Stockton Delta Century On A Fixed Gear-2008

May 4, 2008 (day after Wine Country), Stockton Delta Century, 100 miles, 426' climbing (all out of rest stops back on the levees, 17.1 avg. With Don, both of us on fixed gears, and Donna at mile 66.)

While this is a "tier 2" century (more beginner riders, less of a crowd so less energy, no hills except for freeway overpasses) this is a great ride to do for doubles training. Don did 100 miles at the Santa Rosa Wine Country on the fixed gear yesterday, Donna and I both did 120 miles. I think it is sometimes easier to ride a double than to do back to backs--as overnight my legs tighten up like crazy. Also, this would be a good chance for Don and I to get some extended work together on the fixed gear before we do the Davis Double. After last year's windstorm I'm happy he is out so I can get some rest. Of course with Don, being a Diablo Cyclist fixed gear traditionalist, you have to wear the crazy socks on the fixed. Our club is serious about riding but don't take ourselves seriously--the other tradition, a squeaky toy, adorns the handlebars.

This ride starts well west of urban Stockton, and never comes close, meandering through tiny towns that dot the Sacramento Delta--a waterway that runs from Sacramento to Antioch that surrounds low lying islands that are below sea level and surrounded by earthen dikes and roadways above. There is a backroute highway that goes to Sacramento "the slow way" that crosses numerous draw bridges. The course changed a little this year with more riding in the "middle of nowhere" as we basically did a figure 8 through isolated towns that have missed the California development craze.

We spot one of the Delta Pedaler good guys, Neil, at the start--he recently finished his first double. Then as on all the century rides Donna took off early, riding solo, on her first back to back Century ride. Start is from a beautiful winery, and a rooster kept yapping and reminding us how early it was, again. Saw Joanie, "the on your left lady" (I'd tell her the story at the end of Davis) at registration. Don pulls in and we wait around 20 minutes to see if some clubmates who were "on the fence" pull in, but no one else does. We are talking about the Santa Rosa Wine Country ride when an old parking lot attendant sneers "did you ride yesterday in THOSE socks." I answer ever so politely "no sir, as yesterday i wasn't riding my fixed gear." Parking guys demeanor changes instantly "wow--a fixed gear, fixed gear-you can wear anything you want with that."

Ride actually starts riding through the vineyard-Don wonders if the whole ride is like this. Thinking back--when I first moved to California I was blown away every time I saw grapes growing, now "eh, nice." Soon we are on regular farm roads and my legs are having trouble turning--ouch. One rider we pass says "nice socks." I see a guy in a racing kit up ahead so I pull up to him while he is setting a nice 17 mph while bs'ing with a leggy woman. Unfortunately I ask Don if the pace is OK and he says "well it is a little bit slow." Remind me not to check again with someone who has done half a dozen doubles on a fixed. So then we have to ride hard by ourselves for awhile. Soon a three person paceline is up ahead that we are inching close to but having trouble catching--which is good as when you catch a paceline to quickly they are going to slowly. When we hook on a woman starts to pull at 21, which hurts. We are more than happy when her significant other finally goes to the front and the speed drops 2 mph. My punishment for making fun of Dave yesterday is that the rider is on a recumbent, and he is directly in front of me. Luckily after I pull and drop back he asks if I want to go in front of him "YES," so I can have a normal bike block the wind. It is the woman who hammered earlier and we start bs'ing about the old Sierra Century.

First rest stop is mile 27 at Molekumne High School--as small building with a nice shaded lawn in the middle of an old town with half a dozen streets. Real rest rooms inside. After waiting all year there are NO CUTIES at this rest stops--pre peeled seedless tangerines like they had last year. Then discover where all the climbing is--each town is below sea level and to get back to the top of the dyke--road it is a 100' by 12% climb. Damn, in the wrong gear.

Over a few draw bridges--giving me a chance to sing out "scenic water crossing." Then ride gets more rustic as we actually go and ride some of the lowland roads. Nice day, not a stiff headwind this year. Three guys join us--they are hard core fixed riders and admire our rides. I'm pulling and suddenly hear a crunch--Don's wheel had loosened and tried to fly off the bike with his chain mushed in the spokes.

(1) Don and I on our fixed gears with our special fixed gear socks and squeaky toys. (2) Donna joined us at mile 66.. Thanks to John Miles for great photos.

Don his usual unflappable self as he declares that some of the spokes may snap--he resets the chain-tightens the wheel and we're off again. At mile 38 is a huge brick building in Clarksburg--an old sugar mill that has been refurbished as a winery tasting room with an expansive lawn. On most of the century rides we've been on riders spill into all the nooks and crannies of even the nicest rest stops, but here the rest stop engulfs the riders hanging out. See Donna who is leaving as we pull in. Triple Crown Doug if working this stop--he pedaled down from Sacramento. Each rest stop has good mini muffins I stuff my face with.

Now it is back on ag roads counterclockwise on the smaller figure 8 loop. Heading west we can feel a slight crosswind but still nothing bad. The road is flat flat flat and the ag scenery usually never changes unless a unique home suddenly appears, or a field of Horsetail Rush. We occasionally catch and pass other riders--when I'm pulling I always say something as a courtesy. If Don is in the lead I'd hit my squeeze pumpkin numerous times, and then when Don would pass rider would see Don's squeak squeeze whale and think it was him. Most riders enjoy it--a few surly. Don and I are pretty steady, never getting passed and slowly passing a few riders. All of a sudden three guys come flying by and I'm really restrained--by a second later some solo guy comes flying by trying to get on their wheel. At that point I jump-zoom past the last guy and then get on the trios wheel, which I stay on for 1/2 mile until a "scenic water crossing" over a metal grated drawbridge. (If it rained this ride would be a disaster with all the metal grated drawbridges.) Don and I regroup and again we arrive at the Mokelumne High School (mile 63)

Donna there--shes making great time so we suggest she should ride with us. She solo'd the last 3 century rides and I know how shitty it sometimes feels from 2004. We start off dropping down one intensity level but Donna can''t hold our wheel--we crank it down one more and she does fine. Don is the easiest guy in the world to ride with--he'll ride any pace and keep the rest stop schedule as anyone needs.

We get back on the levees which is kinda cool, basically a large, smooth bike path among the trees and water wit nary a car. Soon we hit an open section and the crosswind becomes notable for the first time--and Donna falls off. Next comes one of those seminal moments in marriage that happens often.

Me- "There is a crosswind." Don't ride behind me. We'll ride in an eschelon. The wind is coming from the right so ride to my left, halfway back."

