Foxy's Falll Classic - Davis

[RolliePollie]

Anyone else doing this ride?

This will be my FIRST CENTURY! I'm nervous...actually, very nervous. I think I'm prepared but I broke my toe last week so I'm anticipating a little extra pain during the ride. I ride tons of hills so I'm not too worried about the climbing. Hopefully I can do it...I am so motivated the finish the ride...I can't wait to have a Century under my belt!

[maillotpois]

Well, shoot! Now I wish I were doing it. DH is doing it with some friends. I am going to be in SF cheering on friends at the Nike marathon.

Have fun! I will venture to say the course will seem easy compared to what you usually train on. Sorry about the toe, though! :(

[jobob]

Good luck! I did a ride out that way a couple of weekends ago, it was lovely.

And have fun cruising down Wooden Valley Road, it was recently repaved and it's like buttah now, and with a 1% or so downhill grade - whee!

[xeney]

My husband is doing it. I did the metric two years ago, and I am doing the 50K with my daughter in the trailer this year.

[SadieKate]

Good luck! I did a ride out that way a couple of weekends ago, it was lovely.

And have fun cruising down Wooden Valley Road, it was recently repaved and it's like buttah now, and with a 1% or so downhill grade - whee!Unless they've reversed direction, they will be flying down Cardiac (same direction that Team Darwin went).

It's too bad since flying down Wooden Valley is so fabulous.

[aka_kim]

I'll be doing the century, or I will if I can get my sorry butt up to Davis early enough. I'll be identifiable as the person way in the back, wearing the AV colors.

[RolliePollie]

I'll be doing the century, or I will if I can get my sorry butt up to Davis early enough. I'll be identifiable as the person way in the back, wearing the AV colors.


I'll probably see you...I anticipate that I'll be in the back too! But I don't know what I'm wearing yet. I want to wear my Placerville Bike Shop jersey but it's not the most comfy jersey and I may decide on comfort over style for this ride.

The website for this ride is pretty crummy, but the extremely brief course description says we'll be riding up Cardiac Hill. So I'll look forward to the Wooden Valley Rd. descent! I hear Cardiac Hill is about 4 miles of climbing. I recently did a ride that started out with 7 miles of non-stop climbing (no clue on the grade but I was in my granny gear), so 4 miles should be do-able (I hope!).

Maillotpois - I hope it seems easy!!!!!

[jobob]

I came across this Foxy's century route mapped out on Bikely:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/DBC-Faux-Fall-Century
(disclaimer: I have no idea if this is this year's actual route)

When I first saw it I didn't check the direction of the route.

Well, come to find out, SK was right, according to this you'll be heading uphill on Wooden Valley. It'll be a very shallow uphill except when its not, and then you'll be heading east from Moskowite Corners up & over Cardiac.

Sorry to get your hopes up about Wooden Valley ... :o

[RolliePollie]

Thanks for the link, Jobob. I'm glad to see a preview of where we'll be going. Whichever direction they send us, I'll be happy enough...I've never ridden in that area so I won't know any better if it would be more fun to go the other way.

This is what the Foxy's website provides for the course description:

"Experience a beautiful ride through Solano and Napa counties. Ride through vineyards along Gordon and Wooden Valleys, climb to Moskowite Corner and enjoy the downhill after climbing Cardiac Hill. Lunch is served at Wooden Valley School."

I'll definitely let you know which way they send us after the ride. I just got in little bit ago from my last pre-Foxy's ride and I felt horrible on the bike. Not sure what was going on. I think I'll eat pasta every night til Saturday!

[SadieKate]

Having ridden that route for a bizillion years, I can tell you that you will be climbing up Wooden Valley to the school where you will stop for lunch. You will then have another climb (and the steepest) to Moskowite Corner so don't chow down. If you need more to eat later there is a country store at Moskowite.

You will then wind around Lake Berryessa with a bit of climb back up out of the lake, then start your descent to the dam and back to the valley floor. The steepest section is off the face of the dam but you should be used to it where you live.

The climbs are not challenging, but pace yourself going north up to Moskowite because it is long and steady. It is almost more important to find folks to ride with going down to Fairfield or back from Winters. Long flat miles with hopefully little wind where a bit of company goes a long way. The earlier you get started in the day, the better chance you have for avoiding the wind. Fact o' live in Solano and Yolo counties.

[jobob]

If you need more to eat later there is a country store at Moskowite.

Um, no there's not. It's closed, alas. :(

The old gas station there is now a (micro-) mini mart that sells cold beverages and a very limited supply of snax.

[snapdragen]

Um, no there's not. It's closed, alas. :(



SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MOVE AWAY SK!!!!!!! :D

[aka_kim]

Yeah! First the Coffee World in Fairfield, now the store at Moskovite. What next?

