May's Monthly Climbing Challenge - Alga Road+ - A, B, C levels
Details
It's time once again to build our hill climbing strength, and this time we will keep the challenge close to home with all three groups incorporating Alga Road into their routes. The routes listed below get progressively more challenging with both miles and elevation. Normally, we will list average speeds for the different groups, but the overall speeds will be lower than is typical due to the amount of elevation climbed. If you are a Strava user, you may want to consider signing yourself up for this month's Strava Climbing Challenge (http://www.strava.com/challenges/strava-climbing-challenge) - all groups will be tackling a significant portion of the challenge in this ride.
All routes begin by heading south on the Coast Highway, turning inland (and uphill) on Poinsettia Lane. We will all turn right on Aviara, and continue past El Camino Real where the road becomes Alga Road. There is a short downhill portion before the road banks upward for the next 1.8 miles. The routes diverge at this point.
I will post turn by turn directions later in the week.
All groups will be regrouping at the tops of the hill climbs.
C Route (Beginners or those with less time)
Following the Alga Road climb, the C Group will turn north on Melrose and return to Carbon Connection with just a couple more short challenges before cooling down along the Agua Hedionda Lagoon and returning to the shop.
Distance: 23 miles
Elevation: 1800 ft
Strava Route: http://www.strava.com/routes/314903
ROUTE SHEET C ROUTE (http://carbonconnectionteamfun.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/beginner-alga-route.docx)
B Route (Intermediate group)
Instead of returning to the shop after the Alga Road climb, the B group will recuperate on their way over to the next challenge - San Elijo Road. The group then can either descend Twin Oaks or return via San Elijo, and take the mostly downhill return route to Carbon Connection (the provided route descends Twin Oaks). As always when we climb San Elijo, Double Peak is always an option! (although not listed - it adds about 2.2 miles and 500 ft)
Distance: 31 miles
Elevation: 2700 ft
Strava Route: http://www.strava.com/routes/314890
ROUTE SHEET B ROUTE (http://carbonconnectionteamfun.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/intermediate-alga-san-elijo.docx)
A Route (Advanced group)
This route could also be called "Suffer Fest #2", but I won't officially name it that. If you are looking to be challenged, this is your route. After climbing Alga, we will head down El Fuerte and make our way down to the end of Alicante off Poinsettia. We will ascend the gentle side of Alicante, cross Alga, and then we will ascend the not-so-gentle side of Alicante (it becomes El Fuerte). We will get a brief respite before beginning the ascent of San Elijo, flip up and over the top and back up Twin Oaks again to the Fire Station... and then take it up Double Peak. We will begin to make our way back toward the shop, with a couple more special coastal hills thrown in for good measure (Hemingway and back side of Tamarack). This is a lot of climbing, but we will be PACING ourselves and not expecting even close to best times on these hills.
Note: Many of the "extras" on this route can be skipped if at any point you feel like you need a little break from the climbing (for example, Double Peak or Hemingway are offshoots and you can eat a snack and wait up for the team before continuing).
Distance: 47 miles
Elevation: 5600 ft
Strava Route: http://www.strava.com/routes/314885
ROUTE SHEET A ROUTE (http://carbonconnectionteamfun.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/suffer-fest-2.docx)
(Note: this route drawer was behaving a little irregularly today - the map is to get the general idea).
NOTES: Please bring an extra tube, CO2 cartridge or hand pump, and enough fluid and snacks (suggestion: two bottles minimum for the longer rides, and two snacks). Helmets are always required, and we obey all traffic laws.
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