Party Pardee 2005

[SadieKate]

Thanks for the reminder, Veronica. I'm still trying to decide on spring rides. How fast does the reg fill up? Last year we participated in 3 organized rides (besides the Cinderella) - the Rice Valley Tandem Rally and it poured on us, the Wildflower and we baked, and the Napa Valley during which we baked again. I even spent an hour with a man who fell off his bike with cramps and couldn't get up. Took forever before he would let me call SAG and then I had to tell them 3 times he couldn't even sit up before they would come. Grrrrr.

Anyway, how quickly do we need to make a decision? Since I picked out all 3 wet/hot rides, hubby is not trusting me to choose the rides this year.

[Veronica]

Last year was the first year we did it and it seems like we didn't sign up until Feb. or so. But a woman in our club didn't make the sign ups and she crashed it. She rode with us, but didn't eat any of their food or use the SAG. :D

V.

[SadieKate]

I have a friend who has encouraged us to poach honestly for this reason -- just as your friend did. I think there are enough places to buy food and drink as neccessary. I just like to support the clubs. It takes an incredible amount of volunteer effort. But hubby may not let me pre-reg for anything this year! My track record ain't so great.

How hilly is it? You said tandem friendly but the ride is in the foothills. I've never actually ridden a road bike in the area and grades are so deceiving in a car.

[Veronica]

Have you ridden Cardiac Hill on a tandem? The hill by the Dam is probably similar or maybe even a little easier. And there is a pretty steep but short hill in the middle. We broke our chain on it, so maybe it's not as steep as I remember. The chain broke from wear, not the hill. :p

V.

[SadieKate]

Veronica, I've almost got hubby talked into this. Got any ammo to push him over the edge? I'm afraid we're going to miss the 1,200 max registrants.

Anyone else? I've done almost no road riding east of Folsom (all mtbiking) and hubby thinks he may have done this BS (before Sarah) in the early 80s which means he can't remember what the route was like.

[aka_kim]

I'm still on the fence about Pardee, since it is the same day as Cinderella this year.

The Lodi Century (which I otherwise hate but usually do) goes up around Lake Comanche and crosses Pardee dam -- it's a beautiful area. And my all-time favorite event, the Sierra Century, is up in the foothills near there too. Party Pardee sounds like it could be just as fun.

You've heard of the "ski bus"? We need a "bike bus" to take us to all the cool biking areas and eliminate the long drives.

[yellow]

I too am on the fence. I'd love to come over and do the Cinderella but am also temped by staying local and doing Pardee. So many rides, so little time...

My hunch is that I'll end up on Pardee since my hubby will probably want to ride rather than shuttle me around.

So who is doing what???

[SadieKate]

If I can get hubby to commit, it will definitely be Pardee. We're so spoiled in Yolo and Solano counties with the low traffic that I have turned into a wuss and can only do 1 roadride a year in the East Bay. You girls who live there have nerves of steel. Mine aren't even aluminum foil.

I've done the Cinderalla 4 times over the last 18 years and hubby has served as team wrench boy and driver every time. I think I owe him one (actually a lot!).

[yellow]

Well, I sent in our entries for Pardee so Pardee it is.

Sadiekate: I promise I'll review the ride list for Top Hat soon!

[aka_kim]

I'm off the fence too! I registered for Pardee yesterday, so it will be the first time in many years in which Cinderella isn't my first event of the year.

[SadieKate]

Us, too! We're coming to the Party! Just signed us up also. We must all just have great minds! :D

[Veronica]

Well, we've just planned a romantic getaway for that weekend. Any of you been to Daffodill Hill in Volcano? It's just a few towns over from where Party Pardee starts in Ione. BTW we're not going to sign up for the ride, but we are bringing our bikes and staying in Sutter Creek.

http://motherlodefuntimes.com/

This site talks about various things to do in the area.

V.

[SadieKate]

So, you're snubbing us for your sweetie, huh? Haven't been there during daffodil time, but the whole area is beautiful and I've been wanting to do some riding there.

Are you meeting us at Briones Saturday? The Davis, Sacto, Folsom contingent seems to be gearing up. It's right in your backyard!

[Hill Slug]

Volcano and Daffodill Hill are very pretty. It's just really pristine up there. I haven't ridden up there, but you'll get a workout if you do...... ;)

[yellow]

"Volcano and Daffodill Hill are very pretty. It's just really pristine up there. I haven't ridden up there, but you'll get a workout if you do...... "

Welcome to my world!

Actually the ride to Sutter Creek from Volcano (and back) is a nice one with a pretty gradual climb from Sutter to Volcano. There is a great coffee shop in Sutter Creek (Sutter Creek Coffee Company) with a great lunch menu (including a killer tamale pie). I think it's only about 20 mi RT. We usually start in Sutter Creek and ride up to Volcano. There is also a great Indian Restaurant in Volcano (I know, it's a bit out of place). They are really small and require reservations. The food is killer. It's called Bay Leaf Eatery. You must go; the couple that runs it are super folks.

y

[Veronica]

Thanks for the restaurant tips Yellow.

