Easily the most beautiful 200k that is challenging enough to make it quite rewarding. This time I needed it for a qualifier for PBP. I got my 600k qualifier during the slightly wet Cabeceras Faro a month prior.
Anyway, I've got a backlog of ride reports, so starting with some pics...
Pre-ride talk with Carlos
Foggy bridge crossing
right off the bat, I had some issues. Tool bag fell out, tires started rubbing on the brake pads, and boom. And soon after
Thankfully I had my own moral SAG support. Jack and Sigman! They waited for me wondering if I had been devoured by a Mtn Lion.
After fixing my tire, catching up with Jack and Sig, I cranked through on my single speed on these fun dirt roads for a while...
This is where Jack had to turn around... so we took a group shot.
busted cable pic.
Wound up at Black Mtn Cycles (which a lot of rando's have and use). This guy is da man! He fixed my bike up, tuned her up real quick and got me moving...
with enough time to eat some Double 8 ice cream (Buffalo milk yo!!). Man my hands are dirty... ewww...
Cranking through Paradise loop to barely make it to the cutoff time.
Hate this stop... I mean c'mon 10$ Caprese sandos? WTF???
Fun ride with Sigman. But these roads aren't very bike friendly. It's good to start out early and ride in those hours when most folks are still sleeping.
This cold ride started out with a bang, as I went over a pothole and both tires went flat on the way to Sigman's. I walked to the Safeway near by, but I couldn't get my fingers warm enough to fix em. The tires were low in air, and I was planning to pump them up at Sigmans... alas... lesson learned.
31 deg!
There are river otters in the Contra Costa Canal! City Wildlife!
Stopped for a quick brekky...
Ready to hit the bridge...
We parted ways at Walnut Grove as Sigman was on his way to Sacramento and I was on my way to Sutter Creek. Here's a pic of the only other cyclist we saw this day.
I came out on this alley in Sutter Creek... and 50 ft away were Nikko with Mama Margie!
Fossils!
I left at 4 am. At 5:30 am... I got all kinds of texts from Kimbo.
Turns out a moving truck hit a telephone pole and knocked it over. The transformer blew up while smashing a car and blackout ensued...
Went on my first brevet of the year with Sigman. A hilly ride on roads that are all familiar to us, which was a nice change. Starting at Fremont BART and ending at the bottom of Tunnel Rd. I knew I'd like this ride and we had a great ride. Sigman called it a "sufferfest" but that's cuz he was on his heavier bike (I was going to take my Kona, but the rear tire blew out 10 min before Sigman picked me up... I took that as a sign) and he hadn't been riding in a while. We also didn't bring lights, so we knew we had to ride fast... which we did. From the Junction we rode with Donini, who was a very strong rider and I found out later that she's an Olympic gold medalist (in fencing). Anyway, we finished the ride with plenty of daylight... and only like 40 min behind Bill (who we lost on our way up Mt. Hamilton).
What's in the pill box?
Struggling up Ham...
The observatory... shhhh... researchers are asleep!
Snow! Kinda...
At the Junction. A tree had fallen on a water line, so they shut down soon afterwards. We got a drink and some chips here.
I rode straight to Farm Burger from the finish, where these munchkins were happily eating while Elena and Kimbo were getting ready to go to Banff Film Fest. I went home, put the kids down, worked on my bikes (fixed about 5 flat tires, lubed up 4 bikes, cleaned up my Ti, and adjusted a few thing)... then crashed.
Finally... after a few years of doing these rides, I got my Super Rando... meaning I completed a 200, 300, 400, 600K in one year... which then qualifies me to ride longer rides! (woopie!). So... a 1000k is on my radar now. And this was my first double brevet weekend ride. I did the 300k up to Cloverdale on Sat, and 200k down on Sun. Here are the rides:
Karl saying hi. There were some whales below the bridge, but I missed em...
In Cloverdale, joining the crew for dinner & beers.
Day 2: ready to disco.... or rando. Either way, same outfit.
Pano from the hotel.
Our RBA: Rob Hawks doing his pre-ride talk.
The fastest tire change I've ever seen. Bill Brier is fast...
