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)

Music Discovered 2011-Metric--Dead Disco (Live)

OK--after a week I still had the guitar riffs and organ fill in my head through most of the Davis Foxy Falls 100. The live song starts with a taste of the instruments, morphs into a pop tune, moody jazz rock, live vamping and then at 8:50 the song blows up with an incredible wall of sound. Modern day When the Music's Over. Trying to out spin the instruments, great riding group, and two racing kids helped me set a personal century mph average of 19.2--details of the ride soon.

Thanks to Stephen for turning me onto Pandora Radio this year--and hearing a bunch of new music--at least new to me. Then You Tube is great to check out live versions. To this point in 2011

1-Dead Disco-Metric
2-In Shreds-The Chameleons
3-Noisy at the Circus-Daydream Vacation
4-Paper Tigers-The Chameleons
5-Boom Like That-Mark Knofler
6-Waking Up-Elastica
7-Echo Beach-Martha and the Muffins
8-Are You Down-Lucinda Williams

Morgan-Patterson Pass-2011

(October 8, 2011) Morgan-Patterson Pass Century, 92 miles w/ Ward*, Stephen*, Jack*, and Cisco Dave--(*100 miles as rode from home) first 40 miles with Diablo Cyclist peloton. 16.8 mph Sacrilegious miles courtesy of Stephen Music.

Weather was lousy this past week--rain killed Tuesday-Wednesday or Thursday after work riding. I was dressed like an Eskimo in the house. Spent mid week listening to great song I never heard before; listening to multi live versions where sound isn't as clear and singer vamps, but tempo picks up and there is some incredible intensity. Watching punk blond lead singer (no, no multiple nose rings) wasn't hard. This moves ahead of In Shreds as my best music discovery this year. Dr. Dave suggested I try some of her leg moves while on the bike. Emily Haines moves into the pantheon of great rock organ players like Ray Manzarak and Steve Nieve. So of course on this ride the driving guitars and organ fill are played over and over in my head. (check it out by clicking on link below.)

Dead Disco--Matrix (album version)

Dead Disco--Matrix (live Version)

Morgan Territory a great ride-a nice metric loop, and luckily weather jumped 20 degrees come Saturday. Morgan is a heavily tree lined climb with lots of "hit me" switchbacks.

OK termonology

James Brown switchback (from 'Payback')--a short hairpin with a 10+% kickup--great for yelling "hit me"

Eddie Stanky Roller--in honor of the great NY Giants "Brat" who used to get a running start from behind thridbase on a tagup so baseball had to outlaw this--so the Eddie Stanky Roller is one you can get a running start to carry you over it--usually a shallow roller coming off a downhill.

Sal Maglie Roller--in honor of the great NY Giants "Barber" for no other reason than this used to be an Italian Roller. As found over and over again in Italy a roller that is too fn long and/ or too steep to have momentum help--you have to dig in and climb. Ward sometimes scoffs that what I call Italian Rollers are really climbs.



OK back to our movie. Large group starts off towards the Morgan Climb. Lots of short climbs out to Clayton where suburbia becomes rustic. Then a 10 mile regroup/ water spot that we usually skip for tactical reasons--but the group makeup looks like there wouldn't be any shenanigans today. After the regroup there are a few more short noticeable climbs until a nice downhill that twists right into the run into Morgan Territory--which starts off fast--slows gradually, then you notice Eddie Stanky rollers are increasing, which soon leads into a real uphill with many "hit me" climbs. Road isn't the greatest, but not going that fast on the climb and have to be vigilant for the occasional car coming down the unstriped 1 1/2 lane wide road (cyclists actually came 'DOWN" today which is unusual as at a downhill speed crappy road does suck.)

