Archive for the 'San Diego County Bike Rides' Category
Triathlon entry raffle winners
May 25th, 2010 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports
TRIATHLON CLUB OF SAN DIEGO-
With the help of RANDOM.org these four subscribers to my blog have won entries to either the Camp Pendleton Sprint Triathlon, Carlsbad Triathlon or the Mission Bay Triathlon.
- Camp Pendleton- jnomini@
- Camp Pendleton- threet@
- Camp Pendelton- shawn.moran@
- Mission Bay- krebs.philippe@
- Carlsbad- dhuntley@
Send me an email and I will take care of your entry. Winners have until Friday night to contact me and then the entries go back in the pot.
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Wednesday is the new Saturday 45 miler
May 18th, 2010 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
ENCINITAS- Well with only 6 weeks left before Ironman Coeur d’Alene I wanted to get in a two loop ride emulating the bike course at IMCDA. Here it is.
We will be leaving my office in Encinitas, Sea Coast Exclusive Properties, at 9:00 if you would like to come along.
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Wednesday’s the New Saturday 70 miler
May 3rd, 2010 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, What to do in San Diego
ENCINITAS- This weeks ride will start at my office, Sea Coast Exclusive Properties 900 S. Coast Hwy, Encinitas, and head east. We will be doing 70 miles taking Del Dios out to Valley Center to visit Circle R and W. Lilac and then head home down the Oceanside bike path and the coast. Heading down the coast will be a great opportunity to flush out the legs as when we get back there will be a 40 minute transition run. Ride time should be about 4.5.
The ride will start at 8:00 am, not our normal 9:00.
Any questions, I can be reached at 760.415.3329. Real estate questions are greatly appreciated as well!!
Hope to see you there!!
Wednesday’s the new Saturday 70 miler
Find more Bike Rides in Encinitas, California
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Encinitas is a mecca for the active lifestyle
March 4th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego County run routes
ENCINITAS- I love the active lifestyle and I love north county. The two of them are the best friends you never see apart. When I recently was presented the opportunity to move my
business to, Sea Coast Exclusive Properties, the location on the “coast highway” played as big a role, as did how I was going to be treated, their business and personal philosophies and , well yes, the financial benefits. I am now five doors down from the temple of triathlon, NYTRO where Ironman World Champions have been outfitted for years and across the street from Movin’ Shoes Running Store and their AWESOME Monday night runs. I have started to call it the love triangle!!
When one looks at the relationship between the active lifestyle and San Diego’s north county, the city of Encinitas definitely supports the reputation. World Champions in beach volleyball, Ironman triathlon, cycling and more have at one point or another have called Encinitas home both personally and professionally.
For the triathlete, Encinitas ranks at the top for training opportunities. The Magdalena Ecke YMCA sports a new world class swim venue and the masters program. while beginner friendly, can be STACKED with world class triathletes. Also Moonlight beach, starting in the spring, keeps a buoy anchored offshore so you can practice your open water swimming and sighting skills.
The city is also very central to many great bike rides and plays an integral part in the San Diego 
Century ride associated with the Encinitas Sports Festival held in the late spring each year. You can head north for a great coastal ride to the Oceanside Harbor or, make a day of it and ride through Camp Pendleton for lunch in Dana Point. Looking for more of a challenge, heading south takes you to the Torrey Pines hill climb and heading east out Encinitas Blvd leads through the neighboring city of Rancho Santa Fe to the famous Del Dios Loop or Lake Wholford ride. If you are ready and able to hammer, you may want to show up at NYTRO Saturday mornings to join the Swami’s cycling club drop fest. This ride is tough and has hosted some of the biggest names in cycling over the years.
For the runner, and third leg of triathlon, the Monday night Encinitas Movin’ Shoes run is not to be missed. This run attracts upwards of 60 runners of all abilities and is a great way for a new homeowner to build their social network the old fashion way. Additionally, the “Y” running group has a pocketful of running routes with titles, like “the butterfly run” or “the tunnel”. This running group is usually about 10:1 female to male, but guys, check you ego at the door as these women are FAST and patient.
Lastly, let’s talk beach volleyball.
There are three courts available at Moonlight beach and there is a dedicated group that train there in the mornings. Check with the lifeguards at the main tower 
and they will be able to dial you in on times or rent what you need to play a “friendly” from the concession stand when open. Also, this year is the 47th annual “Moonlight Mixed” co-ed tournament that was won last year by Casey Jennings and his wife Olympic Gold medalist Kerri Walsh-Jennings.
So there you have, a quick look at what makes Encinitas a great choice for the buyer looking to land in an active and affordable beach community.
