Saturday's Weather

[Veronica]

Here's the current forecast.

Saturday: Periods of rain. High near 54. Breezy, with a southeast wind 19 to 22 mph decreasing to between 8 and 11 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Riding out to the lighthouse is going to be so much fun.

http://tandemhearts.com/coppermine/albums/point-reyes/11_Straight_Ahead.jpg

There is nothing to block the wind.

V.

[mimitabby]

wait until the afternoon when the wind dies down?

[Veronica]

No can do - it's a 200K brevet. Start time is 7AM.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

Hopefully you won't drown in all the precipitation! They are forecasting 3-6 inches of rain down that way. How many changes of clothing are you going to have for this adventure? Thank goodness for Thom! :D

Looking forward to a writeup in "Adventure Stories"

[Veronica]

Thom is driving me to the start and picking me up, but not doing SAG on this ride - at least that's the current plan. He needs to work on putting in new baseboards.

I've got good raingear, so I should stay reasonably comfortable and with the weather I won't be riding hard, so my gear should breathe okay. I'm just not wild about riding Sir Francis Drake in the rain and that section out and back to the lighthouse with 20 mph crosswinds.

V.

[Bike Goddess]

At least you are going north- should be better than going south!

Maybe Thom will have to delay the baseboard venture. I suspect you'll decide that on Saturday AM.

Where do you turn around and come back? ( i.e.- what's the route?)
Anybody else we know going on this one? Jobob???

[Veronica]

Jobob is riding.

The route starts at the Golden Gate, goes through Fairfax and takes Sir Francis Drake out to Olema. Then goes out to the lighthouse and back at Point Reyes, north to Marshal and then south again, back through Nicasio to Fairfax, to the Golden Gate.

V.

[aka_kim]

Riding out to the lighthouse is going to be so much fun.

That's the right attitude! Gotta stay positive! :D



There is nothing to block the wind.

There's always jobob. :p

[Brandy]

That's similar weather to what I will be dealing with on Saturday Veronica. Fun times!

[snapdragen]

There's always jobob. :p

Yeah, because she is such a huge woman......:rolleyes:

[jobob]

I resemble that remark.

[jobob]

At least I'll have a good excuse for taking a long time to finish.

Or, as mp suggested, getting my money's worth out of the ride. :cool:

[SadieKate]

Think how much BBQ you'll earn.

[maillotpois]

As Jo said, I'm big on getting my money's worth at rides. (I really got my money's worth at DMD :p ). Anyway, it's an idea I try to instill in my coachees if they're not riding for time - just relax and have fun. Brevet time limits are so doable - don't beat yourself up for where you finish. Just finish - safely - and have fun.

I will say the times I have ridden to the lighthouse in stormy weather can be quite dramatic - and somewhat demoralizing. Just remember that headwind will probably be a tailwind on the way back in. (Though in the 300k last year the wind shifted and that was super stinky.)

And maybe you'll get lucky and see snow on the ground (at night unto sea level) as I did in 2006. :D (I think it was accumulated hail, to be fair, but it sure looked like snow.)

We do our lighthouse ride 3/29. Hope I am healed up by then. And I expect better weather by then as well. :)

Have fun - be SAFE.

[Bike Goddess]

Oh my- you have to do the Marshall wall from the beach, eh? What fun. However, I think that would be better than coming down from the other side.

And,as MP says, you might just have a bit of a tail wind when you turn back from the lighthouse.:cool::cool:

I'll be thinking of the two of you as I'm tucked into my blankets catching up on all my neglected reading materials!:D:D:D:D

[maillotpois]

They don't have to do Marshall wall - it's out and back up Hwy. 1 to Marshall.

[jobob]

Have fun - be SAFE. That's the plan! :D

[jobob]

At least you are going north- should be better than going south!

Well, actually, we're heading (basically) north/west and then we turn around at Marshall after which we'll be heading south/east.

Right into the wind coming from the southeast.

This is going to be epic. :cool:

[Mr. Bloom]

There is nothing to block the wind.

V.

Maybe not, but that's a lot of vibrant winter time green:cool::cool: Wow!

[snapdragen]

I resemble that remark.

Unfortunately I resemble it more.....:o

[bikerchick68]

"Chance of precipitation 80%" uhhh... are you two putting fenders on??? :eek::D Hope you ride during the 20% chance when it's NOT raining!

[jobob]

Yep, we gots our fenders! and scuba gear

[Fredwina]

besides, your'e supposed to be Hard-core Randoneuses:p
Fredwina, who is ducking under her cublice:eek:
There goes my training for my 300K:(

[Bike Goddess]

Maybe you'll need a "brim" on your helmets to help fend off the drips and the wind!:p:p:p:p

I used to ride in the rain holding an umbrella. Of course those were the days when I was commuting to class- about a mile from where I lived.:D:D:D

Hope you can be warm if not dry. Hope it clears out a little bit for you. Hope, hope, hope.....

