San Diego!

Welcome to San Diego! I spent the past week riding around San Diego on a Specialized Allez thanks to Bike Tours San Diego (www.bike-tours.com). I didn't appreciate the surly attitude when I picked up the bike, but I was happy with what I received. The Allez sported low-end components, but everything worked flawlessly.

The daily ride consisted of a short commute (about a mile) between the hotel and the convention center. The only real surprise was the ridiculously steep climb the last two blocks up to the hotel. It turns out, at 22.2% grade, to be among the steepest in town (http://www.sdreader.com/php/ma_show.php?id=131), but not at the top of the heap. That glory belongs to Maria Avenue in Spring Valley. At 32% grade, it is a great way to see what your maximum heart rate is - going up or down!

A final note goes out to my good friend, Wes. He was a cycling novice when we started this trip. To my great surprise, he took to cycling like a fish to water! By the end of the trip, he was huffing his way to the top of Ash street without pause. Kudos to you, Wes!