Oh, yes Johnny, there are about a thousand places, from world class reef breaks to booming beach breaks, to get your surf on.
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3000 feet of climbing outside my door
January 4th, 2010 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides
CARLSBAD- Back in the day, the climb in coastal north county was Alga. You often times could find pro triathletes doing repeats and it was oft quoted as part of a solid training program. Well that was then and this is now. Thanks to the recent building boom, which has taken away some great rides, it has created new ride opportunities into what used to be mountain bike territory. And if it’s mountain bike territory, you can count on some solid climbs.
The new king of the coastal climbs has to be San Elijo Road/ Twin Oaks Valley. The area of Double Peak in San Marcos, used to be the domain of the rich, the offroader, the mountain biker and the partiers, but no more. I had watched for quite some time as the road was cut up the side of the hill in anticipation of the coming climb and while the road has been open sometime, this morning, I headed out for our meeting.
The route I was going to ride was to have quite a few coastal bumps to climb on my way to King in order to warm the legs up. I headed south down El Camino Real from my home and then east on Palomar Airport Road which then took me through Lake San Marcos to the start of the north climb outside the entry to Cal State San Marcos. 
The climb was very nice with little traffic, a nice road surface and spectacular views awaiting at the summit. It was the type of climb I like where you can select a gear and just steadily tap out a rhythm taking you to the top. No surprises or undulation. It is pretty much straight up.
As I crested the top I was greeted by amazing views with usually hidden San Clemente Island sitting off the coast. I would say the first two thirds of the climb are the most difficult and unlike the outside route at Torrey Pines, once you hit the right hand bend you really are at the finish. Probably the smartest thing the developers and or city did was place a fire station at the crest. Medical help when you may need it most!!
The rest of the route came benefit of living near a fault zone and I had a small climb up to the La Costa Oaks area and then two more from La Costa Avenue to Poinsettia and lastly the new College Ave. climb created by the building in the Calavera Hills area of Carlsbad.
In all it was a comfortable ride with just over 3000’ of climbing in 30 miles. That’s a GREAT training ride outside my door!!
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Terramar beach: Why homeowners association can be a blessing
August 30th, 2009 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County Fixer of the Week, San Diego county Real Estate News
CARLSBAD- I have had quite a few clients who avoid communities with homeowners association 
like the plague. This has nothing to do with the fee levied by the association, but everything to do with not liking to be told what you can and can not do with your private property.
I have often times suggest that buyer’s view a communities HOA as a form of an insurance policy protecting property values. By maintaining uniformity in construction and colors, maintaining and improving common areas and preventing your neighbor’s teenage son from starting a mechanic’s garage in his driveway, they truly can be a blessing. Yes, I have hear the arguments about property rights and the lack of common sense board member’s often use in decision making, but I do believe they perform a very beneficial function for the community unfortunately at times at the individual’s expense.
Here is a great example of why at least one owner wish they had an association.
The Terramar beach community in Carlsbad was first developed in the late 1940’s. The community boasts the only private beach in the city of Carlsbad and while they have the Terramar association, I am not aware of this association having any powers over individual homeowners. As is the case up and down San Diego’s coast, they ranch style homes that once were a simple of southern California are being replaced by massive homes worth millions.
On a recent bike ride down the coast I almost crashed doing a double take as I rode past the intersection of Tierra Del Oro and the coast highway in the Terramar community. Crossing the intersection to this bluff top community, the first thing you now see is a freshly painted classic ranch home in PINK. And not all of it, just the front!!! It’s hard to imagine that this homeowner is not trying hard to make some type of statement at the detriment to their community at large.
Now, to the north of the ho me is an ocean front lot which recently sold for 2.7 million dollars. To the south, is a newly constructed, 5019 Tierra Del Oro, home currently listed for sale for $9.9-10.8 million dollars.
Imagine the impact on this seller!!
With an HOA the chances of this one homeowner being able to hold their neighborhood hostage would be prevented thus protect the other homeowners from the impact this action can have on a neighborhood. Imagine the hesitancy anyone would have in dropping any amount of money to live next door to this “problem”, which by the way is for rent.
This may be the perfect time for the homeowners of Terramar to come together and institute an association to prevent this type of thing. It’s always someone else’s problem until it is not and then it’s usually too late.
So the lesson here is, when looking for your next home consider EVERYTHING a homeowners association can do to help maintain the value of your home!!!
If you are in the market for a $10. milllion dollar beach home or a $100K condo, call me. I appreciate all my clients large and small!! 760.415.3329
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What I learned from Denis Menchov’s crash
June 1st, 2009 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports
CARLSBAD– So I missed the Rock N Roll marathon this Sunday as I had a family birthday party for my niece and then clients. However, I did get to watch the last stage of the Gino D’Italia which was appropriate as I had watched all the other stages.
