I'm more than halfway through my race season, and I'm starting to feel a bit of burnout. Maybe I'm still adjusting to my new job and schedule, which includes a long commute, intense lunch rides, and hyper focused work days. Or maybe all the racing is catching up to me. I do love riding and racing, but it's hard finding the time to balance everything, especially training. I sometimes feel slow on the bike, but my results are saying otherwise, which is important that I get enough rest during the days between races. It's Monday, and I feel guilty for not riding. I try to do one rest day a week, but I go between feeling like I can't get enough of it and doing too much of it. Balance is the key.
Lazy Sunday
Lazy Sunday's are meant to be lazy, right? I had raced the day before, and wanted to make use of my Sunday by going out for a leisurely stroll around the city. It was anything but leisurely. I faced a headwind that seemed to follow me in every direction. I wanted to slow my pace and get in a bit of recovery, but the wind just kept pounding me mile for mile. I won't give in! I needed to clock in a couple more hours anyway, considering most of my week was spent recovering from the last race. It turned out to be a gorgeous day in San Francisco.
I started by going up and over San Bruno Mountain, where the wind was concentrated and funneled through the canyon pass. It was a slow grunt all the way to the top. On the other side the wind was just as strong, and my legs were already feeling fatigued. I almost bagged my ride at that point, but the Marin Headlands were calling. Tt's been at least a week since my last outing, and I didn't want to put in a day's worth of riding on my mountain bike without hitting some dirt along the way.
The Great Highway was closed off, and the north section of road leading into Sea Cliff was finished with construction, featuring a new bike lane all the way up to Land's End. I waited to go out in the afternoon because of the San Francisco Marathon that started early in the morning, which put runners along the edge of the city, right where I was riding.
I miss my regular rides into the Headlands. I used to get out here at least twice a week, but now that we live further away I can't keep up with my old schedule. A friend of mine was up here earlier in the morning, enjoying the view from the top of Miwok, but was promptly escorted down the hill on foot by a park ranger. I had passed the same ranger later in the afternoon. He had stopped to talk to a group of hikers, and as I rolled by he asked "Are you heading up to the top of Miwok?". I knew my friend had been caught by him earlier in the morning, and I had no intentions of going up there on a Sunday afternoon. I replied "I can't. Bikes aren't allowed up there." One of the nearby hikers said, "Good Answer! He's got his handcuffs ready in the back." I laughed and rode on.
2nd Place at Lake Sonoma Ricochet
I'm back up in Lake Sonoma for the first Ricochet race, hosted by Bike Monkey. I secured a 2nd place in the expert class, and 4th overall. The field was rather small, but really fast. The last time I raced the Ricochet I crashed pretty badly in the first mile, cracked my helmet and split apart my prescription riding glasses. Today was total redemption on that day. I've since picked up my riding skills from a year ago, and have learned to ride the rough and loose terrain around Lake Sonoma.
I was up here a couple of weekends ago for SoNoMas, where I had the same 2nd place result. I sorted out my shifting problems from last weekend's race at the Tamarancho Dirt Classic, and dialed in my bike for the 16 mile race. The course was a series of loose over hardpack, rocky and rutted trails. A true mountain biker's course. The pros and experts did 4 laps, climbing 3280' in 90º heat. I pre-hydrated well through out the week prior and didn't have a problem with cramping like I was anticipating. I was running GU Brew in my single bottle, my prize from SoNoMas, and actually liked it a lot, compared to the OSMO I've been using.
The start was on a long stretch of paved road before dipping down into some fast and loose single track. I managed my speed to make sure I didn't overcook the corners or get too twitchy with my handling. There were a few steep dips/run-ups that gave me some trouble in the first couple of laps. That's the thing with the trails out here, you have to be on 100%. There were only a few sections of fire road before you were back onto single track.
