need some route suggestions

[cindysue]

hey Girls,

I'm putting together the september schedule for the lunachix. Sundays are dedicated to BAO training rides (www.lunachix.net/bao) but I want to do some fun rides for Saturdays.

I'm thinking maybe something in: the Southbay, Marin, Napa, Davis/Sac, Walnut Creek/danville/pleasanton, .........

suggestions and riders welcome!!!

[SadieKate]

I'm trying to put together a ride from Davis towards Winters/Vacaville with 3 route options so riders of varying levels will have fun. I'm waiting for Petunia to give me a date because we have several people who are just starting riding or are increasing their distance. Depending on starting place, route choices will be about 32, 44 and 55-60 or so.

Unfortunately, the dates I suggested to her (Sept 18 or 25) are Sundays because the Knoxville Double and the Tahoe Sierra are 17th and the 24th. I'm not riding either one but I was trying to pick a date that wouldn't conflict. Plus a couple of the new riders work one Saturday a month. I can keep you posted. I hope to get the date nailed down later this week. One are all are invited. It would be nice to get some of the TE Forum girls from this area that we haven't met before.

One last thing, the start times for our rides are based on the weather, not beauty-sleep schedules. Haven't I read that your group likes to sleep in? :o

[slinkedog]

Cindy, we could do a 40 mile reservoir loop from my house. Would be mostly flat... like what we did but longer and a couple more hills. We could also do the classic Woodside loop on the peninsula. I think there are a few mileage options for that one, and you could do the climb of Old La Honda up to Skyline Blvd., if you wanted. Don't know if I'm up to that one, yet.

I'll keep thinking and get some dates to you hopefully later this week. :) It was nice chatting a little yesterday. Looking forward to Holstein Hundred trip reports from you and Bike Goddess! (I think she was there, no?)

[Melodylynn]

SadieKate,
I am in Lincoln and would love to go on the Davis to Winters/Vacaville ride. The 18th and the 25th are open on my calendar. I am doing the ride on the 10th for Habitat for Humanity from Woodland to Winters and back.

Please keep in touch with the info... ;)

Melody

[SadieKate]

Davis to Winters/Vacaville ride. . . Please keep in touch with the info... ;)

MelodyWill do. It will be posted here and on our blog www.amiciveloci.org. The boys have told me they don't like lurking on our forum. Makes them feel like they're intruding or get more information than they really want to know!

[aka_kim]

I've been thinking about volunteering at Knoxville (http://quackcyclists.com/Kx05/KnoxvilleDC2005.htm) on Saturday the 17th, and then riding part of the course (like 40 miles or so) either before or after, depending on which rest stop I'm at and the weather. I had a great time volunteering with the Quacks at the Bay in a Day Double, and it really is fun to give something back to the cycling community. Anyone interested?

[Bike Goddess]

Sunday September 18th--ooowee--I might even be able to come too! :) :)

[cindysue]

One last thing, the start times for our rides are based on the weather, not beauty-sleep schedules. Haven't I read that your group likes to sleep in? :o

yeah, but I made a command decision to start the BAO training rides at 8am, so the transition for Saturdays may be less traumatic..........

[cindysue]

Cindy, we could do a 40 mile reservoir loop from my house.... We could also do the classic Woodside loop on the peninsula.... and you could do the climb of Old La Honda up to Skyline Blvd.,

Looking forward to Holstein Hundred trip reports from you and Bike Goddess! (I think she was there, no?)

OK, let me know about the soccer game timing. Hmmmmm... Decisions, decisions: The reservoir loop was great. but, it's been years since I did the woodside loop - so I'd love to do that one too......

-------------
Just me from TE on the Holstein - great century - lots of climbing - Yummy eggplant parmesean at the end of the ride. Lots of cows! If you couldn't see them through the fog (it was cold!), you could smell them :o

I struggled with my compact double and 12-25 cassette - but I DID IT. Met some great folks - one guy talked me up one of the tougher climbs. Met another guy who coaches High School MTB, and another who has a daughter on the Cal Cycling team. All in all a GREAT day - I just love how organized rides empower me and remind me how much I love the sport and other cyclists. I get the same feeling when I'm out with you TE girls.

[Bike Goddess]

Bike Goddess did the Napa Century on Sunday (seldom does she get to ride on Saturdays (work) :( . Since you asked, here's my report I did for the Bike Journal (under Metric Century thread)

The Napa Century Ride- thought I was going to do a century but......

Total miles= 68.36
AVG Speed+ 15.54
Total time= 4:24

Temps- started out in the fog- mid 50's and then after climbing Mt Veeder and traversing the Napa Valley in the fog, as we were climbing up the opposite ridge into the Pope Valley, the sky cleared and the temps went from a comfortable 60 to 80+ and later high 90's in the course of about 10 minutes!

The Lunch Stop was at mile 63. I was excited as it looked like this would be my fastest century yet! Just 36.5 miles to go- one steep uphill grade of 5 miles, a screaming downhill back into the Napa Valley, and some fast level stretches back to the finish. I started up the Ink Grade (famous out here for the climb and because we pass the property of the Cliff Bar owner-himself a cyclist of sorts)when about 1/4 of the way up- BANG!- the bike came to a sudden halt!. Fortunately I was able to unclip. Cause- broken spoke.