[Veronica]

Wow, the forecast has gotten even "better"!

Saturday: Periods of rain. High near 57. Windy, with a east southeast wind 31 to 34 mph decreasing to between 22 and 25 mph. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

V.

[maillotpois]

It has been a downpour here in Marin all day. I just had to go to court in the city and it was a nightmare (especially driving with one hand! :eek:). Roads are flooded. The bike path you guys will go on is partly underwater, as it always is when rain and high tide come together. Lots of rocks and wash out debris in the roads. Storm drains overflowing.

I'm sure it will be better by tomorrow.

At least it's not very windy. Looks like more wind tomorrow, though.

Um.... Kind of glad I broke my arm. :o

[jobob]

Gaaaahhhhhh. This is getting funny, in an absurd sort of way.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, that's how you have to look at it. I am sure it will be better tomorrow - mostly because there will simply be nothing left above water if it continues like this. But you just have to set yourself up for an epic ramble/swim, and just know you'll have HUGE bragging rights when you are done!

[Veronica]

I'm actually beginning to think that riding up Diablo might be better. It's less time to be miserable.

If I don't do the brevet, I still need to get 126 miles in before the end of the month. :rolleyes:

V.

[Fredwina]

Maybe you'll need a "brim" on your helmets to help fend off the drips and the wind!:p:p:p:p
Goomg a bit OT here.
There's a lady with the Riverside club who's very light skinned, to the point of almost being an albino. She's got a parasol like thing fitted to her helmet.

[maillotpois]

She could turn that upside down here and use it as a raft...

[Veronica]

. Roads are flooded. The bike path you guys will go on is partly underwater, as it always is when rain and high tide come together. Lots of rocks and wash out debris in the roads. Storm drains overflowing.



This is what makes me think, "Gee do I really need to do this?"

It's easy to be hard. It's hard to be smart. :)


This isn't a goal ride for me. In fact it was supposed to be a long training ride, where I pushed myself kind of hard. So, it's easy for me to have second thoughts about the wisdom of doing it with the weather as it is. You can't push yourself hard when you have to be focused on not crashing your bike because of the road conditions. At least I can't. :p

V.

[maillotpois]

If I am reading this correctly - and it's a BIG "if", then you should be on the bike path at relatively low tides tomorrow:

http://wolfweb.unr.edu/homepage/edc/tides/2008/sfgg_fr08.html

Snorkels optional. :rolleyes:

[jobob]

Gee mp, thanks, that's very reassuring. :D

I'm still going ( I think :rolleyes: ). This is a goal ride for me. Sort of.

If it goes beyond absurd and into the realm of really stoopid, I'll bail.

[maillotpois]

Read your emails, Jo. :cool:

[Veronica]

I'm going to be a DNS for this brevet. I don't have a good enough reason to be miserable for 10 hours. I did that back in September. :)

Plus all the reports on the news are kind of freaking me out, creeks over in Marin flooding, cops suggesting people evacuate in San Anselmo...

Watch it turn out to not be so bad. Hope so for Jo!

V.

[jobob]

Yeah, news reports are saying that parts of San Anselmo and Fairfax are being evacuated due to flooding (and yes BG, the route goes thru San Anselmo and Fairfax).

This is not sounding good. :rolleyes:

[Bike Goddess]

No, I don't think you want to be in a "swimfest". And, the bike trail out of Sausalito already being flooded aint too promising.

There's got to be another 200K certified ride around here besides THIS weekend. No sense letting Mother Nature getting the best of you. I'd like to see your face next weekend when the weather should be, by all counts, at least a bit drier!

Veronica- Isn't it a pain that you have to work all next week! Hmmm....I hear a bad cold coming on..............

[maillotpois]

The tides will definitely be lower when Jo is riding through the path. It could definitely be better by tomorrow.

[aka_kim]

If it goes beyond absurd and into the realm of really stoopid, I'll bail.Well, remember you are a member, in good standing, of Team Darwin Award.

Although, this member of TDA doesn't like the sound of these news reports. Oh, latest update - flood warnings for all of Marin county. Rains/flooding to continue for at least 6 hours...

[maillotpois]

But at least she doesn't chance 3d degree burns!

:p

[SadieKate]

Well, heck. With only half the fun, it doesn't seem worth doing.

[maillotpois]

Raindrops keep falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his
Bed, nothing seems to fit. These
Raindrops keep falling on my head
They keep fallin'

So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things
Done, sleep in' on the job, these
Raindrops keep falling on my head
They keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know, the blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me, won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning
Red, crying's not for me, 'cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free, nothing's worryin' me.

[SadieKate]

Born free! As free as the wind blows!
As free as the grass grows . . . . .

[maillotpois]

Gotta love Burt.

