Aug 14, 2021 at 09:07 PM
Garrison is based in another part of Croatia. But when I likely move there, in 2-3 years, I’ll reach out to him again. He’s mostly toward the North, and I’m usually in Zagreb or down South in Dalmatia or on an island.
Kissenas Around the World
Aug 17, 2021 at 12:43 AM
Very sorry to hear about your mom @""Nathaniel Miller"
If people are interested the website is Okolo Tours
If people are interested the website is Okolo Tours
Dec 22, 2021 at 02:43 AM
Heading to Santa Cruz, CA in a few days.
(Hoping Omicron won't get me, of course, and have KN95s for the airport and flight)
So, anyone have any riding experience or recommendations there?
(Hoping Omicron won't get me, of course, and have KN95s for the airport and flight)
So, anyone have any riding experience or recommendations there?
Dec 22, 2021 at 09:55 AM
Dec 29, 2021 at 12:03 AM
Greetings from soggy Santa Cruz.
It has rained every day I've been here. Three rides thus far. The 25th was raining all day, so I did an indoor workout. And yesterday, I went for a long walk in the woods--not much rain, but plenty of mud.
Here's the view from my brother's living room. It torments.
The lens foreshortens a good bit. The road is 100' away or so. It's part of a two or three mile hill.
The first ride, I just went down to Santa Cruz and rolled around.
The roads were dry in town, but two and from was in the woods and very soggy.
Old school pleasures in town.
Had to have a 'road's closed' adventure just before sunset because so long as there's a way around, no road is truly closed.
Unless it dead ends at someone's property. Alas
https://www.strava.com/activities/6431671168
Ride #2. Was hoping my friend Basil, who lives an hour north but used to ride around SC regularly, could give me a tour. He couldn't, so I devised my own ride north, climbing up through Bonny Doon. The road through Bonny Doon is so dark from the towering redwoods that drivers are advised to turn on their lights during the day. I took the easy way. Only 6k up and 1500' elevation--remember "easy." The descent had a 10% grade for the final 3.5k. But getting to the coast, though finally dry and almost sunny, is a bit of a letdown. Route 1 is straight and a highway.
But on the interesting/weird side, the town above has three actual phone booths in service.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6431671292
Ride #3. Didn't want to go long, so I created what I took to be an 'easy' route. Clearly, I wasn't paying attention. I set myself up for an eight-mile climb at the start, then, by the summit of Summit, it started raining.
There's something disappointing about the highest point of the ride going through an underpass.
But, there was the un-staffed farmstand to be impressed by
And my route took me on a one-lane road descent which was getting battered by landslides. I was too wet to stop; sorry that you don't get to see pics. I saw one car and one cyclist for the 5-mile descent, jumping potholes, taking blind curves and grinding down my brake pads. Fun, but cold.
after going down to SC, I came back up a scenic way that finishes with this view
Before plunging back into the woods.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6439977986
It has rained every day I've been here. Three rides thus far. The 25th was raining all day, so I did an indoor workout. And yesterday, I went for a long walk in the woods--not much rain, but plenty of mud.
Here's the view from my brother's living room. It torments.
The lens foreshortens a good bit. The road is 100' away or so. It's part of a two or three mile hill.
The first ride, I just went down to Santa Cruz and rolled around.
The roads were dry in town, but two and from was in the woods and very soggy.
Old school pleasures in town.
Had to have a 'road's closed' adventure just before sunset because so long as there's a way around, no road is truly closed.
Unless it dead ends at someone's property. Alas
https://www.strava.com/activities/6431671168
Ride #2. Was hoping my friend Basil, who lives an hour north but used to ride around SC regularly, could give me a tour. He couldn't, so I devised my own ride north, climbing up through Bonny Doon. The road through Bonny Doon is so dark from the towering redwoods that drivers are advised to turn on their lights during the day. I took the easy way. Only 6k up and 1500' elevation--remember "easy." The descent had a 10% grade for the final 3.5k. But getting to the coast, though finally dry and almost sunny, is a bit of a letdown. Route 1 is straight and a highway.
But on the interesting/weird side, the town above has three actual phone booths in service.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6431671292
Ride #3. Didn't want to go long, so I created what I took to be an 'easy' route. Clearly, I wasn't paying attention. I set myself up for an eight-mile climb at the start, then, by the summit of Summit, it started raining.