I held a 5th place position for the first lap and moved up to 3rd by the second lap. I gave up my spot halfway through the lap and held on to 4th overall for the remainder of the race. I almost got caught towards the end, and put the hammer down on the remaining climbs. I managed to put a bigger gap between myself on the chaser and sailed up the final climb to secure my result.
Going into this race I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel or do. I haven't been putting in a ton of time in the saddle the past month, but it's important for me to recover as much as I can, especially since I've been racing almost every weekend. My winter training has been paying off, and it's just a matter of carrying over that fitness in to each race. I've got one more XC race before I head into the Tahoe Trail 100 and Leadville later in the season.
Mega Leg Openers
Friday's lunch ride at Specialized is the infamous World Championships, a hammer-fest for the title and bragging rights for the week. I meant to do an easy spin on the Willow loop, but I was curious about the course. It had a bit more climbing than I was expecting, and the heat was getting to me. I followed the lead group halfway through before dropping back. I have a race tomorrow, and didn't want to burn all of my matches. There are some seriously strong dudes in the bunch, and every time I go out with them I learn something new. Being able to sit on the wheel(s) of these guys going 20+ mph takes some time to get used to. The lunch rides are good training for the lunch rides.
Exploring
Mountain biking in San Francisco. You've got the trails around Mt. Sutro, a few trails in Golden Gate Park and the trails of McLaren Park. It's not bad considering the city is 7 x 7 miles. This doesn't count the illegal trails of Mt. San Bruno, which I have yet to explore. For a quick dirt fix I'll hit up any one of the three parks if I'm pressed for time. In the photo above I'm overlooking Mt. San Bruno from the east end of McLaren Park. I just started riding the trails here, and only got to do the lower half of the park before having to head to work.
Double Down
It's fun exploring new neighborhoods, especially one's you normally wouldn't during the daytime or evening. I did an easy recovery ride around Hunter's Point and up into McLaren Park, exploring industrial streets and some sweet single track. I woke up before 6 am with the plan of sleeping in a bit, catching the lunch ride in the afternoon, which I did as well. My legs are feeling a bit better, but not at 100%. By lunch time I was feeling punchier, and managed to hang with the fast group on the Wednesday's Bailey loop. Tomorrow and Friday I plan on tapering off my efforts in preparation for the Sonoma Lake race.
Still Sore
My legs are still a bit sore from Tamarancho, yet I've decided to do another race this weekend. It'll be important for me to lay off the gas during the week. I finally had time to clean my bike and check out my faulty drivetrain. It was only a bit of cable stretch that needed adjustment. I should be good to go. In the meantime I hope to get in a few recovery rides between now and Saturday. It feels strange to not put in a lot of hours in the saddle, but I'm definitely at the peak of my race season. I feel the need to maximize my fitness while I'm feeling strong before the next big set of challenges. It could also be my addiction to racing, especially since I'm having the best season and fitness ever in my life.
Tamarancho Dirt Classic - Recap
I had a decent result at the Tamarancho Dirt Classic this past Sunday, placing 5th out of a very stacked field. The lineup at the start had the usual suspects, including Levi Leipheimer and Mark Weir. The start was fast and furious, and I managed to hold my own, all the way up to the start of the first single track descent.
The first thing I noticed was that my shifting seemed a bit off. I never found that sweet spot on my shifter barrel adjuster. This kept me from concentrating on my handling as well as pacing skills throughout the entire race. I dropped my chain once, but it was enough for me to lose contact with the leaders and probably a couple of places on the podium. Lesson learned. Always check your drivetrain before a race. Everything worked flawlessly during SoNoMas a couple of weekends ago, but I had installed a new derailleur cable, and it must have stretched while I was away.
The real challenge of the course, not counting all of the technical single track, was the Dead Heifer climb, which we had to do three times. It's steep pitch that goes on for half a mile at a 20% grade. Unfortunately due to my faulty shifting, I wasn't able to get into my lowest gear on our last trip up the Heifer, but I managed to grunt my way up to the top in my second to lowest gear. Sadly, I saw my competition slowly get away, knowing I could have overtaken them and gained a bit of time if I had the proper gear.
