Riding Four Out of Last Five Days

[BikeThePlanet]

I only took Christmas off. Still not seeing the waistline shrink and still can't climb for sh . . .

I did Tijeras Wednesday, Whiting Thursday, Tijeras Saturday, and Whiting today. Legs and lungs are a lot better than when I started riding the MTB at the beginning of November.

Whiting isn't bad. With the El Mariachi 29s I have cleared all the sand that did me end on the Rockhopper. I am sure it also helps that the sand is moist. Still don't like Cactus, but Live Oak is awesome. I haven't found the love for the downhill stuff. Plus, picking lines/turning on the singletrack like Cactus needs a lot of improvement. At least I have learned to maintain slow and use the front break more. It is much better than trying to stop/slow when out of control. I just go slow the whole way feathering the front break, letting go on short rough/steep/drops/etc.

I like the longer 2 1/2 Tijeras Creek ride with nothing sketchy. I burn a lot of calories. Too bad it is like $10 in gas every time to get there in the Element.

I need to make it to El Morro one of these days since it is closer. I need to find some other not too technical trails that are in the trees more.

Anyhow, the El Mariachi rules. 1x9 is kicking my butt. I still don't like the downhill. However, being able to ride 4 out of 5 days with 2 days ~15 miles is pretty cool. I am in better shape even if it doesn't show.

[Fewinhibitions]

Congrats! Keep it going.

[hunterp101]

Originally Posted by BikeThePlanet

I only took Christmas off. Still not seeing the waistline shrink

Just add some weight training and remove the excesses from your diet. A lot of people neglect weight training but in actuality it burns fat faster than cardio. The more muscle you build the more fat you burn. Even when you aren't working out muscle helps you continue to burn fat. Keep it up and you'll be dropping inches in no time.

[maxwell]

Nice job man!

Keep riding, and progressing, and most of all, keep having FUN! THAT is what's important.

[Waldo]

What Maxwell said.

It's fun reading your posts here as you progress and get more & more stoked on your bike, the trails, and the sport. Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to reading more.

[derrdic3]

be careful. i was the same way when i started biking, you wont last long riding 4-5 times a week you will find that you will start overtraining fast and get frustrated. not that it is a bad thing but pace yourself!

[nerdgirl]

Originally Posted by derrdic3

be careful. i was the same way when i started biking, you wont last long riding 4-5 times a week you will find that you will start overtraining fast and get frustrated. not that it is a bad thing but pace yourself!

I don't know, when I started riding in April I had time to do 4 times a week and didn't get burned out at all. (I was riding Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). In fact, I wished I could have done it every day! I did that for the first 3 months before life got in the way. Then I was down to 2 days a week and really sad about it. I would love it if, once I recover from my (crash) injury and go back to riding, I could go back to riding 4X a week. That would be heaven.

[Brandy]

Originally Posted by BikeThePlanet

Too bad it is like $10 in gas every time to get there in the Element.

I need to make it to El Morro one of these days since it is closer.

I'm in HB as well, so I understand. The cost of gas is killing me too. I'm trying to get as much riding in the Santa Ana's right now while it's cool though, I figure I'll save El Moro for the summertime. I did a loop there that wasn't technical...lots of fireroad if that's what you're looking for.

Good job on getting out there so much!

[mingo1]

Unfortunately, riding 4-5 days is not going to drop the waistline quickly. I am sure with all the riding you have stopped on the way back and indulged in some tastey food. I tend to do that also.

Diet is key and also working out as a routine. Check what you are eating and limit those outings of burgers and fries. That is only the way I was able to slim down.

Good Luck....El Moro has some single track but you need to know where to look. Majority is fireroad but you can get some descent single.

[Byron B]

Biketheplanet - get on a road bike, you'll burn a ton of calories plus you'll save gas money.. just a thought..

[BikeThePlanet]

Originally Posted by Byron B

Biketheplanet - get on a road bike, you'll burn a ton of calories plus you'll save gas money.. just a thought..

Actually I do, the CrossCheck. It is what was riding this summer when I got back into biking. I also was commuting to work before we set the clocks back (though only 3 miles). However, with the shorter days and starting to MTB, I have only been out a few times since November. I ride to the Big A and back (~30 miles).

