Feb 15th - Feb 21st: Training Ramblings.....dreaming of Camp

The past week with winter still showing no signs of letting up, I've been dreaming of riding in just shorts and short sleeves.  Give it a few months and we will all be moaning how hot and humid it is but in the meantime I've been scouring google maps to get some ideas for a US based training camp for 2015.

So what would we need for a decent camp location?

• It would need to be warm, as in above 60's during the day.
• There would be climbing and plentiful options for routes.
• Direct flights from BWI.
• Easy access to rental houses.
• Not expensive.
• Extra curricular activities available.

From research that essentially leaves us with southern California, Arizona, Nevada and central Florida (not major hills but rollers).  Having been to San Diego in 2011 that would be a good option. I have always heard great things about the Dirty-T, but in February it's not overly warm. How about Las Vegas in February? Not really sure about the riding routes for a week. Clermont, FL has some very underrated riding and is home to the National Triathlon Center.

Got any recommendations? Let me know.

What I listened to this week:
https://soundcloud.com/benito-turntable/swing-my-electro-mix

Total: 119.82 Miles / 8 hours 35 minutes

Swim: 2,400 yards / ~1.36 miles / 0 hours 47 minutes

Bike: 107 miles / 6 hours 05 minutes

Run: 11.56 miles / 1 hour 22 minutes

JHPS Camp - Encinitas - Day 1

After an early 3:00am start JHPS campers from Annapolis made it to San Diego, but not without a little fanfare. The first flight to Denver got delayed due to engine trouble but we managed to get onto the direct flight to San Diego that got in a hour later. Trouble was the baggage and one bike was still going via Denver!

We (Ace, Stu, Denzil, Mat and myself) landed to blue skies and a pleasent 70 degrees. Without baggage it made things slightly tricky but most of us had shipped our bikes and had packed kit in hand luggage. This meant that Mat pulled the short straw and was the mule for us all as he went back to the airport to pick up the baggage and his bike while we all got a 25 mile warm-up ride in.

We built up the bikes at John Howard's (Camp Leader) house in Encinitas and headed out down the Pacific Coast Highway through Solano Beach, Del Mar and to Torrey Pines home of the world famous golf course.



This is my very first trip out west and first time therefore seeing the Pacific Ocean.....it didn't disappoint! The beaches looked great as we rode by in shorts and jerseys (no gloves, tights or thermals in sight). But boy was it crowded on the PCH, both with vehicles and riders.



The big riding starts tomorrow.....