Bye Bye 2010 … What a Wild Year

So it goes, another year goes by … wow, time sure flies when you get older.  I don’t even know where to start.

Well, first off, I originally set a goal of completing the California Triple Crown.  I had a dreadful double season in 2009, mostly due to lack of fitness, so I wanted to really prepare well in the beginning of 2010.  I was training really well, pounding out the miles, where the first double would be Solvang at end of March.  Then, I had a bike accident descending Montebello, followed by a silly office accident, making it impossible for me to even try to attempt Solvang.  Then Davis, in May, was the next target, but I just wasn’t in the mood for a double.  Then, I made a bold statement, but waving the white flag, and giving up on doubles.

In June, I decided to try the Grand Tour double in Malibu.  I figured I’ll see how I do there.  Well, I did a lot better than I thought, and I completed it, feeling pretty fresh at the end.  There was hope for me after all … training continued, completing at least a century a month leading up to September, where I did Knoxville Double.  That was a really fun ride, and created a lot of friends there, and again, finished the ride pretty fresh.  Somehow, I was convinced to do a third, Bass Lake Double, and finished that with flying colors.  Wow, I completed my triple crown, after all that.

So I guess it started out good, turned sour, then kicked it into a higher gear, and got my second wind in the fall.  It’s just amazing what torture you put on your body, and how resilient it is.

Back at the office, I switched to a new group, which meant I work for a new boss, only to have him leave 10 months later, and now I’m working for a new boss.  Moving over to the new group was a new challenge for me, having to train on a new product, and to suffer through broken sales promises that this new product will do this and that … welcome to reality.  Don’t listen to sales … listen to support … they’ll tell you how it really is.  But at least I have a good solid job … that’s not the norm around here.

So as we say goodbye to 2010, it’s time to think of new goals for 2011.  Well, what can I say … I see the cool double century riders with those gold triple crown jerseys, 1000 double century miles in one year, plus volunteering to support one of the double century rides.  That is my goal for 2011.  You can say I’ve got the double century bug.  Not a bad goal to have, if you can complete it.  I hope I can.

Happy new year, everyone!

Squeezing in a Ride on Christmas Eve

Wow, we were lucky enough to get in one good, clear day and it happened to be on Christmas Eve.  The peaks on the San Gabriel Mountains were so incredibly clear.  Pictures don’t do it justice.

I couldn’t get together for a group ride, so I decided to go out solo.  I figured I should make it a short day, and get back by noon.  I took a short, direct route, to get to the climb on Santa Anita Blvd, on up to Chantry Flats.  It was just an absolutely gorgeous day.  There were no clouds in the sky at all, and it was as blue as the sky can get.  Felt like singing Mr. Bluesky.

I saw a bunch of cyclists coming down, but all of them were

mountain bikers.  What’s up with that?  At least I didn’t get passed by anyone … until the last 0.25 miles from the parking lot of Chantry Flats.  I decided to go up to the chopper pad, and the same cyclist who passed me up, decided to go up along with me.  Funny, it turned out the both of us were from the Bay Area, visiting.

I was out there in my long sleeve Cervelo jersey, and it kept me quite warm.  It was perfect wearing it climbing up the mountain, and it did get a little cool up at top.  I definitely needed that warmth while descending, but once I got to the bottom …. whoa, it was way too warm.  I probably should have left the knee warmers back home.

Hit and Run is Okay in Colorado if Car vs. Bike

Okay, I will admit, I am flying off the handle on this, but this just makes my blood boil.  Judge has accepted plea bargain deal from the multi-millionaire money manager, who runs over cyclist … the judge dropped the felony case.  They dropped the felony charge, and only have to face misdemeanor charges.  Well, I guess it really does pay to be rich and wealthy.  This encourages upper class to run over any cyclist on the road they see, and will not suffer any consequences.

I was originally going to spend a week off on PTO to enjoy the Quiznos Challenge in August.  Now, I won’t … they run over cyclists in Colorado.  Who knows … maybe Martin Erzinger will run over the entire pelaton, and claim he didn’t know he hit anyone, and claim sleep apnia.  Expect copy cats and try to get away with the same thing.

You may want to watch the race in person, but I won’t.  I prefer to live beyond the year 2011.  This is clearly a upper class vs. the rest of society issue … I guess we are not good enough to be in the same vicinity as multi-millionaires and their mansions.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/12/news/colorado-judge-oks-controversial-plea-deal-in-vail-hit-and-run_153281

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/11/news/the-explainer-is-having-a-mercedes-an-affirmative-defense_149196

I guess Tony Kornheiser is laughing at all of this.  Perhaps Martin Erzinger followed his advise, and run over any cyclist in his way?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmOLpjKys

Cold and Foggy Weekend of Riding

I felt heavy, like I’ve got a lead weight in my belly … I think it’s because I was sick last weekend, and I haven’t been out riding in over a week.  I needed to get out, no matter how cold or dreary it would be outside.

Michael, Richard, Ron, Cliff, Brentley, George at Pig Farm Hill

Saturday, went out to Orinda, and did a ride with Richard.  We had a pretty good turnout.  However, it was a really foggy day.  Ground was all wet, and descending with fog became a bit of a challenge.  Couldn’t decide if I should leave my glasses on or take them off … I decided to take them off on the descents.

A lot of the hills were rollies, and they just did me in.  Sure, I would start off fine, but I could only sustain that pace for so long … eventually I get passed left and right.

Overall, a good right, mixing in rolling hills, and stretches of flat smooth road, which meant pacelining, and taking pulls.

Sunday, Ramon and I rode out to meet Michael in Woodside at Robert’s Market.  Basically, a good 17 miles of flat out to Woodside, then climb King’s Mountain.  It was foggy today too.  This time, I came prepared, bringing lights, and blinkers just about everywhere.

I felt good going out, and I just figured Ramon was just letting me lead out.  I guess I was going out with a bit more brisk pace than usual.  Maybe it was that scrambled egg bagel breakfast that I made for breakfast?

Foggy ascent

Apparently, I went out a bit too fast … as once we started climbing Kings, I was distanced almost from the get go.  No worries, I’m used to it.  I can clearly tell I’m out of shape, as I’m climbing a lot slower than the last time I climbed Kings.  But you know what it means when I’m climbing slow … more pics!

About 2/3 the way up, the sun started to peep through.  I tried to take pictures to capture that, but it fails in comparison to the real scene.  You’ll just have to imagine it.

Sun breaking through the trees and the mist

Sun awaits us up ahead

If only I had the eye of a photographer.  Somehow, the creative mind just completely alluded me.

Annoying Playlist is now gone

By popular demand, I have removed playlist, which is the background soundtrack that appears when you visit this page.  So you will be able to come to this page in silence.

Carry on my wayward son!

Death Ride Registration Came and Went

Wow, the death ride registration was yesterday, and within the same day, it completely filled up.  Not that I was really looking forward to doing it … this made it easy to make up my mind to do it or not … hehehe

Yes, I know … all my friends keep saying that I definitely can do it, that my climbing is good enough where I can do this … and they say I should do it … but there is one big difference … I don’t want to do it.  🙂

There is something about the word death in a ride.  I do plan to volunteer for Devil Mountain’s Double … but the worker’s ride???  We’ll see about that.  There’s another ride in Southern California called Breathless Agony.  Somehow, that doesn’t sound like fun.  Another one under that category is Heartbreak Double … I guess I don’t get it.