Stone Brewery, and some mileage

Luke awhile back suggested a big road ride followed by a brew tour at Stone Brewery. Naturally we took him up on the suggestion!

We had planned earlier this week to hit up a ride including Palomar Mountain. With the impending storm and wet-ish weather that idea was scrapped for a more coastal ride.

Staging

It was sprinkling at the start in Esco, but was fairly dry after that. I found early on I was overdressed. The extra pocket was nice, though.

Lots of traffic early on

Sweet new well-working chain

We started climbing up the east side of 15 to Lilac and it started to sprinkle quite a bit.

2nd wettest point of the ride...despite the fact that the photo doesn't show it.

We regrouped, and headed downhill to Bonsall. The descent was a blast. Trevor and Justin off the front, Luke and I just behind. It was good times! We got down to the College Ave bike path for a quick break, and it started coming down pretty good as we rolled out. Luckily I had a rain jacket; unfortunately about 4 miles down the path I got really warm and had to stop to take off the jacket.

Justin spent the next 10 or so minutes blowing himself up so that we could catch the group! It was rough. Crazy headwind.

Got over to the coast and it was sunny and a lot warmer. Off came the layers!

It was fairly uneventful after that, and eventually we got down to Palomar Airport Road and I was toast. The climbs got really tough. Eventually it occured to me at snail pace to try an Endurolyte. Took another little while for it to kick in, but the last monster of a hill I finally felt decent.

Once at the bottom I was ready for another hour or so of riding! Before we knew it we were back at Stone, more rain drops, and beer and food.

We finished up the tour and were waiting around for the free brew. Luke had been looking forward to it, but was out of the room when they were passing out the glasses. I saved mine for Luke. He walked back into the room and not only was I saving my glass for him, but his aunt had the same idea.

Double-fistin'. A happy man.

Late edit: Photos from Wed/Thurs

Yeah, it's been a busy few days...

The offender...

The throw-away

Good as new

The latest training fad... a mirror.

Secret training...

Full(ish) moon

Sunsettin'

"Auto Enhance" made this one come out pretty funky.

Isn't this why I'm on a trainer to begin with?

Got up at 5:30 this morning to hop on the trainer for half of my regen time today. Didn't want to get up at 5 again, and I don't have time to do an hour ~ tonight. So, I get on my gear, hop on the trainer and start up the Garmin.

Hmm, that's a weird sound. I look at the rear tire. It looks okay. But, man, that sounds really weird. I unclip and hop off. Squeeze the rear tire.

Pfft.

It's completely flat.

Oddly enough there was a massive goathead thorn sticking right out at me. I pull it out. How do you get a goathead in your tire while it's on the trainer? The last time I rode outside was Sunday. The bike sat on Monday. I did drills Tuesday morning. So it lasted 2 full days with no problem, but then went flat this morning.

I went out to get the pump, thinking maybe it was just a small leak. :\ Shockingly, no dice. The air is just wooshing out the hole. I tried tape. I was desperate. I didn't have 10-15 minutes to change the tube out.

Nothing else was working, and since I didn't want to wind up 30 minutes short I took the bike off the trainer, flipped it over in the guest bedroom and got to work changing out the tube. Naturally, I couldn't find tire levers. I couldn't get the tire off without them. Out to the garage. No tire levers in either seat bag. Damn.

I headed over to Justin's Park Tool bag of tools and at first glance I thought there was no way in hell I'd find a tire lever even if there were 5 in there. Imagine about 45 tools tossed in an open faced backpack.

Luckily we had just bought two bright orange tire levers not too long ago, and one popped out at me. Phew. Tire removed, back inside to change out the tube.

Only had a momentary snag putting the wheel back on, and off I went. Wound up still getting in 25 minutes.

I don't have an easily functioning camera, so shots tonight. It's too ironic to not get a photo or two.

I'm also excited because I found a decent(er) trainer on sale at REI earlier this week and Justin gave the ok to order it up. It's pink, but it was $60 cheaper than the lime green version, so no complaints from me. It's a sale item, so no rebate $$, but it was also $20 off since I spent over $100. AND, the best part is that if it doesn't work as good as some of the reviews that I read (e.g. it isn't quieter than my current mag trainer and the resistance doesn't work as well as it's supposed to) then I'm just going to return it for store credit or try out the CycleOps Fluid 2 (which some say is similar). Review to come once it is in. I even ordered it to be shipped to the store, so no shipping charges to me. Yay. Now if only it wasn't an hour drive to get there!

Yeah, today is gonna be one of those days. It's our department holiday lunch, and we're heading to Mexican food. What can you get that is healthy at a Mexican restaurant? Side salad with dressing on the side? Cause, I can't find anything else.

A whole new world...

"A dazzling place I never knew

But when I'm way up here

It's crystal clear"

Yes, I had the song from Aladdin stuck in my head most of yesterday. I started a few minutes back from Luke and Justin trying to get my GPS to find satellites, and never caught up. I was trying to keep the HR sub-threshold, but wound up really hitting some high numbers on the opening climb. Got up to Trabuco and we barely stopped. I asked the guys let me go ahead for a shot at the first switchback, and they obliged.