After regroup I'm distracted--as we pass one of the better "pumpkin patches"-one I took the kids to 20+ years ago. I pull over to take a quick photo, so Ward pulls over to take a photo of me taking a quick photo, so then we ride down the hill to get the entrance side-- and after f'n around for 5-7 minutes we realize that now we have to bust our butt to get back to the peloton. I start predicting who we'll catch first as Ward starts hammering and I have no choice (he's better at hammering when not seeing anyone ahead of us--I need the visual cue.) We both acknowledge that we're crazy and expect to be gassed for the rest of the day--but when we catch someone we seem to redouble our efforts.

PUMPKINS!--this is a Kodak photo moment (PC)

Lots of little pumpkins in this archival photo from the Pumpkin Patch we pass. (PC-archives)

Shit, at least I could smile if we went all the way downhill to take the photo. (WI)

About 1/3rd up Morgan, when the Sal Maglie rollers and "hit me" hairpins, we see the lead peloton. Now truth be told the two Daves (Cisco and Dr.) could have been at the top reading the newspaper if they wanted to, but they kept the group together and they were joined by two good riders. Ward had just came off a pull and he was gassed--when I joined some of the new folks tried to get off the front and I just kept short counterattacks so they'd drop back and we'd all stay together. Nice steady pace to the top with Cisco and Dr. Dave and Stephen. Morgan ends with a short steep downhill that turns into a (fake Eddie Stanky) Sal Maglie roller, and I didn't want to go downhill with three other people so I picked up the pace for the last 1/2 mile so we'd stretch out. Think climb pace was too easy as everyone hammered the last roller--with Cisco shooting out in front and my following with Dr. and Stephen close behind. Beautiful regroup at the top of Morgan; Stephen (L-sitting at front of table) looking around to see if he can change the route. Ward, Dr. Dave, and Cisco Dave in foreground (PC)

Screaming, twisty downhill towards Livermore--luckily road on this side is well paved. But cross wind up high and cars coming up this narrow road make this a lousy downhill. I don't mind when the road levels off. We regroup at the end of the road--those doing 60 and heading back to Walnut Creek to the right--those doing 100 via Livermore to parts unknown to the left.

Earlier a few of us talked about where to put in bonus miles. The consensus was going East to N Flynn then crossing Livermore and going up to Del Valle--a regional park. All nice ideas but N Flynn is at the foot of one of the seminal climbs--Patterson Pass; not that steep but usually with gale force headwinds. Del Valle at the start of the Mines Road climb--a 30 miles desolate climb toward Mt. Hamilton. OK--days are shorter and too late to do Mines Road but.....could still do something special with the weather so beautiful today.

Great action shot of our peloton right under the speed limit sign to the right...OK--truth be told this photo will get alot of Photoshoppe use mid winter--stay tuned (WI)

Dr. Dave and Andy don't join us (didn't know Any was also a Stanford football fan like Dr. Dave.) So its Ward, Jack, Stephen, Cisco Dave and I pacelining through Livermore--all the while Stephen saying he might not ride with us the whole way out or do Del Valle. Meanwhile, Dead Disco machine gun guitars still playing in my head. Stephen's jazz band is playing in a few weeks, and while they are great they might need to modernize their image. They usually have some old fossil special guest jazz maestro that spends his time scowling and preening--instead they could try for the blond chick in the Dead Disco videos (yes, click on link at top of blog.)

We start going East and we don't have much of a tailwind and the windmills up high (loads of windmill farms in area) aren't turning. Both are significant. If we were doing Patterson Pass we'd have to climb and ride back into any tailwind we were now enjoying. So lack of tailwind bodes well for no headwind when we'd loop around the Altamont Speedway (think Rolling Stones) and come back West. And Patterson Pass is not that hard a climb, not steep until the end. The first time in calm air I was amazed it was so easy after hearing about its bad reputation. And Uncle Steve uttered the prolific comment

"see those windmills up there--when they're turning you're screwed."

