Training Ground: San Francisco
In the latest installment of our Training Grounds series, we hit San Francisco's city streets (and the Bay Area's best hills) with Team Away Message's latest recruit, Aymen El Gorani. For a natural-born crit racer conditioned to compete for the top step, it's conversely in Aymen's DNA to always put others first. We sat down to talk training through Ramadan, the deeper reasons why he rides, and where he shows up on the fly in SF, CA.
‘No one cares; work harder.’ That's the motto printed on the wristband Aymen El Gorani slips on each morning. "It's a reminder to keep pushing myself. It's the mentality… that's how I want to improve every ride…I want to improve every day." Quiet on the surface yet countered with frequent glimpses of an internal intent that burns oh so bright, Aymen's goal for self-improvement is as inspiring as it is sincere. Pushing to be the best version of himself, but not to the detriment of others.
On the flip side of that daily mantra, and though he's too modest to chest-thump these virtues, Aymen is a person who cares deeply. Forging a career path in social services alongside his on-bike exploits, the motivation to give back to his community was there from the very start. "Ever since I was a kid, I loved helping people. It didn't matter if I got anything from it as long as those I helped got to a better place. It felt good." Like many of us, the bike serves as much-needed time away from the rigors of the day job. For Aymen, his weekly rides serve as a chance to take a breath from a profoundly important career, but not without some personal impact. "I escape reality sometimes because of work. I see a lot of people who suffer from mental difficulties and turn to drug abuse. So cycling is my route to unwind… that's my therapy."
Reflecting on his path to the bike, Aymen continues, "I was born in Morocco. I came to the US when I was six, and my first bike was actually a fixie. In high school, my roommate and I would ride fixies together; despite the hills in San Francisco, that's how many locals got started."
Graduating from fixies to his current ride, a Basso Diamante SV AM special edition, Aymen is one of the newest recruits to Team Away Message, San Francisco's collective of riders in pursuit of all things ritual, rhythmic, and a little rowdy. It's no great leap to figure how he’s found a home with that crew. "We're tight; it's actually crazy how small a city SF is and the cycling community in general. Meeting people was easy; I love how it can bring us all together." Tapping into his Training Ground knowledge of the local scene, Aymen ran through his typical week and the places he and the team love to escape to (remember - don't send help).
The Fatcake Club is a staple of the San Francisco ride scene. This group ride is the largest pre-work ride in the city and runs every Thursday all year round (weather permitting). The group is super welcoming and is famous for its post-ride bakery stops! Hence the name. I love meeting my friends early in the morning before work and spinning out the legs.
This is a great route that one of my riding buddies shared with me recently. Most people who ride in the city tend to go to Marin, and rightly so, but I like to mix it up every once in a while. If you want to get a taste of the famous Skyline Boulevard, this is the one. Add a trip by the airport, and you’ve got a great mix of roads that make the Bay Area so special—variety! Beware, this route goes on some large roads, so don’t go this way without a lot of experience riding in the city.
This is our local big hitters ride. It's a drop ride and can attract some of the strongest racers from the Bay Area. The variation I have added is from the city. You can meet me and others at 8 AM at the Golden Gate Bridge Visitor Center. The ride leisurely heads out to the real start at the Java Hut in Fairfax and includes the post-ride limp home.
Hawk Hill
The real test piece here in the Bay Area, not to mention the beautiful view of the bridge you get from the top. While the crown used to be held by Phil Gaimon, it’s now held by our local Strava king, national talent, and all-around good guy Jovanni Stefani.
This is my favorite part of the FatCake Club ride. If people are feeling spicy, this is the last place to show if you still have any legs left!
This is one of the hardest tests in the area. Beautifully climbing up the back of Mt. Tam, shaded by the trees, you'll see views of the Bolinas Reservoir and the town of Stinson.
I love this segment! It’s part of the "Col de Pantol," which runs from Mike's Bikes in Sausalito in the summertime on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM. I chose this segment because it’s a hard climb followed by a rolling section along Highway 1. It’s held by the legend himself, Laurens ten Dam, from the Tour of California in 2013.
Fuelling to Go Far Out
Switching the topic of conversation to the fuel that keeps Aymen's energy on point, he shared his must-have feed essentials - "It starts with coffee! I make a cup, along with my Kodiak Pancakes, first thing in the morning and sometimes mix it up with protein waffles. It's good to prepare for the ride with all that good stuff." On the bike, Aymen makes the most of one of his team's backers. "And with Away Message, we're sponsored by Maurten. So I'm lucky; I've got plenty of gels and solids to hand".
Rolling Through Ramadan
Balancing the commitment to his faith and performing as an athlete, Aymen's dedication to training stays strong, even during the celebration of Ramadan. "Riding during Ramadan is tough because obviously you can't eat or drink during the day," he notes. "I still try to train like normal to keep a level of fitness. I adjust to wake up earlier at 4 a.m., get some water and oatmeal, and squeeze in a two-hour ride before the cutoff time for fasting." This schedule requires immense discipline, but Aymen finds it not only manageable but beneficial for his confidence on the bike. "The first week is always tough, but after Ramadan, you feel unstoppable. You know your limits with fuelling and how far you can push yourself."
The best SF stop offs
The sense of San Francisco's close yet friendly cycling community extends to local hangouts and pre-to-post-ride places to hang at. Rather than hitting a wide variety of places, Aymen likes to stick to a couple of tried-and-tested spots where his crew hangs out most—"I usually go to The Coffee Movement with friends before we roll. It's the most popular cafe everybody usually attends on Washington Street."
"Then there's Brecks at the end of Clement St. It's an SF institution and where we swing by with most of the Away Message crew after a longer ride."
Tunes to keep training on track
From good feeds to feel-good tunes, music plays a significant role in keeping Aymen's training rides on a high. "I listen to everything from Doja Cat to 21 Savage and even a bit of Taylor Swift, but in the city, it's got to be 'Really Doe' from Danny Brown and Kendrick Lamar. It's the chaos you know? The vibe of this track mirrors the energy of downtown."
It’s SF: Surge Forward
So, as things wrap up, we circle back to the source that makes cycling in San Francisco so good for the soul. For Aymen, it's cycling communities like Away Message powering the sport forward to new, unexplored heights, both figuratively and literally. Topographically, everyone knows the city is a unique spot, and that's born out culturally in the fabric of SF hometown riders like Aymen, who are chopping up and relaying their version of the sport we all love.
As Aymen continues exploring and training in the heart of San Francisco, it's a testament to his deft balance of race craft and profession. His passion for the sport and commitment to helping others reflect a deeply rooted drive to make the most of every day. "No one cares; work harder." Amen to that.
Aymen El Gorani shot on location in San Francisco, California by Derek Yarra. The latest MAAP Training Collection is available now at MAAP.cc.
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