There's something disappointing about the highest point of the ride going through an underpass.
But, there was the un-staffed farmstand to be impressed by
And my route took me on a one-lane road descent which was getting battered by landslides. I was too wet to stop; sorry that you don't get to see pics. I saw one car and one cyclist for the 5-mile descent, jumping potholes, taking blind curves and grinding down my brake pads. Fun, but cold.
after going down to SC, I came back up a scenic way that finishes with this view
Before plunging back into the woods.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6439977986
Dec 29, 2021 at 01:51 PM
Holy cow, talk about carpe diem!
Dec 30, 2021 at 12:11 AM
Totally jealous JP, especially after being more or less stuck due to the kids getting covid. Have fun for us!
Jan 04, 2022 at 11:15 PM
Ok, when I left off, I had two days and one morning left in Santa Cruz. i was hoping for two good rides. Wednesday morning dawned in the mid 40s and rainy. I was hoping it would burn off as predicted. It didn't. It just got more rainy. And poured later in the afternoon.
Skipped. But I did make plans to ride with my friend Basil Thursday morning. he had a 50+ mile route that went by where his in-laws used to live and up a big climb and around and back.
A striking thing about getting on the bike my previous two climbing rides was how my glutes and hamstrings were sore. While I do climby rides here, the extended periods of climbing seems to activate those muscles more than our local riding. I think I also experienced this the last time I spent time riding in this area.
While it was mid-40s when Basil arrived, it had stopped raining, and was supposed to get sunny soon and for the rest of the day. Rolling out downhill was wet and cold, but the sun showed up quickly and we had a mostly flat, mostly peaceful ride down to farmland. We were on the Pacific Coast Trail, that is basically the shoulder on a semi-busy road. Not bad, though at one light I got yelled at by someone who didn't like that I hadn't stopped in the bike lane. I thought he should have been happy that I was waiting at the light.
At Corallitos, we did a loop of farmlands and hills that was totally empty, save for a few cyclists stopped together and a single cyclist we saw going the other way a bit before we took a break at a quickie-mart/sausage market.
At the stop, Basil grabbed a Coke and a 'family-size' bag of sour gummi bears. When we came out, the guy we saw riding the other way rolled up to us. Turns out he's from San Diego and tired of riding solo. He was staying in Santa Cruz for a month or two to help his daughter with his new-born granddaughter. Dude was 70 or so and had been riding since 1969.
Once out of the market, we started a nine-mile climb rated as a Category 2. 1600' of elevation in 9 miles. At the start, the roads were damp and dark and totally shaded by both the ridge and redwoods.
That's the 70 year-old.
Basil's a bit out of shape, so we kept it conversational. on the steeper pitches, he struggled.
Finally, at the upper reaches, we were high enough and the trees were low enough that the sun came through.
Near the top, we stopped for a selfie. There's an ocean back there, I think.
Once over the top, we had a multi-stage descent. The first part was on dark, damp roads with huge potholes (take a look at the cracked road above. The early descent was worse, and slimy. At one point, a mile in, we came to a "road closed" sign. Only there had been no way to get around this road. Turns out, it was just marking the tree that had fallen over the road, but high enough to get under without stopping.
the second part was still wet, but faster and more open. Back on went the vest and gloves. I'd get into a rhythm, take several curves well and seemed to be getting faster, but then something would occur, the curve get tighter, the road wetter, and I'd back off.
And, because of where my brother lives, we finished by climbing, mostly gently, for two miles.
54.43 miles 4616' climbing.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6449018080
Gotta go back for more.
Skipped. But I did make plans to ride with my friend Basil Thursday morning. he had a 50+ mile route that went by where his in-laws used to live and up a big climb and around and back.
A striking thing about getting on the bike my previous two climbing rides was how my glutes and hamstrings were sore. While I do climby rides here, the extended periods of climbing seems to activate those muscles more than our local riding. I think I also experienced this the last time I spent time riding in this area.
While it was mid-40s when Basil arrived, it had stopped raining, and was supposed to get sunny soon and for the rest of the day. Rolling out downhill was wet and cold, but the sun showed up quickly and we had a mostly flat, mostly peaceful ride down to farmland. We were on the Pacific Coast Trail, that is basically the shoulder on a semi-busy road. Not bad, though at one light I got yelled at by someone who didn't like that I hadn't stopped in the bike lane. I thought he should have been happy that I was waiting at the light.