[SadieKate]

WHAT?

That's insane that they couldn't keep the store open. The cafe, which was an exercise in faith anyway, I could understand, but not the store.

[Bike Goddess]

Yeah, store closed (we had hoped for a summer opening but alas that didn't happen). I don't know about the bathrooms- last time we asked they didn't have them at the gas station.

I've also done this route many times (both directions) and will say that I think it is easier going this way. Cardiac Hill is a bit steeper coming from the other direction coupled with the fact that you have already done some climbing from Lake Solano to the dam.

Gordon Valley should be beautiful- fall colors in there are quite spectacular. After you turn onto Wooden Valley it's 4.5 miles to the school and another mile or so to the junction where you turn and start a good climb. They have fixed the road and it has a nice surface.

When you get to Moskovite corner and turn right you will be following the old Amgen tour route. This year they will do that part of the route in the reverse direction coming from Davis on their way to Santa Rosa.

If you see any yellow jerseys it's probably my club as we ride this century every year. (Benicia bike club) They are a fr'endly group so feel free to say hello (they might even have argyle socks on!).

Looks like you'll have cooler temps and (yes indeed) some SW wind from Davis through Fairfield. Once you get past Mankas Corner and turn into Gordon Valley it should be a bit less windy. (If you need to stop for food or bathroom- Vezer Vineyard is at Mankas Corner- bathrooms and great coffee, etc.)

Looking forward to a ride report! :):)

[RolliePollie]

Thanks everyone, for all the awesome info! It's great to have a little preview of the route. I'm not so worried about the climbing as I am about the distance. And actually, I'm looking forward to some flat riding...that will be exciting and different for me since there is nothing flat up here in the foothills!

So far, the Nat'l Weather Service website is not predicting gale force winds, so I'm hopeful. The course opens at 7 am...I plan to be ready to go by 6:55! I'm also really hoping I can latch on to a group here and there, so I'll be on the lookout for yellow jerseys and argyle socks!

[SadieKate]

Since you are not used to long distances on freakingly flat roads, remember to stand up regularly. Pedal a few strokes standing. Stretch your back, legs, etc. There is an art to managing butt pain when riding extended flat sections.

[jobob]

There is an art to managing butt pain when riding extended flat sections. It's called owning a Brooks saddle.

:D

[SadieKate]

And yet, I've never been awash in a "sea of chamois butter". ;)

And I'm not really talking about that kind of butt pain. I just hate sitting for long periods of time. Yet, what am I doing still here at work?

[jobob]

And yet, I've never been awash in a "sea of chamois butter". ;)

Wizeazzz :p

[RolliePollie]

Well, I did it! I’ve got my first century under my belt now. Yippee! :D

What an awesome day! Everything went great. 6 hours 44 minutes of riding, average of 15.9 mph. I don’t think the weather could’ve been much better. There was a little wind in the morning and but it was only really bad for about 5 miles. The temperature was perfect throughout the ride and the scenery was great. Davis Bike Club did an excellent job. There was a lot of support on the course, the course was very well marked, rest stops were well stocked with good food, and lunch and the post-ride meal were great. Plus I got a free Foxy’s water bottle because it was my first Century.

I had planned to ride alone, but I met up with three folks I know at about mile 40 and rode with them the rest of the day. That was great…not only did I get to draft off of them, but it kept me from getting bored and lonely. I’m sure that’s why I was able to average 15.9. I never expected to ride it that fast…I was hoping for 15 but I didn’t think that was realistic.

The hilly section between about mile 65 and 75 was yucky. That was a lot of steep and long climbing to pack into just a few miles. Plus I was already pooped by then! Even though I ride lots of hills, these hills were challenging. But of course, then we got the awesome downhills around Lake Berryessa, so I can’t complain too much.

Although I do think the organizers under estimate the climbing, this was a great first century. It was just a great ride. Now I want to do another one (next season!).

[SadieKate]

Eh, they just don't describe the long climb up to Moskowite. You think any of your challenge came from riding at a faster pace than normal? :rolleyes::)

Now you know why riding the reverse (climbing Cardiac and descending Wooden Valley) is so much more fun. The climbing is over with faster or at least comes in chunks and then you get a glorious downhill. I'll take shorter and steeper every time, while making the descent as long as possible.

Congratulations for the first! There's only about 3,000' of climbing on the course, so now you can pick out a new challenge.

[xeney]

I did the 50K with my kid in a trailer. No hills (I would have killed for a hill) and not much scenery. I would not do it again without someone to ride with (I mean, someone who is not either asleep or too busy reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear to talk to me) ... we left really late so we rode the whole course alone.