This last stage of the Giro D’Italia was a time trial. The culmination of over 2100 miles raced over 21 days through Italy, the Swiss Alps and touching France and Austria. The leader of the race coming into this last was Denis Menchov of Rabobank. He had already had the pink jersey for 8 days and coming into this last stage had a 20 second lead over second place Danilo Di Luca and a minute forty three over third. All that separated Denis Menchov from the overall was 8.7 miles. It had been raining slightly earlier and the drops were just starting to fall. All the other riders were finished leaving just Denis and his 20 second lead out on the course. It was his race alone to lose. As Denis comes in to the last 1000 meters, the unthinkable happens and that is when the school bells rang.
1. GET UP!!!
As Denis went down you could almost see that he was waiting for the spill to stop so he could get up. He knew there was only one thing to do and that was to get up. No pouting, no tantrum, no self pity or sorrow. Get up!!
2. Even when things are going wrong focus on the goal
Another aspect of the crash that seems so evident is his desire to get to his bike. He was reaching for it before he even stopped sliding down the road. There is only one way to finish and that requires the bike. He stayed on task. He knew what his mission was and what he needed to accomplish it.
3. Have a great team and trust them
Within 8 seconds of his hand first touching the ground, a RaboBank mechanic had him on new bike and that is where the race was won. He had a great team mate and he trusted him. He did not question the bike or the mechanic’s hold on the bike. He got his butt on the saddle and did his part as the rider.
4. Be ready
Imagine if that mechanic had been texting, tweeting or scrolling through his playlist on the IPOD. Additionally, you never know when general fitness is going to show importance. That mechanic ran for his life for a good 10 seconds which probably felt like an hour. He had the strength to hold up the bike while Menchov got situated and had the engine to run for his life until the rider could ride out of his hand
5. Treat everyone like the hero
Every member of Team Rabobank should have(they may have) paraded that mechanic through the team area ala the movie Rudy. If this mechanic had been treated poorly or less than by the team, the result may have been much different. Disgruntled people don’t perform magic.
6. There are always people on your side
Menchov may not have known it, but the world was with him as everything came back together. For us it may not be the world, but I think we often forget that we have people out there pulling for us. Whether it is family, friends or a stranger, we rarely are alone if we choose not to be.
Lastly, it’s not over if you don’t want it to be.
Now granted, a broken bone could have caused a different result, but in this situation all of the above came together and Menchov chose for it to not be over. In a post race interview he said he knew he had time advantage and that he had a chance, so he chose for it to not be over.
Keep the rubber side down.
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Carlsbad bike lane closure
May 31st, 2009 Categories: San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports, What to do in San Diego
Carlsbad– Saw this on my ride and thought I would send it out. There is not a sign in the north bound lanes so I think they are just FINALLY fixing the bike lane from Poinsettia to
Ponto Beach.
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Solana Beach townhome perfect for triathlete
February 12th, 2009 Categories: Real Estate News, San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego County run routes, San Diego county Real Estate News, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SOLANA BEACH– If you have are looking for the perfect first home west of I-5 and have the active triathlon lifestyle, you MUST consider this Solana Beach townhome.
For those that are familiar with city of Solana Beach, you already now everything there is for living the California active lifestyle. For those that are not familiar, read on. It’s worth it!!
Solana Beach, located between Cardiff and Del Mar, is primarily lived west of I-5.
First you have plenty of beach for surfing, sunning and fishing anchored by Fletcher Cove. This also happens to be where the Friday morning Triathlon Club of San Diego swim starts. Staying with the swim theme, just up the hill on Lomas Santa Fe from the beach, you have the San Dieguito Boys and Girls club which has a great masters program.
For cycling, BnL Bike is located on the coast highway at just over a mile from this townhome. Time to ride? You have the ability to roll out your door and do a coastal ride or head inland for a Del Dios’ Lake Wohlford route, Del 
Sur or ?.
For the runner in us all, you can easily hit the coast running right from your new home or head up over the hill on Valley and connect with the running trails of the San Elijo lagoon.
Now for general fitness, there is the Boys and Girls club as well as Frog’s Fitness Center. Again all within a mile and a half.
Friends coming over? Head to Cedros Design District for some shopping, dining or live music at the Belly Up. You can also hit the Plaza on the coast 
highway for more dining choices.
Summertime? The Del Mar Fairgrounds is an easy walk. Invite friends over for a walk to the fair in June and then see the ponies run in July or checkout the 4 o’clock Friday’s live concerts there also.