I took off after them and was really shocked to be on Luke's wheel. He hasn't bee off road much, and I know isn't as familiar with Trabuco as I was. But, I still felt really confident descending a somewhat technical trail, and that hasn't been the case for me on the Dos in MONTHS. I don't know if it was wearing glasses and really being able to see the trail, if it was my tire selection (I took off my "cross" tires for some beefier rubber that was better for training time) with the Racing Ralph up front and the Captain in the rear (seriously good tire combo IMO), or a combination of both.

Either way, I was stoked with my descending. My climbing left much to be desired, but at least I didn't feel like an idiot going downhill.

We also stopped at the Christmas tree for a (newly made) "annual" tradition

I even made one of the rockier creek crossing sections, right before Horsetheif. I don't think I've ever cleaned any of them before.

Luke heading through

At the midway point

Got down to Holy Jim pretty quickly and I made the boys take a quick break so I could put some food in my stomach. Off we went for the singletrack and the climb.

I felt pretty good, even with the HR spiking most of the time. Justin was playing photographer.

Tunnel

Was it always that low??

I saw the boys at the last creek crossing before the switchbacks, and then it was a really long time before I'd see them again. There were quite a few boyscouts and leaders hiking up the hill to put in mile marker sign posts. I passed a few of them. Seemed like I was moving at a decent pace, but never seemed to be able to see Justin or Luke up ahead. I came around one of the rockier sections to see Luke with his bike upside down on the trail. Minor chain in the spokes problem, and off he rolled.

I finally caught back up when he had stopped with Justin just before the switchover to the last mile of Holy Jim.

Felt like I was really making it up there quick. Not fast, speed-wise, but just moving along pretty good. I had to tripod around a few switchbacks and walk some hairier sections, but I never stopped for a break.

Before I knew it I was at the turn where Main Divide becomes visible, and shortly after I was at the nice HAB.

Justin decided to hit up the Divide and down Upper HJ, but my hammy was giving me some problems, and also I knew I had a road ride coming up the next day. Luke was content to hang with me, and we sent Justin off on a hard effort since we didn't want to wait too long!

We got moving again soon after (took less than 30 minutes for the loop!) and we were back to traversing the divide. We hit "the wall" and Luke found his climbing legs. I didn't see anything of him (except his jersey) until the end of the ride back at the truck!

Justin hung back with me for the most part.

It was such a crystal clear day! We could see all the way to Catalina.

I enjoyed my new kit also...

My legs were thoroughly trashed after the ride. Haven't felt that bad in awhile! Tried to elevate and rest them most of the afternoon, and we wound up in bed early. That was good, since it was up at 3:15. *grumble* I went back to bed from 5:30 to 7 or so.

Was due to ride with Luke around 10, and while I was worried my legs wound be trashed still, they felt great most of the ride. Took it easy for the first half, and second half was some harder efforts, especially into the headwind. Was definitely glad for the company; it would've been pretty lonely out there!

Looking forward to the rest day tomorrow, and watching Christmas Vacation tonight with my sis!

Two paths diverged in a rocky desert…

"and sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
and having perhaps the better claim
because it was grassy and wanted wear;
though as for that, the passing there
had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
in leaves no feet had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference"
_______________________________

Not so long ago, just about 12 months and some weeks I went to Bootleg Canyon for a weekend full of DH debauchery. I enjoyed the entirety of it, and felt like my descending skills were in full progression. Only a few weeks later I went on to do pretty well at a local Expert DH race; far better than I expected.

This year I felt fear looking at the rocky descent, and walked far more than I should have. Confidence in descending is a tricky thing.



This year we'd be in opposite gear.



We even shared a few of these



Some friends change, but some remain the same



Not sure I'd hit that.

This post somewhat segway's into what will eventually become the 2008 Introspective; my veritable Year In Review.

2008 was not my typical year. I went from thinking I was eating healthy to eating a lot healthier, from dealing with hills and intervals to craving more speed on them and knowing there will always be people faster to chase up them, from being far over my comfort weight to falling far below it and still being able to ride fast and for long hours, and rather than worrying about a meaningless series jersey as an "underclassmen" I'm going to try to take the plunge to varsity ball.

I guessed I'd hit a bit over 3,000 miles, and at this point I'll likely reach 4,500 or more.

I thought I rode a lot in May, but the past month has showed me that consistency is key, but it does physically wear you down.

Things will always change, but somewhere along my 2008 journey, way back in the early weeks and months of the year I chose to travel down one path, and looking back I can say I might go back and try that one another day, but realistically, as Mr. Frost so well layed out many years ago, way leads on to way, and I probably won't be back.

Others will trod down that path enthusiastically, I have no doubt, but it isn't for me anymore. Don't be sad; when one door closes another one opens.







I told you some things never change...



Saturday I went on a 3 hour solo ride, watching the DHers on the shuttle perpetually riding up the mountain, and imagining them riding back down. I know some of those trails. They are challenging, and fun, and adrenaline enducing. Surprisingly enough, so are the trails made for lycra-clad riders on soft tails.







I spent 3 days outside of Vegas, and until the final hour this was as close as I got



I looked forward to that view for 2 days.





As always, for James



Mas Tequila!



I'd been waiting for a photographer for 3 days to get this shot...



Justin joined me on Sunday morning for a fun ride through the hills.









We took a detour to the airport and then spent far too many hours in holiday traffic. I guess we could've left at 7:30 and made it home in half the time, but I'm glad we rode Bootleg one last time. I should've used the helmet cam to capture the fun rollers, fast singletrack, and tricky sections for those endless hours on the trainer.

Until next year...