I want to eventually be able to ride down to San Diego and also do a tour.

Originally Posted by Brandy

I'm in HB as well, so I understand. The cost of gas is killing me too. I'm trying to get as much riding in the Santa Ana's right now while it's cool though, I figure I'll save El Moro for the summertime. I did a loop there that wasn't technical...lots of fireroad if that's what you're looking for.

Good job on getting out there so much!

I wouldn't mind getting out and doing something like that. I don't know if I have the skill/fitness level, but you are right this is the time to be doing it. I rarely go inland of Adams during the summer.

Where did you ride?

Originally Posted by derrdic3

be careful. i was the same way when i started biking, you wont last long riding 4-5 times a week you will find that you will start overtraining fast and get frustrated. not that it is a bad thing but pace yourself!

Just happens that as a teacher I have a couple of weeks off and nothing better to do, so I have been out riding more.

[Brandy]

Originally Posted by BikeThePlanet

I wouldn't mind getting out and doing something like that. I don't know if I have the skill/fitness level, but you are right this is the time to be doing it. I rarely go inland of Adams during the summer.

Where did you ride?

In the Santa Ana's I've been riding Blackstar Canyon, which you could try, and it would help you gain some sustained climbing skills. You can make it an out and back and turn around at any time.

I've also done Harding Truck Trail, which is tougher, but again, you could turn around when you need to.

As for El Moro (if you don't want to drive inland), I did a loop starting up at Ridge Park. Actually I rode from home and then did the loop which was mostly fireroad. http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=12890 I haven't done any of the singletrack in El Moro.

As for gaining fitness and losing pounds, I second the suggestion of getting out on the road bike. I'm out of shape right now, but I know that's what I need to get back to where I was. Right now, the mountain biking is fun, fun, fun though so I keep blowing off my road rides in favor of the dirt. Unfortunately, the lack of fitness is making my mtb rides harder than they need to be.


One more suggestion. If you are looking to work on your climbing somewhere close to home, take your CrossCheck down PCH to Newport Coast and do some hill repeats. To work on steeper climbs, throw in Vista Ridge and Ridge Park.

[BikeThePlanet]

Originally Posted by Brandy

One more suggestion. If you are looking to work on your climbing somewhere close to home, take your CrossCheck down PCH to Newport Coast and do some hill repeats. To work on steeper climbs, throw in Vista Ridge and Ridge Park.

The CC kills me on climbs. A 52/39 with 11-25 in the back. The 32t and 11-34 on the El Mar are a welcome sight. A good suggestion. I never rode down the PCH that far, I always jumped on the river trail to avoid traffic. Plus, the turn around ride back to HB is always against the wind.

There are rumors of the 2010 CC have two front braze-ons, so I may sell mine on CL and pick up a new one with MTB gearing.

[Eric W]

That's great keep up the good work. I wish I could get out and ride that much. I try to ride fully loop on the weekends.

[BikeThePlanet]

My friend Johnny and I started MTBing at the same time. We hit up Whiting for our first ride at the beginning of November. He was on a $200 Xmart hybrid, it was old and real P.O.S. We stopped like 6 times just getting to Billy Goat and the first bend from there we were looking at the top of Mustard and Johnny wanted to go back.

That is when I broke it to him that Whiting is one way for bikes. So we did a lot of pushing. Cactus scared the crap out of us, but we eventually made it. The next time Johnny was a little more scared because I did a one over on the bike and it was old and in really sad shape. However, he got the bug and went out and bought a FS Specialized FSR.

Long story short, the bastard has cleaned Mustard ever since he got the new bike. He cleaned it again Sunday as I was still HAB. On the fire road, flat ground, etc. he can't keep up. Not even close, but he sure does kill me on the climbs. The only positive motivation I have is that I make it at least as far up the hill (actually further) with the 1x9 then I was with the granny. So it is hard to compare my progress since it is apples and oranges. I have to believe I am climbing better, it just can't be measured because the loss of the granny gear changed the game.