Easter Sunday ride... it's a grinder!!

[spazzdog]

Trek420 and I are riding from my place (Oakland) to Lafayette on Sunday.

Meet at my place at 10:30 am, rollout by 11:00. The route is 15-20 miles and kinda difficult since we'll be going over the mountain. Nope, not Snake. I will take Bikerz's advice and utilize Tunnel Rd to Skyline.

Anyone is welcome... insanity with a touch of the masochist required. "City" riding skills a must.

For the REAL wackos, you can do the round trip :eek:

Trek and I will be dropping in on a friend of mine for H2O, then BARTing back (probably).

spazz

PM me if you want to join us and need directions to my humble abode.

[jobob]

I was thinking of riding from Union City to Lafayette and back on Sunday, so maybe I'll see ya's.

- jo, whose wackitude is off the charts :cool:

[spazzdog]

Cool! I'll be on Epesi, my zebra striped Specialized and Trek will be on her fine Italian steed (which I can never remember the name of... Mondi-sumthin).

... and yes, your wackitude is waaay off the charts. thank goodness :D

[roguedog]

Sooo.. tempting but alas, I think I'm Easter bunny bound..

[Trek420]

Cool! I'll be on Epesi, my zebra striped Specialized and Trek will be on her fine Italian steed (which I can never remember the name of... Mondi-sumthin).

:::sigh:::: Mondonico ;) :cool:

[spazzdog]

Mondonico... mondonico...

All I could think of was Marinara... but I was hungry :p

spazz

[KnottedYet]

for the longest time all I could think of was Mendocino.

"Waterford", now there's an easy one to remember! :D

[spazzdog]

For the benefit of the Mondonico's self image...

It is a beautiful machine. And to coin a phrase "...by any other name, a rose is still a rose"

So Trek darlin', bring that Mendocino Marinara on over and we'll do some hills :D

spazz

[snapdragen]

My knees blew up when I read the word mountain. Have fun!:p

[spazzdog]

"mountain" may be an overstatement for you NoCal gals... to y'all, it's probably a "hill".

To my poor old, out of shape bod and mind, that puppy's a MOUNTAIN.

spazz (just finishing up weather/sweat proof cue sheet for the ride)

[Trek420]

for the longest time all I could think of was Mendocino.

"Waterford", now there's an easy one to remember! :D

Yep, and Flossie the Waterford's a memorable bike. :D Knott, get a triple for Flossie and c'mon down.

Trivia/Italian buffs I'm told that the model of the Mendocino :rolleyes: which is Futura Legero means "future lightness" and also that it's either a pun or misspelling.

While I'm somewhat lighter since getting the Mendocino Marinara Marvel I don't know if there will be much lightness in my future. So y'all come on out and plod/slog up the hill with me. In other words....I'm a slow but steady rider, coach Spazz is the hill climbing goat.

[spazzdog]

GOAT... are you kidding!!

I drop into my lowly granny (compact double granny), stand up, "run" about 100 yds (maybe), then die a horrible death.

If I'm lucky, I can unclip before I do a perfect "Artie Johnson".

I refuse to put a triple on my bike... call me silly (just don't call me late for cocktail hour :D )

BUT... I have hope that this particular ride will start me on my way to actually being able to climb the entirety of Jobob's infamous "Nemesis Hill".

Gotta have the challenge... :eek:

spazz-o-chist

[snapdragen]

spazz............come to the dark side................your knees will love you............

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, Snap, that's the one I want for Flossie. Sugino. (Campy is too dang expensive)

C'mon, Spazz. We'll do it together.

triple... triple.... triple...

[snapdragen]

I think Bleu may get one eventually too.:cool:

[roguedog]

TA Specialites Alize Light.. they also have another one that makes a cool looking spider web look..

Just like the simplicity and delicateness of this design..

[spazzdog]

Nope... can't do it.

I might do a little redecorating of my rear 9-speed gear cluster someday (current: 12-27), but I'll stick with my double.

spazz

[spazzdog]

Hi NoCal gals!

Hope everyone enjoys their Easter Sunday rides (if you have one planned) and if you're not riding, remember... eat the bunnies ears first, then the feet, then... :D

The day has dawned sunny and bright for Trek420 and I to attempt my little ride. Hopefully I haven't "bitten off" more than we can chew :eek:

Report later in the day...

spazz (actually looking forward to riding today... this is GOOD)

[jobob]

What's your route? I haven't decided yet if I'm going to head up towards Lafayette, or if I'll loop back at Dublin.

You can pm me if you'd rather not post it ...

[spazzdog]

Start: Piedmont Ave (Oakland) at Yosimite

Go up Piedmont to Pleasant Valley (51st) and take a left.

