Climbing Progress

[mkadam68]

Just a little personal self-PR:

One of my variations in my commute is to ride from the Valley up and over Little Tujunga Canyon Road. I need to get in climbing in prep for KOM and commuting is the only way I have for training right now.

Feb 5th was my first time doing this during my commute. From the 7-Eleven store to the top of the first peak, it took me 47mins, 35secs.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2300293828_96a4a944c4_o.gif

Then, I rode again last night, Feb 28th. Took 44mins, 11secs.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2300293986_5f8fd6c1d4_o.gif

3mins, 20secs better! Improvement, baby!

[ronjon10]

3mins, 20secs better! Improvement, baby!

Forget the time, check out the heart rate zones. If you had that set up the same both times, that's an awesome improvement.

I was up on Little T for the first time last weekend, that's a great ride.

What software are you using to do that graph?

[mkadam68]

I use Ascent by Montebello Software. It's for downloading Garmin data on my Macintosh. I love it. The guy who does it has updates/bug fixes almost once a week! Great visual of the numbers.

[efficiency]

Nice work!

[cjbruin]

That's frickin' awesome progress.

I love the software...I wish they would do something as good for the PC.

[VanceMac]

I love Little T. Little T - Soledad - Aliso - AF - down Big T is one of my favorite routes, except for the stretch from Sand Canyon to Acton, which is a little tedious. Mark, have you ever seen traffic on Little T? It's been deserted every time for me.

[mkadam68]

I love Little T. Little T - Soledad - Aliso - AF - down Big T is one of my favorite routes, except for the stretch from Sand Canyon to Acton, which is a little tedious. Mark, have you ever seen traffic on Little T? It's been deserted every time for me.

Usually very little traffic. Unless the 210 is backed up due to accident or something. Then everyone going to Canyon Country/Palmdale uses Little T.

They have a wildlife preserve up there in one of the canyons. Yesterday, I coulda sworn I heard elephants and lions and hyenas just over my shoulder and getting closer. Made me ride faster :D

[VanceMac]

Yesterday, I coulda sworn I heard elephants and lions and hyenas just over my shoulder and getting closer. Made me ride faster :D

Hmm, are you sure you weren't riding through he magical poppy fields up there? :p

http://hometown.aol.com/oesci/images/oz%20poppy%20patch.jpg

[alicestrong]

Hmm, are you sure you weren't riding through he magical poppy fields up there? :p





That sounds like a ride I'd be up for!!

[Grumpy Pig]

That sounds like a ride I'd be up for!!
The flowers should be blooming soon. http://www.theflowerfields.com/

We can pose at the Starbucks next door.

[mkadam68]

Hmm, are you sure you weren't riding through he magical poppy fields up there? :p

http://hometown.aol.com/oesci/images/oz%20poppy%20patch.jpg

:lol:

My lawyer has informed me not to answer on the basis of self-incrimination. :D

[ronjon10]

Thanks for the tip on Ascent. I just installed it, I think this one may be the answer for the stats nerd in me.

[mkadam68]

Thanks for the tip on Ascent. I just installed it, I think this one may be the answer for the stats nerd in me.

Sure, no problem. I love it. After using for a bit, I purchased it right away.

[mkadam68]

Forget the time, check out the heart rate zones. If you had that set up the same both times, that's an awesome improvement...

Ya know? You're right. I was just looking at this again, and I noticed the distance aren't quite the same: 7.1 miles for yesterday's, and 7.7 for Feb 5th's. Depending on where my discrepency is, that could account for a couple minutes right there.

But, the HR data is impressive. Feb 5: 35% of time in Zone 4, Feb 28: only 11% in z4.

[JustMe]

Mark, you might also want to compare your avg. pace in conjunction with HR. In the future, you might want to use the lap start/stop to isolate the period between the 7/11 store and the first peak, or Bear Divide as the ending point so you get the data just for that section to compare.

[blarnie]

That is one of my favorite rides. Haven't ridden it this year yet. Spending most of my time on the AC. I'll have to work it in soon. See what I get. But it seems as though if you spend enough time on that road, you should be plenty fine for KOM.

[kmc91011]

Sure, no problem. I love it. After using for a bit, I purchased it right away.

yes, that looks sweet. I am going to try it / buy it...

[ovoleg]

your max HR is 171? thats is le wuss

I cap at 210

start trying and you'll break your PR

[Terror_in_pink]

so at it's worst its only about 1400 feet of climbing over 8 miles? I thought it was much worse... that's doable.

[big john]

so at it's worst its only about 1400 feet of climbing over 8 miles? I thought it was much worse... that's doable.

So I guess you've never climbed it? And you hate to climb, right? You should try it, it's a good one, and you can always turn back by the first summit. If you go over the first summit and down the other side, you have to climb out. You could start at the bottom of Little T and go all the way around by Placerita/ Sierra Highway to Foothill and back for about 40 miles.

[Terror_in_pink]

ya, I've never done it. i also suck at climbing, but am forced to do it because of my location. I was intimidated by tujunga canyon but never really knew how bad it was. I used to commute to my old job, which was about 8 miles and 1200 feet of climbing on the way back, so maybe i can climb it after all!

[mkadam68]

so at it's worst its only about 1400 feet of climbing over 8 miles? I thought it was much worse... that's doable.It's always doable. But some details:

It starts with 4.7 miles of stair-stepping rollers. These miles average only 2% gaining only 708 feet, but, there are a couple really steep sections with one being 11.1%. And on the last moderately steep section, there are two dogs at the top who occasionally come out from their fence to "encourage" you. :rolleyes:

The "real climb" is 2.2 miles at 7.3% average gradient with a max of 9.7%. You gain 856 feet over these two miles. To start it off, the first half-mile averages 8%.

The second peak is only 1.5 miles long, but it averages 7.5% with a max section at 11.7% (thankfully short). You gain 578 feet in this 1-1/2 miles.

[Terror_in_pink]

maybe in a few months...

[blarnie]

Yesterday's ride reminded me of your post. I timed myself from the intersection of Foothill & Little Tujunga to the END NHL blue sign at the top of the first peak. Now, I have done that ride previously. It simply seemed harder than it had before. But, I have to remind myself, it is a hard ride. Never mind the bees and the potential for the loose dog or two. And the two guys target practicing across the road about a mile below Camp 9. WTF?!?. Tried a little Vertical Bob's addition and that's a little sketchy. Think "Deliverance"...

Anyway, yesterday was a slog...

Some days the bell, others the dong.

[urbanknight]

Congrats! I have reduced my climbing now that I ended up not doing the only road race on my schedule.

[mkadam68]

Yesterday's ride reminded me of your post. I timed myself from the intersection of Foothill & Little Tujunga to the END NHL blue sign at the top of the first peak. Now, I have done that ride previously. It simply seemed harder than it had before. But, I have to remind myself, it is a hard ride. Never mind the bees and the potential for the loose dog or two. And the two guys target practicing across the road about a mile below Camp 9. WTF?!?. Tried a little Vertical Bob's addition and that's a little sketchy. Think "Deliverance"...

Anyway, yesterday was a slog...

Some days the bell, others the dong.Well, you can't do this and not put up the #'s. Do tell...

[blarnie]

41:30. Some of those ramps on the "flat" part took the wind out my sails for sure.

[mkadam68]

Nice time. Good job.