New Territory

It is not often I find new climbs and new territory to venture on my bicycle in the County I have trained in for years and years. Basically I have traveled all the roads in this area many times, and searched for the highest hills and steepest grades to train and test myself on. However today was my lucky day, in that I came across a kind gentleman who invited me to ride his secret roads in a place that is literally a Preserve. The area is one of the most well kept spots in all of California, right in the back yard of Monterey County, just next door to the Ventana Wilderness. Beauty abounds with each turn of the head, and your eyes are filled with epic views that wild life knows as their true home. The private roads are beyond category steep and surely the most well manicured pavement possible. Is this a cycling paradise- Yes! The climbing is off the charts, with roads that only a super climber could dream up. The descending is pure, and this is where a human can feel like a diving hawk railing through the wind currents on a joy ride downward. I am positive that this area will build me into a better rider, a better climber, and simply make me stronger. I am thankful to this gentleman who introduced me to this area, and was kind enough to reach out and help me keep my wheels rolling forward.

I did the Robinson Canyon brutal interval session today. It was super windy, and at the half way point of the interval, there was the stiffest head wind I have ever faced up the second part of the climb. My heart rate was very high during this session and my legs really struggled when climbing into the headwind. I liked it so much!

My Garmin Totals for the day-

80 miles

6300 feet climbed

5:30 riding time

Max HR 189

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34700962

Recovery Ride

I did a light recovery ride today. I felt a little tapped out after this past weekends races, and today I just did 90 minutes really easy on the bike. I worked on spinning the legs at a high cadence under no pressure at all. It was a nice day for a ride along the ocean, yet it did rain some which is interesting for Monterey on May 25.

Garmin totals- http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34604616

Weekend Races- So Close But Yet So Far

Every race has a chance to be different and out of the ordinary. Sometimes things go to script, other times the proceedings can be quite surprising. I must always remember this and learn from the chaos and variation that can happen in any situation. I will continue to learn from trial and error.

I had some hard riding in this weekends races. I will get better from these experiences, good or bad!

My Garmin readings from 3 races this weekend, one Sat.- two Sun.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34351577

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34351480

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34351577

Saddle Time

I climbed right back in the saddle today and went pretty long. My totals were 67 miles in about 5 hours. I just cruzed for most of the ride and tried to really spin my legs out. However, I did do some climbing and one test up the brutal Robinson Canyon interval section. Despite being pretty tired and sore, I had a solid time of 12:54. My heart rate got up pretty high and I just kept focused at getting the interval session done no matter what my strength level was. In the end I posted a solid time.

Here are my Garmin totals from the ride today.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33879809

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33879815

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33879822

Tuesday At Ft Ord

The Tuesday night practice race session I started at Ft Ord a few years ago is always producing good action. I found a course that is very challenging but not over the top with steep hills. There are numerous rolling hills, some wind sections, and lots of straight roads. I had to find a route since the flat Criterium course that locals have used for years was taken away. This newer route is even better for producing good racing and making riders stronger.

Tonight I learned some very good lessons on course, and I am always so happy to be taught lessons from other riders. I am so ready to learn!

Here is my Garmin info from the route.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33804341

I did feel off some, but just plugged along and did the best I could. I am always happy to take a beating and learn lessons on course the hard way. It is the only way to improve.

XC Course Info

Here is my Garmin Information from the XC loop I ran today for the CCCX Series.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33578260

This course is pretty tough with 650 feet of climbing per 5 mile lap. Some of the climbs are very steep, while most of the climbing is at a average grade. I really enjoy racing on this course.

Races

Here is my Garmin data from the 2 races I did today. One race was in Modesto and the other near Santa Cruz. I must admit the first race I felt pretty sluggish and not snappy at all. I would like to be able to make constant attacks and constant hits off the front.

Scotts Valley Grand Prix Info.-

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33413068

Modesto Info.-

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/33413077

For both races I felt as if I could not do much. I know I was riding at a low level.

