. I flatted on Interstate 5 South from Las Pulgas to Harbor Drive in Oceanside. First time I have ever flatted on my commute on the 5 freeway.

But the day got better. On my way through Oceanside I ran into Steve Hegg . Then I ran into my friend Jason. We rode together and he gratefully listen to me whine about my ride. I then get to the start of the “Camp Pendleton Ride” and see some other friends Kenny Souza and John Howard.

As I’m shaking John’s hand he says “Hey Mr. Ultra Distance Cyclist!” I was stunned and humbled by his comment. I replied “John you are the the Ultra Distance Cyclist.” Then we got into a discussion of when I was doing RAAM Solo and why I didn’t participate in 2008 RAAM. It was good talking to one of the guys you started this whole crazy RAAM thing. He is really a down to earth guy.

Anyway I eventually made it to work and then the doldrums of the day began for sure. Except when Scott Tinley came in for a bike fit.

If you have read this far I am beginning my search for crew members for Furnace Creek 508. If you are interested send me a line.

ALSO IF YOU SUBSCRIBE YOU WILL BE KEPT UP TO DATE ON MY DOINGS!

Training for Furnace Creek 508

Posted on by
Reply


Starting this week I will begin ramping up the mileage slowly. Furnace Creek is Oct 4-5, 2008. I have about three months to get ready.

I rested on Monday.

I did the Tuesday night Criterium at El Dorado Park. 27 miles at high intensity.

Today (Wednesday) I did a partial commute from San Clemente to work on my Fixed Gear (32.5 miles).

Tonight I will commute back to San Clemente after work. (32.5 miles)

Thursday the same

Friday possibly a high intensity morning ride.

I would like to leave the doldrums of the 100-150 mile weeks. Seems that is all I have been doing since moving to crits and road races. As I near October I will be up to 400 mile weeks or more.

Catching up with George….

Posted on by
Reply

From L to R. Choosak, Jason, Brandy, me and Joseph at 2008 Devil’s Punch Bowl

Suffering at San Luis Rey Road Race

Also at San Luis Rey Mark Thomas from Kahala and another rider rotating through just to finish.

Well I have been getting emails from you my readers as to why I have not kept my blog up-to-date. I have been busy racing every weekend. The challenge I see is how to report back weekly on something as short as a Criterium. These races are 45-55 minutes long. The races are over and done with in such a short period of time. It’s not like my Ultras full of pain and suffering for hours and hours.

Criteriums are all about positioning. For example, positioning is very important at the very start so you don’t end up having to fight your way to front when you are tired. There are often more crashes in the back so staying near the front is advised. Positioning is very important in the last laps of the race to assure yourself the opportunity to sprint for the finish and place well.

Here are my results for races after LA Circuit on March 16 through today May 13th.

3/18–El Dorado 4/5 Pack Finish
3/23–Ontario GP 30+ 4/5–19th
3/23–Ontario GP 35+ 1-4–22nd
3/23–Ontario GP Cat 4/5–52nd after crash with 4 laps to go
3/25–El Dorado Masters– Field
4/1—El Dorado Masters—7th
4/6—Anthill Crit Cat 4– 12th
4/8—El Dorado Masters– Pack Finish
4/15–El Dorado Masters– 12th
4/20–Torrance Crit–16th
4/22–El Dorado Masters– 9th
4/26–Devils Punch Bowl–54th
4/29–El Dorado Masters– 9th
5/4—San Luis Rey Road Race Cat 4– 72nd

Since moving to Cat 4 I have had consistent top 20 finishes in Criteriums with fields over 100. I have not faired as well in road races. At Devil’s Punch Bowl I was dropped on the first lap and had to finish the race alone–basically. I tried to go with the first accelerations straight from the line. I didn’t have a good warm-up and I was dropped. At San Luis Rey I was dropped on the second out of four laps. I had done Breathless Agony, a 12,000 foot climbing event, the day before and my legs were toast. I will not do that again. I must show up with fresh legs since I should be racing next season as a Cat 3.

I have not been placing high enough to upgrade via points. But the regulations also allow for upgrade via experience in 20 races with fields over 50. Currently, I have completed 16 races (need 20) as a Cat 4. I am literally one month away from applying for a Cat 3 upgrade.

