Velo Angels - Ride, Girls. Ride.

Back in the Saddle. Back on Velo Angels.

What kind of self-respecting cycling blogger am I to not write even a single post during the Tour de France?  Disgrace!  I tell you.

Although I have been a completely lousy blogger, I have been a good cyclist.  (Relatively speaking.)  I've been riding consistently.  And, I might even say that I don't hate climbing any more. 

A few months ago my friend dragged me up some canyon roads that I had been dreading and told me that I should do this sort of ride every week.  While the pain of climbing up 3000 feet almost made me cry (not really), I had a great time.  It definitely gave me a new sort of confidence I lacked.  So the next week, I went and did a different canyon road.  It was much easier.  I'm not saying it was easy.  Just much easier than the first time.  So, for a few weeks after that, I just kept going back for more.  And, things got a little easier each time. 

Then about a month ago, this crazy friend of mine had a crazy idea to go up Las Flores Cyn Rd. This canyon road gives you almost 1500 feet of elavation gain over 3.4 miles.  The grade average is over 8%.  Everyone who I talked to about this beforehand tried to stop me.  They all said, "Mai, but you hate climbing."  I should have listened to them.  It hurt.  It was hot.  At one point I was going so slow that there were like 4 horse flies hanging on my leg trying to eat me.  I hated my life.  And, oh yes.  I stopped in the middle.  I'm shameless.  I walked my bike.  Hey, it's UCI legal to do that, right?  But I finished it.  I didn't turn around.  As far as I'm concerend, I'd call this a draw between me and Las Flores.  I didn't "conquer" it, but I didn't lose either...  Next time, Las Flores, next time... 

A little added bonus after Las Flores though was the fact all the climbing became much easier.  Again, I'm not saying I love climbing.  But, compared to Las Flores, 6% grade for a few miles?  It's nothing.  Maybe, just maybe, I don't hate climbing any more. 

I'm grateful for all my cycling friends who take me up to these roads that are unknown to me and let me discover something new about myself.  (Cycling is so much like life itself.) 

I'm also grateful for you, readers... 
Even when I didn't update anything for months, there were always some people who came and read my posts.  Thank you.  I hope I'll keep you entertained a bit more from now on... 

 

 

Sex, Lies and Elevation Chart

You are climbing up a hill, exhausted and look down on your computer.  It says the climb (incline) is 6% grade.  What does that mean?  6% sounds like little, but you are definitely feeling it. 

When you go to mapmyride.com and see the elevation chart for a route,  parts of it is 4% grade average, but there is a mile section where it's 9% grade average.  Is this route hard?  

Let's talk about elevation chart.  What about sex and lies?  Well.  I hate to break it to you, but every time I put anything remotely sensational in my title, everyone jumps on it to read my blog.  So, it's just a bait.  I'm not talking about sex or lies.  Well.  A little about lies.  But more on that later. 

First of all.  What does 6% grade mean? 

It means that the height (elevation) difference between 2 points is 6 feet over 100 feet.  Say, point A is at sea level (0') and point B is 100' away from point A.  And, point B is 6' higher than point A.  Make sense?  See the picture below.  

 

Yes.  I drew this angle using Vectorworks, which is the CAD program I use at work.  This is what I do for work.  Not to draw angles, but to draft things on the computer.  OK.  I know.  I'm a big dork. 

As you can see, I measured the angle between 2 lines...  6% grade means, it's a 3.43% angle.  So, that's what 6% grade means.  Cool?

Whew.  Complicated.  Let me grab a beer.  My thinking part hurts. 

OK.  Back now. 

Next.  How to read an elevation chart??

As I mentioned earlier, you might see a route map with an elevation chart.  And, there's a mile of 8% grade average.  This is tricky.  Why? 

Because 8% average could mean half a mile of 7% grade and another half mile of 9% grade.  Or worse, half a mile of 6% grade and half a mile of 10% grade.  You see?  Averaging the grade of each incline for a chart could sort of homogenize all the individual spikes in the elevation and make it look easier (or harder depending on where you stand on how much you like to climb).  No matter how short it is, 12% grade incline could be quite challenging after a long day of ride...

For me I'm ok up to about 7% grade chugging along, and then I hit 8% incline and I blow up.  My friend, who loves to climb, she probably doesn't even feel anything at 8%.  So there you go.  This is why you can never trust an elevation chart.  First, you can't really know what's going on, second, it's really up to how your climbing skills are. 

Elevation charts lie.  I always hate myself for thinking, "8% grade!  Suuuure.  No problem."  That's what happened to me this weekend.  I was in the Santa Monica Mountains climbing up on Latigo at a record (slow) speed and wondered whose idea it was to do this route.  It was mine. 

Stupid. 

Here's the route. Make sure you click on the "show elevation" box to see what I'm talkin' bout.  Just by looking at it, it ain't too bad, right?  Oh, yes.  It's bad.  Elevation charts should never be trusted...  always expect it to be worse.  

Oh by the way, I'm not supposed to say I don't like to climb or I suck at climbing.

