Bill Strahm's Weblog

Monday March 07, 2005

You see the funniest things
So my first century of the season is in Solvang on Saturday. That means that I got my final training ride in before I go last Saturday. It was a awesome (if not cold to start) day, so I headed off to Woodside to start my ride.

There are a few classic climbs in the Bay area, but the one that people measure themselves on is called Old La Honda - a wonderful climb from Woodside up to Skyline - took me 42 minutes (first time I did the climb, I was more concerned with surviving rather than seeing what my time was). A quick decent follows, down to Highway 84, and a left turn on Pescadero. I had never been on this road, but it is another wonderful climb with a nice view of a creek meandering beside the road. The best part was the house with 200 pink flamingos in the yard (And here I thought I had left hicktown back in Texas - oh well) I'll attach a picture as soon as I get it off my camera.

Right turn in Pescadero onto stage road leads to two short climbs and decents into the best little deli on Stage Road and 84. After an egg salad sandwich and a cup of coffee, we headed to the last little climb up stage road to Highway 1. You have to love these quick climbs and decents, but that leads to the worst of the climbs, Tunitas Creek Road - the road that goes on Forever. About 75 minutes and 1700 feet up later I was at the top for a wonderful winding decent on Kings road and back to where I started.

All in all about 65 miles, a little short for a training ride for a century (I have all ready done an 80 mile ride a month back though) but a lot more climbing - so all in all a good day.

(2005-03-07 06:36:04.0) Permalink Comments [3]

Monday January 31, 2005

Lets go bike the coast
So, I finally had a ride worthy of a century prep.

Two weekends ago - I rode just under 50 miles on Sat. Honestly - I can't say I felt that good, was very worn out at the end. So we hit the gym VERY hard last week ( couple hours each day), realized my front tire wasn't fully inflated (80 lbs instead of 110) and headed to the coast Saturday morning.

Was heading down Highway 17 to Santa Cruz when the Sun came up Saturday morning, got out of the car and was pedalling at 7:33 AM. I have written before - I love riding the coast - Swanton Loop (the OLD highway 1 route), Stage Road, that little deli on Stage/84 for lunch... All in all 86 miles in a little under 5 hours 40 minutes (right at a 15 MPH average speed). Oh yeah, and my favorite downhill, only hit 51 MPH, cause the cars in front of me were going to dang slow.

Well, with that ride I now know I can make the distance - it will just be hill training in Febuary (60ish mile rides with more hill work rather than distance work) with another long ride the weekend before the IETF (and Solvang).
(2005-01-31 13:26:45.0) Permalink Comments [1]

Tuesday December 14, 2004

First Comes Room & Board
Well, finding a hotel in Solvang is going to be interesting... To start with, it is a small town with about 3000 bikers (plus friends, family, etc) showing up for the weekend. Looking at the hotels, most of them are in the 50ish room size - you do the math.

Well - The other interesting thing is one of the Hotels in Solvang itself has a "fill in this form and we will tell you if there are rooms available" web form. Clicking throuigh it - easy enough to select Mar 11, leaving Mar 13 - but then their options for years are 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004... Ok - they need to update their website... And I thought we were over the Y2K like issues.

Looks like a nice route Route Info The only concern I have is starting downhill with the BIG climb at the end. Well that just means I need to get my pacing skills down... Be fresh at the 80 mile mark.
(2004-12-14 12:59:35.0) Permalink

Monday December 13, 2004

Time to start training for the Spring cycling season
Well - if I want to get back into shape it is time to pick some centuries to train for.

Lets see - an early one would be Solvang. I have heard good things about the course - the question of course is Century or metric. I was thinking century, but after my ride last weekend I don't know. Started on Foothill Expressway. For those not in the bay area - this road was DESIGNED for biking. A wonderful, well maintained 8 foot shoulder - easy riding for two abreast even. Turned left on Page Mill - darted into the OLD page mill road.

Now I made a mistake - instead of turning RIGHT onto Arrastedero I went straight - 5 ish miles and 1500 ft up later I am on skyline. Well since I am here I might as well go over to Old la Honda and back down to where I was trying to go in the first place (the Portola Loop). Nice ride - a lot more strenuous that I was looking for, so maybe a metric century is better for starting the season (of course I could just ride the century SLOW).

One of my problems is when I ride alone I have no sense of pacing. Saturday - starting out on Foothill Express I was whizzing along at 24 MPH, yeah the road is flat and it feels good - but then I have nothing for the climbs.

Anyway - this is my public statement... I WILL ride Solvang - I will pace myself to finish strong - I will get back into shape.

I'll keep you all informed
(2004-12-13 10:44:56.0) Permalink

Monday August 16, 2004

I love the coast
Had a great bike ride - Started from Santa Cruz... Had coffee in a nice cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin in a little coffee shop. Went up the Swanton road loop, up and then back down. Started to head north on the coast again. A nice headwind made me change my mind, so I turned around and did 40.

Made a stop to get some fresh cherries on the roadside before finishing off at a little Mexican resturant.
(2004-08-16 09:31:19.0) Permalink Comments [2]

Thursday August 12, 2004

Helping a worthy cause, and finally getting some miles in
Well, I am finally spending a weekend in the Bay Area - it has been quite a while.

So I am planning on doing a few things

Helping with a Team in Training training ride on Saturday. Team in Training is the organization that helped train me for my Tahoe Century, and I am more than happy to help other people achieve their goals

Getting a long ride in myself. I was thinking about a ride up/down the peninsula - maybe a trip over the range to the coast - but then the ride I am helping on Saturday turns out to be the favorite training ride I did. Starting outside Santa Cruz - head up the coast to Pescadero, then back down 1. It was a gorgeous ride - even saw a whale... I'd like to do it again on my own on Sunday.

Well one of my friends may have a better idea - so I can go with them as well
(2004-08-12 16:18:08.0) Permalink