Torrey Pines Time Trial & Immunity!

August 30, 2009

Another early start this morning with an immunity challenge

at 6:15. Pop Quiz, does that phrase still strike terror in your heart, bring back bad memories from high school? Name the seven cities in the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge. Wow, I have read and studied a lot of the literature, but I have not reviewed the course. So I attacked the problem with my experience of riding the coast in 5 days and was filled in the blanks from memory of the different jerseys I have seen on the training rides. (Each day during the QMDC, you get a jersey that features the city of the route.) So I attacked it with the ones I knew for sure and filled in the blanks.

1) San Francisco (Start)

2) Santa Cruz

3) Big Sur

4) San Luis Obispo/Pismo Beach

5) Santa Barbara

6) Marina Del Rey

7) Newport Beach

8) La Jolla (Arivee)

I relied on the jerseys for Santa Cruz and Marina Del Rey. I get to enjoy the gift of immunity for this weeks elimination. Listen in this Wednesday to XX1090am to The Scott & BR Show for the results. I have the task of adding a personal touch to the immunity pump. So far it has been jeweled on every surface, pimped out lowrider style, and it sports a mirror, horn, California 'PAT' license plate and has a lizard crawling up the side. I know what I want to do, just have to go find all the bits to do it, that is today's mission.

After the immunity challenge, the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge riders discussed our fundraising efforts. Together we have raised over $20,000 for Challenged Athletes Foundation. Alex Hamlow joined us back on the road today. It has been 6 weeks since he crashed on the descent of Mt. Palomar, and about 4 weeks since surgery to repair his broken collar bone. Welcom back Alex!

Today's ride was a short fitness test/individual time trial. We rolled out of Fletcher Cove at 7 and warmed up with a 5 mile ride through Del Mar to the base of Torrey Pines. There was a low turnout, with only around 20 people in the group. We were leaving at 1 minute intervals so there was some time to hang out or climb inside Torrey to warm up. I rode partially up the inside with Alex early, then got lined up. I was near the back, so I rode up a bit more before my turn to loosen up again.

Torrey Pines is probably the standard for hill climbs in San Diego. It is around 1.5 miles with approximately 450' of elevation gain. It is a nice steady climb.

I started out of the gate and held a strong pace for the first 2 minutes around 16mph. When the grade pitched up, I shifted to my small ring and threw my chain off the inside. I spent about 5 seconds trying to spin the chain back on and succeeded, but it messed up my rhythm. I maintained around 12 mph up the rest of the hill, and was surprised when I rounded the corner and saw the finish. I stood up and sprinted to the line. 7:11, was my time. I am satisfied with it and I know that I can push it more and get under 7 minutes for sure.

There was a flat at the top, one of the new riders (first time out) had a flat front. I helped them get the tube replaced and rolled back down the inside with Mike, Dean, and Scott. I had an explosive flat at the bottom. Split the tube 4" and knocked the tire off the rim. I quickly replaced the tube and used the SAG pump. Dean and Scott were having a good time commenting on method (Pumping with one hand while setting the tire bead with the other, nothing wrong with multi-tasking!).

Today was another great day on the road. Thanks Mari, Vikki, Mike, Dean, and Lisa for running the stopwatch!

Win the Ultimate BBQ

Talk about an awesome fundraising item! It could be yours, $30 for one chance, $50 for 2. 300 chances will be sold in all. Many thanks to Framemax!

This is an incredible set up. It can be arranged in any manner to suit your patio. We will deliver and set up the parts for you. It is unfinished, so you pick your tiles and stucco for a DIY project or hire it done. This is a $5,000 prize!

Winner will be announced on October 9th.

For more information email me: veloadam@ymail.com

Facebook, see the flyer and information: http://qmdcbeck.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-ultimate-bbq.html.

Poker Run!

Join us and support the CAF with a fun 45 mile Poker Run! We will start and end at the park (3700 Townsgate Drive, Please park in the lower level lot.) The ride will take us over the 3 Witches, through Santa Luz and PQ, then loop around Scripps Ranch for some popular climbs before cutting through Mira Mesa/Sorrento Valley back to the start.

Cost is $25. All Proceeds go to Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Water will be provided at 2 of the card stops.

Preview the course here.

Whats a Poker Run? Basically there will be 5 places to stop and get a card. The person with the best hand at the end of the day, wins. The person with the worst, wins something too. Don't worry, you don't have to be an expert as it is totally luck of the draw.

Please RSVP. Email me: veloadam@ymail.com

It will be a fun time. Come on out!

No Hulk Here

August 27, 2009

I have been on my new hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for about a month. How's it going you may ask?

It could be a lot better....

I am lethargic.

I am distracted.

I am constantly tired.

I am not recovering quickly from exercise.

My mood is not as peppy as I prefer.

I have an increased urge to curl up on the couch with a bowl of ice cream and watch Steel Magnolias and The Notebook.

I am whiney. (Well, at least more than usual...)

Well, that was the list. Place special emphasis on the last item and procede with caution if we shall meet.

I had blood work done yesterday. The results showed acceptable total testosterone levels (625ng/dl), but all of the symptoms and timing of them directly correlate to the switch over from

one treatment to another. I have a new formula on the way, that's right, they are going to raise my dosage (again) and get me to the 700-750 range. Any higher than that and I might turn green, eat cars, and communicate by grunting. And besides, spandex may be flexible and stretchy, but there is a limit to how far it can go...

With any luck the new medication will arrive tomorrow and I will start feeling more human very soon!

