Anyone doing Waves to Wine?

[melissam]

I just signed up with Team TiVo for Waves to Wine. I'm going to try the 100 mile route on Day 1 and the 75 mile route on Day 2.

Is anyone else from TE going to be there?

- Melissa

[maillotpois]

I will be there!

[Cheryl SF]

Is anyone familiar with what the 75/75 route is like (elevation gain, etc.)? I'm planning to sign up with a few friends.

[snapdragen]

I'm debating about volunteering again...

[maillotpois]

We've got a TNT group as our team manager was just diagnosed. I would expect the elevation of the 75 route is in the 5000 range, just knowing where it is. They don't have maps but I think they have a general description or cue sheet. Gotta ride - will look later.

[gnat23]

Haven't decided yet, but leaning towards "Will do!"

-- gnat! (making September plans already? Sheesh!)

[aka_kim]

Here are maps from last year's 75 mile routes: Day 1 (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w66/aka_kimj/MSDay1Long.jpg) Day 2 (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w66/aka_kimj/MSDay2Long.jpg)
From the description of the 2008 routes, I'd guess they're the same or very similar to 2007.

[snapdragen]

OK kids, I just signed up as a volunteer again. :cool:

[maillotpois]

Excellent.

Bring polenta.

:cool:

[Cheryl SF]

aka_kim- Thanks for the maps!

[SadieKate]

OK kids, I just signed up as a volunteer again. :cool:Way cool. Be sure to bring enough polenta for moi two. :)

[snapdragen]

So......anyone out there interested in volunteering with me? So far it looks like I'll be assigned to the Stinson Beach rest stop, but I was asked if I had a group I could recruit.......

bikerz? jobob? aka_kim? bueller? bueller?

[aka_kim]

Oh, well ... I was more than a little disparaging of the rest stops last year, so I could do something positive about that ... and it is fun to volunteer. (Was Stinson Beach the RS with boxes of raisins last year?) OK, what do I need to do to sign up for this?

[snapdragen]

:D:D

Register as a volunteer (https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/TRR/Bike/CANBikeEvents/961855578?pg=ptype&fr_id=9066)

Sarah Hester is the Volunteer Manager

sarah.hester@nmss.org

I wonder how many we'd need to have an AV rest stop.......:rolleyes:

[aka_kim]

OK, I'm registered, but what a friggin' pain. Maybe I should volunteer to redesign their web site.

So, a few more and we might just have an AV rest stop ....

[maillotpois]

It will be great to see you guys out there!!!

- TS, bocce ball savant

[jobob]

Oooh, that sounds like a great idea!

I've been having this nagging guilt about not signing up for the ride, so maybe I'll join in with you guys. :)

And mp, I challenge you to a bocce game sometime!

[maillotpois]

You're on! Apparently the fact I was in remedial PE in elementary school does not impede my prowess at rum infused ball sports.

[jobob]

Snap & Kim, did you sign up to volunteer on both days?

[aka_kim]

I signed up for Saturday only.

[SadieKate]

You're on! Apparently the fact I was in remedial PE in elementary school does not impede my prowess at rum infused ball sports.Especially two-shot per drink rum infused sports.

Thanks, you VIVPs (very important volunteer persons).

[snapdragen]

I signed up for Saturday only also. :cool:

[melissam]

Excellent! I'll keep an eye out for the AV rest stop @ Stinson Beach. If I wear my AV jersey, do I get special privileges at the rest stop? An extra box of raisins maybe? Ice cream? Two-shot rum infused sport drink? ;)

Seriously, thanks for volunteering!!

[jobob]

Only if you give us the Sekret Password :cool:

[melissam]

Only if you give us the Sekret Password :cool:

And the handshake too, right?

[maillotpois]

I gave the password to and received the handshake from HotRod on Monitor at the Death Ride, and caused quite a stir among riders who saw the exchange. "I can't believe that just happened - wow!" I had to explain it was ok, he was a friend, etc.

[bikerz]

OK - I'm registered as a Saturday volunteer as well!

Is the AV rest stop at Stinson or Sausalito? I am confused... :confused:

[maillotpois]

I really wish it were Stinson - Sausalito is WAY too early. No one wants to actually stop by then.

[melissam]

I really wish it were Stinson - Sausalito is WAY too early. No one wants to actually stop by then.