The other tricky part of the course was the newly minted Flow Trail, a downhill single track section that's virtually a pump track pointed downwards. I had a lot of rolling doubles and big berms, but I hadn't ridden it before, causing me to lose even more time. At one point I was carrying too much speed and did this pseudo nose-wheelie-skid off a jump and almost off the course. It was a lot of fun, but definitely not my strong suit.
There wasn't nearly as much climbing as I would have liked, but I found my opportunities to gain time. I'm definitely getting better at descending, especially when the terrain gets loose. I didn't concede too many positions during the race, but my legs were paying the price towards the end. I could feel the twinges of cramps settling into my quads.
As soon as I finished the race I waited around, chatted with a few competitors, checked preliminary results, and headed back to my car. I had weekend plans to catch up on. I didn't see my official placing till a couple of days after. I knew I put in a good effort, just not enough to win or podium.
5th
Less than 24 hours upon returning home from Italy I enter a mountain bike race. I hadn't been on a bike all week, but I had to do the Tamarancho Dirt Classic, considering it's one of the only mountain bike races in the Marin/San Francisco area. Given I was rather jet-lagged and dehydrated to some degree, I pulled out a solid 5th place. Full race recap to follow.
Finally Home
12 hours later, two flights and a breeze through customs I'm back in San Francisco. I feel relatively good, but I'm not sure how it'll affect my race performance in the morning. We'll see. I'm also happy to have reliable internet access, as Italy had some shady connections.
Homeward Bound
Spent a good week in Italy for work. Unfortunately I didn't get to do any riding while I was here. This Sunday I'm doing the Tamarancho Dirt Classic, and I'm hoping to carry over my fitness from SoNoMas last weekend. While I've been eating very well I haven't been getting enough rest. It feels like one long day dragged out over a week's time. However, I can't complain. It's my first time in Italy, and I've enjoyed every moment of it.
Florence
My temporary backyard here in Florence.
More Pasta
Still going strong over here.
Pasta
Pizza and pasta for dinner. Can't go wrong in this country.
Italia!
I'm in Italy for the week for work. Yes! So excited to be here! It's my first time in Italy. I'm hoping to do some major carbo-loading on hopefully the best pasta I've ever eaten.
Fist Bumps All Around
I've come a long way since the last time I raced SoNoMas a year ago. I finished 2nd this year, compared to 17th from last, shaving 12 minutes off my previous time.
I started really well with the lead group, and held on all the way to the beginning of the single track. The race rolled out with a long road climb for a few miles. It was a mass start of all categories and ages, and I knew it was important to stay on the outside, preferably on the left so I had room to pass without risking getting slammed on the right or getting caught up in a crash. Not even a quarter way up did people start to get squirrely, tapping their brakes and riding too close to each other, overlapping wheels and swerving nervously. I finally heard the rub of tires, followed by the sound of people hitting the ground. Luckily that was all happening behind me. I kept moving and made my way to towards the front.
Levi Leipheimer was there, and I paced him a little bit. My friend Ryan was up in the mix, too, and knew he had a solid chance of taking the win and/or getting on the podium. He eventually finished 3rd in the pro class. I wasn't sure how big my group was, but I could immediately tell it was going to be a long and hard-fought battle.
The trails around Lake Sonoma is made up of mostly loose over hard pack. I crashed really hard the last two times I was up here. First, from really poor tire/line choice down a rutted out downhill, and the second time coming around a corner way too hot, losing grip and plowing headfirst into the ground. I've since upped my handling skills and am quite familiar and fond of my Racing Ralph tires. I had a lot of near misses and overshot corners, but I didn't crash or have any major mechanicals to ruin my day.
