Saturday Ride

This morning I was able to meet up with some of the Cyclo-Vets and join their Saturday Morning Ride. They meet down in Mission Valley @ the Coffee Bean around 8:30. The route is the same as the Chilli's Ride, but the stronger riders (or just those of us who trick ourselves into thinking we're strong) add a brisk climb up Torrey Pines for good measure. Since it can be a bit harder (In my opinion) I usually ride with this group, plus if Arnie's there I can pick his brain.

I rode to the start a bit early and downed an espresso and was able to read the UT before the group started to line up. If the weather's good (read, no chance of rain) there's usually a pretty good size group, today was sunny and clear, so there were nearly 60 at the start. We ride out past Fashion Valley to Morena Blvd picking up speed as we approach Santa Fe and Rose Canyon. Phil was putting in some work at the front, when Don joined him the group lined up behind and pinned it towards the Rose Creek bike path. There's a brief rise before we enter the bike path and Phil pushed hard up it, Don followed and I struggled to keep his wheel.

We regroup at the top of La Jolla Colony Drive, near Doyle Park, but it is a sprint to the top, and a painful one at that. Phil is obviously feeling strong and led all the way.

At the park the group splits into 3 groups, each with a slightly different route catering to their specific training needs, so a much smaller group of us rode out to do the Torey Pines climb. We headed through the UCSD medical complex and down into Sorrento Valley. After a hard effort climbing back out of Sorrento Valley and dropping into Carmel Valley we headed west towards the coast.

Phil, Don, Steve and I turned left towards Black's Beach and began the climb up Torrey Pines, passing a rider from Moment Cyclesport spinning up the hill doing ILT's! (A better man than I...). Phil ready was pushing the pace, a bit harder than I wished, and frankly a bit harder than I could do, so half way up I dropped off the back. Phil set the pace all the way up until Steve and Don attacked. Man, everyone is amazingly strong already this season... better get to work! At the top Steve said he averaged 348 watts up the climb, and at 148 lbs. that's a fair amount. Chapeau!

The other guys decided to make it a short day so that left Phil and I to drop back down into Sorrento Valley and climb up Carrol Canyon. We kept the pace slow and had a good talk all the way past Miramar and into Kearney Mesa. Phil's a treasure trove of race and training information, as well as being the California State TT Champion and an all-around good guy. It was a good ride back.

In Kearney Mesa, Phil turned back and headed out to Ramona for a few more climbing miles, while I headed out to Point Loma to do some hill repeats on Cabrillo Monument. After another quick espresso stop I climbed up to the naval base, paid my $3 and dropped down Cabrillo Road and did 9 repeats up the 7%, 340' grade - meant to do 10 but miss counted. By number 8 I was ready to go home.

All in all it was a great day.

6:08 hrs

88.6 miles

5900' climbing

HRavg: 130bmp