Climbing the steepest streets in San Francisco on a folding bike

[luv2climb]

I took a trip to San Francisco yesterday in a rental car, so that meant taking my collapsible road bike-a Bike Friday Pocket Companion. It is sold as a touring bike, but I bought it for the low climbing gears. It has a triple, and I replaced the stock 30t small chainring with a 24t, which gives me a 16 inch low gear.

Thanks to a cyclist on another forum, I got a list of the steepest streets in The City. Because of limited daylight, I decided to do just all the steepest climbs in the Nob Hill, Russian Hill, and Pacific Heights areas.

I started with Filbert between Hyde and Leavenworth, a 31.5% grade. This is where I discovered that my waterbottle needed to be on the frame-mounted bottle cage, not the handlebar-mounted one. It kept poking me in the chest because I had to lean over so much.

Next was Jones between Filbert and Union, a 29% grade. After that was Jones between Union and Green, a 26% grade. Then a ride down Broadway and up some more lesser hills before the next steep street-Webster between Broadway and Vallejo (26%). Next was Fillmore between Broadway and Vallejo at 24%.

The next hill is where I met my match. Broderick between Broadway and Vallejo is a 38% grade. It is so steep there is no road, just a sidewalk on the left side of the street (facing uphill).

I made it halfway up on my first attempt, then ran out of steam. Same thing 4 tries later, each time making less progress than the time before. By then it was dark and I decided to go back to Nob Hill and climb the last hill of the day, Jones between Pine and California (24.8%). Typical of the last hard climb of a ride, this one hurt near the top. Good stuff! :D

My HR hit 202 on this ride. I saw it hit 200 at the top of the only climb where I remembered to look at the Garmin.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/130582283#

I brought my GoPro HD Hero 960 camera with me and mounted it on the handlebars. There's no way my helmet-mounted ContourHD would have produced good footage with this ride. I had my head down for most of the climbs, so you would have had a lovely view of the pavement. :p

I only had to use my lowest gear on Broderick. I did the second attempt in second gear, but all the rest were in the lowest gear.

Here's the video. I left out the last climb up Jones because, like the ContourHD, the GoPro sucks at night video. You can see for yourself on the last attempt up Broderick.

Be forewarned, the intensity of these efforts is very audible at times, so keep this in mind if you have anyone within earshot while watching this. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbc5iG3M1q0

Here's some pics.

Bottom of Filbert between Hyde and Leavenworth
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/bottomofFilbertbetweenHydeLeavenworth.jpg

Top of Filbert
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/topofFilbertbetweenHydeLeavenworth.jpg

Bottom of Jones between Union and Filbert
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/bottomofJonesbetweenUnionFilbert.jpg

Top of Jones between Union and Filbert
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/topofJonesbetweenUnionFilbert.jpg

Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/FillmorebetweenVallejoBroadway.jpg

Webster between Vallejo and Broadway
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/WebsterbetweenVallejoBroadway.jpg

Top of Broderick between Broadway and Vallejo
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/topofBroderickbetweenBroadwayVallejo.jpg

Bottom of Broderick
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/bottomofBroderickbetweenVallejoBroadway.jpg

Top of Jones between California and Pine
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s66/hardmf1/topofJonesbetweenPineCalifornia.jpg

[jobob]

Dang!! :eek:

Fabulous job, and great photos.

[redrhodie]

Broderick just looks evil. Good for you for going for it! I love that city.

[luv2climb]

Thanks! :) I love riding there too. I wish I could afford to live in the Bay Area, not the oversized cowtown I live in now.