Donna-"I DON"T WANT TO RIDE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC!"

Me--(Bewildered-we would take the whole right lane but we haven't seen a car in 20-30 minutes)

Don-"Why don't your ride over there" (pointing to the spot I told Donna to slot into.)

Donna--"OK" (moves into the spot)...."THIS IS EASY"

Eventually we get back on the main road--which means a car very few minutes, but now we have a tailwind, cna get back in a regular paceline, and Donna pulls us for awhile.

Now comes one of the two treacherous climbs of the day. At mile 77 we get on a ferry (In my Delta Pedaler days I thought I missed a ride on a Mark Twain Mississippi Sidewheeler--a year later I found myself on a dinky platform that runs across the water on cable) getting off a steel deck is a 100' @15% hill back to the top of the dyke. As I can't clip in before hitting the hill I have to walk up. Soon after we cross another drawbridge (a dozen "scenic water crossings") get off the dyke to another town with an old brick school rest stop. The flat parking lot is gravel so barely clip in before hitting the 100' @15% hill with no momentum so almost almost almost fall over but torque as much as possible to make it. No doubt my diving onto a huge cushion on the lawn and laying out helped--done in tribute to Donna who last year, when much hotter, didn't want me to lay out on the lawn.

Now zig zag back to the finish--usually with a tail wind. Don is pulling at 20-21, she asks that we take it down to 17. We'll I'll split the dfifference, I go to the front and keep it at 19 and she does fine hanging onto our paceline.

Alright--another century on a fixed gear but not blown away as when I did it last year. Much easier this year with less wind and tag teaming with Don. Really nice pasta feed in the winery's grove. At one point the band says they are giving away prizes, Slipstream socks, for people answering quiz questions, and the next one has to do with racing. Some bozo starts yelling "Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong" so I start yelling "Johan Museeuw, Johan Museeuw." Question is "What is the Queen of the Classics?" The socks are mine.

Santa Rosa Wine Country Double Metric-2008

May 3, 2008 Santa Rosa Wine Country Century (126 miles, 4500' climbing, 17.2 average, w/ huge Diablo Cyclist Pelaton-Big Mike, Jack, Joe, Ward, Jim, Dave, Thomas, Stephan, Johnna, June, Jeanie, Beth, special guest appearance by Rusty) (1) Apart from our 13 doing 124 miles, we had groups doing the 100 mile course. We had the largest presence of any club. No Delta Pedalers spotted. (2) Joe and I talk how he'll attack on the climbs and I'll counter attack. (3) Across Wohlers Bridge out of the rest stop. (4) Donna gets on Ward-O-Candid-Camera when we catch up to her. (Photos taken by Ward.)

This is always a fun club event as there is a climb at the beginning and then mostly rollers through wonderful vineyards with unique architecture, in which we can keep the Club together. The 120 mile route winds up with a short taste of the coast. The support is first rate and even though the morning is cold, the Santa Rosa Cycling Club provides numerous places where you can "drop bag" excess clothes to the finish.
As the #1 Century title was vacated (by the Sierra Century moving) the 2 battle has always been between Chico and Santa Rosa. After having two good rides back to back I think Santa Rosa is now #1. A comparison:
a) Starting venue-Slight edge to Chico's beautiful fairgrounds.
b) Road traffic (autos)-Edge to Chico, parts of Santa Rosa get pinched with auto traffic.
c) Bike traffic (bikes)-Santa Rosa, Chico's Honey Run and Table Mountain climb clogged with bikes.
d) Road conditions-Chico, Santa Rosa is the worst.
e) Oh wow views-Santa Rosa, the Pacific Ocean.
f) Interesting route to view-Santa Rosa, full of rolling vineyards and funky architecture.
g) Interesting route to ride-Santa Rosa, Chico has three climbs, the two big ones are crowded, and the rest of the route is flat. Santa Rosa is a constant series of rollers.
h) Support & rest stops. Edge Santa Rosa--Both rides have unique local products--Chico baked goods, Santa Rosa roasted potatoes. Both rides have nicely situated rest stops (no dirt fields) though Chico's tend to get a little crowded. Both have bike mechanics to help out. Santa Rosa's lunch is great with make your own hero sandwiches and multi-fixins.
i) End of ride meal. Both nice venues but Chico has fallen off a little (lines and limited portions) while Santa Rosa has improved over the years in a tent/ garden atmosphere.
j) Intangibles-Draw-Chico bike weekend is great but when the ride is over it's a long drive to get back to home.
Scenes from Monte Rio rest stop. 1) Whose is that guy with the green 30 mile wristband loading up on seconds? I think we saw him on the 120 mile route. I get the 10 bonus points for spotting Rusty first. 2) One of the great thing about this ride are the drop bags at the first few rest stops to get rid of unwanted clothes. 3) Jack is ready to split while Beth sits on the grass with shoes off--oh no. (Photos courtsey of Ward Industries-tm)

Even though we had to wake up at an ungodly hour for this ride, as event is 1 1/2 hours away, and check in is usually slow, I was sky high for this ride. We'd have a huge turnout of Diablo Cyclists and I was a little po'd for my being a "lazy ass" at Chico last week. Donna hoped to start about 45 minutes before me, and solo the 124 mile course, and while we lamented that we should have stayed overnight in Santa Rosa, my rationale for the early wake up being good was that this was good doubles training. And not wanting to be near the tail end of the ride like last year, Ward, Jack and I were indicating we were going to leave at 7:00 SHARP, and if you were late you'd be chasing--which occurred in two of the past three years. If I had to put $$$ on who would arrive late and chase back to us, it would be on Big Mike, but when I arrive at the back parking lot at 6:15 with few cars in sight--Big Mike was already there. No-even he didn't want to chase back this week.

Check in was in a huge tent instead of inside a cramped lobby, and it seemed to go faster than usual--though of course with no one else on any other line--there was on rider in front of us complaining about something. And finally Santa Rosa Bike Club got a clue and put some extra porta potties at the beginning of the ride.

Oh yeah-after a hot week in Chico it was now real cold-like in 45 degrees. Donna started getting ready--banging her head against the low lying Lion of Flanders flag I hung from the car so my club mates would know where to park. I quickly became the most popular rider in the club as some of our Chico riders showed up without any vests or jackets, and I handed them some of the extras I had before they turned blue. This is a good ride to overdress as Santa Rosa has drop bags to collect excess clothes at a few rest stops. Even Stephan, who had tried negotiating for a few extra minutes earlier in the week (hell, if I have to wake up at 3:15 I may as wake up at 3:00) was ready on time and off we went close to 7:00.

