Monthly Archives: April 2014

Being a Tourist – Not Much of a Rest Day

This entry was posted in Fun Stuff on by .

Yesterday I decided I needed a rest. I woke up feeling pretty beat. I’ve been averaging something like 440 miles a week for the last month. I have more hours so far this year than I had by June 1st of last year. So, I guess I’m tired. I started riding North, just to ride up the coast, but when I got to the top of Torrey Pines, it looked all cloudy and cold North. So I did a U-turn and headed back South. I thought I’d ride the bike path along I-5 and head to Mission Bay.

But, before I knew it, I was way past Mission Bay, through downtown and in Chula Vista. By then, it was just better to go all the way to Imperial Beach, head back up to Coronado Island and take the ferry back to downtown San Diego. It was an all day adventure. Only a little over 60 miles, but it took forever. I was trying to ride easy, but when I was out on Imperial Beach, the wind was blowing hard.

I got to the ferry and one wasn’t coming for 40 minutes, so I rode back into town and had a egg and cheese sandwich and a cup of hot chocolate. I was cold by then. It is only less than 10 miles from the ferry stop in downtown back to the top of Mt. Soladad in La Jolla, so it isn’t too bad. Pretty fun day all around.

This morning I’m heading out with Don and Sue and meeting some guys at the Panikin in Encinitas. A friend of my from Denver, Phil Gronniger, is here and hopefully he’s gonna meet up too. Phil and I rode 90 miles on Tuesday and it was fun catching up.

I guess I’m going to go up and ride the Redlands 1/2 criterium on Sunday. I’d rather be doing something more epic, but that is all that is going on around here this weekend. Big Head Todd is playing at the Belly Up tonight in Solana Beach and we have tickets. Part of my New Year’s list was to watch more live music, so this is a late start to that.

Okay, below are some pictures of my day yesterday.

Kind of meandered my way around San Diego.

Kind of meandered my way around San Diego.

View from Mt. Solada in La Jolla looking North.

View from Mt. Solada in La Jolla looking North.

I rode by the glider port on Torrey Pines at the start.

I rode by the glider port on Torrey Pines at the start.

I didn't realize there was a wind tunnel in San Diego.

I didn’t realize there was a wind tunnel in San Diego.

Lots of cool old ships in the harbor.

Lots of cool old ships in the harbor.

This guy was pretty awesome down by the aircraft carrier.

This guy was pretty awesome down by the aircraft carrier.

Downtown San Diego has lots of new buildings.

Downtown San Diego has lots of new buildings.

Was a little off track when I came into Chula Vista the back way.

Was a little off track when I came into Chula Vista the back way.

But, downtown Chula Vista was nice.

But, downtown Chula Vista was nice.

I came upon this guy on the road up Imperial Beach. I haven't seen one of these jerseys for a while. It was real windy and he sat on me for a few miles.

I came upon this guy on the road up Imperial Beach. I haven’t seen one of these jerseys for a while. It was real windy and he sat on me for a few miles.

The Hotel Del on Coronado.

The Hotel Del on Coronado.

My bike on the ferry back to San Diego. Still no bar tape. I don't have the levers positioned right, or the sprint shifters either.

My bike on the ferry back to San Diego. Still no bar tape. I don’t have the levers positioned right, or the sprint shifters either.

The aircraft carrier from the ferry. It is huge.

The aircraft carrier from the ferry. It is huge.

Dog walking last night up on Soladad.

Dog walking last night up on Soladad.

Bromont was pooped last night.

Bromont was pooped last night.

Phil Gronniger is renting a small house up in Carlsbad for a week. He is riding pretty good this year already.

Phil Gronniger is renting a small house up in Carlsbad for a week. He is riding pretty good this year already.

Getting Enough Sleep

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

Two out of the last three days I’ve been short on sleep, but not of miles. I’ve ridden nearly 300 miles so far this week and I can really tell a difference, from a recovery standpoint, from just missing a few hours of sleep. Especially this morning, after riding 103 miles yesterday and going to a music concert. I’m not sure if the lack of sleep or being bombarded by loud music, for hours, is worse for recovery.

I wrote a list of things I wanted to do this year and #10 was sleep more. I haven’t been consciously trying to sleep more, but I’ve been trying not to have as many short nights as in the past. That is the main problem with all the rides that start at 7 am out here. Especially on Saturday mornings. You have to go to bed by 8:30 pm if you want to get up early enough to make the ride. I’d rather just sleep later, ride later, when it is warmer.

Anyway, I read a few studies on the internet last couple days and didn’t realize how important good sleep is. I read one where they deprived athletes of 2 hours of sleep a night for a little over a week. Their performances decreased an incredible amount. Nearly 9% on an endurance run. That is a lot.

I guess you produce growth hormone when you are sleeping. Growth hormone is obviously good for athletic performance. It helps repair/build muscle and aids in recovery.

So, I guess I’m probably not telling you anything that you don’t already know, but try to get as much quality sleep as you can. And don’t worry about missing the night before the competition. From personal experience, I’ve slept to nothing the night before a race and it really doesn’t affect the results. Sometimes I ride much better. Studies show the same conclusion. But, don’t try it two or three days in a row. That is a receipe for disappointment.

Even Lance needed a little extra growth hormone, back in the day.

Even Lance needed a little extra growth hormone, back in the day.

The Big Head Todd concert last night was worth losing a little sleep over.

The Big Head Todd concert last night was worth losing a little sleep over.