Cruella Challenge-2011

(October 22, 2011) Cruella Challenge, w/ Ward, Dr. Dave, Toby, sometimes with Jack, never with Christine, 101 miles, 15.1 mph

Elevation chart and most cool photos courtesy of Ward Industries.

Usually our long riding season ends with Foxy's Fall (or Riverbank No Wine and Cheese) Century last weekend, but this year a few of us signed up for a local century on roads we frequently do. One of our cycling club's "strongmen"--Johnna (she of a tooth 23 cassette for the Death Ride, and Boston Marathon finisher) has jumped ship and joined an all woman's Multisport Club. She contends her new teammates are "cuter" than our group. Her new group puts on a Century where Mt. Diablo is climbed halfway twice, in between they do the Bears and Skyline in the Oakland Hills--which is one of the favorite routes of our bonus mile group.

I was looking forward to this ride until I suddenly got a bad head cold the day after Foxy's. No riding Sunday or Tuesday (usual training day) and no work on Monday. On Wednesday I cut the training ride short when I started sweating bullets on a cool night. So though cold peaked a couple of days before the Cruella--a week of mild fever, scratchy throat, bad sleep, low energy and stuffed nose took its toll--and stuffed nose was still lingering.

At least I didn't get yelled at (like at the Foxy's last week) the evening before checkin at a great local store--Sports Basement. Fee for this Century was high as a good % donated to girls sports groups, and nice swag included a pair of cycling socks and two instant savings coupons at Sports Basement that basically kicked back $15 of the entrance fee.

Ward getting checked in by Diablo MULTIsport Connection. Ward'ss trying to sign up for the workers ride. We'd learn that MULTIsport really means many different and strange sports(PC)

I hardly saw anyone during the week, and start time was suddenly kicked around via email the night before. Recommended start time is 7:00, sunrise is about 7:15. Jack and Toby are cycling to the ride so later is better. My 2 cents was a mild suggestion for7:00- but I was so fn tired that the consensus of 7:30 (more sleep) seemed appealing though we'd start at the back of the ride. Except for Christine, who was scared our group would drop her on the hills (stupid girl--she usually drops many of us) decided to start at 7:00. We never see her on the course...

I was mildly surprised when I turned into a jammed parking lot--I didn't expect a crowd except that every time we saw the DMC Women on Diablo they always told us that the event wasn't nearly sold out. Lots of local racers--Wells Fargo and Taleo--cuing up. Also lots of people with this year's Barney colored Death Ride jersey. Most people started from 7:00-7:15. Our group did numerous outhouse inspections, and left at @7:40. It wasn't that cold outside but I was fn freezing.

A few miles to Mt. Diablo--we pass Stephen's (of "lets start rides at 10am fame") house and yell for him to wake up. Toby is new to the area, but both a competitive triathlete and ultra distance runner; and we remind him of the crappy private road before we get into Mt. Diablo. And crappy it is--much worse than the beginning of Spring when Jack and I started in the dark for the 200 mile Devil Mountain Double. Now it's light and its almost impossible to avoid potholes--on some places they are solidly across the road. DMC outlined potholes and cracks on the course in white, in some places it looks like Pablo Picasso did the job.

After 'safely in Mt. Diablo' we had a great surprise--inversion layer at 500'. It quickly got warm--on the way up it seemed like we wouldn't need to be bundled up on the way down.

Actually 'safely in Mt Diablo' is a misnomer. During the week after work there is little traffic in Mt. Diablo and it just seems like an uphill bike path. But today is Saturday where idiots in cars abound. On one early hairpin a County Sheriff's car passed us in the middle of the road--we would have seen a crash if another car was coming down, or a splat if a cyclist was descending close to the center line. Later there was a car in back of us on a hairpin--I was in front and could see a cyclist coming down so I held out my arm-palm back to indicate "stop." No dice--car passed our single file going uphill, crossed the center line, and almost took out descending cyclist.

