In other posts, I’ve alluded to the quality/intensity v. quantity of training debate. As an attempt to introduce a little more intensity into my riding this summer, I’ve been forgoing my bike commute to work from time to time, and throwing the mountain bike in the back of the car for an after work ass kicker known as Cowles Mountain.
At 1592 feet, Cowles Mountain is the highest point within the city of San Diego. There are a couple of options, but the trail I typically take to the summit climbs 1200 feet in just two and a quarter miles. Try this one when you’re too out of shape, and you’ll feel as delirious as Hunter S. Thompson on a Las Vegas bender.
You can see the radio towers up top–your destination–as you arrive at the trail head:
The trail is unrelentingly steep right out of the parking lot, and would be a serious cardio challenge even if it were smooth as glass. But what makes it especially draining are the endless water bars, each of which requires an extra burst of energy to clean. They don’t look like much, but when your heart rate is at 95% of max and you’re rolling at 4 mph, they can be challenging enough. Especially after several dozen of them:
Rocks, and rocks mixed with waterbars don’t make it any easier:
At about the half way point, you exit the single track and get a view of the fire road that takes you to the summit. It winds up the mountain at grades well north of 23%.
I had to push my bike the last 700 feet as I just plain ran out of juice. I hope to make it all the way to the top without any hike a bike some day soon.
The view from the top can be terrific, but a lot depends on how hazy it happens to be. Today was one of the hazier days. Looking back down the fire road I just climbed:
Downtown San Diego in the purple hazy distance:
And the obligatory bike pic at the summit. This would be a good trail for a nice 20lb cross country rig, but the 30lb Pivot does just fine, especially on the way down!
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