Northern California - HTFU: (Hills, Twelve, Fog, Ugh) - Night Ride Report

Last night Midland and I went out for some hill repeat work in the fog and 42 degree temperatures.
12 climbs up Avila Rd in North Concord. It is really perfect for this type of ride since it is a dead end with no traffic, a good surface and it goes up for ¾ mile at a constant 10% – 13%
Plus it dead ends at the Concord Police Academy so any cars you do see are cops not teenagers or drunks.

We ground out all 12 climbs that we set as our goal even though it was crazy foggy and there was a headwind while climbing. 4341 feet of elevation gain in 18.6 miles.
A nice little jaunt, call me crazy but, I really enjoy this kind of stuff. Hopefully it is rides like this in January that make a double century in March do-able.

Garmin Info and Stats Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/21903379

Avila Rd in daytime: the fish hook shaped lower road is it.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/Avila-1.jpg

The elevation profile: looks like rifle bullets
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/route-histogram-24207.jpg

Pics from the Ride

Midland Self Portrait
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/DSC09987-1.jpg

One Last Kit Check
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/DSC09989-1.jpg

Fog
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/DSC09965-1.jpg
and Fog
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/DSC09942-1.jpg
... and more Fog
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Foggy%20Hill%20Jan%207th%202010/DSC09978-1.jpg

Color me impressed.
I'm hating this fog so much. My feet, even with booties, get cold and numb. I've been knocking out 25-ish rides and not enjoying it much.
Where is it NOT foggy?

Last night Midland and I went out for some hill repeat work in the fog and 42 degree temperatures.
12 climbs up Avila Rd in North Concord. It is really perfect for this type of ride since it is a dead end with no traffic, a good surface and it goes up for ¾ mile at a constant 10% – 13%
Plus it dead ends at the Concord Police Academy so any cars you do see are cops not teenagers or drunks.

We ground out all 12 climbs that we set as our goal even though it was crazy foggy and there was a headwind while climbing. 4341 feet of elevation gain in 18.6 miles.
A nice little jaunt, call me crazy but, I really enjoy this kind of stuff. Hopefully it is rides like this in January that make a double century in March do-able.

Okay, you're crazy. In a flamboyant sort of way. (By the way, the main way to train for long miles is to ride long miles.)



Color me impressed.
I'm hating this fog so much. My feet, even with booties, get cold and numb. I've been knocking out 25-ish rides and not enjoying it much.
Where is it NOT foggy?

It hasn't been all that foggy on the west side of the East Bay Hills. Of course, riding in downtown Berkeley or Oakland jind of sucks in a different way . . . .

Maybe the Peninsula is better.

Color me impressed.
I'm hating this fog so much. My feet, even with booties, get cold and numb. I've been knocking out 25-ish rides and not enjoying it much.
Where is it NOT foggy?

Where? Right here on the coast where it's been sunny and fairly nice, albeit not particularly warm.

Okay, you're crazy....

+1

They actually invited me out on this little adventure. I elected to go to 24 Hour where it is nice and warm, and spent an hour chasing the spandex clad spin-kittens on my spin bike. Mo' betta, but it does illustrate why I'll probably never do a double century.

It was quite a ride. Probably not the sanest conditions to ride in, but memorable for sure. Yes it was foggy.132204