Once I achieve my goal of upgrading from Cat 5 to Cat 3 in one season I will then have to focus on my Ultras again. I need to turn on the long distance machine back on and get ready for Furnace Creek 508. I was accepted to the Furnace Creek 508 25th anniversary edition. I am one of 100 racers racing in the solo division.

LA Circuit Race Report

Posted on by
Reply

First Race as Cat IV
Field Size 100
Weather WINDY 20-30 Mph gusts
Finished 12Th place

Well as I suspected the winds were still strong on race day. My goal was to stay hidden in the pack. I did that so well that Brandy said she had been trying to take pictures of me but couldn’t find me. I told her that was the plan.

The course was two long straights with two U-turns at either end. Our speeds going into the wind were mid 20’s our speed with the tailwind was well over 30 mph.

So this is what would happen every lap. We would go really fast with the tailwind (over 30mph) then slow down to a crawl (about 10mph) into the U-turn then full throttle into the wind then crawl into the other U-Turn then full throttle as we came out of the turn with the tailwind. Repeat this for four laps.

It became very apparent that sitting in was more important than trying to be a hero. So I sat in until the last turn and then the sprint was on. We came out of the corner at almost full throttle with at least a mile to go to the finish line. I sensed the move coming from my left and chased after it. Well he tried to get into the train and they didn’t let him in. As he tried to enter the train he cut my buddy off which threw off my line, then he cut me off, which threw off my line again and by that time he had created a gap. I hesitated whether I should chase or if I should just wait until someone bridged the gap and follow the wheels to the 200 meter line. Well other riders did come up and I was swallowed up. I had to fight for 12Th place.

In retrospect, I should have followed that flyer because he brought me to the front and if I would have stayed with him I would have been that much further ahead of the pack when he rolled off to let his teammate win. I have replayed this in my head for the last 12 hours and I can’t get it out of my head.

HIDING IN THE PACK. CAN YOU SPOT ME?

FIELD SIZE 100

THE SPRINT FINISH



I’M LIFTING MY RIGHT HAND BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT MY NUMBER BLOCKED BY THE BIG GUY NEXT TO ME

LA Circuit Race Eve

Posted on by
Reply

Saturday night and I am wondering what the weather will be like for my circuit race tomorrow. The weather today was very windy with gusts over 20mph. If the high winds continue it will make for a very interesting race tomorrow. Staying in the pack and not pulling will be key.

On another note…I visited Centennial Farm today with Brandy and the kids. Somehow I managed to be suckered into this. Enjoy.

DSCF9836

USCF Upgrade

Posted on by
Reply

My request for upgrade for my USCF License from Cat V to Cat IV has been approved.

I am still very concerned with crashing. It seems that every race that I have watched or participated in has had crashes. This is very scary to me. Yes cycling is a dangerous sport to begin with it. I would like to think that I can control my destiny by riding smart and towards the front of the pack. But I have been reading reports of crashes happening even in the first 10 wheels. In the thousands of miles I have ridden in Ultras I have come close only a handful of times BUT I have never crashed. The one time I did crash in a double century I was alone and fell asleep and ran off the road. Granted the intensity is less but we still have pacelines and we are in them for hours upon hours. I like the adrenaline rush of USCF racing but I am terrified of inexperienced riders or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My next goal is to upgrade to Cat III.

Here is the upgrade criteria straight from USA Cycling.

“4-3: 20 points in any 12-month period; or experience in 25 races with a minimum of 10 top ten finishes with fields of 30 riders or more, or 20 pack finishes with fields over 50. 30 points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade”

For Criteriums and Road Races
Number of Starters

Placing 5-10 11-20 21-50 50+
1……..3…..4…..5……7
2……..2…..3…..4……5
3……..1…..2…..3……4
4…………..1…..2……3
5………………..1……2
6………………………1

For Road Races

Points awarded for Road Races
Number of Starters

Placing 5-10 11-20 21-50 50+
1……..3…..7…..8…..10
2……..2…..5…..6……8
3……..1…..4…..5……7
4…………..3…..4……6
5…………..2…..3……5
6…………..1…..2……4
7………………..1……3
8………………………2
9………………………1

See you at the races.