The upshot of the story- got SAGGED in- my first SAG experience and my first ever DNF. Not fun either as I had to face my fellow riders from our club (about 20)with my excuse! Turns out another member also had a broken spoke (front wheel), but he found a mechanic who trued the wheel so he could finish the ride. Of course I got an earful of broken spoke stories so at least it was fodder for some interesting conversations.

The good news- one of the riders in my club has the dream bike repair area in his garage. After the ride, he changed out the rear cluster on one of his spare wheels, put my cluster on, and I'm good to go. Now I have to find a straight pull spoke for my rear wheel. Of course I have to have a spoke that is rarely seen these days on bikes!

I've gotten about 8000 miles on that wheel so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Glad it didn't happen on the downhill!

P.S. Anyone else had this happen to them???? :eek:

[snapdragen]

P.S. Anyone else had this happen to them???? :eek:

Yup - bikerz coming down Diablo :eek: Sagged her in the trusty blue Suby.

[jobob]

The Chain Reaction website has some very nice routes mapped out, many with photos.

http://www.chainreaction.com/theloop.htm --> the Most Excellent Woodside / Portola Valley (mini) loop

http://www.chainreaction.com/bigloop.htm --> the beefier version of the mini loop, which adds Old La Honda up and the descent down 84 (not for the faint of heart, but quite the blast, I think!)


http://www.chainreaction.com/coastloop.htm --> Pescadero/Tunitas Creek. This one is for the studly.

http://www.chainreaction.com/roadrides.htm --> overview of many of the rides described on their site

Also http://www.chainreaction.com/ check the drop-down menu at the very bottom of the page.

[bikerz]

Yup - bikerz coming down Diablo Sagged her in the trusty blue Suby.Yes indeedy - thank goodness for Snap and the Subaru - I would have and a depressing 7 mile walk downhill! Good thing you were able to stop, Nancy, and that it happened on an uphill, not at high speed going downhill. And after 8000 miles - good golly Ned! Sounds like a great ride otherwise!

[cindysue]

The Chain Reaction website has some very nice routes mapped out, many with photos.

Thanks! :cool:

[cindysue]

Turns out another member also had a broken spoke (front wheel), but he found a mechanic who trued the wheel so he could finish the ride.

Bummer BG! But, sounds like you had a great ride up to that point!

so, if this happens to someone else, is there no quick fix? Any mini-tools / knowledge we can take on the road with us?

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, Cindy Sue. there is something called a spoke wrench. You have to get one that fits your spokes. When a spoke pops as my did you true the wheel ON the bike by loosening the spokes on either side of the broken one. A bit tricky, but can be done. DO NOT take wheel off bike!! Ask at your LBS guys to show you. :)

[slinkedog]

Hey Cindy! Hope you're having a good trip!

I finally got the times for the soccer games. Unfortunately, they're all in the afternoons, either at 12, 1:15 or 2:30, and we only have one game that's at 2:30. It's on October 15th.

The game on Sept. 24th is at 1:15, so we could do a ride and i would either have to bail a little early or we could go on the early side, say 9:00 and do a 3 hour ride, max. What do you think? A route close to my house would probably be best for that one... we could do the reservoirs loop, Calero to Uvas to Chesbro and back.

[cindysue]

Hey Cindy! Hope you're having a good trip!

The game on Sept. 24th is at 1:15, so we could do a ride and i would either have to bail a little early or we could go on the early side, say 9:00 and do a 3 hour ride, max. What do you think? A route close to my house would probably be best for that one... we could do the reservoirs loop, Calero to Uvas to Chesbro and back.

OK, the 24th, it is. 9am - we should easily be done in 3 hours. We can plan a 30ish mile ride. How long is the reservoirs loop?
I actually have a wedding to go to that evening in San Jose. It starts at 5pm, so I'll need to decide if I want to stay down there for the day with a friend or come back to walnut creek. I was planning on getting my hair cut and styled in Berkeley that afternoon (2ish).......

Andrew and I had a Great trip! I got a snap shot of Mt. Diablo and will have to post as soon as I upload it to my computer. How was Monterey? I will have to mosey over to the other thread to see how the Monterey ride went..........

[cindysue]

there is something called a spoke wrench. Ask at your LBS guys to show you. :)

thanks Nancy!

[Veronica]

so, if this happens to someone else, is there no quick fix? Any mini-tools / knowledge we can take on the road with us?

I had a rear spoke break last spring. It started off as a weird noise and then popped out. I was able to ride home - about 5 miles - by loosening my rear brakes to avoid rubbing. Not something you can do if you are riding low spoke count wheels. It went to the shop for a new spoke and truing and I stole Thom's rear wheel.

On the Primavera century I was still riding Thom's wheel (he got the fixed one) and I had a spoke start working loose. I actually have a spoke wrench in my tool kit, so we fixed it up enough to get back to the car.

After that I started checking the spokes every so often to see if they were loose until Thom got me some snazzy new wheels. Alas, if a spoke breaks on these I won't be able to ride home. That's the risk you take when you go light. :D

V.

[slinkedog]

Let me map out something good. The ride to Uvas and back is about 37, and to Chesbro dam and back is a little shorter. To do a loop all the way around would be more like 40, so maybe we should do an out and back.

Let me cook something up on my bike-route mapping software and I'll give you some more options.

Looking forward to it!! :)