Traning Hard? or hardly training?

Actually I've been mostly training hard, putting in some serious bike and gym hours in preparation for next season. Everything is coming together with the team for next year and I'm super excited for their training camp in Arizona which runs in early February. Its going to be great to meet the team and formalize goals and objectives for the coming season.

Meanwhile last weekend I went to Bodega Bay for two days of serious riding with the members and alums of the UC Davis cycling team. We did an awesome 6 hours loop on Saturday which involved some of the most picturesque coastal areas. We climbed King's Ridge, up from Cazadero and then Kruse Ranch and Ft Ross up from the coast. There was definitely some playful racing going on especially on the climbs. I was a little hindered by my 25 lbs rain bike, especially on the really steep pitches, but I was really encouraged with my progress given that I haven't really done any high intensity riding yet this winter.

Sunday's weather was pretty grim but it stayed dry for the first three hours. Most people were a little tired from the day before so the pace was much more reasonable at the start of the ride. We first rode Sweetwater Spring road from the Armstrong Redwoods, there were still a lot of people in the group at this point so we waited a bit after the descent for everyone to regroup. As we were standing there 6 riders from the BMC Pro team rode past including last year's World Champion Alessando Ballan. I think its a testament to how much US cycling has grown that so many big international teams now have training camps around the US. Its cool stuff.

Soon after that the rain started and I could only convince three other people to come with me to ride up Ft. Ross from the Cazadero side. I am glad at least a few people were hard enough to ride in the rain with me. It again turned into a good 6 hour ride and I was really satisfied with my condition at the end of such long rides.

Now its a rest week so I'm riding much less and instead I'm sitting around listening to the rain fall. I know we need the rain here in California but I just wish it would stop long enough each day for me to go for a ride without getting too soaked. I don't really mind riding in the rain, but it is definitely more pleasant when its not raining. Well at least its a rest week.