Saturday, October 24, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Cuyamaca Poker Ride 2009
For the second year in a row, I elected to ride the Cuyamaca Poker Ride. It would be my first ride back after breaking my hand at Los Gatos in early September, and I had some apprehension.
Because I was uncertain about my recovery time and when exactly the cast would come off, I had not registered for this ride beforehand and rode it solo as a bandit. There weren't any aid stations, and I didn't eat any of the food after, but I still felt bad about this and made a donation to the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park that organizes the ride afterward.
The cast came off on Friday, and I wore a brace on Sunday for the ride. I got there early, geared up, and headed out. I rode the whole thing solo and felt great. I had kept up my fitness by running even when I was in my cast, so I wasn't in horrible shape. I cleaned all of La Clima without stopping, and pretty much kept riding the whole time without any breaks.
Milk Ranch Road was easier than I remembered, and I actually cleaned the whole short, steep climb up the double track that heads up after leaving Milk Ranch Road. I had failed to do that during my previous two times on this route.
The rocky doubletrack descent was rough on my hand as my grip strength was abysmal and I had a hard time holding the handlebars and breaking with my right hand. At one point the washboard trail involuntarily shook my right hand right off the bar, almost causing me to lose control.
I finished with the fun singletrack section that is one of the best parts of this route, and then was back at the car before I knew it. Riding solo with no stops was a little lonely, but it made for a fast ride, and I was glad to work out the kinks without worrying about anyone else.
I apparently forgot to bring my GPS, so I dont have a route or stats. But the ride was essentially the same as last years, so just under 20 miles with around 2700 feet of climbing.
After the ride I headed down the mountain and over to the parent's house in El Cajon to watch my Broncos beat the Patriots in OT, so it turned out to be a pretty good day.
Because I was uncertain about my recovery time and when exactly the cast would come off, I had not registered for this ride beforehand and rode it solo as a bandit. There weren't any aid stations, and I didn't eat any of the food after, but I still felt bad about this and made a donation to the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park that organizes the ride afterward.
The cast came off on Friday, and I wore a brace on Sunday for the ride. I got there early, geared up, and headed out. I rode the whole thing solo and felt great. I had kept up my fitness by running even when I was in my cast, so I wasn't in horrible shape. I cleaned all of La Clima without stopping, and pretty much kept riding the whole time without any breaks.
Milk Ranch Road was easier than I remembered, and I actually cleaned the whole short, steep climb up the double track that heads up after leaving Milk Ranch Road. I had failed to do that during my previous two times on this route.
The rocky doubletrack descent was rough on my hand as my grip strength was abysmal and I had a hard time holding the handlebars and breaking with my right hand. At one point the washboard trail involuntarily shook my right hand right off the bar, almost causing me to lose control.
I finished with the fun singletrack section that is one of the best parts of this route, and then was back at the car before I knew it. Riding solo with no stops was a little lonely, but it made for a fast ride, and I was glad to work out the kinks without worrying about anyone else.
I apparently forgot to bring my GPS, so I dont have a route or stats. But the ride was essentially the same as last years, so just under 20 miles with around 2700 feet of climbing.
After the ride I headed down the mountain and over to the parent's house in El Cajon to watch my Broncos beat the Patriots in OT, so it turned out to be a pretty good day.
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