Southern California - What a Difference 9 Months Make

Back in October of last year, shortly after I purchased my first true road bike and was working my way up in fitness and working my way down in weight, I went to the SGRT, parked below the dam, and rode down to the beach and back. I probably took a camelbak with me, as well as two bottles, gels, bars, enough food to last for a week, plus any and everything I could carry.

When I did this in October, my total time for the 61 miles was a little under 4 hours with an average speed of 15.4. Not too shabby, considering I'd only had the Synapse a month and only started riding again in July of that year.


This Saturday I decided to go play on the SGRT again, this time from Encanto to the beach, which I haven't done once this year. I don't like riding the river, I get bored too easily and I tire quickly from dealing with the other riders and runners.

It also too me a while this Saturday to get warmed up, I really need to eat earlier than 45 minutes prior to ride time as this always seems to put me in a poor mood since I don't perform as well as I know I can. Also, on the way down I had the whole "Car in the river circus" to get around, too.

For the entire trip I did the 71.215 miles in 3:32, average speed was 20.1 mph. For the trip down from where you get on the dam after the Sante Fe Entrance station I averaged 225 watts and 19.8 mph. On the return from Seal Beach until I got to my car I averages 217 watts, with an average speed of 20.7 mph.

I did quite a bit better than I did in October. :)

Awesome! :D

What's cool, too, is in October I know I had to come home and take a long nap as I was completely wiped out, and I didn't ride for three days following it.

Saturday I felt great afterwards and Sunday I went for a short 15 mile ride that would've been longer and harder had I done it in the morning instead of 4 in the afternoon.

Not surpising, John. You've been pushing yourself so hard over the past nine months and very disciplined with your riding. Good job! :beer:

JP, I've only ridden with you once, on the SB II ride, and I always thought you had been riding awhile. I think you've had the strength and endurance all along ... heck, even Lynn thinks you are superhuman!

I think we all go in spurts. I think my high point was in May, after a bunch of centuries in April and May, and doing Davis, I felt really strong. I'm at my low point now, so I really think it just depends on schedule of training. You definitely are on the high end.

Great John! Except when the thread title said nine months, of course I was thinking about something else! :rolleyes:

Not surpising, John. You've been pushing yourself so hard over the past nine months and very disciplined with your riding. Good job! :beer:

Thanks, but I haven't been that disciplined, I just ride. I've wondered whether actual training would make be faster, or make me hate riding instead.

JP, I've only ridden with you once, on the SB II ride, and I always thought you had been riding awhile. I think you've had the strength and endurance all along ... heck, even Lynn thinks you are superhuman!

I think we all go in spurts. I think my high point was in May, after a bunch of centuries in April and May, and doing Davis, I felt really strong. I'm at my low point now, so I really think it just depends on schedule of training. You definitely are on the high end.

You did the Grand Tour Highland, right, I was on that one, too.

I am on a high end, though, which was one of the reasons I wanted to do the river run again.

Great John! Except when the thread title said nine months, of course I was thinking about something else! :rolleyes:

I've got enough of those, although one more wouldn't be too bad. :o

That's pretty quick JP.
You're becoming a real hot rod.
I can almost hear Phil and Paul saying your name right now.

I can almost hear Phil and Paul saying your name right now.

Haha, I had to think about that one. I guess the EPO and HGH has been paying off, eh? ;)

Great progress, JP! :)

You did the Grand Tour Highland, right, I was on that one, too.
Oh yea, that's right ... but only saw you at the beginning of the ride ... after the first mile, zooom

Tailwind both directions , awsome. Just kidding congrats.

Tailwind both directions , awsome. Just kidding congrats.


I should be so lucky, usually I get headwinds in every direction!

Alone as well? Those are really great times, Congrats! My buddy and I rode the week before from Encanto, and averaged 19.8 to Seal Beach. Coming back was a different story -- I hate from the Pico Rivera golf course to the dam alot, and with my left knee still recovering, crap I probably averaged 12mph.

We are planning for it again on Sunday the 29th if your interested. Endurance (and more like saddle time) in preparing for the Cool Breeze.

Alone as well? Those are really great times, Congrats! My buddy and I rode the week before from Encanto, and averaged 19.8 to Seal Beach. Coming back was a different story -- I hate from the Pico Rivera golf course to the dam alot, and with my left knee still recovering, crap I probably averaged 12mph.

We are planning for it again on Sunday the 29th if your interested. Endurance (and more like saddle time) in preparing for the Cool Breeze.

Yeah, it was alone, I figured I'd get a better comparison that way.

Thanks for the invite, but my wife is out of town that weekend and it's my turn to stay home with the kids.

What a great idea to revisit a ride that one has done before. Good job on the progress!

.......edited...

I did quite a bit better than I did in October. :)

Congrats on the great time! You should put that handlebar bag back on and carry all that junk and see how you do :p

Whats your W/KG?

2.6, but I'm working on raising the numerator and lowering the denominator.

Congrats on the great time! You should put that handlebar bag back on and carry all that junk and see how you do :p

I would use it if I needed to carry everything again. :D