Are you saying that the Sausalito rest stop may even be too early for the two shot rum infused sport drinks?!?! Oh, the travesty!!

[jobob]

Sausalito is WAY too early. No one wants to actually stop by then.

That's the idea. ;)

Altho I kind of wish we were at Stinson as well. So it goes.

[SadieKate]

Too early? That sounds like an excellent way to get me through that Highway 1 stretch. Can you make it a Bombay & tonic though?

[maillotpois]

Can you stage a revolt? Abdicate Sausalito for Stinson?

[snapdragen]

Stinson was taken, unless you wanted us to play with strangers! :eek:

[maillotpois]

Oh no one likes strangers....

Well, it will be good to see you guys!

[snapdragen]

Oh no one likes strangers....


They could be axe murderers!

[jobob]

Especially that early in the morning

[SadieKate]

Why do I get this feeling you're secretly rejoicing because you can go find the oyster bar that much sooner?

[Ninabike]

Hey you guys!! Have a great time. Two shot rum infused sport drinks ... Ummm ...

[SadieKate]

Think what you'll be missing this year . . . Of course, we'll miss you.:)

[Ninabike]

I'll miss you guys too. Wow, where did this year go?

[melissam]

Two shot rum infused sport drinks ... Ummm ...

You say that like it's a bad thing... ;)

Sorry you won't be joining us.

- Melissa

[Ninabike]

You say that like it's a bad thing... ;)

- Melissa[/QUOTE]

Hah, you're right!! What I meant was "Yum, Yum"!!

[andtckrtoo]

Any ride reports on this one? I'm trying to convince DH that he needs a bike (actually, I need a Surly Cross Check and he can ride my Cannondale :o) so that we can ride this one next year.

[maillotpois]

It was super fun. I've never done a 2 day event like this, because having a kid makes that tough - especially when my husband also wants to ride. But we did it and it was great.

I had heard some bad reports about the support from last year, but they apparently turned things around as the ride was VERY well supported. The course was good - lots of roads I have ridden on over and over, but still fun. There are the usual complaints you can register in any mass ride about crowds and riders who do stupid things in groups, but overall rider behavior was pretty good.

I haven't been riding much this year, so I originally planned to do the 75 1st day, 75 2nd day but at a rest stop the first day, a teammate I haven't ridden with in a while asked me to do the century with him, so we did. I am glad I did the full 175.

Best of all, I got to ride much of the first day and all of the second with my 2 MS honorees, SK and our team captain (who pulled in 76 team members for the best ever showing for a "rookie", non-corporate W2W team!)! :D AND... the AV rest stop in Sausalito was TOP NOTCH!!! :D :D :D :D

[Cheryl SF]

Well I didn't really train, and this was my first two-day ride. So, I found it challenging- especially day one (75 mile route), and in particular the climb before the descent into Stinson. Day one had several climbs and then the rollers along HWY 1, so we were worn out! So much that we decided to opt for the 50 mile option on day two. I wonder if anyone else out there did the same thing :)

Day two was nice- lots of fun rolling hills through wine country. Some of the bumpier roads were problematic for already-sore-from-the-day-before body parts!

I thought the ride support was good, and everything seemed well coordinated, like shuttling people and things to the overnight location, hotels, and back to SF. I did not camp out, so it would be interesting to hear how that went from someone who did.

[melissam]

Waves to Wine was a lot of fun! I rode with Team TiVo, and we had to overcome our share of mishaps:
* Our team captain was running late. And then, when he got to AT&T Park, he realized that he'd forgotten his cycling shoes, so had to run back home to get them.
* One of our team members rode under the Dark Cloud of Mechanical Doom, having her seat come off her seat post on Day 1 (before even getting to the Golden Gate Bridge) and breaking her chain on Day 2. Fortunately, there was a bike shop in the vicinity of both issues.
* Another team member had a curb jump out in front of him and fell. Only damage was a slightly scraped elbow. Not as bad as last year's incident with a renegade post, which claimed his helmet.
* I got a flat tire within 10 miles of Day 2, and proceeded to do the World's Slowest Tire Change. (This reminds me, I still need to patch or replace the tube in my seat bag before my next ride on the Trek.)
* We'd gotten TiVo jerseys and shorts. The team consensus is that you could also use the chamois in the shorts as sandpaper. My first clue was that the shorts were uncomfortable just walking around. Nevermind riding 100 miles in the suckers. :eek:

I enjoyed riding with some of my workmates and getting to know them better. Nice to see them outside of the cube farm!