Robinson Canyon Hill Climb Interval

Here is my Garmin input from the Robinson Canyon Hill Climb Interval training session I have agreed to do this season on a semi regular basis. The climb is always at 7% to 9% grade with a few sections at 14%. 13 minutes is the desired time.

Untitled by cyclesport007 at Garmin Connect - Details

Laguna Seca Track Night

I gave it a go at the Laguna Seca Wed. Track night. Today was a special track night as one of my favorite riders, World Cyclocross Champion Lars Boom of Team Rabobank was there for the event. It was nice to chat with him some and talk Cyclocross and the up coming Tour of California. He mentioned it was his first trip ever to California and he was enjoying his time here.

It was too bad I felt really bad on the bike tonight. My legs felt super sluggish and in the end it was not my best day on the bike.......

MT DIABLO

It was 1 & 1/2 hours of riding up and down portions of Mt. Diablo on Monday. It is my favorite climb in Nor-Cal for Road bikes by far......

The day was made extra special because I was peppered with rain during the climb and the decent of the Mtn.

I only had time for making half of the climb to the top, so I turned around at the junction. My legs were pretty tapped from doing 2 races on Saturday, then promoting the CCCX DH on Sunday, so making just half of Mt. Diablo was perfect.

Race Weekend

Saturday it was the PG&E Crit. in Livermore. I learned huge lessons in this race. I will keep on racing and keep on learning. I had good sensations in my legs and this type of hard racing will mold me into the type of rider I desire to be.

Sunday was the CCCX DH race in Toro Park. I have built some super fun trails in Toro Park and I really enjoy climbing on my MTB and flying down the hills in Toro Park.

DH SET UP

I spent 6 hours with two helpers setting up the CCCX DH #3 course today. The trails are just waiting to be ripped up from the racing. The course I am using has not been used yet in 2010 and the berms and jumps are primed for use. A few of the sections are still sloppy and wet from the rainy spring we have had this year. I had to re-route some of the trails to avoid the water, but the route is still sweet! I even added 2 new jumps, they are small but have future potential for good action after I build them up more.

Hills

It was 4 hours today on the Road bike. The goal for the day was hills! I did Aguajito climb twice, the back side of Los Laureles Grade, and Robinson Canyon. 5100 feet of climbing in about 50 miles of riding. There was a bunch of wind today as well, so it was a good day to stay away from the coastline and head to the high hills of the Monterey Peninsula. I set one of my best times this year up my interval section of Robinson Canyon. I have noticed my times getting lower on a continual basis up the tremendously difficult sections where I do my interval workout on Robinson Canyon. This is a good sign for sure!

My Slalom

I found some amazingly cool photos here on PINK BIKE of my Slalom course. I build this course so photos like these can be taken!

Please have a look- http://www.pinkbike.com/news/californication-part-3-2010.html

Tuesday Ride

It was 3 hours and 51 miles today on the Road bike. The Tuesday Ft Ord Circuit practice race was really good tonight, and there were many strong riders present. I really like it when the attacks start to go off and the practice race gets really full on...... The Monterey Peninsula has many strong riders and it is great action to race hard against the other strong riders of this area.

Keep Writing

This blog is pretty cool because it has many links to all kinds of cycling web sites. So I may as well keep on using this blog. I have been taking some time off my writing's but feel as if it is time to post some of the action that is my life.

Here is a link to a interesting video about a course I build for the Sea Otter Classic- The legendary Dual Slalom.

Have a look please-

http://blogs.bikemag.com/blog/keith-defiebre-the-artistry-of-course-design/

Yesterday I did 2 races and 91 miles on the Road Bike. Made a huge calculation mistake on the final lap in one of my key races for the year and failed to deliver a good ride. I must learn from this and take the bad and good on a even level. Now I start the main part of the Road Race season, and I will work extra hard to put myself into position to achieve some rides that exceed the ordinary & match my inner goals.