The Como Street Ride
by Rick Schultz
posted 2006-04-09
My ride with Monex (UCI American Continental Pro Cycling Team)
From Cook's Corner it is a fast and steady 3 mile climb to the top of the hill then a quick descent (40 mph) which puts us officially into the canyon. The Team Monex boys were out in front. In the first part of the canyon, with each undulation in the road, someone would attack. First Monex, then Team Paramount, Radsport, VeloSport, Simple Green. Over and over again.
Photo by Richard Ackerman
Once the nervousness wore off and the group settled in, they all decided to let Monex stay up in front.
The entire Monex team was now working hard at the front, rotating like clockwork. It was beautiful to see such precision. It seemed like the riders in the group could also see that too. Monex was working like a well oiled machine and I think no one wanted to upset that balance by rotating themselves in.
Rotating and pulling, it was efficient and steady and the pace was moving very fast. Then after 7-1/2 miles, we arrived at the entrance of Irvine Lake. It was a fast-paced leg, averaging 30 mph.
Then we came to the last BIG climb -- otherwise known as dump hill or trash hill -- named after the County of Orange landfill / waste disposal site located at the top. It is a 3/4 mile climb that gains about 200 feet making it an average of a 5% grade.
This hill officially takes you out of the canyon. It's not too tough unless of course you are in a group that is averaging 20 mph up it. Cyclists were popping off the back left and right. Then Monex decided to attack at the top, and this was where they dropped me, but luckily there was a downhill and a red light at the toll road at the bottom of the hill so I was able to catch up. After a quick city block, we were at Jamboree turning left, and after 5-1/2 miles we will be back at Tustin Ranch. One last medium-sized hill on Jamboree -- not too bad, but again, another attack from Team Monex. All that was left was the 3-1/2 miles of downhill at 52 mph.
Photo by Richard Ackerman
The Monex train was driving hard at the front. This was the fastest I had ever been down Jamboree, and it's a 4.5% grade. Once we were back at Tustin Ranch, there was a lot of talk about the ride. Most enjoyed the ride, but the problem was that it was so fast that riders were coming in over the next half-hour.
After a couple quick refreshments, four of us, Greg Medinilla, Patrick, Tom and myself were back on the bikes heading back to Patrick's bike shop in Laguna Beach, just 22 miles away. The rest of the Monex team wanted to get more miles in so they went around the canyon again!!!
The four of us started riding south on Jamboree towards Walnut. Ten other cyclists came along with us. As the miles wore on, our group of 13 dwindled in size until there were only the original 3 of us left.
From Walnut, we made a right turn on Harvard, then a left onto the bike trail which parallels the railroad tracks. We crossed Culver, then Yale then Jeffrey, finally exiting at Sand Canyon. After a quick right, I could finally see the foothills which separated us from our destination. Two miles and we were at the 405 freeway where Sand Canyon turns into Shady Canyon - the beginning of a whole new set of hills.
After 4-1/2 miles of hills, we were at the bottom of Newport Coast Drive -- yes another 2 mile long hill and 400 feet of elevation. Greg, one of the Monex pros decided to do a little interval training and shifted his racing bike into its 53 tooth big chainring up front and the 12T on the cassette. Greg proceeded to climb the entire 2 miles standing up in this huge gear. Both Patrick and I opted for our small chainrings spinning at 100 rpm. Greg just "walked" away from us. Crossing San Joaquin Hills Road put us at the top of the climb and a 2-1/2 mile downhill. Greg was at the front hammering at over 40 mph.
Photo by Richard Ackerman
As the light at the corner of Newport Coast and Pacific Coast Highway turned yellow, we made a very fast left turn onto PCH and headed for Laguna Beach. Greg still had a lot of energy left in him so he decided to attack on the 2 remaining hills before getting into downtown Laguna. Greg and Patrick dropped Tom and I again and this time we were'nt able to close the gap. Tom and I took the Cliff Drive shortcut back to the shop that allowed us to stay off of PCH through the crowded and heavily conjested downtown area. PCH through Laguna can be a very unfriendly place for cyclists since there is no bike lane, narrow roads and an abundance of cars all trying to get somewhere in a hurry.
By the time Tom and I got back to the shop, Patrick and Greg were already changed and sitting on the sofa with a beer.
What a nice way to end a 75 mile ride!