It was also great to see everyone at the AV rest stop!! It was superbly organized and was stocked to the gills with a wide selection of treats.

Another highlight was the happy coincidence of seeing my training ride leader from the 2004 Cinderella Century training series!

As CherylSF mentioned, Day 1 had its share of climbs. The scenery was fantastic -- riding over the Golden Gate Bridge, riding thru stands of Eucalyptus trees, getting glimpses of the Pacific Ocean when you turned a corner -- it almost took your breath away. During the latter part of Day 1, we passed several pastures, some with lots of sheep. At that point, I was beat, because I'd only gotten a couple of hours sleep the night before. I was trying to distract myself by looking at the scenery, but I kept reminding myself NOT to count the sheep, lest I fall asleep. Fortunately, I found a market that sold Red Bull at Mile 80, and perked up for the ride into camp.

Camping was fine. I was a bit worried about the first come, first serve accommodations, but there was nothing to worry about. I found SadieKate and camped by her team (TNT). I think the key to camping is to have a horrible night's sleep the night before and to ride 100 miles -- you'll sleep like a baby! Well, a good air mattress, pillow, and being warm enough helps too.

Day 2 took place on rolling terrain, which is usually my favorite, since you can build up momentum on the downhill and just "pop up" the next hill. However, my legs had other plans. When it was time to go up hill, they had the nerve to say "I don't wanna." My lower back was killing me. EVERYONE was passing me up the hills. Everyone. People riding mountain bikes. People wearing tennis shoes who weren't even using their toe clips. I started looking longingly at the SAG vehicles passing by. I cursed myself for doing the 75 mile route instead of the 50 mile route.

That's when I remembered who benefited from this ride: people with MS. They go thru things that are so much worse than tired legs and a sore back. Not only that, but when their symptoms get too hard, they can't just quit. So I decided right there to do whatever it took to finish the ride. Who cared if EVERYONE passed me -- the ride wasn't about me.

I labored my way to the lunch stop, regrouped with some of my teammates, enjoyed my sandwich, and got back on the bike. And you know what, after lunch, I felt much, much better. I enjoyed the last 35 miles of rolling hills and vineyards - it was a picture perfect ride.

So...if you're thinking about doing the ride, by all means, do it!

[maillotpois]

Great reports - nice seeing you out there, Mel!

[andtckrtoo]

THANK YOU!!!! The reports were great! Melissa - sorry Day 2 was killer, but I love your attitude! It's a great cause, and I think I have DH convinced that we need to ride it next year.

This year I'm aiming for the Asti Tour de Vine - looks fun! I may go for the century, as I've been wanting to ride one. I can start training after my 55 miler on Sunday - http://astitourdevine.com/

[SadieKate]

Best of all, I got to ride much of the first day and all of the second with my 2 MS honorees, SK and our team captain (who pulled in 76 team members for the best ever showing for a "rookie", non-corporate W2W team!)! :D AND... the AV rest stop in Sausalito was TOP NOTCH!!! :D :D :D :DI agree with the "TOP NOTCH" rest stop, but being an honoree? Um, more of a dis-honoree. Thas' moi. :cool:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b310/SadieKate/W2W%202008/P080913071010017mw.jpg

[Bike Goddess]

Nice to see you all here! Great pic! Sorry I didn't make it this year, but some of my pals from my bike club came.

Heard you guys raised a ton of money!

Anybody get the ice cream at the end? Home made on the spot! (A fellow cyclist gets his company to do that little treat)

[melissam]

Anybody get the ice cream at the end? Home made on the spot! (A fellow cyclist gets his company to do that little treat)

I missed the ice cream at the end, but did enjoy a free beer at the end of the ride. :)

[SadieKate]

I was too into the BBQ and watermelon. Earlier in the day I'd said I really wanted watermelon. They read my mind!!

[jobob]

Yeah, but we know your priorities are whacked. :p

[SadieKate]

Hey! I had ice cream the night before and no beer.

[maillotpois]

I was too into the beer to spend time on the ice cream. My bad. :rolleyes:

[Bike Goddess]

Well, I always figured this group goes for the beer. Ice cream- way to tame for you guys!:p:p:p:p:p