JULIAN, CA
Base Period 2 Review
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| VIVE LE TOUR! ALLEZ! |
Training Breakdown
- Bike Miles: 270 miles
- Bike Time: 17 hrs
- Strength Time: 1 hr
- Other Time: 10 hrs
- Total Training Time: 28 hrs
Course - The Torry Pines Climbs
From there, the road flattens out by UC San Diego and you enjoy a quick plunge into downtown La Jolla. Even though there are a lot of traffic stops in downtown La Jolla, the overall feel of the road is similar to passing through a small Belgian village since the roads are lined and tightly packed with cafes, bars, and restaurants. After you pass through downtown, the flat stretch continues through several sets of roundabouts that add to its European feel.
After the flat stretch of road, its time for the major climb on the course: Mt. Soledad. I say major climb, but it really isn't anything too difficult. It's a category 3 climb that is 4.9 km/3.1 mi long at 4.1%. I like to think that this climb has some Belgian flavor to it since it is a very stair steppy climb, with sections of steep pavement followed by shallow reprieves. It reminds me of the Belgian classic climbs with their short and steep nature, just minus the cobbles. When you finally reach the top, you are treated to a panoramic view of the northern San Diego area!
Next comes a steep and technical descent. Lots of blind curves and tight corners that keep you on your toes. After this descent, you immediately start climbing again with the course's final hill: a category 4 that is 2.4 km/1.5 mi long at 3.9%. And after you conquer this last hill, you cruise past UCSD and descend down the Torrey Pines State Reserve back home, totaling just over 42 km/26 miles.
Course - Julian
I'd like to think that this is one of the more picturesque courses in the San Diego area. However, this one is reserved for the weekends since I have to drive an hour or so to Julian California, but I believe the scenery and terrain are worth the trip. The ride starts by the Menghini Winery and takes the country roads into the town of Julian. The town of Julian itself I imagine has changed very little from when it was founded back in the days of the wild west. Wooden buildings line the main street in a decidedly western fashion, so much so, that one could picture a duel taking place at high noon in the middle of the street.
You quickly exit the town and continue to take country roads that run along the surrounding golden hills spotted with large California Oaks every now and then. The miles go bye pretty quickly as your head darts from left to right to soak in all the scenery. The course's only climb quickly approaches once you reach the Pine Hills-- a slow and dragging category 2 climb that is 7.7 km/4.8 mi at 5%. The climb is pretty steady with only a very steep section at the top. Otherwise, it's fairly easy to get into a rhythm and work your way up the mountain. However, since the climb starts at around 3,600 ft, I noticed that my heart rate was a little higher than usual. Once at the top, you are treated to a nice view of the valley below and the California mountains in the distance.
After filling back up on water at the top of the climb, since it gets a little toasty up there at around 95 deg F, the highway takes you down to the edge of Lake Cuyamaca. It truly is a beautiful sight seeing the water shimmering in the California Sun as you ride along the highway next to it.
You can nearly double the course's distance and total climbing by taking a turn off towards Mt. Laguna. But since, I wasn't feeling in tip top shape, mostly due to the change in altitude, I decided to head back towards Julian to cut the course short. You work your way back along similar country roads that are lined by ranches and open fields before finally making it back into the western town and finishing the ride. When it's all said and done, the shorter loop is a nice 41.5 km/25.8 mile ride in the golden hills of California.
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| Paris-Roubaix style route sheet on my top tube. Yellow indicates the climbing areas. |