I went hard from the start. 1) I was freezing. 2) I was freezing. 3) I was freezing..and if it has stayed this cold I gladly would have pulled all the way to Roubaix. Apart from freezing I was also wound up and pissed--the first few sections on looping small roller orchard roads that are narrow and not well paved. We had a nice single file paceline but some riders insist on riding three across and blocking the road. Yes--you can BS while riding behind someone. Another delightful move is that you pass a slower group and then get to a stop light and cue up in the order you arrive in--when some numbnut thinks he is in the Junior High cafeteria and starts sneaking to the front. Then of course there are the people that can't hold a line and weave on whim. There were also tons of Team in Training cult* members who are usually the prime culprits of the the three across and the stop light sneak up while weaving (what the F do their mentors teach them apart from chanting "go team"?) but eventually it is apparent that the North Bay Team in Training riders are a cut above many of the clueless ones we see in the East Bay. But one rider in particular (white shorts) drew my ire--doing the stop sign sneak up ever time we passed him, while wildly jumping out of the saddle and waving his arms on a roller while not holding his line. Ward would usually yell at someone like that, I just started bombing past him on every uphill. (*"Cult" as referred to by my friend Melissa whose husband had leukemia, and was associated with the group for awhile.)

It is great riding with a big group--especially the one we had. Joe and Stephan are great climbers, Big Mike, Big Jim are powerhouses on the flats, Jack and Ward have loads of endurance, Dave can keep up with anyone on the flats so we'll stick him and his funny bike (low wind resistance) on the back of a paceline of any unwanted folks hook on, mostly everyone (except for me) are wonderful descenders, and we have four really fast women who can motor. If we hit a series of uphill rollers I'd try to ride harder than anyone, but in any other condition I'd be more than happy to lead out or help my clubmates in any way.

We're all together until Occidental, which starts the big climb of the day--not that long but steep in places, but with lots of recovery areas. We break up a little with Big Mike climbing great, and Joe slowing down to my pace--no doubt caused by all the fishing weights I had put in the jacket I had given him at the start. But now I was down to a jersey--it was beautiful, and our trio stayed together on the climbs with the rest of our group close behind. Only animation was off a roller past Joy Road (which I mistakenly took in 2004, and is a key road on the Mt. Tam Double) some guy sped past without calling out which pissed me off, as I'm always trying to call out to cyclists we pass as a courtesy. He's a strong rider and now 100' up on a flat road that leads into a steep short climb. Normally getting us back to a rider up ahead on the flats would be Big Mike territory but my dander is up and I don't wait for Mike to react--I yell "lets go" and lead him and Joe out. I sprint out to the riders wheel where he pulls us to the base of the next climb where all three of us rocket past, and up to the Ocean Song (mile 26) rest stop overlooking the ocean. Yes!-a few minutes of bonus time before Jack rolls in and its "time to go."

1) The Big Belgium Squad "Domo Diablo Farm Frites" pacelines up the Pacific Coast coast-relaxing seeing this from the back. 2) Some of the rollers that I love and may be leading the charge over. Thanks for Ward for playing ticket collector and taking these great action shots.

Actually June and I are the worst descenders, by far, and we leave early to go down the steep, twisty Coleman Valley Plunge to the ocean. Both of us would much rather be climbing it. Across a few hidden cattle guards on the turns and we are at the ocean where we wait for our Club members for the traditional ocean photo. The Benecia Cyclists come down and they take about a half dozen photos of our group (and us of them)--meanwhile lots of groups have passed while we were posing, and we'd run down most of them in the 7 rolling miles along the Coast. But our group was kinda lazy--at one point I took a long pull and then managed to get off the front on a long roller, and was ready to go back to the group when June joined me, so we two "manned" until the River Road turnoff.

Yep, across a nondescript bridge on Highway 1, sudden right turn, and the mild crosswind on rollers suddenly becomes a nice tailwind on the flats. All of a sudden it was like the charge of the light brigade as everyone picked up speed--I enjoyed hanging in the back as the speed kept revving up. But the worst was yet to come, another right in Duncan Mill's for a 4 mile run into the Monte Rio rest stop (mile 44) is traditionally a sprint and Big Mike ramps up like crazy, Joe hanging on his wheel and me desperately staying in contact with them both--barely.

Monte Rio is a great rest stop. Lots of shade. Lots of thick grass. Lots of outhouses. Lots of bike parking. A drop off point for excess clothes--besides my dumping my knee warmers/ vest, Joe and Beth give me back clothes I loaned out to them so my drop bag looks like it is ready to go around the world. Food is great--some spiced mini-boiled potatoes. Some hot soft tostada shells-I'm afraid to put all the fixins on them but some cheese that quickly melts works well. The ubiquitous Rusty is there, a real fun guy who rides by his own clock, he sometimes rides with us from start to finish, but more often than not suddenly appears on a ride and then suddenly disappears. Today would be no different. Oh yeah--he attacks and attacks, so one plan is to attack him early so he is quickly worn out. See Donna leaving as we pull in, we'd leapfrog with her all day--she is becoming a Jack disciple re leaving rest stops quickly.

Now it is more steep rollers at the base of the hills near the vineyards. Here we can easily lose the group--and this is when the best rider can control the tempo. Joe is clearly our best rider, I suggest to him that we slow and regroup to let everyone catch up--he is more than amenable, we do and shortly Rusty zooms by chased by Big Mike and others in the pelaton. This happens again. So much for planning--though we all do stop at some point for 15 minutes waiting for Johanna, not realizing she shortcut the course after her finishing the Boston Marathon, and will appear at the next rest stop magically ahead of us.

We get going and at a certain point I realize I'm out of control, on a roller I catch and attack Big Mike, he counter attacks and I'm ready to launch again when someone is having a mechanical but is looking over their bike while firmly on the road and I scream to watch out. OK--they shouldn't be there but I'm over the top so I go to the back of the pelaton to calm down. After the hijinx stop Ward and Big Jim take big pulls and we are soon at the Wohler Bridge Rest Stop (mile 66.) This is out in the sun with little grass, not nearly as nice as the last one. Also not a great variety of things to eat, and absolutely no protein. I think I'm living on macadamia nut cookies. Jack takes off while we seemingly are never ready for everyone to leave at once, so we stay here for awhile while straddling our bikes while someone decides to grab another handful of food or make another trip to the porta-potties.