Thinking my ride mates are visually impaired I start dropping suggestions about Patterson pass--"hey look, none of the windmills are turning." But no one took the hint/ bait. Bold action is needed as we get close to the N. Flynn cutoff--"how about Patterson Pass." Silence. Stepehen and Jack indicate they are taking the shorter route. But its so fn beautiful out--in a few weeks 30 mile freezing rides will be long, and I indicate I'm going to Patterson Pass. Ward and Cisco Dave say they'll join me--great--and I figure since I'm the one responsible for this mess I might as well take a long pull.

Start pulling and soon I'm going 20+ on an uphill. Man I'm strong...eh, on second thought maybe not and maybe its the dreaded TAILWIND, fun now but no fun later on Patterson Pass. But I'm committed (or maybe should be committed) and when I get off the front I'm please to find that Stephen and Jack joined our trio.

Dave excited as he has never done Patterson Pass--everyone else has a little sense of dread--especially when the tailwind picks up. Dave is at the front and we are going 21-24 mps with moderate effort on a long well paved uphill. This will NOT make up for the 4 mph when we start the climb into the gale on Patterson Pass.

Cisco Dave leading the charge at 21-24 mph towards the Altamont Speedway, but we are already late for the Rolling Stones concert (WI)

No scenic water crossings so I have to point out the scenic watering hole (well it would have qualified as a scenic water spot on the old Manteca '20 Scenic Water Crossings' Crossroad Century.) (WI)

Short ez climb up to the Altamont Speedway--nice downhill into a maze of electric substations
where we make a U turn and emerge onto the Patterson Pass Climb and headwind galore--BUT BUT BUT we make the turn and its calm. Look up and the windmills ain't moving. Either they are all broken or THERE IS NO WIND FOR THE WHOLE CLIMB.

(above) Ranch and Substation at the foot of Patterson Pass (below) soon give way to windfarms. (PC)
Climb just kicked up and everyone enjoying their Paterson Pass (PC)

San Joaquin Valley, the California Breadbasket, Stockton, and Sierra Nevada's to the East. (WI)

Jack doing his best to get into another photo (WI)

Jay and Stephen on the Patterson Pass Climb--I'm telling Stephen about the potential of Emily Haines (watch the videos) fronting his band (WI)

Stephen heading up Patterson Pass--NO headwind. Steepest part is all the way up with a false flat. (WI)

Ward on Patterson Pass--high above the windfarms (PC)

Stephen enjoying his Patterson Pass (WI)

Top of Patterson Pass is @mile 60. Rest of the ride was uneventful. Nice fast downhill follows the Devil Mountain Double course until we go past the Mines Road/ Del Valle cutoff. We stop at the new library in Livermore for a break--mistake. Stephen ordered a sandwich and seemingly they called out to Mines Road Junction cafe to get it--it arrived 20 minutes later. Tailwind all the way back to Blackhawk--weather was perfect. Cisco Dave has energy and pulled alot, I got zoned in to the uphill into Blackhawk and rode hard until I could get a final burst of 20--Ward and Cisco Dave right with me. My leg seized up while near the end of the ride which usually doesn't happen--my pulmonary will go much faster than my legs--but had to stand alot on the final flat stretch to work the knot out--which ended any thought of going to the Ranger Station on Mt. Diablo.

Best way to come back on a Saturday ride is Highland Road--not many cars and no controlled intersections. (WI)

So another self supported Century ride---done on 2 Chomps, 1 Cliff Bar, 1 Cliff Z Bar, 5 scoop Perpetuem, 4 scoops of Heed, and a looping-hard driving tune. Another great ride..as the cycling season slowly grinds to a stop. dead disco...dead funk...dead rock and roll...remodel...everything has been done...la..la..la..la..la..la..la..la..la Watch the rock video if you want to go faster. Of course Chairman Ward wants you to go slower--so he hopes you watch this instead and remember it on a ride. Ward Training Video