Dr. Dave starting up Diablo in the wee hours--and what is that other guy doing on the wrong side of the road?? (PC)

It's getting warm and I'm overdressed like usual. Pocket full of coughdrops. But its beautiful outside (WI)

Toby enjoying is morning on Diablo. He might run up Mt. Diablo after the Century.(WI)

Dr. Dave may not enjoy this ride. He's done his "bucket list" of rides this Summer including Cycle Oregon, Alpe D'Huez and Mt. Vetoux but since the Springtime Alta Alpina he hasn't done a ride of over 75 mile or over 5,000' climbing. He's also back at work but we're totally unsympathetic to that complaint after he was off all summer.(WI)

Dr. Dave (wearing bright orange vest I want to buy off of him) and I at Ranger Station half way up Diablo in the AM--safely in the traffic island (important to note) (WI)

Toby and I pushing a little to much to the Ranger Station-- I get a warning when I push too too hard--my nose starts dripping down my throat and out like a faucet. This will be a problem all day. Another problem will be stupid cyclists--I go over to talk to Dave and some stupidass comes by and snaps that we are blocking the road while we're not on the road but a painted traffic island. My respiratory problem has put me in a foul mood and I snap something back.

Thinking of leaving off the vest for the downhill; going down the other side so we don't have to worry about potholes at the bottom. Lucky I kept vest on--below 500' it gets very cool again. First rest stop is at the foot of Mt. Diablo--only 17 miles into the ride. Plenty of rest stops and great support today. Here DMC has drop bags and we could dump all excess clothes--I left t- shirt on but knee/ arm warmers sent packing. They had soft tostada shells wrapped around eggs and bacon--smelled great, and would have been a killer for the rest of the ride--so its cough drops and a tostada shell. I start to dream about the BBQ steak dinner at the finish.

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We're now going to continue on a very familiar route--in fact our bike club, the Diablo Cyclists are starting their ride around now a few stone throws away. We're taking the same route our Club would take when riding out to Berkeley. Some flat suburban streets eventually become suburban attention getting rollers--with suburbia gradually disappearing when short but serious rollers appear before the @ 6 mile 4 tiered climb of the Pig climb and the 3 Bears.

Road is really well marked--but half way into the ride Toby will complain he hasn't seen any road markings. Strange. He's been looking for ribbons/ flags stuck on trees, not on the ground. Runners...

I get my dander up at the first light at a major intersection. A large group is already at the red light--we tuck in right behind them, with most other folks cuing up behind us. Then three guys arrive and shoal the line--jumping to the front of everyone waiting. When we leave I mark them and stay right behind on the flats--we'd jump ahead of them once they stalled out on the rollers.

We cue up behind group already at Ygnacio Valley intersection when 3 shoalers come along and jump the line. (PC)

OK--now ahead of the shoalers and the serious action began. A coed tri team passed coming off the first gentle roller, I jumped ahead of the woman on the next serious uphill, and then she sped past on the flats with me hanging on while all the crap from my nose drained down my throat on exertion. She got back to the tri guy who had slowed--then he put in a dig. I stayed on the wheel of the slowest of the pair. On once hand the road eventually necessitates more climbing so I'd be Ok if I stay with them on the shallow sections where they were both faster than me. On the hand, not feeling well and this was insanity with 80 miles to go--and for once I am going to be smart and drop off. I started to drop off but Toby zoomed by and put in a dig, which rev'd up both triathletes--and got me chasing to help Toby out.

Caught up when the rollers became serious--and expected another tri dig when the road flattens out before the Pig climb which I expected to die on--so led out Toby to the Pig climb. The tri folks never came back--Toby zoomed up the climb and waiting for me so we could two man and stay out ahead on a fast section to the 2nd rest stop at mile 32.


Pulled in and I was gassed, but clubmate and Death Ride rider extraordinaire (on 23 tooth cogset) Johnna working this rest stop, which brightens the mood. Johnna now training for a marathon--she promises she'll ride with our club again next year. Ward and Dave pull in and we start taking loads of group photos.

Someone in this photo promises to wear their Diablo Cyclist club jersey again in 2012. (DMC) Toby constantly texting on his 4G phone and Ward texting on his 3G jell packet (PC)

Bears start and Toby takes off. Ward, Dave and I pace each other up--eventually Ward and I wind up ahead of Dave. On the uphill we pass one guy shooting video--I just got a mini video camera that may debut next month. The guy zooms on the downhill and we have to crank it up to repass him on the next uphill. Papa Bear--final downhill that slowly curves clockwise and then counterclockwise that used to scare the crap out of me. Video guy shoots by again--Ward slows so I can stay on his wheel for the downhill which helped alot--could keep the video guy in sight and then caught him on the short section of gentle uphill which turns into a steep uphill for about 500'. More fun and games and ANOTHER REST STOP. The 3rd one at mile 40.