Now on fast, straight Westside Road/ West Dry Creek Road and we can have a great looking pelaton. I sit in the back--when I ride 3rd wheel I'm always trying to figure out how to get to the front, riding all the way in the back and looking at a big line of Diablo Cyclists up front is relaxing. We start off and suddenly Big Jim, Big Mike and Joe go hard and are suddenly down the road. Lots of horsepower there. Damn, I've been wound up all day--I'm staying put, as the rest of us continue to pass loads of cyclists but losing sight of the Big Jim group. All of a sudden a woman racer I had passed earlier on the early climb of the day shoots by and I joke with Beth and Jeannie that they have to nail her back. Then the guy racer I saw with her earlier on the climb shoots by even faster and I jump on his wheel. He is hammering, and I'm lucky that the road is going slightly uphill and he doesn't ask me to go to the front. I just stay on his wheel as we zoom past other riders seemingly standing still. We pass Rusty but he can't hook on and he is fast on the flats. We pass Donna and I yell "hi sweetie," luckily she waved otherwise lead out racer may have thought I was talking to him.

To borrow from Paul Sherwin, "And finally they are there" -- all of a sudden Big Jim, Big Mike and Joe are in sight. We quickly join them and Big Mike turns around, looks astonished (a la George Hincapie in 2001 P-R when Museeuw rejoins) and says "but we didn't slow down." We all merge and now it is true speed clusterfuck as we all paceline like mad--I look to be found. Shit. At one point I'm drafting behind Joe--which is of little help, and I ask Big Mike to fill in front of me which thankfully he does. One sharp uphill appears and it is my chance to pull--and then when the road flattens out I again hang on for dear life. Big Jim drops out. At a turn racer drops out--saying he is going to wait for his female companion. Though I'm tired Joe and Mike must also be--as I pull them towards lunch where we soon come upon Jack who left 10-15 minute before us at the last rest stop. Warm Springs Lunch (mile 88) up ahead, if we missed it we'd be doing a god-awful climb that is on the Terrible Two.

The lunch setup is always good--though tons of folks the area is big enough that you don;t feel "mushed." One of the highlights is a gourmet "make your own hero sandwich"--turkey or roast beef with about 20 different toppings. I just want turkey AND roast beef on a roll--nothing else. Yes that also means NO mustard. Yes NO mayo. While standing on line a volunteer comes around with a box of premade sandwiches saying that these are the same as what you can get at the window and they have NO more roast beef. I don't want to take one as they have toppings that I can probably taste for the next few dozen miles (like lettuce.) In any event when I get to the window they still have loads of roast beef--and my club mates who took a boxed sandwich scramble to return theirs for a fresh one.

Nice shaded lunch on a huge tarp, though Jack quickly continues--and I poll who is going to do the Dutcher Creek loop--a 13 mile loop out of lunch that last year old Ward, Joe and I did, so our group fell apart after a long lunch. Figure we need to leave 20-30 minutes earlier than anyone NOT doing the loop to have a chance to catch onto them. At first a lot of non-committals except from Ward, and when we get up to go lots of folks suddenly indicate "if we wait 5 minutes they'll be ready also." Only Jeannie/ Jim don't follow--they indicate they'll ride slow so we can catch them but they never ride slow on the flats and it will be the last we see of them until the end of the ride.

It is great we have almost everyone together--and we start by taking Dutcher Creek slow--both because our legs are "dead" after laying around for awhile and it features a series of long rollers. We take it easy until two guys come by hammering away--and then a bunch of us jump and race up the rollers. Our group speeds down to the highway--makes the sharp right turn, and then we are on more gentle rollers on a service road next to Hwy 101. Yes--not the most picturesque portion of the ride but not a lot of cars and still more grapes, trees and huge lumbar mill off to the side. Now a mild head/ cross wind and a few of us do a lot of pulling--a big share done by Big Mike. He's a little tired now so while leading the charge up a roller he's lost a little zing so I either try to pull up these or ride pace next to him. While riding pace some guy ion a moots jersey who had attached himself to our paceline tries to jump off the front, I'm not having that and counterattack--the guy is dropped and our group rejoins on the next flat section. I later find out Ward got into a shouting match with the guy and his two friends when they cut into the middle of the paceline. We later have a lot of folks hook onto our paceline in the back, whereas we finally found the perfect place for Dave and his recumbent--as the intermediatary between us and whoever else wants to join in the back.

We are joined by folks who didn't do the 13 mile loop, and then get into Geyserville where the road flattens out as we do a clockwise semi-circle. and our paceline is in fine working form. Pull into Alexander Valley School (mile 100) after a nice display of keeping the group together for the last 22 miles. Now is the final Chalk Hill climb, which is kinda rustic. Stephan, Joe and I ride together where Stephan tries to attack Joe on the uphill, I just watch knowing what the outcome will be and waiting to see if any other rides will shoot by--no one does. Then suddenly we regroup on a flat rollin and shortly are in surburbia--but we just have a few blocks to go before the end of this great ride.

I go and pick up my overstuffed drop bag of the clothes we shed earlier in the day, hard to believe we were freezing 7-8 hours ago. Other club members who parked near me come in--with Ward directly to the left.. Donna is only 10-15 minutes behind--and she loudly thanks three guys who helped pull her near the end and who are parked on the right of me. The three guys are the ones who Ward fought with earlier, I almost double over laughing.

Nice post mile meal with great veggie burgers and other stuff under the big tent. The 120 miles seemed to go so quickly.

Chico Wildflower Double Metric-2008

(April 27, 2008) Chico Wildflower (122 miles, 4,300' climbing 17.4 average with Diablo Cyclists Big Mike, Ward, Jim, Joe, Jeannie, Beth.

I felt strange leading up to this ride--locked in a time warp. First, I thought I'd bypass Chico this year for Devil Mountain Double but none of the old double gang doing DMD this year. Mt. Hamilton Challenge also on this date but it must be the lowest energy century in existence--at least when you suffer on DMD there is some bang for the buck return with great support. So I decided to have some fun and do Chico, with the proviso that I'd definitely ride the last loop of the 95 mile course twice to get in a double metric. Some people consider the last flat loop though ag land boring but where else can you ride a continual 20 miles with only one intersection.

