Climbing Drills

Today's workout was a series of hill repeats out on Point Loma. Ten trips up the Cabrillo climb, 318 feet of climbing over .8 miles with an average grade of 7.7%. Here how it broke down:

Climb 1: Seated 39/23

Climb 2: Standing 39/21

Climb 3: ILT right leg 39/27

Climb 4: ILT left leg 39/27

Climb 5: Standing 39/23

Climb 6: Seated 39/25

Climb 7: Standing 39/25

Climb 8: Seated 39/25

Climb 9: ILT right leg 39/27

Climb 10: ILT left leg 39/27

The last 2 intervals really hurt. Standing felt quite a bit better than the seated intervals.

Good work.

The rain finally let up. To be precise, it let up at 7:10 this morning... just in time to meet the 8 folks that showed up for the ride. Our usual route was under water, so we worked our way around fashion valley and then took a detour through Clairemont.

Through attrition, we were left with 4 of us to tackle the inside of Torrey Pines, felt relatively strong and gave it a go spinning the 39/21. After Sorrento Valley and the lead into Top Gun I split off and went up Pomerado and climbed up to the 67.

For as little training as I have been doing, I'm feeling pretty good.

Winters here

After last week's 70 degree temperature, the drop into the 50's today was a bit of a kick in the nads. Only 5 of us were up to the challenge of a wet, cold Wednesday ride, and somewhere we lost one on the run up 94. The climb up was a bit painful; the legs felt pretty heavy.

Don's been absolutely flying lately, Jason was there, Marlo as well, leaving me the weak link. Hmmm.... time to do work.

The ride home from was peppered with spits of rain. Still, the roughest day in SD is better than the best back east.

Good Quiz:

http://blog.fritesenmayo.com/

Saturday

Another good day today. Legs did feel pretty heavy, so took it slow. Up the coast to Solana Beach for a quick espresso before work. Tons of cyclist out, and out early this morning. Pretty cool to see. Bagged around 28 miles.

A scheduling change at work meant I had the afternoon off as well, so I headed out east for a ride up Laguna. I took the route up Pine / Deer Creek Road. Steep. Adding 3300' and 38 hard miles to the day.

Good Training

Today I met up with the Chili's ride and rode with them up to Doyle Elementary, then jumped in with the Cyclo-Vets. We did the normal loop, up Torrey Pines. Torrey felt pretty good. Then we did the Top Gun route. I made a pretty strong effort to get away before the climb out of Carrol Canyon... but the group came back up to me, then I just tried to hang on.

Janel, Paul, and Don got away on the Top Gun section, and Arnie, Chad, and I tried to bring them back. No luck.

After dropping back into Mission Valley Janel, Paul, and I headed out for a climb up Mt. Soledad.

Fantastic views atop Soledad. Crystal clear from Orange County to TJ. 70 degrees in January... why live anywhere else.

How are you spending your New Year's Eve?

Ushering in a new year.

1 hour 30 minutes on the trainer

22 minutes of Spin Ups

18 minutes of alternating ILT's

20 minutes of standing Tempo Climbing

12 minutes of alternating ILT's

5 minutes of Spin Ups

5 minutes of 100+ rpm cool-down

Nothing but fun.

Happy New Year.

Interim Ride

So, until a new bike arrives, a friend of mine is letting me use his Scott Addict. With my Dura Ace wheelset the bike runs about 15.7 pounds - with an Ultegra Kit.

I rode one of these about a year ago, and what I remembered about this bike - that it's a rocket uphill - was correct. It responds instantly to any acceleration. It's not as comfortable, or as stable, as the Giants, but definitely a better climber.