Solano Ramble + Knoxville Loop-2011

(October 1, 2011) Solano County Ramble with Knoxville-Pope Valley bonus miles, w/ Ward, Jack, Cisco Dave, Andy, 120 miles, 17 mph (what! we didn't do enough hills to get down to 15.5 mph) Trena, Dr. Dave, Tom, Brian on Solano County metric OK--elevation looks scary but no long climbs (Ward O Hill-Meter)
Andy and Cisco Dave with Lake Berryessa in the background on the bonus portion of the Course. Nice flat ride. (Ward Industries photo)

*****************************************************

Wow, summer gone. We haven't done a self supported century in a few weeks. The Diablo Cyclist club ride is one of the flattest/ fastest which usually has a big turnout--incorporating Pleasant Valley Road which ends the Knoxville Double (see last week's blog.) A few of us will throw in the Cantelow Loop--a short but hilly loop off of Pleasant Valley Road--and then we can regroup with the rest of our club at Lake Solano. Then is the only real climb of the Solano Ramble, up Cardiac--as seen on the Davis Double (and Knoxville Double but from the opposite direction.) Ward figures we can then take a detour and loop around Lake Berryessa to make it close to a double metric. Sounds good.

Weather is blah!, not cold but heavily overcast. Supposed to rain and rain and rain next week. Best turnout for an out of town ride this year but still lower than in past years. Someone suggested the riders in the Club are getting old re the lower turnouts. Dr. Dave hit over the head with the Fall Blues like I am--and not into doing bonus miles. Trena on the comeback trail shows up--she used to be a regular. She is planning to lead the Tunitas Creek ride in a few weeks and needs to extend her miles.

Ride starts out real fast--we are joined by a rider from Texas who I mistakenly thought has started with us--but he just joined us on the road. Strong rider--which means Cisco Dave will push the pace as he does when another fast rider is present. I goof around and go twice around a traffic circle (is that a statue of Touchdown Jesus in the middle of it?) and then have to work hard to catch back to the pelaton. Ward, Cisco Dave, Jack and Texas Josh detour to the hilly Cantelow Loop--last year a slam bang affair with Davis Bike Club riders with full carbon wheels attacking, but this year we are relatively alone on the loop. Then its a fast straight shot to Lake Solano where the rest of the Club is waiting (48 km)

After Cantelow the bad news is that Ward and I would start having to worry about where to take photos --as shadows had returned. Yep, the SUN was finally out--yippie. Now we just had to worry about doing intervals back after taking photos.

Ward and Jack on the Cantelow Loop (PC)

The three troublemakers (Buffalo jersey Photos)Dr Dave ready to demonstrate that this year has now gone down the sewer (PC)Lake Solano (Dr Dave)

Cardiac is a mediocre climb--but from this side a long pain in the butt in 2-3 tiered parts. After a downhill that puts us in the foot of Pope Valley we'll have another rest stop (74km) where the bonus mile group will depart from the main group.

Trena and Brian on the Cardiac Climb. (PC)Greeted at the top of Cardiac by the Monticello Fire Marshall (WI)Brain and Tom look nonplussed about bonus miles, but we wrongly thought Trena was volunteering to lead on the 200 km course. (PC)Dave forgot his food at the start--but was worried about eating Odswalla and Z Bars--instead he picked up a special power bar later in the ride for a special sprinters sugar rush. (PC)I forget if Trena said she did or didn't want photos of her eating --we'll I'm sure Ward took these with her permission. (WI)

The bonus mile group of Ward, Cisco Dave, Jack and I departed.......and Andy. Andys is a great guy to ride with, and if we sheltered him a little he'd put in a big effort not to slow us down. Ward and Dave--our two fastest guys, did a nice job the rest of the day controlling the pace in the front and I played ticket collector alot so if Andy dropped off I could bring him back. We soon made the right turn towards the Lake Berryessa Loop--as last year they were running a tri event but last year we came across it just when it was breaking up--this year it had been over for hours and we just saw the clean up crews.

Usually when we do this loop with its gentle roller after roller someone is taking a flyer off the front--but this year with a smaller group we were very cooperative. In committed a faux pas, we got close to Spanish Flat where we always take a long break--and I took a 1 mile detour to see the Monticello Cemetery. Figure it may be cool as its the town that flooded out when Lake Bereyessa was built. Nondescript cemetary and when I got back to Spanish Flat bonus mile group raring to go--bonus milers don't break as much as our regular Club. Ooops...

Cisco Dave opined that this was the "worst" out of are Club ride we've been on. Well the comparison are two A+ rides (Sierra Century and Tunitas Creek) and B+ ride (Santa Cruz Mountains) which are more interesting with less traffic. But for a "flat" ride this isn't bad--and good change from another ride down to Sunol (a standard feature on most of our Club rides)

Pull into same Lake Berryessa staging area that was a rest stop last week on the Knoxville Double. Now we'd be riding the Knoxville Course "backwards" --instead of going on the desolate road to Lower Lake we'd head back to Pope Valley. Kinda strange that rest stop full of life last week is almost empty. More rollers and vineyards and then to the general store. At the general store we met a dad getting his boy's birthday party together--and he just started biking so loads of enthusiastic questions. Sometimes, by accident, it looks like we know what we are doing.

Peloton makes turn to go around Lake Berryessa. Road surface gets better and less traffic. Now Ward has to scramble back to get to the end of the train--a photographers interval. (WI) Fresco of me somewhere on the route. (WI with Diego Rivera's help)Jack with Lake Berreyessa behind him. (WI) Dave and I going around the Lake (WI) Dave and Andy going towards Pope Valley while Ward scrambles back after taking a photo. (PC)

The peloton gets closer to Pope Valley. (WI)Frozen fruit bar ahead and Dave and I go past a vineyard-mmmmm, maybe they'll have grape. (WI)The bonus group at the Pope Valley Store, Andy (far left) looks happiest. (birthday party dad)

After the Pope Valley Store it is back on the rut filled road typical of Napa County--we know it too well from the Tour of Napa clusterfuck and Knoxville. At least we are going the slightly uphill" way so its slightly slower and more time to dodge potholes. Then we make the sudden left on the "recumbent friendly" (short steep rollers) back road where I try to get ahead an take photos of all the group passing with the vineyards in the background. My tiny camera with lousy shutter lag doesn't get much but Ward picks a better angle and gets some good photos. Andy & Dave (WI)Jack (WI)Cisco Dave (WI) Master Photographer Ward. We then had to do a hard chase back to the group. (PC)

Andy (WI)

Another break at the start of Pope Valley--now the end--and instead of going over Cardiac we'd now be following the course the rest of our group took hours ago--first a few more stiff rollers and then a really fast course back to Fairfield. Close to Fairfield started some cool pumpkin farms--it was photo time again.No pumpkin picking (PC)

Ward said he saw a big chicken over a fence--didn't seem worthwhile to cross the street-glad he took the photo (WI)

Gratuitous pumpkin photos always make this blog (WI)

I could have sworn I saw a statue when we were doing traffic circle crits earlier in the day. In a stiff headwind Cisco Dave, Ward and I took a mile detour to see if I was having a flashback or something was really there.....

Statute of Trena? No--Cisco Dave and Ward inspecting Mother Earth (PC)

Mother Earth doing her best Touchdown Jesus (WI)

Great 120 mile ride. Weather turned out OK--especially considering rain in the forecast all week after tomorrow. Didn't need to ride two days in a row--my ultra events are over--so went over with Donna for one of our torturous urban hikes. One of the greatest weather days in SF ever--hard to believe forecast is so dreary. We started in the Haight and walked all the way North to the Presideo and then West to the Pacific along a trail hugging the Bay/ Ocean. Walking alot always demonstrates to me the muscles I don't use when cycling.

Donna and I by China Beach overlook--Sea Cliff. If the weather was always this nice we might still live in San Francico. (unknown)