Ward on da Bears (PC)

Greeted by DMC at rest stop at the end of the Bears--another rest stop in a place our Club regroups on our rides. (PC)

We'd now hit the 6 mile climb that goes up Tilden Park, first half is semi steep and eventually levels off. We all start up when someone whizzes by--I'm determined to kill myself so I try to keep pace with the guy as crap again flows down my nose and throat. Half way up I have to back off and I wait at the top and regroup with Ward, Toby and Dave. The bike doctor is starting to get low on energy and when Jack gets to the top he keeps going. From this point on Ward, Toby, Dave and I would usually be riding at the pace of our slowest rider (albeit a few digs or Toby taking off if I yelled "Postal") with Jack usually out of rest stops/ regroups ahead of us and he'd disappear for long stretches until we caught up with him.
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We paceline through the big Regional Park and then out of Tilden we go into neighborhood gentle rollers--the houses on the sides eventually disappear and Oakland lays far below. Sometimes weather is -20 cooler here but today is sunny and clear with no dip in temperature. Mile 56--another rest stop--another place our Club usually regroups.

DMC stands for Diablo MULTIsport Connection--here some DMC girls show one of the MULTIsports--the two jug toss. (PC)

Readers of this blog know that Dr. Dave has been practicing this pose for years (DMC Official Photo)

Toby doing a commercial for Apricot sports drink (DMC Official photo)

I stop with Ward and Toby to take photos on the Oakland Hills. Downtown Oakland is over my right shoulder San Francisco across the Bay. Mt. Tam over Toby's left shoulder. Great clear day. Next year we want Johnna up her to take photos with our motley crew. (? Good Samaritan)Jack leading us out--most of the climbing save Mt. Diablo at the end is done. (WI)

Toby trying to get Ward to take a right turn down the hill into Oakland (PC)

Fast downhill where we loop rustic Redwood Road, some uphill and then a twisty downhill that will dump us out near Moraga. This is my least favorite way to come back on a club ride--more surburban riding. But first yet another rest stop at mile 67 (5th of the day) at another park our Bike club usually regroups.

Alright--I'm thinking about great BBQ steak dinner at the end but here are HOMEMADE RICE KRISPIE TREATS--made with three different vegtables (rice, marshmellows and corn syrup)
(PC)

From here we head back toward the start--which is now another rest stop before we go over Mt. Diablo again. Here the ride departs from the usual long straightaway into Walnut Creek, we take a turn and ride over some attention getting rollers. Here we all pacelined on the flats and a few guys sat and drafted behind us--when we hit the rollers they took off. Toby and I were game but Dave zapped and Ward about to take an army of Advil for knee problems so we amilorated our speed and kept together into the start/ finish rest stop at mile 81. Any talk of catching Christine had long ceased.

At the last rest stop (start/ finish) the day starting to drag before we go up Mt. Diablo again, so I reach into the bag-o-tricks, and put the bike stereo on my top tube. Quick liquid refill for the warm climb, and see the tents where the BBQ food is being cooked. One guy is running around with a changing kilt on and he ain't changing clothes..

Dr. Dave following the great Route Markers on the way to Mt. Diablo again (WI with Turner Colorization.)

Yeah-we caught Christine on Mt. Diablo...oh, she's going downhill off Diablo and we're still going up (WI)

Dr. Dave didn't want to listen to music he heard on Alta Alpina, so he's riding up behind Ward and I. (WI)

The Dr. is in the house--Dr. Dave arrives at the South Gate entrance (PC)

OK--we get through the crap road outside Mt. Diablo unscathed--but have to be far to the right and not aggressively dodge potholes as cars coming down in the center. Nice and warm now--and best I've felt all day; not over excerting myself must be helping. Toby goes on ahead, Ward and I ride together and bs about Ohio, the Revenge of Vera Gemini (secret GREAT guest background female vocalist) and other tunes. Now not many riders on the climb. Give Dr. Dave a GU Chomps, which I like more than Cliff Shots--more flavor but more salt. Dave takes one Chomp and suddenly does a huge spit that would make a tobacco chewing manager proud.

Bike stereo on front of top tube--I'm dreaming of the steak BBQ. (WI)

Dr. Dave and Toby at the Junction (WI)

Ward gets his prize--stash bag made from recycled tires, from another enthuistaic DMC worker. (PC)

Group photo at the Junction (DMC photo)

OK--almost all downhill back to the finish--lets get some BBQ steak!!! But we are almost hit on a curve when an SUV goes over the center line passing riders on the Cruella first coming up.

