Eric F 

Yesterday...First time since 2005 with the big group (8:00 start) on the Montrose Ride. Strong pace (30+mph)on Huntington and Arrow was a lot of fun. Rolling fast-as-hell in a big group is one of my favorite parts of the cycling experience. Felt pretty good all day, and was able to stay with the front of the group through the hilly parts and up the finishing climb. It feels good to have this kind of fitness again. 46 mi/1600'.

Today...35 miles/2800' in the hills around Pasadena, including some nasty 12+% kickers. Talked a couple of buddies into suffering with me. Good ride on a misty grey morning.

Good weekend on the bike.

TakingMyTime

Well, I finally got out and did a short 14 miles on the SGRT. I haven't been posting lately because I had re-injured my ribs on April 1st. This time it wasn't on my bike but an injury in the home. It was basically a slip and fall except for the fact that when I fell the corner of our filing cabinet poked me right in the EXACT same place as my previous accident. It put me out of commission for the last 40 days. But I'm happy to say I'm back and starting the summer NOW.

diphthong

dropped off the car in mission valley and eked out a 20-spot rambling through del cerro, san carlos, grossmont, lake murray, la mesa, sdsu area and talmadge before
sliding back down fairmont ave (always crazy sketchy both directions close to the 8 freeway) to retrieve the urban assault vehicle. came home, grabbed the dueling speakers
and supplemented with an additional 16-spot in the usual metro san diego ways and means with music, hitting normal heights, north park, south park, golden hill, dtown,
the waterfront, little italy, bankers hill, balboa park and uni(versity heights). mid-60's and a little breezy for both rides with the mix of clouds/may gray and sun. bib shorts,
a cap, arm warmers, long sleeve merino wool underliner, short sleeve merino wool underliner under that and a full zip jersey were perfect. unzipped most of the way on a
few shortish inclines where the wind was at my back but otherwise, stayed about 90% zipped up and it was perfect.

fairly recently purchased garmin varia radar still comes in handy...even rolling thru dtown.

TakingMyTime

27 miles with a couple of friends at a nice easy pace. We left from Vista Point at the Newport Back Bay and then rode around Irvine. This was the first time I've been the the Great Park in Irvine, damn it's huge.

Eric F 

Lousy week of riding. Sub-1hr trainer recovery trainer session on Monday. A work meeting ruined my planned ride on Wednesday evening. Saturday was supposed to be a return to the Montrose Ride, but it got pushed aside by my daughter's softball team practice. I got out for 24 miles of moderate-hard tempo in the early afternoon. Sunday morning was washed out by rain.

TakingMyTime

32 miles up and back the SGRT. Got out early before the wind kicked up. I'm starting to get some respectable mileage in. I still feel tired after 32 miles but that won't last long.

TakingMyTime

Got a 27 mi ride down to the Queen Mary before the winds picked up on Friday.

cj3209

36 miles this afternoon with some good hills (1,447 ft.) for training. Things seem pretty much back to normal which is really good to see.

TakingMyTime

This weekend were 2 short rides down to Seal Beach and back. Saturday was to recover from Friday's ride and today my wife wanted to ride and she's just getting back into it again so we took it nice and slow.

cj3209

Local roads to Seal Beach? I'm from Culver City so maybe I should map out a route to there...

TakingMyTime

Getting from Culver City to SB would not be much fun. If you're looking for some smooth miles you might want to drive to the Santa Fe Dam which is at the North end of the San Gabriel River Trail (SGRT) and ride the 32 miles South to SB and then return. The return ride will usually involve a nice tailwind.

SkinGriz

Los Al to Seal Beach is way different than Culver City to seal beach.

The equivalent would be more like Culver City to Venice/Santa Monica/Manhattan.

nexttimeiwill

Santa Ana River trail. Started around the 22 Freeway all the way down to Newport and back.

diphthong

there's worse. much worse.

diphthong

venice blvd to/thru dtown la and boyle heights and more to the sgrt, then south to seal beach...

or venice blvd to/near dtown la and hit the northern end of the la river trail to the end in long beach and head east along the beach
and loop the sgrt.

or the ballona creek to marvin braude beach bike path south to palos verdes peninsula...negotiate the harbor area (separate thread),
and head to/thru long beach enroute to seal beach and take the sgrt north...or head back the same way. different views.

TakingMyTime

40 miles on the SGRT today. Rode with a friend and the time and miles really flew by when you're engaged in conversation for the majority of the ride. We got out a little early and we weren't bothered by usual headwinds while heading south.

2seven0

Headed out early for Santiago Cyn. Detoured up Modjeska Cyn Road, around up & over Modjeska Grade Road. I don't know the gradients on that mile-long windey climb but they have to be double-digits. Rode most of the way up out-of-the-saddle at @ 5mph. Made it up ok but won't be giving Yates a run for his money that's for sure. Views were spectacular.
Wound back through Foothill Ranch, Irvine, CM then up the SART to home.
Big graduation ceremony complete with fireworks at the Pond. Only fireworks at MY graduation were the shots of Southern Comfort my buddy & I did before our ceremony!!
Say a prayer of thanks for the fallen servicemen this weekend.
West

diphthong

amen. modjeska grade in either direction ain't no picnic but a worthwhile diversion. the ride up modjeska canyon rd. (or silverado canyon rd.) is a trip back in time. socal 60-80 years ago.
both are must-rides for socal roadies.

2seven0

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yep it's amazing how just a few miles can take you from concrete jungle to quaint rural countryside. Some nice estates tucked in them thar hills too.

Elvo

Road up to the summit of Mt Lukens in Los Angeles

diphthong

47-spot around metro san diego with a visit to the lighthouse at cabrillo national monument. didn't see that many cyclists out from 9am-1pm.
overcast along the bay/coast. sun east of the 805 fwy.

nexttimeiwill

SART - 22 to the Beach again. It was packed at the beach as you can imagine for the holiday weekend.

Eric F 

Saturday...Montrose Ride (8:00 group, short loop). Flat part of the ride (Huntington Dr and Arrow Hwy), it seemed like it was almost always north of 28mph. I was suffering, but never in trouble of getting dropped. Other riders who are fitter than me were also commenting on the fast pace, so it wasn't just my lack of recent miles causing me distress. On the hilly parts approaching the finish, I was able to stay in the front part of the group fairly well, and didn't ever need to really bury myself to hang on. Sucked wheels on the lead-in to the final climb and gave it a good effort that kept me with the leaders to the finish. I could feel my current endurance limits start to show themselves, but my power felt pretty good.

Sunday and Monday...No rides, but got to do one of my other favorite things - watch my daughter play softball with her travel team.

diphthong

clairemont?

Eric F 

First time in the dirt in over 20 years for both me and this bike, which I just finished converting to SS. I really enjoyed the change in scenery and mental approach from my usual road riding, and will definitely be mixing in more time on this bike along with the go-fast group road rides I also enjoy. Yesterday's ride was largely on trails that were new to me (La Canada area) - mostly wide-open singletrack with a few mildly technical ups and downs, and no sustained steep climbs. My first impression is that the 32x19 gearing will serve my needs really well, but we shall see how that goes as I range into other riding areas.