King Ridge 400k

Chasing Rita down while taking pics... 

Here's the route:

"Hey! Oops! Oh well..."

These were the words I heard after Sigman started the ride rolling over a baby raccoon at the golden gate bridge.  Although they can be perceived in certain circles as "cute", these dirty, hairy urbanized honey badgers are completely fearless.

We arrived at the start at the start time, so we were 10 min behind the group.  We slowly started catching up with some of our fellow riders on the ascent up to Pantoll, which was our first info control.  Normally a busy road with no shoulder, at 5:30 am on a Saturday, we were passed by one or two cars.

The night before the ride, I checked the weather along the route... and the low was 52 and high was 60.  Primo riding weather.  I was stoked to be checking off this ride as I've been meaning to for the last few years.

Crusing up Hwy 1

At our first receipt control.  The leaders had to wait until they opened.  

Specialized Sequoia.  Sweet bikes...

Volagi

At the start of our first dirt section.  Probably my favorite descent.  Willow Creek.  

Sigman at the bottom...

Jenner

This was a bit of a mistake... marinara sauce was a bit too acidic for my tummy... good thing I brought some tums.  

The coffee cake and the baked goods here in general are to die for. 

Perfect riding.  Sweeping panoramic views, blackberries & grapes to pick, comfortable temps, and a reliable riding partner.

Sigman fixing his tubeless.

Creek Crossing

Sweetwater springs

A much needed Safeway stop. Sushi, soup, chocolate coconut water.

I was pretty beat by the time I got to Fairfax and had to stop at the 7-11 for some more food.  

Highlights:

• Old Cazadero - creek crossing and I was proud of making it up the barely ride-able dirt on the other side.
• Willow Creek... smooth, flowy, loose.  Super fun.  
• Riding up Pantoll and Hwy 1 in the wee hours of the morning.  There were no cars and it was actually pleasant riding on those usually dangerous roads.  
• Osprey, owl, and tons of deer and skunk sightings.  
• Sushi.... always a highlight...
• as well as the coconut waters, chocolate milks, and the pastries.  
• A special shout out to the blueberry coffee cake at the Stewart's Point Store... mmm...
• The miso soup and grilled cheese at the manned control at Valley Ford on the way back.
• As well as the cup noodle from 7-11 in Fairfax.... I basically do these rides so I can binge eat.  

Lowlights:

• Sweetwater Springs Rd.  That one wasn't the toughest, but being the last big one, it really did a number on me.  I'd like to return to see what I can do...
• Meatball sandwich... about 3 hours afterwards.  Lots of gas, lots of acidic burps.  

Next time:

• do not eat a meatball sandwich.  Or anything with marinera sauce.  or tomatoes. or anything acidic.  
• don't take any caffeine pills w/o food... that stuff is harsh.  
• Double check your list... I forgot my tools... again.  
• Think more about food... we had 70 miles to go from the last control, so I had to stop at 7-Eleven in Fairfax.  If I had purchased a bit more food at the Safeway in Healdsburg or just trained to no eat as much while exercising... there would have been no need for that stop.  

What I did right:

• I like my strategy of taking an immodium right at the start and taking tums to keep my tummy calm.  

Eric Walsted's photos - https://www.flickr.com/photos/58323617@N08/sets/72157672138498761/
Max's photos - http://photo.maxp.net/Bike/20160827-king-ridge-400/
Yogy's amazing TR.... you might have to be a member to read it: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sfrandon/ArGQDnsguIs%5B1-25%5D
The strava flyby is pretty amuzing to watch as well.

Check out this read of a bike tour from 1898 in Oregon!
http://limberlost.co/2016/08/17/bicycle-touring-through-oregon-in-1898/

Also, I'm liking the look of my heatmap these days... pretty fun looking back at all the rides I've done in the last few years.
https://www.strava.com/athletes/6684/heatmaps/352371ad#8/38.46071/-120.96398