I'm laughing with Toby that Christine thought we'd ever catch her (WI)

Another Diablo MULTIsport Connection sports--the two candy/ nut plate relay race--nicely brought over while we wait for emergency food. (WI)

A group of starving cyclists (except for Christine--she already had BBQ while waiting for us)
(WI)

Like when Ralph Kramden locked in apartment starving with no food--Dr. Dave hallucinates a T-Bone steak. (WI)

And the Diablo MULTIsport Conection winner in the multi pizza toss. No wonder Johnna trains with them instead of us.(WI)

Roll back to start/ finish--Christine waiting for us. OK lets eat and bs about the ride. First DMC misstep all day THERE IS NO BBQ FOOD LEFT. Outback Steakhouse ran out of food--packed up their tent and left. We sit around and bs while apologetic DMC workers bring over candy and nuts while others go out and eventually bring back (greasy) pizza for us and riders coming in after. We're entertained by a hippy trippy new age 60's lady who was working one of the health booths and ran a "oh wow, like cycling is...." monolog and a woman still in her cyclingkit waiting for a friend but wearing go go boots.

Next day our club Jagass swarmily asks "well, how was it paying to ride on roads you always do, hoo hoo hoo?" Actually it felt great not carrying tons of food around and getting assisted by exuberant people all day. Weather and scenery was great. Very different trying to ride at a higher intensity than a Club ride with so many good cyclists on the road. Only bad thing was that I couldn't easily breath and couldn't ride as hard as I wanted too.

Foxy's Fall Century-2011-New 100 mile Speed Record

(October 15, 2011) Foxy's Fall Century, w/ Ward, Stephen & Jack. 97 miles, 3,376' climbing (ride claims to be 2,000' climbing, other measures on the web are much closer to what Ward recorded), 19.2 mph. Average speed of 20.2 for first 24 miles, including 3 miles of 16mph when leaving Davis with a pack and slowing at traffic controls. (WI)

All of a sudden we are in the rainy season of California--so many of us wait until the long term weather report shows dry before registering. But a week before ride registration was CLOSED, with a few spots saved for 'day of' registration. Many in our club were planning to do the ride--but about half only in for the metric century.

Stephen isn't in for any ride--our 'plan a route' leader pimping for another self supported century in the area--one we can start at 8:30, instead of 7:30. But we've done sooooo many self supported century rides, it will be nice to ride without pockets stuffed to the gills. We also ride too nicely (easily) with each other when we do the bonus miles; riding a century with lots of good riders will push us a little out of the comfort zone. But route has been moderately changed and a few of us anxious to do tinkered course--which is relatively flat so we can stay together.

Weather looks great for the weekend, only negative is throat tightening evening before--F, cold coming on. On drive up stop at gas station for bathroom (know it will be a zoo at the start) and throat lozenges, run into a CHP officer who sees my bike and wonders if I'm doing the Foxy--he's working the event. We talk a little about bozo car drivers, but also bozo cyclists who insist on riding all across the road. Conversation is prophetic.

Apart from bathroom zoo--Ward remembered best to park on street as parking lot will also be a zoo. So arrive at 6:30 checkbook in hand and walk into nearly empty cafeteria--great, can register quickly. Oh no--worker says applications are in the dark courtyard outside--they are and so are about 200 riders. One line preregistered riders waiting to check in--other line is for day of ride registration, and worker handing me applications sends me to the line to the right. On my line are many nervous cyclists who wonder how they'll ever leave at 7:00. I have a pen but two low voltage lawn lights not sufficient to fill in appy. Why didn't they keep us inside where lights and tables are???

Doors open in about 15 minutes and my line is allowed in first and moves fast--OK, but everyone in front of me sorts out at 6-7 lines at the pre registration table. Crap, I was in wrong line and only 2 people working the 'day of ' table. I quickly go there--filling out application/ waiver as I walk (I have crap handwriting, and this ain't helping.) I'm first at table--worker snaps I need to complete check to keep things moving, which I do in 3 seconds--and then am constantly berated by vice principal working registration "what does this say"-"i can't read it" "is that an O, it doesn't look like an O" " we can't read your emergency contact, how will we call anyone if we need to" (I think--bitch, I have emergency number on my road ID, if you were sooo concerned you wouldn't have a long line standing in the dark;I should have bogarted the ride...) I finally get the precious wristband and map, and turn around to put on wristband and there is a line of 50-100 behind me. Luckily after registration support from Davis Bike Club first rate. Worker taking my day of registration, she seems familiar.

