Moving to San Diego & seeking Bike Clubs

[EinZwei3]

I am moving from Ontario, Canada to San Diego, Calif. ideally by December 2005, and I am wondering if there are any members who are familiar with the various clubs out that way (not necessarily woman specific, but whichever are good). I am currently an injured cyclist (you can check out my query on the Open Topic forum re. injured quad, need advice), hopefully the California air will help me bounce back by next years racing season. Google searches list many clubs out that way, however, it would be helpful if someone had a personal history with any of them. Also, I will be staying in the Encinitas/Carlsbad area for a few months until I can find more permanent living arrangements. Ideally, living with athletes/professionals would be great or those who understand people who are into excercice.
After many yrs of living on my own, at this time it’s not an option in the San Diego area since the apt. rentals are so expensive. So I guess my 1 query has turned into 2 : (i) club referral and (ii) how does one go about finding a roommate who is sport friendly, trustworthy and honest?

I would appreciate any and all comments on the above. Cheers!!!!

[bikerchick68]

Hi there...

There is a great club called San Diego Bike Club... they meet at a shop in La Jolla called UC Cyclery... there are A, B, C, and C+ groups. C is 12-14mph avg, C+ is 12-16, B is 16-18 and A is 18 and above avg speed... they ride distances of anywhere from 35-60 miles every Sat and Sun. The C groups are no drop... the others I believe you are expected to be able to keep up.

You may also want to spend some time and $$ with John Howard. He lives in Encinitas (lucky us!!!) and does fittings, weight and strength training, stretching routines as well as race and team training. Last I heard he was still coaching/training UCSD Cycling Team as well... he travels all over the country still doing fittings etc...

He is the ONLY person who was able to help me correct and heal from having strained BOTH IT Bands... here's an article about him... pretty amazing cyclist!




John Howard
John has been a member of 3 Olympic Cycling teams and represented the United States for 12 years as a member of the National Team. In his 30 year career as a cyclist he has won 12 National Championships in both the Senior and Masters level in 3 separate categories of cycling: Road Racing, Time Trialing, Cyclo-Cross and pure off-Road Mountain Bike Racing. John won a gold medal in the Pan American Games in Cali Columbia in 1971, becoming America's first International Road Racing Champion.

He has been victorious in numerous International Stage Races including the 1000 mile Tour de Baja, The Tour of Newfoundland, Tour de Neuville France, The Williston Handicap on the Isle of Man, and a 3rd overall in the prestigious Nissan Tour of Ireland. In 1980 he switched his career to Triathlon, winning the Ironman World Championship a year later. John held the World Land Speed Record at 152 mph for eleven years, and still holds the World 24 hour Endurance record of 539 miles. In 1989 he was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame.

His International Cycling School of Champions is the longest running International program in the Americas. John's athletes have won more than 120 National Titles, 21 World Titles and an Olympic Gold Medal. John is a Sport Journalist who writes regular columns in numerous national and international cycling and Triathlon publications. He is the author of The Cyclist's Companion, MultiFitness, Pushing the Limits, and his new book Dirt! has been published by Lyons Press of NYC.

For additional information on the John Howard's Cycling School of Champions camps and clinics, personal coaching, training programs please call

760-944-3787
1705 Old Mill RD
Encinitas, CA 92024
jhschool@aol.com

[bikerchick68]

OH! and by the way...Ich spreche einbissen Deutsch aber ist nicht zehr gut... meine Oma und Opa sindt der Bremen...und studierte zwei jahrem in schule :)

that's about the extent of what I remember...

[go get em]

Ah! John howard. I am working with him right now. He is very good! He worked on a friend of mine who had lower back pain for years while riding and he no longer has lower back pain and has become an even stronger rider.
I live on the border of Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista. I know of three groups in the North County. Swamis has two groups. One group that is very intense, strong and fast(30mph). The second group is more moderate. They leave from Encinitas. www.swamis.org
The other is the North County Club. They also have three groups. They leave out of San Marcos. www.northcountycycleclub.com
Then there is Celo Pacific. They leave out of Carlsbad. Another fast group. I think there Sunday rides are mellow. www.celopacific.org
I ride with a group that has no name. We meet every Wednesday, at 9:00am, from Bonsal. We ride between 60 -100miles. Mostly hilly terain. So if your ever interested in this ride let me know.
Hopefully that wasn't too much info.
Good luck!

[bcipam]

Lots of great groups in San Diego - also check out the Knickerbikers - slower, older more touring style of riders but very social.

The North County group is huge!!! But fun to ride with.

Also if you make it up to Orange COunty (not that far away) check out Bicycle Club of Irvine (bikeirvine.org) or OC Rebels (ocrebels.com), both fun, social but strong cycle groups.

[EinZwei3]

Many thanks to all those who responded. It is truly a great help, and a great start, keep them coming if possible. And BTW, your Mr. Howard sounds like the ideal person for me once I can resume training properly.

Und, bikerchick68, danke für die Information + kein problem mit dem Deutschen.

Cheers!

[cindysue]

Team LUNA Chix has a duathlon team in San Diego - great group of gals.

E-mail sandiegodua@teamlunachix.com to be added to their clinic, events, and ride email list, or for the team’s event calendar.

............

You're going to love San Diego! I lived there for 7 years (moved to the Bay Area for Grad School) and I am always itching to move back!

I visit about 1/year and try to bring my bike (or borrow one!)

Cindy :)