It's all in the head. 
I love hills.  I love climbing.  I love... 
Stay positive and ride safe! 

02-15-10 Recovery Ride

After the Palm Springs Century (which I haven't written about) I figured I wouldn't want to even look at my bike for a while. 

I was wrong. 

I don't know how or why I wanted to go for a ride 2 days after such a hard ride, but I did. 

Easy 25 miles. 

Here's the route.

Kristin Armstrong said to always spin at a higher cadence.  So I did. 

I shaved 9 minutes off Mandeville.  9 minutes over 5 miles.  It's kind of crazy, right?

Irvine-Solana Beach Ride 01-24-10

Between my Nashville trip and Miami trip, I had a day off, so I did a 75 mile ride.  This is one of my favorite of all times!  Irvine-Solana Beach. 

Here's the route. 

After 50 miles or so, things start to hurt...  But man.  It's good. 

Across the street from Solana Beach station is Pizza Port.  It's a local hang-out/cyclists' oasis...   

Picture bellow...  us at Pizza Port, bunch of cycling fools. 

Cynergy - Westchester Loop Ride

The storm is coming! 
And, I had a new saddle and shoes I was excited about.  So, I had to put in a good ride today. 

Here's the route.

I met a rude cyclist on this ride.  My next post is about that unpleasant man. 

Pepperdine - Big Rock out n back

Can I say it again?  It was a gorgeous day for a bike ride.

Jenn and I drove out to Pepperdine and rode to the Big Rock and back. 

Here's the route.

45 miles of rollers. So nice.  No photos today.  I was too happy.  I didn't even think of taking pictures. 

More tomorrow with the report on our Sunday ride. 

Ride safe.

All Over West Side - Sunday Group Ride

Ah!  What a perfect day to ride.  (I know, I say this every time I ride.  But it's true.)  Today's route is a very easy scenic route all over the West Side. 

Up on San Vicente to Sunset down to the ocean.  On PCH for a little bit and back on SV and back in Santa Monica.  This one is going to be our favorite because it's easy to add Amalfi or Bundi or Mandeville to make it a bit more challenging depending on who's on the ride. 

Here's the route.

Have a good week! 
The weather's nice.  Keep riding.  And, ride safe.  :)

Marina Del Rey - PV Loop Ride

I needed a longer ride.  Nothing crazy, but something that's not 25 miles.  A ride that doesn't make me feel like I have to go to the gym afterword.  Besides I'll be doing a 75 miler in 2 weeks.  I need more time in the saddle! 

My friend Jenn and I decided to do a 50 mile route starting from Marina Del Rey, PV Loop and back.  

Here's the route. 

And, a picture. 

It was a perfect ride.  Look how happy she looks.  I think she's excited because this is right before we turned on PV East to do the switchbacks.  "I heart hills."  She says. 

I'm properly beat.  No, I don't want to go to the gym now. 

This is exactly what I needed. 

Mandeville - Amalfi New Year's Ride

Today's group ride was organized by Ben and Olivia.  Thanks!! 

While I was so excited about the ride, for some reason, I overslept.  The ride was starting at 8 and I woke up at 7:51.  Yikes.  I got there 5 minutes late and see that Ben and Olivia were standing there waiting for me. 

"It's just us!"

Doh.  Well, it was a fantastic ride nonetheless.  We started from Cynergy as usual and climbed up Mandevill and added on Amalfi to make it real good.  Another beautiful ride.  It's going to be a good year. 

Here's the route...

After the ride we went to have some breakfast...  in our bike clothes. 

I still remember the day I wore my cycling shorts for the first time and was SO embarrassed I didn't want to go to this group ride.  I hated my thighs all my life, and the thought that they are so out there...  I couldn't stand it.  Now?  Look at me!  I'm in a restaurant in my shorts!  I have been grocery shopping in them, too.  Ha.  I'm not sure if I call this improvement or what. 

Have a safe and happy 1st work week of the year! 
Ride safe!

PV Loop from Malaga Cove Plaza

The weather was so nice today, and I HAD TO get out of the house!  But by the time I got ready to go for a ride, it was almost noon.  *sigh* 

I wanted to be by the ocean today since it was so gorgeous, I decided to do the PV Loop.  Here's the map.

I figured I didn't have the time to do it from my house, so I drove to Malaga Cove Plaza and started from there. 

Boy, was it beautiful. 
It was like this.

And, this.  (This one is looking over Long Beach.  You can see the snow capped mountain in the far left, around where I was snowboarding yesterday.) 

This is the kinda ride that makes me happy.  It was so relaxing. 

The only thing today was that there were a lot of cars on the streets!  I was so looking forward to the descent after a climb, but every time I tucked myself in an aero position the car would come up to me so I had to pull to the side of the street.  I could have taken the whole lane and go, but I didn't.  I felt like being a nice, sensible cyclist today.  I know.  Boooring.  

The riding group I ride with every Sunday morning has a special ride tomorrow morning. 
Very excited.  :)  Will post about that one, too.  It's going to be a lot of climbing.  Yikes.

Ride safe!

P.S.

I will write about Andy.  I promise.