The Davis Bike Club is fantastic, though. I got a goathead in one of the trailer tires at the rest stop, just as they were packing up to leave, and one guy fixed the flat while the other scared up some goldfish and pretzels for Penny.

[aka_kim]

This was my 3rd Foxy's - I did the 100k two years ago, and the 100 miler last year and this year. The 100 mile course is much, much prettier and more fun. I don't think the 100k is worth doing, unless of course you're riding with those crazy Bobs and Trekhawk, since there is nothing to see and the roads are sometimes rough.

My favorite part of the 100 mile route is miles 65 - 75 :), or that whole section from Wooden Valley to the dam.

I haven't been riding enough to do 106 miles comfortably, and I was whimpering aloud the last 10 miles (fortunately no one was around to hear). The excellent dinner and dessert perked me back up though.

[RolliePollie]

...and I was whimpering aloud the last 10 miles (fortunately no one was around to hear). The excellent dinner and dessert perked me back up though.


Ummm, I was whimpering those last few miles too. My group dropped me about 8 miles from the end so I was all alone. And I was whining, fussing, whimpering, cursing at my screaming white-hot burning feet, etc.

I also thought that the best part of the course was after the 100K course turned off. Tomorrow I'll ask the gals from work who did the 100K what they thought. I enjoyed the flat farmland scenery too because it's totally different than where I live. But all flat and no hills at all could get really boring.

I think I realized that I do need to train a little more on flat terrain. It is a whole different ballgame than riding hills all the time. You never get a break from pedalling when it's flat...I think that wore me out and I'm sure it's why the hills seemed harder.

Wasn't the ice cream at the dinner delicious?!?!?! I wanted to go back for more but the line got super long and I didn't want to wait. Hmmm, now I want ice cream right now. A trip to the store may be in order.

[xeney]

My kid ate most of my ice cream, and then most of her father's when he finished his ride. It was tasty, indeed.

I did the 100K two years ago, with my husband, and he assures me that you miss all the good stuff if you don't do the full century. There was some pretty country on the 100K but mostly just, you know, dirt. Flat dirt. The 50K (which I have done twice -- we rode it four or five years ago, three days after I got my road bike) is all the least interesting parts of both rides, plus some time on the bike trail. Putah Creek Road is the only part that's pretty.

[SadieKate]

Why do you think I organized so many Dam Corners and Valleys rides where we just rode the middle 62 miles*? That 20 miles each at the beginning and end that are flat, flat, flat and even flatter are horribly monotonous. And, yes, I always got a laugh out of the people not used to riding flatland. On the otherhand, they could laugh at me in the hills.

Yeah, I'm enjoying my central Oregon mountains. :D

*Well there was Steady Eddy's. It's stil in business, right? It was in September!

[jobob]

Congratulations, Rollie Pollie! :cool:

Sorry I wasn't there to whimper with you, Kim. Next time.

Oh, and SK, Steady Eddy's is still open (whew!). But Railroad St and the parking lot next to Eddy's is all torn up. See what happens when you go away? All hell breaks loose.

[aka_kim]

I recently read an article about the economic woes on "Main Street" which included a few businesses in Winters - a day spa, and ... something. I can't find the article online, so maybe I just dreamed it. But anyway, we all better cross our fingers that Steady Eddy's does remain in business.

[deedolce]

Diane, the better half of Steady Eddie, talked to my friend a couple of weeks ago, and she mentioned it was thanks to the cyclists that they're still in business! I know it's a weekly stop for me on my weekend rides! Yum for the Breakfast Deluxe Sausage panini!

Glad y'all seemed to enjoy the ride. I worked morning registration and the Solano Lake lunch stop/rest stop. And then I got to eat the leftover dinner and desert the next couple of days...yum is right. Man, that race team can cook!

[Trekhawk]

I haven't been riding enough to do 106 miles comfortably, and I was whimpering aloud the last 10 miles (fortunately no one was around to hear). The excellent dinner and dessert perked me back up though.

LOL - I bet you still looked fabulous though. You always make riding look so effortless. You and SK have such a great looking ride style.:)

[SadieKate]

Hmph.

Kim, don't you distinctly remember TH and others laughing at us one day over that "style"? :rolleyes::D

[jobob]

I remember no such thing! :p

[aka_kim]

Laughing?! At us?! Of all the nerve! :p

SK, isn't this "style" part of our shock & awe strategy?

[Trekhawk]

Laughing?! At us?! Of all the nerve! :p

SK, isn't this "style" part of our shock & awe strategy?

LOL - you both know I think you are fabulous and whatever jokes you make the fact remains that you both look great turning those pedals. You have a very similar style and it a style that makes riding look super easy. :D