At Corallitos, we did a loop of farmlands and hills that was totally empty, save for a few cyclists stopped together and a single cyclist we saw going the other way a bit before we took a break at a quickie-mart/sausage market.
At the stop, Basil grabbed a Coke and a 'family-size' bag of sour gummi bears. When we came out, the guy we saw riding the other way rolled up to us. Turns out he's from San Diego and tired of riding solo. He was staying in Santa Cruz for a month or two to help his daughter with his new-born granddaughter. Dude was 70 or so and had been riding since 1969.
Once out of the market, we started a nine-mile climb rated as a Category 2. 1600' of elevation in 9 miles. At the start, the roads were damp and dark and totally shaded by both the ridge and redwoods.
That's the 70 year-old.
Basil's a bit out of shape, so we kept it conversational. on the steeper pitches, he struggled.
Finally, at the upper reaches, we were high enough and the trees were low enough that the sun came through.
Near the top, we stopped for a selfie. There's an ocean back there, I think.
Once over the top, we had a multi-stage descent. The first part was on dark, damp roads with huge potholes (take a look at the cracked road above. The early descent was worse, and slimy. At one point, a mile in, we came to a "road closed" sign. Only there had been no way to get around this road. Turns out, it was just marking the tree that had fallen over the road, but high enough to get under without stopping.
the second part was still wet, but faster and more open. Back on went the vest and gloves. I'd get into a rhythm, take several curves well and seemed to be getting faster, but then something would occur, the curve get tighter, the road wetter, and I'd back off.
And, because of where my brother lives, we finished by climbing, mostly gently, for two miles.
54.43 miles 4616' climbing.
https://www.strava.com/activities/6449018080
Gotta go back for more.
May 28, 2022 at 12:53 PM
So I finally got back to Italy/Tuscany on the 15th after three long years. I took Amy and we rented her a bike, and we did some riding. I have a bike there... For a full read of our trip diary and more photos follow this Link: https://rabtwagn.com/2022/05/26/under-the-tuscan-sky-2022/
Jun 29, 2022 at 10:16 PM
Lisa and I met up with a few current and former Kissena’s in France this week. Today we rode the legend, Mont Ventoux. The climb is an absolute monster; two hours (depending on how fast you are) of average 10% grade. The first 2/3 is in a windless oven of a forest. After that we were on the exposed moonscape we all know so well from watching the Tour.
My excuses are many (almost zero training since last summer) but I’m still delighted we rode it. I was absolutely shelled at the top.
My excuses are many (almost zero training since last summer) but I’m still delighted we rode it. I was absolutely shelled at the top.
Jun 30, 2022 at 02:06 PM
Jun 30, 2022 at 06:22 PM
Aug 25, 2022 at 09:22 AM
Spent the week in Girona and was able to get some riding in. Hopefully it won’t rain tomorrow and I can do one more ride. Truly amazing riding although coming in Fall or Spring would be a bit more ideal because it is HOT.
Did one ride up from Girona to the top of Santuari de la Mare de Déu del Mont which was a 3k push and I was well toasted by the top but what a view. Then made my way down through a small village called Besalu and then through a lakeside town called Banyoles.
On day two, I went from Girona, up to Els Angels which is essentially the routine route in Girona. Think of it as the CP of Girona except much nicer… and it includes a 1k climb.
Sep 01, 2022 at 07:02 PM
Not sure where to post this so I figured this might work.
I just applied with the powers that be at work for me to attend a conference in San Diego CA at the end of this month (September) and If I can swing it, I would not mind renting a bike and going for a ride. So the question is, does anyone know of a recommended place to rent a bike and some routes to ride? The conference is right downtown at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, or the San Diego Convention Center (they are right next to each other.)
I just applied with the powers that be at work for me to attend a conference in San Diego CA at the end of this month (September) and If I can swing it, I would not mind renting a bike and going for a ride. So the question is, does anyone know of a recommended place to rent a bike and some routes to ride? The conference is right downtown at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, or the San Diego Convention Center (they are right next to each other.)
Sep 02, 2022 at 02:28 PM
Just got back from a conference at the same hotel last month. They have bike lockers and a tune up station on site.
While I didn’t get a chance to rent, I was looking at Stay Classy bikes. You can pre-arrange delivery and pickup, which definitely saves time.