But I mostly felt strange as I had done this ride for so long--and hoped that one of my kids would go to college here as Chico is the quintessential college town (even though some strip malls have now eroded part of downtown's allure.) About nine years ago I did the metric with John on a hybrid and we must have been the last folks to finish. One year I missed Chico due to a No Doubt concert my daughter wanted to go to, and a Patti Smith concert the next day i wanted to go to. The next year I went up to Chico and walked around with the kids as I couldn't ride due to my knee injury. The following year I went up solo and time trialed around the course, repeated as a two man with Big Mike the year after, when we decided to ride the course backwards with no water after my kids drained my bottles, looking for our wives in 95 degrees. One year staying at my daughter's place along the train tracks while the building shook every hour all night when the freight train passed. Then a few years of iffy weather when Big Mike and I hammered the final loop twice when the weather turned good, and we called it a day with Dough and Ward when the weather turned bad, but after a massive sprint to town. One year skipping Chico for suffering on DMD. And now we were back in Chico but my little daughter had graduated and was far away starting her first job. It seemed like it was just yesterday that we hoped for Chico over some So. Cal schools.

Chico Wildflower is a great event that you can easily make into a two day bike fest. When Donna and I hit town we went into the bike shops in downtown who all had specials--half price on tubes, 20-50% off clothing. (Last year rain jackets were a big seller--luckily nice and sunny so no demand this year.) Then Ward, Big Mike and I announced an anti-hammer policy for a warm up ride--this policy easily kept as I stay in my small compact chainring for warm up rides. Donna started laughing at us when our average speed was about 12. After tooling around Bidwell Park we went down the Midway looking for the best way to get to the last rest stop on the course from the starting/ finishing point--there is a bike path as a bail out route for riders on the 95 mile course but it is suicidal to ride on that as we'd be riding against the wave of tired riders coming back 3 abreast (Big Mike and I tried this two years ago and people didn't even move out of the way for Big Mike.) Then it was out to the fairgrounds where I received an unexpected gift--a messenger bag for doing the ride so many times. Checkin a breeze and a few good vendors set up at the fairgrounds, which seemed at alot 10 years ago but now seemed paltry compared to some shows and what is available online. (eg. Paul Components down the block--I'd love to see him at registration.)

(1) Street fair at redesigned Chico Plaza (20 Always liked inside of Brooklyn Bridge Bagel Company (3) My next bike

Everyone gets a flowery nylon bag that Ward and Mike have to sling over their shoulder--they look so dainty. Ward/ Mike staying on the other side of town at the "other" Heritage Inn (motels with the same name in town--who would have thunk it.) We meet for a pizza dinner and plan to meet at 7:00. We actually got everyone on board for a 7:00 start--which would get us squarely in the middle of the ride. A few years ago Diablo Cyclist old timers like to start rides at 7:30 and cut out the Humboldt Loop but Ward and I always push for early starts so we are squarely in the ride. Joe, Jim, Beth and some wimp in a vest which will be taken off for good in 5 minutes, in front of the Magic Kingdom gate (Fairgrounds) before our 7:02am start in warm weather. Yippie. (Ward-o-crazy photo)

We get to the fairgrounds early so Donna can leave by 6:15. I sleep in the car for 1/2 hour, quickly set up the bike and spin over to the fairgrounds gate. Almost everyone is there except for Big Mike who is sometimes time management challenged. We wait a couple of minutes and then take off--a new Diablo Cyclist tradition is that we leave on time and anyone late has to chase back. Without Big Mike there is no one to laugh at me when I wear a vest that will be coming off in about 10 minutes. We go at a good clip but not a killer pace, and no one is bothered when we are passed on our way to Humboldt Road--Joe and I on good behavior at the same time, they said it couldn't be done. The absent Big Mike must be the instigator!

We begin the pock marked Humboldt Ride climb shortly and I'm glad I'm wearing a cycling cap as the sun is coming up right in front of us. This climb is pretty shallow, the only thing to watch for are riders bunched all over the road, which this ride features on its 3 climbs, and the moonscape pavement. Joe and I bs uphill at a conversationalist pace while passing lots of riders. When we get to the top I pull over to wait for the rest of the group, take off my hat, put on my vest for the downhill....while I am sleeping the rest of the group suddenly appears and, oh no, starts the ski ramp downhill on the parallel smooth road--I have no chance in hell to catch them. Big Mike comes flying by drafting a tandem.


Back on flat ground, a sprint and the pelaton stopping for a light has me back with the group and I'm glad I didn't wait. We are soon taken a new way--off the road in a new section of subdivisions and on a long crowded (joined by the 60 milers) bicycle path. Of course speed slows due to the ever present poles everyone has to go through and everyone is effectively neutralized as it would be crazy to pass. We soon are in the flat run in to the covered Bridge-Honey Run, though many slow cyclists insist on bsing while riding side to side to side and cars are coming from the opposite direction where some numbnuts keep passing on the wrong side of the road. Once the Honey Rn climb starts I take off as it is incredibly crowded and it seems that a big effort will get one out of the pocket of packed cyclists, but it is a wishful effort as soon there is another group of cyclists clogging the narrow-twisted road. Would be a perfect Belgium narrow cobbled climb except much much longer and not nearly steep--as my legs are fading as every effort to stand and motor is checked around a hairpin by a slow cyclist or two on the left side of the road. I call out my approach like crazy, Joe riding on my wheel, and then Big Mike motors up which causes Joe to take off. Big Mike chases our best climber, then suddenly returns as he almost blew up, so I set a good working pace that Mike can stay on. Think of regrouping at the top--like dozens of cyclists are doing--but the rest stop is only after a few downhill rollers.


We had skipped the Covered bridge rest stop, and the Paradise rest stop a little disappointing. A bike mechanic one duty, as always. Lots of local baked goods, a always. But somehow they had everyone cuing up into a line and getting anything took 5-10 minutes. Though numerous porta potties the cyclists were overwhelming and getting to one of these took 5-10 minutes more.

Now a series of Italian (long that you can't coast mostly over) Rollers started, and now that we had the club together hoped we would stay together. This went to hell when someone from another club powered past me, so I'd get it into gear to charge to the top. My roller riding, on a series of short step rollers, is still my best. Then a long downhill started and though I was off the front I was soon passed by all of the other Diablo Cyclists and I managed to stay close to the back except for Big Mike/ Joe, who opened it up to 50mph+ and unfortunately they would be seen as much as the non existent Wildflowers until the next rest stop. Ward delighted that he rode around the Photocrazy sensors where robot photographers take your photo.


Besides losing Big Mike and Joe up the road, we now lost the 60 milers so roads less crowded--and the run in to Oroville my favorite part of the ride. As it is off the beaten path with no traffic on a smooth road over a series of baby rollers. We started losing some riders in our group so Ward and I hung out to bring them back up, while Jim would take long pulls in the front cracking up the speed. We were joined by one other cyclist, and when the rollers got a little long he and I took turns exchanging long pulls. Road straightened out and a tandem came by that we jumped on. All of a sudden at the Oroville rest stop--15 miles just went poof!, passed in a moments notice. This is a greatest stop, less crowded than the earlier ones, tree lined next to a lake. Another long line at the park's rests rooms, but no one cued up on the other side of the building. More apricot coffee cake and a bottle of Hansen's Sports Drink/ Juice while Beth tightening up her cleat which had everyone sitting on the grass. As soon as we started sitting the grass we'd never leave a rest stop in less than 20 minutes.


Now warm and the Table Mountain climb just a few minutes away. Table Mountain out in the open--so now protection on hot days, a little steeper than Honey Run with some vehicle traffic. I had no motivation to go hard, and while I passed lots of cyclists I was passed by many who swung into the far left (opposite traffic) line--not a good idea as 10 cars or more came down while on this climb, But no impetus--maybe it was remembering what happened on Sierra a few weeks back during a hot day. When we got to the top Joe waiting and Ward not far behind--so I led them out for a long pull to the steep downhill they'd take great .

After long downhill I took worse than my usual poor--pull into the lunch stop where we see Donna almost ready to leave. A group of Benecia cyclists also are on their way out. Lunch stop is nice but very very crowded. Run into Steve of Erma's Diner. Not very hungry so eat lot of orange slices and the insides of two premade sandwiches--so unfortunately the hint of mayo and soggy lettuce is on the ham/ turkey. Oh no--everyone is sitting in the shade--we'll never leave the lunch area. Drink some more Hansen's--at least it is cold--Chico Velo has brought us bottled water but there is no ice and all the water is lukewarm.

The remainder of the ride is very flat and we form a nice looking paceline as we motor across the valley. I'm locked up from being in lunch for so long so I play ticket collector--figuring riders we pass will try to cut off our girls at the end of the paceline but I will be less inclined if I'm riding in the back. Also, if anyone falls off I can bring them back to the group. Jim and Mike drive the paceline, with Ward and Joe helping out, and eventually I loosen up and go to the front at appx 21+, Joe follows at the same speed and a request is sent up to slow the paceline as we may loose part of our group. At the same time Jim passes by and revs up the speed to 23+.

We suddenly, again to fast, close to the Durham stop--only 13 miles from lunch, and I call out if anyone needs to lake a LONG break or can we just fill our bottles and go. I don't want to lock up again, I want to catch up to Donna, and I plan to do the closing loop twice so we'll be here again. Everyone agrees that we just need a quick drink/ bathroom stop. So sure enough we pull in, lots of people that we pulled through the valley thank us, look for soda (there are a few cans around but none to be found), fill up, ready to go AND HALF THE GROUP IS SITTING UNDER A BIG SHADE TREE. Oh no, that means 10 more minutes. I check for soda again and try to pull a Jack by getting on the bike and on the road but no one is moving until I yell "hey--wake up Big Mike" who looks the most comfortable of all. He and everyone else under that shade tree get what they deserved on the next section.

Now nice and warm and looping the ag fields SW of Chico. Flat as a pancake. Yes, rather that there be rollers but 20 miles with 1 intersection and not much traffic, great to get a rhythm going. We get our paceline organized again, now I feel good and stay on the front to long until Jim gets impatient and again ups the speed 2 mph. We have a few riders now being bugged by the heat, so I drop in the middle of the paceline and am soon at the front, again feeling good so take another long pull. Only problem are some riders bsing 2-3 side by side that you have to yell out to in order to pass.

About half way to Chico I see a rider coming though again--I think it is Jim coming through again. No. Two junior race teams with coach and some hanger on'ers motor past. Jim, Joe and Big Mike jump on their paceline--I'm too tired to rev yup the speed "that" fast but sprint up and barely hang on to the back of the pelaton as they go faster and faster. As Ward later said ",..I was OK when they came by at 23...then 24...and then when they went to 26...27 we started dropping out."

As ticket collector I could see in front of me about a half dozen green clad racers and a half dozen red clad racers, our 3 guys, about 3 guys with no race kits, and a coach with no helmet directing traffic. At one point coach moved from the back of the pelaton to near the front, I should have followed him up but when he was doing it it was one of the few times a car passed, so I continued sitting in the back, knowing I was too far back. All of a sudden someone from one of the teams attacked. and was 200' down the road, which was good as now the "other" team would do all the work to get back, so now I really took it easy recovering on the back. OH CRAP--all of a sudden someone from the other team jumped out and caught the other rider, so now two fast riders down the road and no one would chase. Jim dropped out but about 6 riders ahead of me Big Mike LAUNCHED with Joe on his wheel. I knew where I should be so I started sprinting up to them but it was impossible trying to catch Big Mike in a sprint and I soon fell off. Another rider came up with me and we started working together, we eventually caught up to Big Mike who had used all his energy getting Joe up to the leaders who he stayed with. I then started pulling Mike, the pelaton caught us, but then I went to the front and worked with the racers--and nailing back 1-2 people that tried to get off the front. Soon we were at the train tracks signifying back in town. An easy roll the 1 mile back to the fairgrounds where we waited @10 minutes for the rest of our group to do the last loop again. Joe-Big Mike and Ward game and off we went.

Nice shaded stretch down the Midway--and the through orchards lining Jones Road as many cyclists heading in the opposite direction on the bike path as part of the bail out route. Back to Durham where they now have ICE and DIET SODA--which is perfect as it seemingly has gotten even warmer. No sign of Donna who would be in and out of this rest stop. Not my group, which again parked themselves under the same tree as last time. Back on the road there are now much slower cyclists than we encountered the last time, and 17-18 mph (unlike 21-23 the first time around) has us passing everyone. And we couldn't do anything higher now anyway--actually Joe takes a big pull upping the speed as I ride 2nd wheel, I take a good pull at the front, and then expecting Ward/ Mike to come around---Joe comes back to the front. I slow to wait for Mike/ Ward and pull them in as they have pulled me so many times. And I already told everyone that if we passed Donna I'd ride in with her. Joe took off and we didn't even seem him at the post ride dinner--as he took one look at the crowd and headed for the brewpub.


