Just wondering what this ride is all about that goes off down in Tustin on Sunday mornings, and whether or not I need to be warmed up before the ride or if they take it easy for the first 20-30 minutes.
Rode with this group once or twice last summer & hope to get back this year. There are actually 2 groups - Como and “old man” Como. This first several miles of the rides were combined, as I recall, and then separated. The pace was moderate to start.
PM if you want more info, etc.
I have heard from teammates that the selection is made on a fast technical descent. And that it is fast. Very fast.
Easy to “Find that gear” when you are riding with a triple chainring and don’t have 200 miles in your legs from the previous days of riding.
You were smooth and can climb like a goat. Thanks for the tire. Probably saved my life.
Dan
I have heard from teammates that the selection is made on a fast technical descent. And that it is fast. Very fast.
Interesting, I’d of thought the selection would be made on one of the uphills, naturally.
Dan, I always carry a spare tire with me. In fact, I’m paranoid if I don’t and find it hard to believe others don’t feel a bit paranoid as well without one. Anyway, you’re right, the triple helps when going up those switchbacks, or other extended climbs that are 9%+, that’s why I got it
I find it odd that this thread is still here, I deleted it about 5 minutes after I posted it last night.
there is a short, technical descent, but i don’t think any selection is made there. the ride usually starts out pretty mellow and the pace picks up a bit after the left onto bake. things really heat up after the descent on the extended climb that culminates with “the wall.” i’ve never made the first group up there so i can’t tell you for sure what happens after that. i imagine things stay pretty intense on the climb back into the canyon. it’s then pretty fast through the canyon before you climb back out and take a left on jamboree. i think there are some sprints at the end as well. usually a ton of strong riders there, so have fun.
There are two separate Como St rides on Sun mornings: “Old Man Como” & “Como St.” Both start off nice and slow, so unless it takes you awhile to warm up, you’ll have no worries.
Old Man Como is the earlier of the two rides and actually splits into a climbing group and a, you guessed it, non-climbing group. The climbing group turns left at Bake and heads up the hill to Foothill Ranch. The pace is quite high up the hill and if you drop out of your big ring, you’ll likely drop out of the pack. The pace stays high for the rest of the ride as it climbs up the hill past the Oakley factory (forget the name of the street) and heads to El Toro/Santiago Cyn Rd. Neither of the climbs is long, nor are they particularly steep (6%), but the pace is high and there’s no let-up at the top. In fact, a lot of people get dropped at the top of the climbs due to the accelerations. Once on Santiago Cyn Rd, you climb up a fairly easy grade out of Cooks Corner. Again, this is not a tough climb, but the pace is high, and what’s left of the pack will fall apart here. No worries though, because at the top of the climb everyone stops and re-groups (as long as you’re not too far behind). The group then proceeeds to hammer through Santiago Cyn usually around 30 mph or so until you begin to climb out approaching Jamboree (again, big ring on the climb or get dropped). The group slows from here until winding it up for a final sprint near the golf course as you approach the original starting point.
The non-climbing group takes Irvine Blvd to El Toro, and proceeds at a leisurly pace to Santiago Cyn, re-groups at the top of the climb out of Cooks Corner, and hammers through the canyon like the first group, albeit at a slightly slower pace (not much).
Como St is a whole different beast and, if you’re not comfortable riding in a pack, don’t get into this ride. It takes a similar route as the climbing group on Old Man Como, but does not turn up past the Oakley factory, but instead heads out to Rancho Santa Margarita on Portola/Santa Margarita(?). Depending on who shows up, the pace is extremely high, and people are popping off the back at all times as there are several short climbs, but very little slowing down. The pack makes it way to Live Oak Cyn Rd which, indeed, has a steep, technical, winding drop right at the start. The reason the group splits up here is that you have to be fearless to keep up, and then you immediately head up Live Oak Cyn which is a false flat the whole way and ends at the “wall,” a short, steep climb out of the canyon. In-and-of-itself, the “wall” is not really tough, but because your legs are fried before you hit it, well, it can get ugly. The group then proceeds to Santiago Cyn Rd and follows the route of the earlier ride.
I wouldn’t recomend either of these rides to anyone not acustom to riding in packs. Old Man Como is fine until you get into the canyon, but the speeds are so high there that a miscue could really get some people hurt. Como St is really only for experienced riders and bike handlers. I’m not being a roadie snob here - the pace is high, and the riding can be aggressive. Also, threre are always people in this group who make a living at racing bicycles and, in fact, the winter months see Div 1 (oh, excuse me, Pro Tour) riders in the group. The last thing anyone wants at those speeds is for a newbies to end someone’s career. Como St has seen the deaths of at least two riders that I’m aware of over the years.
I’ve had that group pass me on Santiago Cyn Rd. I was soloing at about 30 mph and the first guy passed me rather handily. There was a small gap and then they all rolled by. It took about two minutes for what seemed like 50 or so riders. I didn’t dare get out of my aeorbars for fear of any slight wobble I might do and cause some serious carnage. After the last guy went by, I sped up to see if I could hang. I gained on them for about a half mile before I couldn’t hold the pace and I watched them sail up the hill from the Irvine Lake entrance and disappear. Simply awesome, but not for me.