Religious icon in back of seatbag (PC)

I go back to car and catch half hour sleep until Jack knocks on window and wakes me up--he's concerned I hadn't checked in yet. Get bike ready and meet group in front of Vets Building at 7:25--here is where tall Jim is invaluable as he's easiest to spot and gather around. Unfortunately he and Jeannie haven't been riding much towards the end of the year--and they are in for the metric. Our full century group delayed a little because of registration woes and we finally left about 7:40.

OK, my handwriting is shitty, I napped, I'm checked in, lets roll. (PC)

Route to first rest stop is as flat as a pancake--a few miles in the college town of Davis and suddenly zig zagging through the agricultural roads. A few traffic controls (all monitored by Davis Bike Club and CHP) and loads of cyclists filling up the shoulder and right lane of the busy road. We're only going about 16 mph, and a few cyclists going by way to the left at 18 mph--I'm anise but it's safe where we are. Ward indicates we'll open it up out of town.

Finally pass the "Davis Town Limit" sign, cross big intersection, and drop into big chainring; our paceline rev's up to about 21. All is nice and steady until some skinny guy zooms by with another guy mashing pedals on a hybrid right behind him. We jump behind these guys--now going 24 mph. After last years accident a little wary of riding behind guy on hybrid as he's wobbling a bit with each pedal stroke to stay behind the thin guy pulling. Ward goes up and asks if we should help out--turns out young guy is a junior racer and he says he can go this pace all day. Turns out guy on hybrid is his dad who is more of a runner than cyclist but doing great--on a hybrid I'd be lucky to go 11 mph. I get into zone where guitar/organ from Dead Disco loops in my head.

Around turns the junior racer never slows down, and at first we have to scramble back to him--but later we speed up on turns and he slows a little. He also goes hard into controlled intersections which we caution him about. Sometimes he slows a little and Ward/I take a pull for about 30 seconds before he goes back to the front. Any sanity is gone when another junior racer joins us--now its always minimally 24 mph. Soon Jack and Stephen are off the back along with "dad."

These two junior racers are incredibly polite--so much so that when we come across a group riding 3-4-5 across the road and they quietly say "on your left" there isn't much movement. So Ward/I take over yelling "ON YOUR LEFT"--"MOVE OVER." I'm annoyed as my throat hurts and about 20% of the riders blocking the middle of the road are wearing earphones. Near Lake Solano there is the first hint of an uphill (gentle rolling uphill) and a huge group of Sacramento Wheelmen are Critical Mass'ing the road. I take over at teh front and yell early and often so we get have a clear path on our side of the road. (Earlier one of the junior started riding on the wrong side of the road--only way to get around a blob and wanted to avoid this.)

We hang with these good guys to the first rest stop. When Jack and Stephen pull in (our ride coordinator and de facto new member coordinator, respectively) I tell them I signed these guys up for our bike club. "Noooooo" Jack and Stephen yodel in unison as they picture every ride going 21-24 mph.

With two junior racers (and good guys) at first rest stop. Sign them up for the Club. (WI)

Next segment of the course has many rollers (Sal Maglie and Eddie Stanky) thrown in. First its a straight shoot down Pleasant Valley Road and much of the beginning of the Knoxville Double, but this time Jack/ I not doing it in the dark. Ward/I promised Jack/ Stephen we wouldn't hammer with young racer again, and we said goodbye when he passes--but we did start hammering the rollers when other people try to fly by--until tall woman in Zion jersey joined our mini paceline and then took a pull until road turned hilly again. (She later complained that she's from Mt. Sacramento so needs hill training) There Ward/I got into a small paceline line keeping the speed up so group would stay small as we got to lunch where average speed dropped to 19.7 mph.

Our club usually leaves late on a century ride and with a big group we don't get out of rest stops that quickly--and often we seem to be in the back of the ride. But we didn't leave very late today and with a small group we weren't dawdling at stops (not that Jack would let us)--when we pulled into lunch there is no line for food, when we left a 25-50 person line is cued up on the sandwich line.

Nice lunch area on mats/ pillows laid out in a schoolyard. Had my protein special--turkey-roast beef--bread--nuttin else. (WI)

Hills coming up and Jack leaves early as we waaaaaaaait at the porta potties. (WI)

The beauty of a Century ride (WI Greeting Card Division)

From lunch there are a few significant (Sal Maglie) rollers, then a fast run in to the two tiered Cardiac climb. Jack had left lunch about 5 minutes before us. Stephen hadn't done Cardiac from today's West to East direction and Ward/I tell him it seems much easier than in our usual way.