Elimination Tomorrow

August 25, 2009

OK folks, its elimination time again on The Scott & BR Cycling Challenge. The Final 10 will go down to 8 tomorrow between 6:15 and 6:45am. Tune in to XX1090am, listen online, or watch the webcam to see who makes the cut!

Circle R Vista Twist...Its not a Cocktail.

August 23, 2009

No, its not a cocktail, but if it were it would start smooth and sweet but finish hot, spicy, dry, and harsh.

I knew when I woke up that it was going to be a hard day. I did not sleep well with some troubling news from home. My cousins wife had been admitted to the hospital Saturday morning and by the end of the day had been defibrulated 3 times, finally they put her in a medical coma, respirator, and were chilling her to prevent further damage to her heart. The real shocker is that she is only 24 years old. OK, the bad news from Indiana can stop any time now, seriously.

When I woke up, I was slow and tired and my legs were filled with lead from Saturday. "Give it your best shot, thats all you can do," I told myself as I drove to the ride.

In the parking lot, Pat showed his additions to the immunity pump. He made some cool adds. A "PAT" Californai License plate ws added to the bars, horn and mirror, too. A rubber lizard was also added. I would like to hear the story behind it.

I had my flyers out for the Bicycle Poker Run, please come join us. It is going to be fun!

The ride up the coast was fast as usual. I rode with Rob and Joy from the contest and we talked about events and fudraising. We were in Oceanside in no time at all. There was a little slip up when we were going under the 5 on the San Luis Rey trail and everyone in the back had to stop and unclip on a steep little hill. Quick reactions everyone! Not soon afterI had to do a little bit of off road riding. I looked back to check on Don, while entering a turn at speed, when two people with dogs entered my field of vision. I tried to keep it on the road, but ditched that idea and rode through the dirt and gravel, around a trash can and power pole before getting it back on the trail. Whew! That was lucky. Don rode up next to me and said something to the effect of a nice Lance maneuver.

I was downing the water today. I was empty everytime we stopped. I was paying for yesterdays lack of hydration. We rolled out again and Greg got a flat. Mike Henderson, Don

Parker, and I stopped to get him back on the road as fast as possible. Everyone else stopped as well. Although I was struggling on the flats, I was pretty strong climbing. So the Circle R section treated me well, except it was hot. We all stopped and caught some releif in the shade of a tree as we waited for everyone to complete the climb up Circle R. The bike developed a shake in the front while braking so I backed off on the descents and before I knew it the group had moved too far forward for me to catch them. There was a nice wind out there, too. I made my way to SAG 2 solo. We past Ron Berry (Scott & BR Cycling Challenge Final 15) and other Suamis riders on the hills of North County, too.

After a quick bottle topper, we were out again. Rob Lindbloom had a flat about 5 minutes after we started up again. Don and I stopped to assist. We collectively abandoned all hope of regrouping and decided to just noodle it back to Fletcher Cove. We missed our turn ont Poinsetta and took te next street, Alga. Ouch! What's a few more hundred feet of climbing for the day? It hurt today, but I still had a great time. Thanks again ride leaders, Vikki, and SAG support for all the fun.

Two riders will be eliminated this week from the Scott & BR Cycling Challenge on August 26 on XX1090am. It has been a great experience that I will remember for decades to come. I am not ready to go home, yet! Listen in and wish me luck!

Rain? In San Diego?

August 22, 2009

I was super excited to get out and ride with the

Trek group today on the new setup. Everything was tweaked, adjusted, clean, and perfect. Well, at least it started out that way.

We met up in Oceanside for a different cousrse than our normal schedule. Out and Back to Dana Point, no proble, The forcast called for a 30% chance of rain, and seeing that it is

San Diego, I was gambling on the 70%. No sooner than we got rolling through Camp Pendleton (thanks for letting us ride on your streets USMC) it started to sprinkle. I know, sprinkling is not raining, but when it doesnt rain 10 months out of the year, it is a pretty big deal. The streets are slick, the road paint is really slick, and the water gathering on the pavement is very nasty.

I stopped to help on of the riders with a flat near the Las Plugas exit. We made quick work of the change, but were quickly dropped by our group and quickly passed by the others. So we were off the back by a bit, we cranked it up and we were really clipping along because of a super strong tailwind, which is great, except this is an out and back, so we would have to ride back INTO the wind. Stink. We passed most of the group on the smooth sections of concrete on the bike path and met back up with our group at the rest stop.

We rolled out of San Clemente for a quick loop around Laguna Niguel, and it was still sprinkling. Our group kept fracturing so I fell back to the back a few time to pace everyone up and try to make it easier on everyone, well everyone aside from me at least. On of our guys had a little spill on a turn. He took it too hot and lost traction pon the wet road. I stopped to assist, but he was fine, just a few scrapes, and he was back rolling.

We regrouped again in San Clemente amd made our way back through San Onofre and Camp Pendleton. The wind was strong, but at least the rain had stopped. The rain freed up all the road grit, and it was like your legs were being sandblasted. We fought the wind all the way back, trying to keep some organization and share the work among the group. Once the clouds cleared, it got really hot, especially in Pendleton. I will admit that I did not drink enough during the day. When it is raining, your bottles are covered in grit, and sometimes really you dont feel thirsty...big mistake.

The bike was a mess. Started the day clean and perfect, not so much at the end. I spent 1.5 hours rinsing and scrubbing all of the oil and sand out of all the nooks and crannies. I suppose, what better way to break in the new gear, right?

It was an interesting day for sure. Chilly and raining with a tail wind going up, dirt, hot, and and a headwind back. As they say: "No bad rides."