A cyclist on another forum posted a link (http://www.datapointed.net/2010/02/more-steeps-of-san-francisco/) to a new, revised list of SF's steepest streets. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me! :eek:

[OakLeaf]

Dang, you DO love to climb! :D Nice work and fun pictures. :)

[luv2climb]

Thanks! :) For a slightly different perspective, here's the footage from the ContourHD helmet cam. I didn't look down as much as I thought I did, so I figured it was worth putting on Contour's video site with the rest of my ContourHD vids. You can hear a descending cyclist skidding down the 26% section of Jones between Union and Green on this one. On the GoPro video it sounded like I was applying my brakes while climbing!

http://contour.com/stories/climbing-the-steepest-san-francisco-hills-on-a-bike-friday-folding-bike-11-23-11

[gnat23]

Wow! Your rear derailleur looks like it would touch pavement on a right turn. Super impressive, those steepies scare the daylights outta me. :)

-- gnat!

[luv2climb]

LOL! You're right! I just looked at the bike and the bottom of the long-cage derailleur is about an inch off the ground. That's the stock configuration too. So far no problems with clearance though.

The one-upmanship has started. A man on another forum claims (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/783394-Climbing-the-steepest-streets-in-San-Francisco-on-a-folding-bike?p=13537296&viewfull=1#post13537296) he made it up the 38% Broderick St with a 34x26. Maybe he did, but without video proof I'm skeptical. I've been accused of being an attention you-know-what for posting videos, but that's not the case. I do it to back up my claims, and because I've been told by many people that they enjoy watching them. If they didn't, I wouldn't waste my time.

I wish more people would post raw footage ride videos to back up their claims. I mention the raw footage part because it shows the viewer how hard the rider had to work to make it up the climb.

[hebe]

wow, never was there a more appropriate use name! I'm amazed, I've only visited San Francisco once, and got a little giddy just doing the hills in those trolley cars!

Brilliant stuff, well done!

[Veronica]

That's rather bold of you. The guy (http://www.caltriplecrown.org/DoublesbyName/RiderHistoryReport.asp?RiderID=10649&ClubID=) who made that claim on BF is a serious hardcore rider, volunteered with me at Knoxville Double 2010 and completed 5 double centuries, including three of the hardest ones - DMD, Terrible Two and Mount Tam in 2010. He then repeated those three this year to finish 24th in the Cal Triple Crown stage race this year.

Really, just because there is no video, does not mean it did not happen.

Veronica

[shootingstar]

Dang, girl you're addicted to hills.

Great to have that video. Treasure it, superwoman. :)

[luv2climb]

That's rather bold of you. The guy (http://www.caltriplecrown.org/DoublesbyName/RiderHistoryReport.asp?RiderID=10649&ClubID=) who made that claim on BF is a serious hardcore rider, volunteered with me at Knoxville Double 2010 and completed 5 double centuries, including three of the hardest ones - DMD, Terrible Two and Mount Tam in 2010. He then repeated those three this year to finish 24th in the Cal Triple Crown stage race this year.

Really, just because there is no video, does not mean it did not happen.

Veronica
Look, I know I'm not exactly your favorite poster out there, but I am cynical of most of the stuff I read on the internet. Anyone can say they did this and that, and it's not always true. I never said he didn't do it. I said I was skeptical because that Strava page he linked to doesn't show the detailed ride data that Garmin's site does. I had no way to see what and where he rode.

Don't forget, many men hate being "chicked", so they will bust their *** to outdo a woman.

[Blueberry]

I don't have a dog in the fight of who did or didn't post what about their ride.

However, I will say:

1) I do not have a helmet mount camera. I haven't ruled it out because of crazy drivers, but it's not likely something I'll spend money on anytime soon. I certainly wouldn't find it necessary to back up a claim of what I did or didn't do.

2) I refuse to provide any public access to my Garmin data. I don't want people to know where and when I start and end my rides for security reasons. I also don't really necessarily want my HR data out there for all to see.

Neither of these would necessarily verify what gear someone used anyway.

I don't tend to watch videos on the internet anyway - but I do enjoy seeing the photos:)

[Veronica]

Don't forget, many men hate being "chicked", so they will bust their *** to outdo a woman.



You are the window through which you see the world.