At Broadway go Right
At the ramp to Rt 24 bear right to go into/around Temescal Park and hit Tunnel Rd

Tunnel becomes Skyline (bearing to the right)

Stay on Skyline. Way up the road where it intersects somethin or other, go straight onto Pinehurst.

At Canyon Rd, go Left. It becomes Moraga Rd... stay on it.

Right at St. Mary's Rd.

We will continue on St. Mary's until Hope Ln. then peel off to a friend of mine's place.

I'm guess-timating the distance at about 18 miles, but from my place to Skyline, we get mostly "UP". Looks like from Skyline on we get a goodly portion of "DOWN", then a mix for the remainder after Moraga. This assumes I'm reading the little EBBC bike map correctly :eek:

I don't know where you're at jobob, but you're welcome to join us. Rollout from my place at 11:00am. I'll PM you my cell.

spazz

[jobob]

Hi gang - I just replied to your PM.

Once I get over Palomares, I'll decide whether to head up Redwood Road and Pinehurst, in which case I'll try to hook up with you somewhere near Canyon. (I'd be coming up Pinehurst from the opposite direction than you.)

Or, I might go up Crow Canyon or Dublin Canyon, in which case I won't see ya's.

I'll have your cell number in case.

Have fun, and lookout for the wild turkeys, - Jo.

[Trek420]

Great ride.

I met up at the house'o'Spazzdog and after brief getting things together and helmets and such we set off, S'dog sprinting ahead, your intrepid reporter plodding up the rear.

My mistake I should have pointed out to S'dog that till Skyline we just follow the arrows for Bike Against the Odds route because after Lake Temescal S'dog took a wrong turn.

That's the only way I could get ahead of her ;) :rolleyes: :cool: is if she's lost. I planned that (JK)

I questioned if the cue sheet was right but looked up, way up and thought I saw a red vested, black helmeted blonde rider and so thought "she's ahead of me, all is well".

Later as I slogged up OTR my cell rang, text message from the D'dog. So I called back.

"Where are you?"
"You see the earth tone Condos near the top of the hill?"
"Yeah"
"I'm above that."

So Spazz did about an extra mile of climbing. She said to go on, I did and at the summit she caught up. Soon it was all downhill from there.

Yee haw!!! Down was fun, I would not want to go UP that.

I think we were on Canyon Road when Jobob called to say she was on Pinehurst. We said we'd wait. I thought I had time for an energy bar and before you could say "Amici Veloci my A**" she was there and looking fresh as a daisy from her epic ride.

She just missed the moment when S'dog took and Arti Johnson style fall which looked minor but I think she hit a portion of her hip or sits bones.

Hope you're sitting easier, S'dog.

In Lafayette our paths parted again, we stopped to rest then BART home folowed by burgers and Lost Coast Apricot Wheat beer.

Hard ride but fun and beautiful route, let's do this one again (without the wrong turn or fall).

[spazzdog]

Yeah... could have done without the fall. We'd stopped and were waiting (not long) for Jobob. I dismounted with the intent of pulling my bike up out of the narrow, curvy road. Didn't swing that leg up high enough and my right shoe caught my bike, left leg didn't hold the sudden change in balance and boom! Straight back I fell with a one-point landing on my left sit-bone.

Rolled back heard the car, saw the car (aimed at my head) and sat up real quick. Spazz was almost renamed Splat :eek:

BUT the ride... really pretty. And going down Pinehurst; YEE-HA!!! Scary fast with some really tight turns. I never want to have to ride UP Pinehurst. Hardest 18 miles I've ever done in my life, but fun.

Total time out 2:36, Ride time 2:03. I'd do it again... but as Trek said, without the fall.

spazz (off to nurse my broken butt)

[Trek420]

Oh, and since the mention of a hill brought up discussion of triples, here's my Record Triple on the Mendocino Marina Mesquite....whatever. :D :cool: :rolleyes: ;)

But Spazzdog and her double were far ahead of me with gears to spare. So I guess we have to take her up Diablo again, right?

[jobob]

I think we were on Canyon Road when Jobob called to say she was on Pinehurst. We said we'd wait. I thought I had time for an energy bar and before you could say "Amici Veloci my A**" she was there and looking fresh as a daisy from her epic ride. Oh jeeze, you guys are so nice. I was feeling like crud today. The granny gear and I were becoming very close personal friends.

It was nice riding with you for what, all of 2 miles :D until we reached your turnoff.

And good job, I've yet to ride Tunnel Road (Old or otherwise), or Skyline or that end of Pinehurst, but I gather they're pretty steep in places.

[spazzdog]

The broadway bit had it's moments, then I missed the turn (who knew!) and did an extra grind.