EDIT: No - it wasn't Burt Bacharach - both songs were sung by Andy Williams - who I had a crush on when I was five!! Wow.

[jobob]

You guys are nutz.

Yes, I know, look who's talking

[maillotpois]

Your pants will be on the bridge at dawn.

I will not buy this record. It is scratched.

Hey - I just admitted to having a crush on Andy Williams. There's not much more I can keep from you guys.

[jobob]

You're a sweetheart. Nutz, but a sweetheart.

[SadieKate]

Butt tubers and Andy Williams. You're a real catch.

[maillotpois]

Hey - this is Jo's ride. This isn't about me.


Freaks.

[SadieKate]

Go, Jo-o! Go, Jo-o!

Yes, you ca-an, Yes, you ca-an!

Chug-ga, chug-ga. There she goes up the hillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:o

[maillotpois]

Whooop ! Whoop!

[crazycanuck]

Jo-i'm blowing all the hot air your way..:p No really..I'm sending many warm vibes your way. It's 38C..is that too hot?

Perhaps a trip to Perth for a few brevets during January might help? There are two coming up!

Can you see me doing the modified & slower than normal happy dance..!;)

[jobob]

I decided not to go on the ride after all.

Thanks for all your well-wishes and words of encouragement, everyone ! :)

[melissam]

Sarah,


Gotta love Burt.

EDIT: No - it wasn't Burt Bacharach - both songs were sung by Andy Williams - who I had a crush on when I was five!! Wow.

Wha---? :confused: I think you should have stuck with your first answer. Burt & his bud Hal wrote the song, but it was sung by BJ Thomas. Dunno if Andy Williams ever sung it. Maybe in the shower... ;)

EDIT: Ah, Google is my friend and should always be consulted before attempting to correct any esteemed member of the board. Andy did in fact record Raindrops. I'll be d@mned. Learn something new everyday. Sorry, MP.

Jo & Veronica,

I'm glad the voices of reason & sanity won out and you opted to stay dry & warm! :cool:

-- Melissa (who adored "Raindrops" when she was 5)

[Bike Goddess]

So Jobob and Veronica- WHAT DID YOU DO???????

It was kinda yucky in the morning, but I managed to get in a mere 16 miles in the afternoon- pretty warm, not too windy. I could even see Diablo clearly for the 1st time in a few days-saw snow on the north side earlier in the AM. This kicks up my mileage for the week to a big 71.9 miles!:p:p:p:p:p

Waiting , but not breathless, for a report......

[snapdragen]

So Jobob and Veronica- WHAT DID YOU DO???????

...............................


I'm going to be a DNS for this brevet. I don't have a good enough reason to be miserable for 10 hours. I did that back in September. :)

Plus all the reports on the news are kind of freaking me out, creeks over in Marin flooding, cops suggesting people evacuate in San Anselmo...

Watch it turn out to not be so bad. Hope so for Jo!

V.


I decided not to go on the ride after all.

Thanks for all your well-wishes and words of encouragement, everyone ! :)

[Bike Goddess]

Snap- I figured since it was pretty decent up my way, the ladies probably got out for something called a ride! And, Veronica said she had 126 miles togo. Now 126- 16- down to 110.

[Veronica]

Yeah, I'm not going to make my January goal. I've got too many meetings after work this week. Whatever I don't get, I'll have to tack on to February's goal, which by itself is 438 miles.

Funny, my LiFT class on Friday (a mixture of students from 6 different classes) asked me if I always reached my goals.

The students from my class quickly blurted out, "No, it wouldn't be a goal if she knew was going to do it."

Proof they are listening!

V.

[jobob]

What did I do? :confused:

Well, after I got up at 4 am and decided to bail, I fired off a few emails, went back to bed, slept late, lazed around in my jammies, went out for a really short ride, showered, lazed around some more, then Lee & I drove over to Sausalito for a late lunch at the cafe on Bridgeway where we watched bikes go by and played "guess who's riding the brevet" (hint: if they were wearing lots of reflective gear and riding bikes with fenders and mudflaps, odds were good), wandered over to Mike's Bikes to see if there was anything worth buying using my Waves to Wine gift card (nope), stopped off at Bicycle Oddessey to oggle the lovely frames there, then drove over to the GG Visitors Center to start our shift for the check-in at the finish, stood around, chatted with people, checked in riders, chatted some more, stood around some more, checked in more riders, then when the last riders showed up at 8:02 said our goodbyes and headed back across the bridge into Marin, mulled over where we could get some dinner, remembered a great diner in San Anselmo called Bubba's, hightailed it to San Anselmo, reached Bubba's about 15 minutes before closing, had dinner (burgers and fries and split a shake... yum), after dinner wandered around downtown San Anselmo a bit, checking out the storefronts with sandbags piled in front in the event another flood occurred (another storm was moving in), drove home during which time the heavens opened up and the rain poured down.

That's the gist of it. :cool: