Monday, March 30, 2009

Nor Cal Century Preview Ride with wind

nor-cal-century-map
Click map for a larger, readable version

Bikeforums.net's JoelS is planning a century ride. I met with him March 29 to scout the route and check for water and restroom stops. Unfortunately for us, we picked the windiest day I've ever ridden.
We started near Joel's house in Rancho Cordova. When I got home i checked WeatherBug.com and discovered Rancho Cordova had 47.5 mph winds with Gusts to 55.3mph.

It was crazy. At one point I'm was riding down an 8% grade and barely hitting 15 mph. Then a gust almost stopped me in my tracks. But it wasn't the headwind gusts that were worrisome, it was the sideways gusts that moved me around that really scared me.

We saw a tree that blew down into the road. Palms were doing crazy dances. Large metal real estate signs were swinging madly. There were debris blowing across the roads like scurrying insects.

But it was oddly and inexplicably fun. Maybe just that we lived through it makes it good.
The hills are green and filled with flowers. The air was clean and the sky was blue.

Garmin, with smoothing in Ascent say 6024 climbing. I wish it recorded wind.


nor-cal-century-elevation
Click graphic for a larger, readable version

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Tricia in Hincapie and Castelli


Originally uploaded by ccorlew
Nice jersey, huh? We got it at the Tour of California prologue Hincapie booth in Sacramento. It goes really well with her Castelli knickers, which have a small white cut-in on the back. I wish I had a guy version of it.

Tricia in Hincapie and Castelli large version on Flickr

Another Bike Forums ride


Pete's NorCal BikeForums.net Morgan Territory ride was exhausting. It was only 60 miles with 3400 feet of climbing, but the headwinds and trying to keep the fast folks in sight wore me out a lot more than the mileage would indicate. I actually felt pretty good the whole time, except for the wind crazed decent down, but keeping up with athletic young dudes just is not part of my game. I need a jersey that says "It's not how well the bear dances, but that the bear dances at all."
Thanks for the photo, Pete

Monday, March 09, 2009

Bike Forum Capay Valley Ride

Tricia and I went to the Capay Valley for a 50 mile ride with other NorCal bike Forum folks. I thought it would be an hour away, but it turned out to be farther. YIKES. The day was cool, but sunny and the ride was grand. It was a bit odd starting from a Casino parking lot and having lunch in a gambling and smoking den. But all in all, a good time was had. I had fun riding ahead and making photos, then trying to catch back on as teh groups went past.
I'll bet you can guess whose scorpion buns those are. Sometimes the scenery is as important as the ride.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

What does all this mean?

Help me interpret the signs. Today, the first Monday in March, I went for a ride. It was supposed to rain, but it didn't. I think that's a good sign.

But I got a flat, and then realized I'd left my pump on my other bike. That's got to be a bad sign, right? But I was really close to my bicycle commuting sweet wife's workplace, so I got her pump and fixed the flat. Good, right?

Then, as I rode, I saw rainbows. Big, sky-crossing bright rainbows. Bright, and glowing against the dark sky, they'd come and go, but mostly they stayed for a long while. That must be a good sign.

Then, coming home, I had another flat. With almost a boom my front tire was instantly lacking air. That can't be good. But I still had the pump, so I patched the tube and when home. Not that big a deal.

Normally I don't believe in signs, but holy smokes, if ever there was a message this must be one, but what is that message?