Sep 02, 2022 at 02:40 PM
Any suggested routes? I have never been there so...RichardKaufmann said:Just got back from a conference at the same hotel last month. They have bike lockers and a tune up station on site.While I didn’t get a chance to rent, I was looking at Stay Classy bikes. You can pre-arrange delivery and pickup, which definitely saves time.
Sep 02, 2022 at 03:29 PM
After traveling for a couple of weeks in unknown lands I’ve found the Strava maps feature very reliable for finding local routes to try. It will give you 3 route options based on the length you choose with approximate times, too, as well as choices for elevation. The times seem based on something like a 15 mph pace so you can adjust accordingly. The routes are based on most used roads. I’ve tried similar features on Garmin, GPS Ride, and Komoot, but Strava is the best. Once you save the route you are locked and loaded to put on your head unit and can hit the road without fear of getting lost.
Sep 02, 2022 at 10:18 PM
Andrew,AndrewJohnson said:Any suggested routes? I have never been there so...RichardKaufmann said:Just got back from a conference at the same hotel last month. They have bike lockers and a tune up station on site.While I didn’t get a chance to rent, I was looking at Stay Classy bikes. You can pre-arrange delivery and pickup, which definitely saves time.
I've been trying my contacts out there, to no avail. One I thought was in San Diego actually lives 30 miles north. A bike shop owner I know in San Diego proper appears to be on vacation.
Sep 05, 2022 at 09:08 PM
Cool thanks. Turns out a faculty/cyclist I know at work is from that area...mugwump said:Andrew,AndrewJohnson said:Any suggested routes? I have never been there so...RichardKaufmann said:Just got back from a conference at the same hotel last month. They have bike lockers and a tune up station on site.While I didn’t get a chance to rent, I was looking at Stay Classy bikes. You can pre-arrange delivery and pickup, which definitely saves time.
I've been trying my contacts out there, to no avail. One I thought was in San Diego actually lives 30 miles north. A bike shop owner I know in San Diego proper appears to be on vacation.
Sep 06, 2022 at 12:36 AM
@AndrewJohnson
Here's the response from Dan Large. I met Dan when he was Campagnolo USA's top tech guy.
Here's the response from Dan Large. I met Dan when he was Campagnolo USA's top tech guy.
From: Daniel Large <testadellacorse@gmail.com>Subject: Re: Renting a good road bike in San DiegoDate: September 5, 2022 at 12:28:01 PM EDTTo: "J.P. Partland" <mugwump@panix.com>Hey!I have a couple of my Neutral Race bikes I can rent. I currently have a Medium and large Giant TCR with 105/Ultegra mechanical disc.If one of those fit I can get him sorted.Rental is $115 for one day. two Days is $185, three is $255, four days is $325, 5-7 days is $400.I can deliver the bike and pick up at his convenience. Let me know if that works for him.Daniel Large
XL Velo, Cycling Service Studio5595 Magnatron Blvd.Suite OSan Diego California.92111Shop-858-276-7115Cell-619-913-BIKEBrand AmbassadorAndVOLVO Cycling Support (Southern California)NRS & Events L.L.C.
Sep 06, 2022 at 12:55 AM
Thanks for looking into this. Keeping fingers crossed the approval comes in this week. If not it will be getting late to get hotel and flights at reasonable cost...mugwump said:@AndrewJohnson
Here's the response from Dan Large. I met Dan when he was Campagnolo USA's top tech guy.From: Daniel Large <testadellacorse@gmail.com>Subject: Re: Renting a good road bike in San DiegoDate: September 5, 2022 at 12:28:01 PM EDTTo: "J.P. Partland" <mugwump@panix.com>Hey!I have a couple of my Neutral Race bikes I can rent. I currently have a Medium and large Giant TCR with 105/Ultegra mechanical disc.If one of those fit I can get him sorted.Rental is $115 for one day. two Days is $185, three is $255, four days is $325, 5-7 days is $400.I can deliver the bike and pick up at his convenience. Let me know if that works for him.Daniel LargeXL Velo, Cycling Service Studio5595 Magnatron Blvd.Suite OSan Diego California.92111Shop-858-276-7115Cell-619-913-BIKEBrand AmbassadorAndVOLVO Cycling Support (Southern California)NRS & Events L.L.C.