Surprised we hadn't seen Donna until I got back to the car. She didn't do the last loop 2x--as she was out of water when she pulled in the first time around, and getting some in the fairgrounds would have delayed her starting the course. She did a nice job riding 95 miles solo but the extra loop would have been good Davis Double training. The end-o-meal is usually nicely organized but the line wound around the building as they were behind giving people 2 tiny pieces of chicken that looked like meatballs. We heard from club members who pulled in before the bonus loop that there had been tri-tip earlier but they ran out, and the lines were just as long. But nice ride recap meal with Ward, Mike, Mrs. Mike (who did one of the shorter course on a 70 lb bike), and Donna.


Great century--only thing marring it (apart from the post ride meal) was the 3 1/2 hour drive home from the Chico hinterland, and as it was Sunday there is no down time before the work week begins.

Tierra Bella Double Metric-2008

(April 19, 2008) Tierra Bella Double Metric, Gilroy, CA. (122 miles, 6940' climbing, 15.9 avg, w/ Jack and Professor Dave.)

This is a ride supported at the highest level by the Almaden Cycling Club, its only failing was a route that included many suburban ugly sections, paying $$$ to ride through industrial parks and subdivisions dotting the way North to San Jose didn't make up for the nice portions.

Unfortunately three things conspired to hold down club turnout. Last year we had lots of Diablo Cyclists registered and it stormed--so many people either didn't show up or Big Mike, Dave and I were caught out in the heavy rains after mile 40. So after last year many people didn't register again. Second, a major route change was in the works so no one knew how the new ride would take shape. Finally, the forecast called for cold, high (14-16 mph) winds--I think the ride was already full but this precluded anyone trying to sign up the day of.

Quick report-THE NEW COURSE IS A WINNER!!! Instead of heading North to San Jose you loop between the hills in the east and west of Gilroy-Morgan Hill. About 40% flat ag belt, about 40% rustic rollers and NEW (which caused some grumbling but climb isn't that bad) a 10 mile climb to Henry Coe State Park. Many of the old favorites are still in the ride Uvas Reservoir, Coyote River Park, Gilroy Hot Springs, but are now "out of order" for those who remember the old route. Mini mansions galore while, in Morgan Hill, the biggest group of day laborers looking for work I had ever seen, provided a stark contrast.

It wasn't that windy but COLD when we started a little after 7:00--Donna hitting the road a half hour earlier. The Almaden's Cycling Club attention to detail is immediately obvious by the porta potties they put on the first turn to make up for the lack of open bathrooms at Gavilan College. Wimpy me almost froze to death while Dave made a quick pit stop so when we started up again and rollers appeared I hammered. That and needed to get away from the college which had "warning-mountain lion sanctuary" signs posted about. A recumbent draped in an American flag fairing shot by on a flat section, insisting that he stay in front. Dave, who has done the Death ride on his recumbent joked "wait till Henry Coe." We didn't have to wait, on the first series of uphill rollers we all took off with one strong rider from the pelaton. This would seemingly be repeated all day.

Jack and I did a good job trading pulls all day--me leading out more at the beginning and Jack going balls out at the end of the ride. I think Dave scouted the course out the day before, he's indicate he wanted to help out, and ever time he went charging up on his recumbent an uphill section would appear--neutralizing his attempted assist.

We rode clockwise, skipping the Coyote Park Reststop, as it was only 13 miles away from the last one. We lost Dave on a series of rollers before the turn in to start the Henry Coe climb (at mile 38) , so before we began Jack and I went into a small alleyway and did circles--effectively killing our average speed. Dave came back but the climb suddenly started on a rustic, curvy road. Up to this point the wind had been fine but on the higher we got on this east side climb a cold wind was evident. jack and I kept together until a few people came through on a roller where I managed to repass all but one. Attention getting but not bad, even the part that said "steep hill ahead," which was superfluous as the steep section was in plain view. Later Donna would tell us that a woman got off her bike and cried when seeing this part.

Anyway cold and windy at the top--a trash can fire was lit that was just blowing smoke about. Some vault toilets were nearby--no signs that prohibited their use, but later a guy dressed as a psuedo super camper came over and wouldn't let anyone use them (never got the straight dope on that.) Jim/ Jeannie came up--tall Jim did a great job as a wind block. Dave finally arrived and it the downhill was miserable--cold and windy my upper back tightened. I was freezing though I was wearing (2) two vests and glove liners. Saw Donna coming up from the other way and she looked happy.



Back in the flatlands I was planning to stop to take some clothes off but a fast moving paceline, about a dozen riders who no doubt had passed me on the downhill, was forming and taking off with Jack. I caught the tail end and amazed Dave as I took off both vests and glove liners while moving, figuring we had another climb coming up. After awhile I moved up the paceline and took a long pull on a slightly uphill section with a tailwind, my favorite. After a few miles time to drop off--to my surprise behind me was only Jack, Dave, and a guy from Colorado.

We met a few nice folks who rode with us on sections, and the guy from Colorado really opened our eyes to what we have out here. He came out to California on a two month sabbatical and signed up for as many Century rides as possible, as the variety of rides in Colorado paled in comparison to what we had in California.

Series of off the beaten path uphill rollers to Gilroy Hot Springs and I was having fun hammering this section, I felt great on the terrain I like the most, and it was warm again. Beautiful rest stop where I had too many roast beef/ ham wraps (Doug--no veggie wraps for me.) Someone commented that my head band made me look like Keith Richards.


Professor Dave (of English), Keith Richards, Professor Jack (of long distance riding) thanks to Bob Thompson who takes photos of all riders coming in.

Leaving the rest stop a woman with a Domo Farm Frites tagged on, which was cool as I was wearing my modified "Domo Diablo Cyclist Farm Frites" jersey. She was doing another century tomorrow so didn't follow us to now tag on 25 more miles on a counterclockwise inner loop. Going west there was a slight headwind but it wasn't that bad as we made out way to the Machado School where two years ago Steve B. surprised everyone new to our group with his Karen Carpenter routine and last year Dave Mike and I decided to turn around here while huddled in the schoolhouse wet with no heat.

Jack met another guy from Canada who rode in with us. More importantly the wind had now picked up, but was now a tailwind that would push us over all of the rollers. For the last 20 miles Jack hammered back to the college with everyone else usually in tow.

Back at the college Donna waiting, she decided against the extra 25 miles due to the headwind and time of day, and believed me when I joked that ending meal was garlic fries as we were in Gilroy. It was actually a nice tamale meal. Met up with long distance rider (Grandma) Joanie who told us that her and Doug decided not to do the extra 25 miles as they left after 8- and the headwinds had picked up. After 8-?, OK, they get a pass as they have to come in from Sacramento, which is twice as far as East County and it took me 1 3/4 hours. Later I ran into Douh and he filled me in , they stayed overnight in Gilroy and still ran late. Big chuckle. Now I know the rest of the story.

Series of Self Supported Century Rides

(March 22-April 13, 2008) Great thing about being a Diablo Cyclist is that a number of us do "bonus miles," so we have numerous 100 milers in before the Century Season/ Doubles hit. After a 120 mile ride around Oahu and climbing 10,023' of Haleakala http://www.geocities.com/johanknaven/08C.html, the weekend I returned from Hawaii I led a club ride to Pt Reyes Lighthouse (90 miles, 16.6 average, 6000' climbing,) Now is the time of the year to go out to Pt Reyes as the weather is better than it is during the foggy, windy summer, and cars are pulled off the crappy undulating road half way to the lighthouse as it is whale watching season, so instead of a stream of cars only a bus would pass every ten minutes or so. Lots of hammering at the beginning when we were passed by some racers and a few of us jumped on their wheel and then started revving up the pace--actually I was on good behavior for a second before I figured what the hell--then was ready to jump back as I was supposed to be the ride leader, but over one shoulder was our flatland powerhouse, Big Mike, and our best climber, Joe, was on the other wing so we had to go for it. The great treats as usual at the (#1) Bovine Bakery, and a dance party across the street that some of the clubs women partook in. On the way back some of us got a little climbing in by detouring to the Cheese Factory. Then I got to relive my great run in from last years Mt. Tam Double--a section I love through Nicasio as it is a consistent gentle climb with a tailwind.

Pt Reyes Photoes (1) The motley crew at Pt. Reyes Lighthouse (2) Ward grabbing a good camera away from some tourists (3) Da Girls in Pt Reyes Station, later they'd be dancing in the street (4) Big Mike along the run in to Pt. Reyes Lighthouse (5) Joe thinking about riding down to the lighthouse.

A week later we started the club ride, which is usually a stream of attacks, and then Ward wanted to do bonus miles so we rode past Sunol and out and back over Calavaras (100 miles, 16.7 avg, 4,000' climbing) Bonus miles are usually done at a leisurely pace--the motto usually being when there is a large group we try to split it apart, when there is the small bonus mile group we try to keep it together.

The following week did an out and back from Winters to Middletown on a fixed gear. (121 miles, 13.6 avg, 6,700' climbing.) This is part of the Davis Double course,which I've done 4 times and now will attempt on a fixed gear. Donna is attempting her first double and wanted to see what this course was all about, so is Professor Dave in his recumbent. Ward swears he'll never do a double but likes the 100-120 mile rides. Lots of climbs, long uphill rollers out which I liked--a few times we had to slow and wait for Donna with Ward taking his usual dozens of photos. Long climb over Cardiac-past Pope Valley--past Hubcap Ranch--almost to Clearlake. On the way back course much faster and I had trouble keeping up. The recumbent is the anti-fixed gear, on climbs Dave (who did the Death Ride on a recumbent) suffers--how can one climb when they can't stand?, and then on the downhills he shoots past like a roach.

(1) Donna on her longest self supported ride ever (2) me on my longest fixed gear ride ever (3) Professor Dave on the recumbent

Final self supported ride was with the King of Bonus Miles, Jack, with Stephan and June, on one of the first hit days in the Bay Area. Sunol-Calavaras and Sierra Road (105 miles, 15.2 average, 4,800' climbing) This is harder than the climbing figure suggests as all the climbing is together and Sierra Road is a miserable climb, around 4 miles at 9%. The Tour of California features this climb, as does the Devil Mountain Double around mile 150. Early in the day my piss was the color of stale beer; I knew I wasn't hydrating well but figured I'd "catch up." Trouble is you never catch up. We pulled in to get drinks before Sierra Road, I downed an ice tea, took the Endurolights, had a banana--all the things I was supposed to do. Everyone left the convenience store on their own, first June, a minute later Jack and Stephen, and then me who promptly got stuck at a light. OK--back about 30 seconds and everyone is a strong climber, but I go hard on the beginning 10+% section and pass Jack/ Stephan. I'm feeling good when suddenly my heart starts racing, I slow down, but my heart is still racing wildly. I get thirstier than hell and tired. Soon Jack/ Stephan repass me and it seems that I'm going in slow motion--I am 3.4 mph. At the beginning of the climb I lamented that I didn't bring chalk to write the great Johan Musseuw's name in the road while waiting for everyone else, now at the top everyone waiting for me. Still had to do the Calavaras Wall and then 80-90 miles back to Walnut Creek whereas Jack pulled me in. Almost fell off the bike at every stop light that were now never long enough--and at the end Jack ups the pace to race someone on Danville Blvd. (Which he never does) Not a good way to end the preseason before the spring classics.

TWO SELF SUPPORTED CENTURY RIDES-2008

Back to COLD (now I'm really a wimp) Northern California where I lead the Diablo Cyclist on an almost century on an out and back to the Pt Reyes Lighthouse, and back with a detour to the Cheese Factory. Endless debate whether the ride has hills or just a series of rollers. This is the time of year to go as weather at Pt Reyes is better than it is in the summer, and as wale watching season cars are pulled off the narrow, crappy road to the Lighthouse. (95 miles, 5000' climbing)

The next day, starting Donna's Davis Double Prep, we rode 85 mile to Calavaras Rd., me on a fixed gear.

Next weekend a fast slugfest for the first 40 miles of our Diablo Cyclist ride with repeated attacks. As route was changed at the last minute due to slick roads in the Oakland Hills, with no firm regroup points (or route) we lost 2/3 of the starters by the time we finished beating each other up to Livermore via Collier Canyon. From there Ward, Jack and I decided to ride out to Calavaras and back--intensity down a notch or two--another self supported century. (100 miles, 4000' climbing)

Housekeeping note
After the above post in 2008 I was getting tired of the clunky Yahoo Geocities (eg. couldn't edit a typo without reformatting the page, limited photo space) and switched to this better Google Blogger format. In 2009 Yahoo indicated they were closing Geocities unless owners of the sites forked over $$$. To that end--everything preceeding this post was transferred over from Yahoo Geocities, with some posts recreated that Yahoo Geocities prematurely dropped. All entries after this were original to this site.

Anyway, to steal from the rock song its been a long strange trip since I started "seriously cycling" in 2003. I hope this site conveys some of the fun along the way, and some detail about certain courses, urging you to give some ride you thought impossible a shot.