What about the groceries? At the top of Stevens you have Henry’s, Bev and More, Dixieline plus many other shop, while across the freeway is Vons and more.
Heading downtown for a Padre or Charger Game? Want to do a ride from LA back to Solana? The Coaster and Amtrak train station is just around the corner.
Also Del Mar’s dog beach is an easy walk and a great playground that your best friend will love!!!
Again, ALL of this lies within a mile and half of your door, with the exception of the Vons.
There are a few things I especially like about the house itself.
Firstly, it is a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath with an attached garage that accesses the house through the common bath which is the perfect place to shed those sweaty clothes. Secondly, the three bedrooms are all upstairs and 
provide an opportunity for a guest bedroom AND an office. Thirdly, this homes sits on top of the hill on a cul de sac and has a huge greenbelt area just off your private patio which is a perfect spot for friends and a BBQ. Lastly, the owner has updated the home, it has a nice Provencal style kitchen, and added windows to bring in plenty of natural light. About the only thing I would do is add a couple skylights in the living room to enhance the openness of the cathedral ceilings.
If you are considering a coastal purchase, you really need to consider this Solana Beach townhome.
You can contact me here.
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San Diego’s busy weekend of endurance sports
August 17th, 2008 Categories: Aquathlon and Duathlon Race Reports, San Diego County Bike Rides, San Diego County Community News, San Diego County Triathlon Race Reports, San Diego County run routes, Triathlon Club of San Diego Race Reports
SAN DIEGO– Well we are in the heart of the thoroughbred season currently running at the Del Mar fairgrounds, but this weekend was all about endurance junkies. Young and old!!!
Saturday, the Triathlon Club of San Diego hosted 170 triathletes at Glorietta Bay for our monthly San Diego Running Institute race series. Behind the scenes, the race was experiencing some hiccups as TCSD race director Cory Osth, timing guru John Hill and big time race volunteer, TCSD VP Dave Huff were both absent. This left TCSD member and co Race Director Karam Gill with a pretty large task. The beauty of the tri club is that it only took Karam one email to round up a solid group of 
volunteers and the race went off perfectly!!!
A couple notables at the race were Triathlete Magazine President Mitch Thrower as well as Brennan Lindner of Generic Events and founder of the Playa Del Run series.
The bay was perfect, no one crashed on the bike and everyone was greeted with a wonderful breakfast buffet, croissant sandwiches, parfaits with Kashi granola and fresh fruit, taken care of by Denise Pitre and her crew. If you are not a member of TCSD, you are missing the VERY BEST part of the San Diego Triathlon scene.
Y-TRI youth triathlon
While the grown ups were doing their thing at Glorietta Bay, tri club member 
Troy Cundari with ZEAL Optical, was putting on the first annual Y-TRI youth triathlon.
The race featuring approximately 80 kids, took place within the grounds of Mt. Carmel high school and was open to kids ages 8–13. The kids 8–11 did a 75 meter swim, a 1.5 mile bike and a one mile run while the 12–13 year olds did a 175 swim, a 2.5 mile bike and finished off with a one mile run.
Look for another larger edition of this race next year.
Playa Del Run Solana Beach
The ZOOT Playa Del Run series rolled into town for the second time this year. The six race Aquathlon, swim/run, series kicked off in San Diego’s Mission Bay on April 27th 2008.
Sponsored locally by Solana Beach’s own BnL Bikes, this race features a 1000 meter ocean swim followed by a 5K run. Starting at the newly redesigned Fletcher Cove beach, the weather was perfect with some surf, but not too much. As always Triathlon Club of San Diego volunteers were on hand as swim buddies to help those get through their first ocean swim. Every week TCSD hosts a swim at Fletcher Cove Friday mornings, so there was a lot of local knowledge working to help newer swimmers.
Personally the best thing about this race was seeing ZOOT sales representative and former TCSD beginner coach Sonja Johnson Doherty. Back in April, Sonja was hit by truck on a training ride and shattered her lower leg. Because of the work of great doctors, a great healthy, fit and positive patient and a whole lot of hardware, Sonja was swimming today and has been back on the bike. The run is still in the future, but it was FANTASTIC to see Sonja back competing and wearing that ear to ear grin!!!
AFC Half Marathon
I told you it was a weekend for endurance junkies and the America’s Finest City half marathon closed the weekend. 
This 13.1 mile run starts with a nice downhill from Cabrillo National Monument and finishes with a strong uphill into San Diego’s famous Balboa Park. Along the way runners race along the San Diego Bay and briefly visit sites such as the Embarcadero and the Star of India.
Now in it’s 32nd year, make sure that you do this race at least once.
Well that’s it. Tired?
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