SadieKate, I'm not sure about Briones yet for this weekend. We don't usually plan our weekend until Saturday morning. :D

V.

[SadieKate]

OK, here is my "lookout list:"

Kim and her driver
Yellow and hubby
Bill and Sarah
NorthTahoe (you need to give us a description of you)

V and Thom - poaching?

Anyone else? HillSlug?

Anyone have parking recommendations? Is this a challenge in this small town?

[Hill Slug]

I'll be doing Cinderella this year......But you will be seeing alot of neon yellow Team in Training jerseys there....The team from Sacramento, who I am a rider with, will be using Pardee as a training ride.....

It's a nice ride, with nice scenery and great rest stops....Hopefully the weather will hold out for all of us!!

[Bike Goddess]

Be sure to say hello to the Benicia Bike Club guys, too! Yellow shirts, red trim, grey tire across the back! Those guys are my bike buddies! :p :p :p

See the rest of you at Cinderella :D

[NorthTahoe]

I am snowed in and still training inside! The skiing is great, but I am doing the Party Pardee even if I have to ski down to the event with my bike on my back. I have a girlfriend that is going to come along and "poach" I guess you call it. I am just doing the 50 K as this is my first ride ever. I really want to thank you all for all the positive and supportive comments on this site. I am really learning a lot. I am riding a cheap purple Schwinn and a blue/black helmet. 5'8", blond hair in a pony tail I would guess for the event. Maybe I will see you all at the lunch afterwards (my name is Jean), as I am sure you will all be hitting the road before my 8am start. The weather forcast appears to be great for Saturday! FYI- Buscaglias in Jackson is a good Italian Restaurant if you want a nice place to carbo load the night before. They have a very good local wine list.

[SadieKate]

Counting from left to right, riders 1, 3 and 4 will be on the ride. #5 says she's going to try Slug Gulch with her sweetie.

Berryessa Ride (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=2121&page=3)

We'll keep an eye out for you!

[Bike Goddess]

Pictures please! :)

[NorthTahoe]

I'm still on the fence about Pardee, since it is the same day as Cinderella this year.

The Lodi Century (which I otherwise hate but usually do) goes up around Lake Comanche and crosses Pardee dam -- it's a beautiful area. And my all-time favorite event, the Sierra Century, is up in the foothills near there too. Party Pardee sounds like it could be just as fun.

You've heard of the "ski bus"? We need a "bike bus" to take us to all the cool biking areas and eliminate the long drives.

Ms. Kim-
Can you tell me about the Lodi Century? It sounds like you have a love hate relationship with the ride and I was thinking about doing it this year....thanks.

[aka_kim]

Well, others may differ (like Sadie Kate in another thread), but I think the only pretty portion of the ride is up around the reservoirs, where it's very pretty.

I've done the ride three times. The first time it was in the 90s and the volunteers were completely unprepared. Ran out of water and ice. Next two times it was very windy, which I guess is normal out there, with the last 50 miles or so with some kind of head or cross wind.

Despite my complaints, I may still end up doing the ride again this year if I need some miles before the Sierra Century. It gets 3 (out of 5) chain rings from me.

[SadieKate]

Well, maybe I just hit the one and only right day for a million years. You are right about the wind - all my Davis training must be making me a bit immune to it.

If Bubba ever gets his tickets purchased, I will be Bubba-less that weekend. What distance were you planning on? We could plan our own road ride someplace more scenic. The Davis Dble is that day - we could do portions of it and be in good company.

[NorthTahoe]

Thank you for the input. I am trying to get a couple friends into cycling and the first rides need to be shorter and lots of fun!

[aka_kim]

At the end of the ride last year I was thinking it might be a much nicer ride of about 75 miles if it cut out most of the windy portion after lunch and just headed back to Lodi (into the wind of course) by backtracking on the morning section. So this is what I was thinking I'd do this year, but I have no idea what the traffic on those roads is like in the afternoon.

Poaching some of the DD course sounds interesting too.

[NorthTahoe]

Do you have your map of the Lodi course from previous years or know where I can get one for this years ride? I was thinking about doing the 38 mile course as I will have a friend with me. If I am on my own, I think I will do the 100K. It sounds like the earlier you get started the better when it comes to wind?

[aka_kim]

I've got the map for only the 100 mile course. The 100k and 100mi follow the same route for the first 20 miles to Clements. I don't know where the shorter routes go after that, but they don't go to the reservoirs.

[NorthTahoe]

Thank you for checking on the maps. I am going to make a point of keeping the maps for future lending or reference.