How many So Cal Riders use this forum?

[bcipam]

I used to do as a regular weekend ride the Los Angeles to San Gabriel River Trails. Started in Long Beach, rode out to MArina Pacific caught one fo the trails and rode up to Irwindale (there is a slight grade all the way up) crossed over and caught the other trail back down to Long Beach. 80 miles. Fairly easy but times had changed. Don't do this unless you are in a group. Some iffy people using the trails nowadays. And yes there is alot of construction so many detours to deal with.

Re Cruising the Conejo: Do the moderate metric. It's plenty hard. A couple of tough climbs to contend with. A monster downhill into Camarillo. Take your time, eat at every rest stop but don't stay too long (my rule - no more than 5 minutes unless you need to use the restroom). Keep up a consistant pace. Save some energy for the hill climbs and strong headwinds at the end.

I'm hoping to do the ride this year. I'm just coming off my collarbone surgery and starting to ride again. I should be able to tolerate the metric but longest ride since October has been 20 miles. I need some seat time!!!

[caligurl]

the conejo century is on my (and hubby's) ride list for this year! the jersey isn't as cool this year as last year though i want a big rabbit.. not a rabbit head and leaf! oh well.......

unfortunately it falls right smack dab in the middle of KOM.... why are all the rides so close together!? then all the sudden in july and august you can hardly find one!

[tprevost]

Caligurl - what is KOM (I'm not up on all the abreviations yet!)

bcipam - I found a guy online who wrote some reviews of the trails and he did say that the san gabriel had some iffy areas but he didn't mention any issues with ths Santa Ana... what do you think?

As far as prep time, you'll be way ahead of me! I can't get on any bike until the first of March and even then I'll have to stick w/my mtn bike for a week or two (more upright - less pressure on my arm) I do plan to do the 30 mile ride at the tour de sewer, then the 68 miler in may. THANK YOU for the overview on the 68; that will really help me prepare!

I hope that someday we can hook up and ride together! Although Caligurl and Bikerchick68 SCARE me - they are wicked studettes!!!!

Tracy

[caligurl]

lol! i'm not a studette! i just like to ride!

KOM = king of the mountain ( they should offer an optional QUEEN of the mountain.. but i digress)

planet ultra is doing a new thing this year... finish all three epic climbing rides.... and you qualify for a king of the mountain jersey! i did breathless agony last year (and bought their jersey, of course!) so this year i'm gonna try for KOM... of course.. i've been eating more... and have more to lug up the hills this year unless i get off my lard arse and start eating better! but again i digress....

here's the link!

http://www.planetultra.com/KOM/index.html

planet ultra puts on some NICE rides.... did their angeles crest ride last year.. NICE bunch of folks! good support! sag...

[tprevost]

Caligurl,

Okay, after reading the ride descriptions I've decided that not only are you a studette...you're NUTS!!!

I'm SO kidding... and am way jealous! I hope to get to the point where those kinds of rides won't scare the begeebers out of me! I'm pretty much that way with hiking - I've talked my friends into doing 24 mile hilly day hikes etc. but I've got a ways to go on the bike!

Since I can't ride yet though, I have been trying to unload a few pounds; I figure the less I have to lug around, the faster I'll get ready for the rides I've signed up for! I'll probably start doing some stairs and leg work (we've got a pretty complete gym out in the garage)... any suggestions (from anyone) on bike performance specific things I can do without using any arms - I would greatly appreciate the input. I've been walking and hiking regularly but I'm looking to ramp up over the next three weeks.

CG - I hope you will keep us updated as you complete those rides! AND, I agree, there definately should be a queen of the mountain as well!!!

Tracy

[caligurl]

i'll keep you posted.. hopefull with all good reports! i'll be devastated if i don't finish one! i WANT that jersey!

i'll go with the nuts comment! still don't think i'm a studette! i do have an EVIL trainer though! he had me out climbing a little way up out local hill the in the first couple of days of having my bike! and all the way to the "top" within a week! he's EVIL! so he's been pushing the hills from day one! 2 of the hill climbs i didn't plan to do last year.. i only did them cuz hubby hurt his knee early in the season... but we had already registered and paid for him.. i wasn't loosing out on the money.. figured i'd go as far as i could (which on the first and hardest one was to the top! where i promptly cried like a gurl cuz i made it! ) so then i gained my confidence and knew i'd be able to do the next one! and of course, now that i know i can do them (or was capable last year...) i'm signed up on my own this year! woo hoo! only problem... i've gained a few pounds i need to get back to being anal about eating and loose about 5 pounds (or 8 if i'm REALLY being anal.. but i'd be happy with 5)

as for working your legs..... do you have a trainer? can you ride that? that's armless!

stairs or "step ups" are good! squats.. lunges... walking lunges.... granted you can't hold weights without arms.. but do enough of them and you'll feel them!

i guess technically nothing you do off the bike translates to the bike.. however i worked out with weights before i took up cycling.. and refuse to give it up! and no one can convince me that in some way or other it didn't help even a bit on the bike doing all those squats, lunges, step ups, etc!!!!!!

and of course.. if you are already doing hilly hikes! that's GREAT for the legs!

[bikerchick68]

tprevost... LOL... I am SO not a studette! I am just determined. I like distance, but I am not fast, and really I don't mind that. I ride my own pace and KNOW that there will always be people (a lot of 'em) that are faster than me and people (a few) that are slower than me. And that's OK. I ride for ME! I am just as happy riding 15 miles with a brand new rider as I am riding a century with an experienced group... each ride has it's own charm to me... I'm one of those riders who ride for the sheer joy of having the wind in my hair and seeing the birds and other wildlife you miss going 60mph in a car... you will often see me whipping out a camera to take pictures because really, EVERYTHING is beautiful and fascinating to me...

in my humble opinion 1/2 of cycling is training... the other half is just determination.

[bcipam]

Caligurl - what is KOM (I'm not up on all the abreviations yet!)

bcipam - I found a guy online who wrote some reviews of the trails and he did say that the san gabriel had some iffy areas but he didn't mention any issues with ths Santa Ana... what do you think?

Tracy

I ride the Santa Ana River Trail alot, but usually not alone. My usualy route is to go inland up to Anaheim Hills (doing all my hill work up front) and then catching the SA River Trail near Yorba Regional park and taking it all the way down to the beach. It's a great ride but areas through Santa Ana can be iffy although the trail is clean (actually there is some construction and trail closures through Orange - watch the signs carefully). If you ride it on the weekend there are plenty of other riders out there so you should be OK.

If you are looking for some OC bike routes, go to bikeirvine.org, check rides, Saturday rides. Clink on the shorter rides (pink or yellow) and the route slip will come up. A lovely ride to try is around Back Bay, Newport Beach. If you need directions, let me know. There are also alot of nice bike trails through Irvine. Better yet, come out and do a ride with BCI some time (on a Saturday when newer riders are welcome).