Tunnel road was tough, then we caught the final little kick up on Skyline before the downhill fun began. I was pretty psyched... I did Tunnel with a gear to spare. The Skyline kick took that one though.

Then the descent... Skyline into Pinehurst; man-o-shevitz!!! Motocycle instinct took over there, trying to hit the apex before diving into the turn and all the while feathering BOTH brakes. I'm surprised the brake pads didn't go up in flame a couple of times. I hit 30 at one point and reined in so I wouldn't blast off one of the curves.

Yippee!!

I think Diablo will kick my other butt cheek :eek: Don't think I have the climbing endurance yet for that one.

spazz-my butt-hurts

[Trek420]

I think Diablo will kick my other butt cheek :eek: Don't think I have the climbing endurance yet for that one.

spazz-my butt-hurts

I think you do. We could do this again till you know you do :D

I have to chaperone the Velo Girls Single Girls ride Saturday. I talked with one of the gals on the Cindy and we may trade leads. If that comes through she'll lead the Singles ride and I lead the Melo Velo. Either way I'm "booked" Saturday so Sunday?

Or the next weekend? Or both?

The following weekend I plan to be in Seattle :D

[KnottedYet]

The following weekend I plan to be in Seattle :D


:D :p :D

[spazzdog]

Today is "day 2" after the spazz-dance, er... fall.

Always the worse one for me. And upon waking, I was right on form.

Left butt WAY sore deep down to the bone... pretty sure I have a "bone bruise" on the sit-bone. Hip carraige in general feels beat up... impact radiation. I'm sure. My lower left rib(s) are kinda touchy as well. Don't think anything is broken.

Advil is my chosen snack today :eek:. I'm sure tomorrow will be mo-betta.

And thus ends the saga of Spazz's first lead route in Northern California :cool:

Spazz (who will be back on the bike as soon as she can sit down on a bike seat without swearing)

[jobob]

Left butt WAY sore deep down to the bone... pretty sure I have a "bone bruise" on the sit-bone. Oh geeze, it was beginning to sound like that ! I'm so sorry spazz. :(

Hope you're better soon.

That's what happens when you don't have any padding on your posterior ... d'oh!

[spazzdog]

Thanks jobob!

All in all, it was a succesful ride. Only 2 mishaps... none by my (2) riders.

Spazz fell down and went boom!
Spazz took a wrong turn and got lost.

My riders, Trek420 and jobob (for 2 miles) were hazard free :D

welcome-to-my-life-spazz :eek:

[maillotpois]

Ow! Sorry about that Spazz. Happens to all of us. Jo and SK can attest to how I decided to take a nap on the bike path during the Unpopulaire... :rolleyes:

[Trek420]

Anyone want to join me on this route tomorrow? I'm thinking about it (minus the falling over or getting lost part).

[spazzdog]

wise-spass!!

yes ladies... "coach" spazz has ordered mizz Trek420 to do this ride again. She is welcome to add the wrong turn and fall down if she feels so inclined, but I don't recommend it.

I will provide support from my soft cushion on my sofa, where I still gingerly place my left butt cheek.

spazz-o-rama

[Trek420]

wise-spass!!

yes ladies... "coach" spazz has ordered mizz Trek420 to do this ride again. She is welcome to add the wrong turn and fall down if she feels so inclined, but I don't recommend it.

I will provide support from my soft cushion on my sofa, where I still gingerly place my left butt cheek.

spazz-o-rama

Coach Spazz, My cold is not goin' away. I'm sniffly, congested, soar throat, don't worry probably not contagious but this is annoying. With regret. Really, I felt very good after this ride. Call me odd but I like Old Tunnel Road now that I know I can do it. I'm going to beg off today.

I'm off work Friday and/or Sunday if anyone wants to join me.

Have you tried Arnica? It's an herb you can take internal and/or external and supposed to be great for boo boos.

Get some, let's ride.

[KnottedYet]

Arnica gel works really well.

rub it on the boo-boo. (and I am restraining myself from the myriad of lovely comments I could make here)

[spazzdog]

uhmmmm... the "boo-boo" is a tad hard to reach grrls. And it's a bone bruise, no external "cheek" damage. But thank you for your suggestions.

Feel better little buddy... maybe I can ride next weekend with you.

spazz

[Trek420]

You can take it internaly.

There are teas, and gels you can put in drinks. When my Aikido instructor has a real bad boo boo (we fall down pretty hard but at least there's a mat) she does both; external and internal. She probably has stock in the stuff.

But if you "can't get there from here" ingest it. Check with an herbalist. Oh, right, I did.

I just remembered Spazz I asked our friend E, the one who is an herbalist? She says hot baths with epsom salt for you.

Let's ride next Sunday then.