Veronica

[luv2climb]

You are the window through which you see the world.

Veronica
Huh? English, please!

I base my opinions on past experiences, both my own and other people's. Sorry if you can't accept that some, not all, men feel threatened by women who are at least somewhat strong. Before you get your panties in a wad, I am not talking about the BF poster who said he rode up Broderick in a 34x26. I don't even know who he is. I just wanted more concrete proof of his climb, that's all.

[luv2climb]

2) I refuse to provide any public access to my Garmin data. I don't want people to know where and when I start and end my rides for security reasons. I also don't really necessarily want my HR data out there for all to see.
I don't use my Garmin on any ride that starts anywhere near home. I only use it for climbing rides, which start at a minimum of 25 miles away.

[shootingstar]

There's nothing wrong asking for abit of proof. Why is Garmin data proof so critical anyway? My partner cycled across Canada twice with his gear solo and I didn't have to ask for Garmin proof. He had photos of where he went and stories how wiped out he was on certain day.

I'm sure we know we can't ask the sherpas in Tibet for Garmin proof when they carry trekking loads up those steep altitudes for themselves or for tour groups.

Anyway, any experienced cyclist, even for a turtle like me who ends up walking up some of those type of hills with my bike, knows it's not an easy feat.

I enjoyed the video luv2climb. I've been to 'Frisco (twice).

[ladyicon]

WOW! Great photos, and good for you for even attempting it. Now I know not to take my bike there, hills are my worst enemy, but I fight them all the time. Kudos to you for doing it.

[luv2climb]

I probably should have kept my cynicism to myself, as it seems to have hit a nerve with Veronica, who should probably just put me on ignore.

I've seen videos of the Dirty Dozen bike race in Pittsburgh, PA where the riders climbed Canton Ave, a cobbled 37% grade. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone who I saw ride up Canton could make it up Broderick no problem.

I just don't feel comfortable making claims of climbing 31.5% grades with a folding bike without some kind of proof. I want people to have no doubt that what I said I did is true.

Even Garmin data is no longer foolproof. When I upload my data, there is now an option for "full edit". That means I could be dishonest and change the readings. No way am I doing that!

[Veronica]

Huh? English, please!



The word skeptical means you doubt that someone accomplished what they did, which I interpret to mean you are calling someone you don't know, a liar.

What does it matter if someone did or didn't do what they claim? Why do you need proof?

BTW - panties in a wad - is rude and insulting.

Veronica

[luv2climb]

The word skeptical means you doubt that someone accomplished what they did, which I interpret to mean you are calling someone you don't know, a liar.

What does it matter if someone did or didn't do what they claim? Why do you need proof?

BTW - panties in a wad - is rude and insulting.

Veronica
Why does it matter? Because they posted it in my thread, that's why. I would like to see someone, anyone, climb that hill because it would be inspiring to me and many others.

Why don't you do yourself a favor and put me on ignore? Nothing I can say is going to change your opinion of me, so please do us both a favor and ignore my posts.

[Crankin]

Well, I am going to throw myself into the fray here. I "put myself on ignore," in a way, because while I do like looking at pictures of any rides in places where I have not ridden, I am not going to comment on the descriptions and I certainly am not watching the videos. I could care less about the technology of helmet cameras or any cameras. I don't know the man that the OP and Veronica are talking about, so it's not like I am defending him. But something just feels "wrong" here. I don't discount the OP's accomplishments, I am sure she's done all of these hill climbs.
Won't comment any more, as I really don't want to start a war. But, I do agree with Veronica.

[luv2climb]

I will try my best to clarify what I said earlier, for those who think I'm just stirring the pot.

I am not familiar with the BF poster who made those claims, or his cycling accomplishments. When I first saw his post, I thought he was either super-fit and actually climbed Broderick, or he exaggerated. Anyone who has ever spent time on the Road Cycling section of BF knows how much bragging and outright lying goes on in there, so naturally I was a bit hesitant to take his word that he climbed that hill in that gear combination. Many roadies have big egos, and many male roadies hate it when a woman is as fast or faster than them. Since climbing is probably the ultimate display of strength, many roadies are very competitive and like to try to outdo each other.

