Sunday Hillfest

More training for the Mt. Diablo Challenge, coming up Oct. 2. I see they have finally reposted the results from last year, so I am reminded that I was only two minutes slower than my previous time, and that was after cramping up. So what that means to me, is that as long as I can prevent leg cramps, and am about the same training level I was last year, I should be able to at least equal my time, and perhaps come in closer to one hour, which is what I want to hit.

To prevent cramping, I am researching what form of electrolytes I am going to take with me during the race. Wheter it is a packet of Emergen-C or an Endurolyte capsule, or just 50% gatorade, I have not yet decided. From my previous attempts at using energy drinks while riding less than an hour, I have seen no positive effects, and possibly more negative effect than compared to drinking plain water. Something about the sugar sucks the energy right out of me. But on a long ride, I am sure electrolyte replacement helps me out. So what to do on a one-hour, high effort ride? I've tried just water in the past, and a gel pack right before the race. That didn't work for me. So this time, I'm going with electrolytes.

Today I rode from Woodside to San Gregorio, north on hwy 1 to Tunitas Creek, where the 9 miles hillclimb would be my strength test. I was all set with the Cambiatta data logger this time: Just gonna push the button once. I was hoping to meet Don and Paige for today's ride, but without my phone on me, I had no way of knowing why and how we had missed each other at the start, so I rode on solo.

The first climb up Old La Honda felt good. I used my smallest gear and spun as high a cadence as possible, just trying to find a rhythm. Passed quite a few people, and didn't get passed by anyone. Just as many cyclists in the bay area do, I judge my climbing ability by my elapsed time from bottom to top of Old La Honda. Today I came in at 24:40, and feeling very strong a the end (had to save something for the second Climb up Tunitas Creek) which is right where I usually am when in good climbing shape. At the top, a family had set up a table selling baked goods for Hurricane Katrina relief. Props to the family for settings that up, and the young kids who sold me the brownies and water. The top of Old La Honda road on a Sunday is perhaps the best logistical spot to sell things to bicyclists.

I took hwy 84 by way of Alice's Restaurant down to the ocean. It was a windy, lonely 14 mile ride. Not a single cyclist came past me, and only a handful were going the opposite way. I never like doing this stretch alone, because it really feels like you're nowhere, going to the end of the country (literally) and there's no way to get back except up a steep hill. There was a sign of life about 5 miles from the coast, actually the sign said "Rodeo" and the smell of horse hit me like a brick wall. I tried to catch a sideways glimpse of someone roping a steer or riding a bull, but was too busy battling the wind and holding my breath.

Finally I pull up to the general store at San Gregorio and take off my shoes to give my feet a breather. There's a large group of motorcyclists congregating outside, and my bicycle was the only one in the bike rack. Feeling totally outnumbered, I picked a ledge to sit on and mixed up a batch of Emergen-C to go with my brownie, and acted like I belonged there. Unfortunately, the brownie ended up having tons of white chocolate chips and probably a lot of butter (what was I thinking) so I chucked it and settled for a Clif Bar. The electrolytes in the EmergenC really perked me up, and I hit the road. Stage Road, that is.

Stage road is probably in the worst possible location, right after the rest stop, and it goes straight up. Cold, rested muscles and a steep incline do not make a happy marriage. I hardly picture stagecoaches going up this steep road, but such is the name. I rode this section very delicately, knowing full well the real climbing was coming up, and that I would need all my strength not to tackle a silly Stage Road, but rather to climb Tunitas Creek, and make it home. Once at the top of Stage road, I've reached the glorious Pacific Coast Highway, and plunge downhill towards a 20 second view of the ocean and some massive cliff walls surrounding a private beach. This is the "ocean" part of the "riding to the ocean" that sounds so exotic.

Finally hitting Tunitas Creek, the old logging road that turns men into mice, I cranked up the volume in my head and spun my pedals in a blur. Everyone knows (well almost everyone) that the first third of this road is easy. The second third is hell, and the last third is a tad easier. Sure enough, on that second third, I felt a lof of resistance of forward motion. my climbing rough and my breathing was labored, but I kept on pressing, looking for a soul to pass. And to my surprise the one person I catch up with ends up being Don! Apparently, he had left just before me, and did a slightly shorter ride, but the same loop to the ocean and back. It was a welcome happenstance, and we climbed the last third of Tunitas at a very competitive pace.

All in all, a good ride. Eager to check my Cambiatta data, tonight I downloaded the results: 5 rides logged, each 1 minute long, with no heart rate data. What the heck?!? At this point, I'd do better with pencil and paper. Perhaps a perusal of the instruction manual is in order. Oh but wait, they cleverly don't include instructions in the package. I have go to the website. A recipe for confusion! Anyways, I'll keep trying.