I'm back for 2014, Million Dollar Challenge is right around the corner

After some serious thought and not a little bit of apprehension and some counseling from Darcy, I'm in for 2014. I like to think that I have a soft cycling schedule for 2014 so far. Two big trips, one to Belgium with CCSD to ride two sportives, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Flèche Wallone. The second is CAFrica. Challenged Athlete Foundation's 20th anniversary trip to South Africa is an amazing adventure from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town. Not bad really. I'm very excited. But committing to do MDC and our own little trip to the pain cave we call 'Tour de Carne Asada' makes the 2014 commitment daunting.

Last year, I pedaled 1,152 miles and climbed 73,560 in 11 days in October. We raised over $28,000 from 110 donors. I could not have done any of it without your help. We done good. But now the issue of 2014 arises. Registration opened for the Million Dollar Challenge today. I'm in. I also convinced a good friend and business partner to go all in this year. He's gonna have a blast.

But I need some company for the trip north. The Tour de Carne Asada leaves Santa Barbara and travels to the start of MDC in 5 days. It adds 500 or so miles and 50,000 feet of climbing if you are also doing MDC. It's not a small effort. I'm willing to lead a small contingent on this journey, if your interested, please signup on my mailing list and we'll keep you in the loop for developments. Once again, Cycling Camp San Diego (ccsd) will do the support for us and arrange lodging. There is a fee but it will depend on how many Carne Asada meat lovers we can find to share the pain…. err, miles.

So 2014 is shaping up. I have a bunch of fun travel ahead in 2014, I'm gonna learn how to train on limited miles this year! Oh boy, this could hurt come October.

Link to Tour de Carne Asada email signup form

Tour de Carne Asada 2014

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Day 3 Paso Robles to Carmel Recap and look ahead to Day 4

Wow, what a day. Started off cold... like stop the car, get all the cold gear out and suit up. It was in the 40's from the hotel and kept that way for a good portion of the early ride. Wished I had dug out my toe warmers... But the possible rain prediction never came to fruition and the beginning of the ride along the 101 at spots was not a problem. Cody was up for the challenge after his gallant fight with some sort of food poisoning on Stage 1. 

The signature of the day, and maybe even the 5 days of riding was Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd which is a picturesque ass-kicker that takes you from the valley side of the 101 and puts you on Highway 1. It goes through an Army base and because of the federal shutdown, all the national park campgrounds on the ocean side of the climb were closed, so we saw at most 4 cars the entire climb and descent. Fantastic. Couple that with epic weather, we were in heaven. 

Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd heading west