palomar mountain, heat bicycle training rides, ultra distance training

Riding in extreme heat. Cyclists in Central California, Arizona, Florida and other roasted climes know the drill: start early, end before lunch. Or ride in the dark. Whatever you do, avoid the day’s scorching zenith. I’ve ridden in some nasty warmth (the final 30 miles of the 155-mile Climb to Kaiser flirts with temps of 105+ and after climbing 14,000 feet up in the clouds). Two decades ago, I took a cold shower — in my cleats, shorts and jersey — in a farmer’s house outside of Clovis, California. Days of inferno training are never memorable in the “man-we-slayed-it!” kind of way. At least not in the first 24 hours. It’s a more of a “we-are-out-of-our-freaking-minds-for-doing-this!” type of vibe. One that tattoos your brain forever.

The “Malone Epic” ride on Saturday with Troy Malone in North San Diego County was the latter. One for the ages. On a crisp fall day, the ride is a semi-delight for those with the legs and lungs. On a 100+ degree day in swirling furnace winds, well, it’s far beyond “epic.” I don’t know the word for it. But I do know over the course of nearly 90 miles and 8,000 feet (including Palomar Mountain and Cole Grade Road) we saw just three other cyclists. Three. And that was before 10 a.m. Along some of the most popular roads featured on Stage 8 of this year’s Tour of California. The challenge of the Malone Epic on the most smokin’ of hot days is simple: Try to stay hydrated — and semi-comfortable. The rest is psychological (if the body will cooperate). Crawling along climbs you’ve previously torn up (at least by your standards) hastens the suffering. It’s a hard place to live. If you ride too fast, you risk cramping. Ride slower, you’re baked longer. Knowing the red line on days like this are difficult. When bottles filled with ice-cold water only 30 minutes earlier are transformed to tea kettle material, the game has changed.

Hot takes a special breed. People who can find a bit extra, and then some. People who can turn themselves inside out more than once, and take whatever the road and mountains dish out. There’s a reason “hot” rhymes with “not.” It’s not for everyone. Still, it remains one of cycling’s most enduring attractions for anyone who wants adventure and indelible memories. Hot is the Sunday Crave.

Palomar Mountain's South Grade Road As Seen from East Grade Road

The wind doesn’t always win “The older you get, the stronger the wind gets. And it’s always in your face.” -Pablo Picasso I have nothing but respect for cyclists who live and train in windy climes. Texas comes first to mind. I did the Ride for the Roses in 2003 and 2004 in Austin, when...
Bicycles in the mist June gloom. It’s the mix of heavy fog and clouds that hug the San Diego coastline with a grayness, dampness and surprising coolness. June gloom, my cycling friends, is not what you expect to find at elevation on your beloved mountain. And yet, there it was, all over Palomar Mountain,...
53:23 I’d been thinking about it all summer: Trying to do a personal best on Palomar Mountain. Last weekend was a furnace-like sufferfest on Montezuma Grade that was supposed to build confidence. It didn’t. But an easy week to recover (most off the Strava radar) and a nice coastal ride yesterday...
Borrego Double Ordeal At precisely 166.3 miles and 12,500 feet of climbing, I came to understand why the Borrego Double Ordeal is named as such. Six miles shy the historic mining town of Julian, California at 4,000 feet elevation — outside of San Diego — I had a huge cramp. In my brain....
The road to satisfaction When you pedal in wet and cold conditions and refuse to surrender, there’s a quiet satisfaction. Saturday was one of those rare days in San Diego. The forecast was catastrophic by local standards. Precisely what was needed for a Palomar Mountain group ride planned weeks ago. The official 70% to...