Sep 19, 2022 at 04:20 PM
So I got approved for the trip, and last week was a mad dash to get flight booked, official hotels where filed up and so I'm in a Comfort Inn 15 min walk from the conference, at $200 a night. Cheapest without having to share a bunk bed in a communal space... Yet NYS per diem rate is $166 a night in San Diego... Here comes justification letter.. Anyway I digress...mugwump said:@AndrewJohnson
Here's the response from Dan Large. I met Dan when he was Campagnolo USA's top tech guy.From: Daniel Large <testadellacorse@gmail.com>Subject: Re: Renting a good road bike in San DiegoDate: September 5, 2022 at 12:28:01 PM EDTTo: "J.P. Partland" <mugwump@panix.com>Hey!I have a couple of my Neutral Race bikes I can rent. I currently have a Medium and large Giant TCR with 105/Ultegra mechanical disc.If one of those fit I can get him sorted.Rental is $115 for one day. two Days is $185, three is $255, four days is $325, 5-7 days is $400.I can deliver the bike and pick up at his convenience. Let me know if that works for him.Daniel LargeXL Velo, Cycling Service Studio5595 Magnatron Blvd.Suite OSan Diego California.92111Shop-858-276-7115Cell-619-913-BIKEBrand AmbassadorAndVOLVO Cycling Support (Southern California)NRS & Events L.L.C.
I decided to borrow my friend's Ninja case (he took his bike all the way to New Zealand in that) and I'll bring my Roubaix with me... Flying out in a week on Monday...
Sep 20, 2022 at 12:31 AM
A bit of an overdue post... I went to Chicago for work and to see my parents and was there for the past 10 days. I knew this already but wow, Chicago is soooo flat. I decided to use my dad’s Independent Fabrication bike (with a kit matching orange frame) instead of flying with my bike.
Anyway, to celebrate my birthday I decided to do my first century the weekend of the 10th. I went out solo and felt great. I went to out Kenosha, Wisconsin and back. There were some gorgeous fields and farms towards the end of the ride but getting out there the roads were rough. On the way back I ran into a large group of riders from the Chicago club XXX Racing. Quite a few of them recognized my Kissena jersey and one of them mentioned knowing a few people from Kissena. I rode with them for about 40 miles until I split off.
I ended up getting sick on Tuesday and it derailed the rest of my rides on my trip which was a real bummer because I wanted to ride south to Indiana yesterday, but still wasn’t feeling up to it.
Sep 20, 2022 at 04:13 PM
@JoaoPereiraWebberJoaoPereiraWebber said:A bit of an overdue post... I went to Chicago for work and to see my parents and was there for the past 10 days. I knew this already but wow, Chicago is soooo flat. I decided to use my dad’s Independent Fabrication bike (with a kit matching orange frame) instead of flying with my bike.
looks like great riding. Love the torqued shot of your dad's bike.
Just an FYI. An ex-Kissena lives in Chicago. Anthony Ott. Had we known, we could have put you in touch. We know people.
Sep 21, 2022 at 11:54 PM
Joao is from Chicago , so he probably knows people too
Sep 27, 2022 at 08:04 PM
Made it to San Diego yesterday, and got my first ride in. Short but nice...
Sep 28, 2022 at 04:00 AM
Day two. Got out about 5pm-ish after a day of conference-ing... lol... Made it to a beach... and rode the bike path north. It was full of beach people and they had the bike speed limit set at 8mph. I struggled with keeping it at 10mph LOL.
Sep 28, 2022 at 08:21 PM
No biking today. They are having the Conference party on the Midway this evening. Can't miss that... Tomorrow last ride...
Oct 03, 2022 at 10:00 PM
So last day in San Diego was Thursday. The conference ended at lunch time. This gave me plenty of time to get back to the hotel, suit up and go for a longer ride. I retraced some of my ride from Tuesday, ending up at the beach, where I finally dipped my feet into the Pacific Ocean for the first time. I then headed north and added a segment further north all the way to La Jolla. I then looped back and climbed the almost two mile climb on Nautilus Street up Mt. Soledad.
Dropping down was quite fun, but I kept things in check since I didn't know the road. After that I made my way back to the hotel and broke the bike down and packed it back up before showering and heading out to dinner.
Oct 09, 2022 at 10:15 AM
Today the Tour de Romandie for women started right near my home in Fribourg. Me and my two boys saw some of the worlds best cyclists. The neutral section went 1 block from my doorstep.