Steep rollers after lunch are not the most popular and when we first hit the straightaway we didn't go balls out--until young racer came by and said "I know you guys can go faster." So we jump on his wheel and told him we'd ride hard with him until we caught up to Jack. Now great to paceline as crowds from the morning all broken up and road nearly empty. When we caught Jack we dropped off junior racer's pace but Stephen-Ward-I still motoring, so when we hit Cardiac Climb I did a U turn and rode back to see how Jack was doing--turns out he was only a few hundred feet behind us--cleverly riding behind two "Doubles triple Crown" clad riders. Right after lunch light is right with vineyards behind. In Knoxville we go by this just when sun is coming out and too dark to take a good photo. (WI)

I'm either gonna push Stephen up the next roller or grab his jersey so he doesn't take out another sprint at the County line. (WI)

First tier of Cardiac climb great--much shorter in this direction, and we all stay together. Start second tier and a guy shoots ahead, I just keep pace with him. Turns out to be a good guy--we bs a little when we get to the top and I pull over to regroup (no rolling regroups to kill average speed--its dead stop.)

After regroup-- there is a little climb left until a fast run in to THE COUNTY LINES. Yep--two very close to each other and I know the master of the county line--Stephen, will be going for it. I try to jump off the first climb, Stephen/ Ward come back on the downhill, and then we all take turns trying to get off the front on the flats where Stephen comes around and gets a well earned victory. Ward though remembers what's ahead--puts in a much easier dig, Stephen/I too pooped to try to follow, and Ward gets the next one.

OK--unlike earlier junior racer guys--Jack/ Stephen endorse trying to get Mt. Zion girl in club. (WI)

Our happy group hopes ride doesn't go down the toilet (Mt. Zion Girl)

Nice shaded rest stop at Solano Park. Its warm--I feel warmer than I should be as running a slight fever so drink-drink-drink here--even a non diet soda. (against my religion.) Very empty when we get there--quickly fills up 15 minutes later. When we start off Ward meanders off across the street to take a photo of a statue he's passed and somehow missed numerous times--I roll in with him--only time forgetting all day about sanctity of average speed.

We slow for statues (WI photos and commentary)

Funny "Doubles Mentality. At Knoxville first rest stop (mile 37) is in Napa Valley--one mountain over from our lunch (mile 51--2nd stop) stop today. While riding today I thought that three Century stops for the ride is really pampering us---later Stephen voiced that he thought that they need one more rest stop so they could be @ 5 miles closer together.

Rest of ride i great. Some gentle rollers but mostly flat--but this time without huge groups all over the road. Usually I call out when we pass someone but my voice is shot so when I was pulling my Clubmates had to give a shout out. A few people joined the paceline, I didn't care--following Grizzly Mark's advice not to care about freeloaders and have our group control the line--which we did. I had no trouble slotting into 4th when I came off the front, but Ward reports many folks (aka persistant parasites) who wouldn't open up a slot in the paceline or didn't know what they were doing.

En route past ag field with time trial bike sculpture--rumor has it that person put it up so when Tour of California came by their house would get on TV. (WI)

Jack and Stephen in the back of our paceline over grafitti covered Stephenson Bridge, making some more friends right behind them. (WI)

I spotted the Photocrazy Outpost up ahead, and told our group to slow and fan out--while waving to guys in back of paceline to slow also. We fan out across the lane and Jack yells out "what are you doing" until he realizes slave cameras up ahead. We need to practice-Jack (blue jersey below) neecded to be on the extreme right side of the road.

(above) OK--our group in the photo--barely. (below) I think Jack won the photofinish sprint(Photocrazy)Entering Davis had to slow for some traffic contols and mile through neighborhood. Guy we had towed sprinted out near end--usually I'd be pissed but that just caused a mass acceleration which would keep average speed up. Disappointed that we had gone down to 19.2 mph at last rest stop and stqyed flat to 19.2 to the finish.

Bike flea market outside and very good pasta dinner inside. Great group ride on a real great day. Turns out weather was about +10 warmer up here than the Bay area. Didn't feel sore at all and looked forward to a great recovery ride the next day--until I couldn't get out of bed with fever. F'. This would usually be the end of our cycling season but next week is the Cruella--a Century with 3x the climbing.

Ride meal artwork (WI)

Jack contemplating desert, while Stephen's a musician so he might get a tatoo. (PC)

And yet another riviting cycling fish story gets the rapt attention of the audience--thanks for reading

(Diablo Cyclist stock photo)