What makes this 35 mile race hard is that it's a lot of loose single track with about 7000' of total elevation gain. With a lot of the climbing out of the way in the first few miles it dips back down towards the base of the lake, and from there it was a series of never-ending punchy climbs. You're either going straight down into a dry ravine crossing or coming up the backside of one. It eventually starts to wear on you. Also, the heat is an important factor you can't overlook. While not as hot as last year, it still got pretty toasty. Luckily the course put us in the shade for most of the day. I ran with two bottles full of Osmo, which got me through till the end. I brought along my CamelBak just in case, but didn't need to use it. I made it my game plan during the week to pre-hydrate as well as lay off the bike to conserve and build my energy.
The last third of the course saw a big improvement from last year. They smoothed out and widened a long stretch of single track, making the pain and suffering last a little less than before. I was surprised I didn't run into more overlap from racers coming onto the trail from the short course. I spent the last 10 miles or so by myself, grinding it out. On the last section of climbing before you reached the road I heard someone hot on my heels. I glanced back and saw this guy with big chops on the sides of his face. It was Mark Weir, and he was charging up the trail. I held my lead for as long as I could, even all the way down the road to the finish line, but he had just a bit more than I did. I had nothing left to contest a finish line sprint, so I let him go. I was spinning furiously all the way down the paved road while I'm sure all Mark had to do was get into an aero tuck and let his body weight carry him past me.
Today was another example of why I love mountain bike racing. I met so many cool people before, during and after the race. People that have read my blog, or raced with me before. Even a handful of new coworkers were up here racing, and crushing for that matter. I got an overwhelming sense of belonging here, as we all just went through a few hours of pain. It's that shared experience that brings us together. Till next time, my friends.
2nd Place
Had a great race today at SoNoMas, and secured a solid 2nd place. It was a rough course, but luckily no crashes or mechanicals. It was a hot day, but I stayed cool. Full race recap to follow.
Hydrate, Stretch, Repeat
Today's mission: stay hydrated, eat well, stretch and repeat. While I haven't done my stretching just yet, I have been drinking a fair amount of water in preparation for tomorrow's epic XC race around Lake Sonoma. It's going to be a hot one, and I'll definitely be rocking my sweat band. Despite not fully catching up on my sleep, my legs are feeling pretty good. Mentally I'm prepared to take a beating, and my bike is all dialed in. I had to swap out my rear tire for a SnakeSkin version of the Racing Ralphs. I've had too many close calls with it flatting on me right before a big event. I'm also using Orange Seal instead of Stans. So far so good. My suspension is all dialed in, too, which was giving me grief the past month. Servicing the seals myself did the trick.
I was expecting more of my friends to race SoNoMas, but with the projected heat and other plans it looks like I'll be up there with my friend Ryan, and maybe even a coworker or two.
Solo Lunch
I missed the big group by a couple of minutes and decided to do my own lunch ride. I didn't want to do anything too intense, just something to open up my legs for this Saturday's race. I learned my lesson at Sea Otter this year, in that I suffered and had absolutely no power going into the race because I didn't allow myself nearly enough recovery time. I practiced what I preached, raced the Shasta Lemurian Classic the following weekend with a week's worth of active recovery, and pulled a great result.
My legs are feeling great at the moment. The best advice I heard recently was that you can only hurt your performance the week leading up to a race, meaning it doesn't matter how much extra riding/training you put in. What's done is done. The best thing to do is rest up, store your energy and save it for the race.
Race Prep
Here I am from a year ago, at the start line of SoNoMas. The last time I was here new Lake Sonoma I crashed pretty badly, cracking my helmet and riding glasses at one of the Ricochet Races. Last year at SoNoMas I overcooked a rutted downhill section and banged my knee up while putting a big scar on the top tube of my Epic. I spent the rest of the race hobbling and recovering with a lackluster result.
It's great to read my own race recap from a year ago, knowing the limiters I've overcome this past year, proper tire choice and race tactics. This year I'm looking forward to putting in a better time and maybe even podium.