Hot like a furnace!

Here is fern resting up at Rainbow Market, it seemed to really sum the day up with the trippyness of it. Cooel!






We had a really hot day, but everyone did really well and tried their hardest. We were joined by our awesome coach, DJ who kept us smiling and cheered us on all day.

And thanks so much to Tom for helping us out with SAG. He really was wonderful, picking up tons of people to take back, and bringing us the most delicious rosemary potatoes. On a hot day its really hard to keep up with eating, but these were so delicious that we couldnt resist!!



We were treated to a lovely view of the flower fields on our final part of our ride, we were almost too tired to enjoy it!!

Congratulations to Christine in particular, who was really suffering but finished the whole ride with a smile!

Couzer Canyon

Well, this week was another hard week, with 84.3 miles and 6700 ft of climbing. Quite a jump really, we did a few less miles than last week and an extra 3000ft of climbing! It took a very long time and we finally made it into the parking lot tired but happy!




The day's excitement started with us seeing a helicopter landing on the old 395 and nearly knocking some of us over with its force, we then wound our way up hill after hill, enjoying a lovely sag in Bonsall with the main team, which was nice.

We then started up the lovely climb of Couzer Canyon, rewarded with SAG at the top. As we enjoyed our PB and J's, we got to watch tom climb up an impossible hill, 'check his shoes' and then race back down. He's an unbelievable athlete and we're in awe.

More delights awaited us, the lovely Joanie rushed up champagne and rewarded us with a strawberry at the top!

Yay! Interstate 5!

This week I didnt take any photos as I was being a bit of a grouch again. We rode 90 miles up the coast from UCSD to San Clemente, and we werent allowed on the military base because of the ironman, so we had to ride on the I5, which sucked.

It was an important training ride, to get our speed up on the flats and get some good miles in. I just dont really care for that ride, so I was a bit miserable.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of beautiful east county and getting some hills in. It seems to suit me better mixing things up with some hills, it gives me a chance to rest on the downhills, then work hard on the uphills, then it seems to be different muscles on the flat.

Everyone did really well though, the team spirit was there, so thats good news!

I managed to do a couple of spins this week, so I kept nice and fit.

Tour of Hidden Valley Road

Wow! What a wonderful view we had on Saturday! It was a truly beautiful day, and wonderful to see the wildflowers. They are better this year than I've ever seen them, probably due to the rains. This whole area was burned by the fires, and we saw some sad sites, and a few people living in trailers next to their burned out houses. I guess the burn areas are looking really beautiful with new growth. I dont know if they specifically included wildflower seeds when they sprayed the hillsides with seeds, but it sure looks like it!

As for ride stats, we did 70 miles and 5000ft of climbing. Golly gosh it was our hardest day yet. As you can see it was blazing hot sunshine, about 30 degrees hotter than last week, so we all found it hard going riding in the heat. I think its good training all in all, but just not all at once like this!

My arm coolers did a good job of keeping me cool though, I kept pouring water on them and they will be with me for the rest of the season. Its a bit annoying our jerseys have black arms, but I think I'll be getting rid of the arms on mine soon enough.

The team were really wonderful and didnt mind waiting for each other, then we all pulled each other home along windy and nasty miramar road....

This week I just managed a couple of spins while watching david attenborough in the south pole and a lot of gory action in terms of seals and penguins.

We're stopping spin classes on a Thursday and doing hill repeats, so I'll look forward to seeing my team on mt soledad from now on!

More Rancho Santa Fe Fun!

Look at all those smiling faces!! We had a great ride on Saturday. I had a really hard time, particularly when we started, I just felt a bit under the weather and very tired.

Thankfully it was a great ride and everyone did really well, we all made it up the steep via capri up mount soledad, which was great!

I also managed the usual spin on Monday and Thursday.

Climbing Demons!

This week I did my usual spin on monday in front of a film, I managed a few laps with my mentee around fiesta island on Wednesday, then we had spin class on Thursday with Phil. Its always a lot easier spinning with other people, and it was extra fun as the whole team was together.

I couldn't believe how much difference a week could make in the weather! Instead of grey drizzle we were treated to blue skies and golden sunshine, it was even a bit too hot at times. We started from Mission Bay straight up Mount Soledad. Start as you mean to go on, I guess! We then made our way over to Ranch Santa Fe and did all kinds of loops and hills around there, we stopped off at this beautiful but deserted park for a quick bathroom break, then more hills.

Next was up torrey pines, followed by our last climb of the day up Soledad again. We made our way up past some unbelievable homes, a hearst castle wannabe, a japanese mansion. And of course stunning views!

We then made our way back to the car and realised that we'd managed over 4700 ft of climbing in only 55 miles! Way to go ACE team! That was a big step up from 65 miles and 2700 ft of climbing! I was in awe of everyone, we all did great. I think this is going to be a wonderful season!

Week 3-Tour de bonsall with more hills!

This weeks training went pretty well. On monday I did spin in front of 'Lost in Translation' then I showed up to proper spin class at Hi-tech bikes. Gosh its a lot more intense when you've got a bunch of people with you. I must try to work harder when its just me.

On Saturday I started the drive up to Poinsettia train station in the drizzle, which wasnt a good sign. It wasnt actually raining so we rode anyway.

It was a really fun ride, bit chilly, you can see that despite the hill climbing, we kept most of our layers on. It was the kind of day that Brits would be very happy with, but Californians stay in doors with a hot chocolate and a book!

We managed 64.5 miles and nearly 3000ft climbing, everyone seemed pretty happy and our paceline improved significantly, which I was very happy with, as I got to draft of people in the chilly wind!

Its got to the stage where I need to crack open the oatmeal. The night before a longer ride I'll leave some oats in the microwave in some boiling water and they are ready to be warmed up for breakkie in the morning and they keep me going all day. Other breakfasts just dont seem to cut it, but the oats always work.