With all this in mind, I would have felt more comfortable with that claim with just a little more data, a picture, or a video. That is all.

[luv2climb]

I want to thank all those who gave positive feedback. You are the reason I post these videos and pictures. I wouldn't do it if it didn't make people happy.

As far as those who only speak up when they have something negative to say to me, turn off your computers, go outside, and go for a ride or do some other type of exercise, It's much more productive to take your frustrations out on the pedals than on some random stranger on the internet. ;)

[jobob]

Good grief.

Luv2climb, I don't know you from Adam and I don't think we have exchanged any correspondence before this thread, in which, I might add, I was the first one who complimented you on your achievement.

Your later posts implying that someone did not actually climb Broderick because he didn't supply you with adequate "proof" were, to put it mildly, rather odd. Even more so because I too know the man you are alleging to be a liar. I've known Bostic even longer than Veronica has (and she probably doesn't even know that); I met him way before V started doing double centuries. He is a kind and an honest man, and yes, a damn strong cyclist. If he said he rode up Broderick, he rode up Broderick.


Anyone who has ever spent time on the Road Cycling section of BF knows how much bragging and outright lying goes on in there, so naturally I was a bit hesitant to take his word that he climbed that hill in that gear combination. Many roadies have big egos, and many male roadies hate it when a woman is as fast or faster than them. Since climbing is probably the ultimate display of strength, many roadies are very competitive and like to try to outdo each other.


So what? What is the big deal if someone exaggerates? You still did what you did, how might some pathetic person's exaggeration diminish your own accomplishments?

You have no reason to be so insecure. The "male roadies" on bikeforums were very impressed with your achievements. As was I, at least until you started trashing someone out of the blue. And I'm not at all impressed with the way you lashed out at Veronica because she pointed out your incorrect assertions about her friend (and mine). Kind of unfair, imo.

[Crankin]

LuvToClimb, the reason I only spoke up after V's comment is I didn't want to get the reaction from you that is in your last post. Veronica's comment made me realize that I am not the only one who feels this way. OK, so you you think I should go out and ride? Get rid of my frustrations? Really, I don't have any. My life is great, and I just came home from a 14 mile ride at 5:00 AM. I guess I am just wondering what else is in your life, besides taking long rides by yourself? I admire the athletic accomplishments, for sure, it's just we know very little about you, besides the fact that you do long rides up steep climbs. Most of the people who post here talk about their riding/running/swimming/x country skiing, but we also share other stuff about ourselves. Not super personal, but I could list the other interests and family/friends of several TE people. It makes them feel like friends, not just some random poster I see on the Internet. In fact, I have met several TE people in person and this would not have happened if I didn't feel a connection, in addition to the riding. Perhaps this is just my own personal take on this, but I have never seen you post about anything other than your climbs.

[pll]

I will chime in to say that I agree with Jobob, Veronica and Crankin here. I always enjoy seeing your pictures, luv2climb, but your tone in this thread and the ad hominem attacks you made are lamentable.

I clicked on the link you gave to Bike Forums, and fail to see any "one-upmanship" in Bostic's post. If you read the regular threads in this forum, about weekend rides, I would read Bostic's post in the same light, as a similar and relevant report. I don't see any reason to suspect that the poster was exaggerating in any way: considering the tone of the post, and the seniority of the poster in Bike Forums, asking for a video a proof seems just out of place. I am sure there are trolls who exaggerate, but why would anyone bother engaging them?

[luv2climb]

The reason I have a problem with people exaggerating the truth is because that's not how I was brought up. I feel it's pointless to embellish things just to make yourself feel better.

I will repeat. I do not know the poster on BF, so I wasn't going to automatically take his word for it after some of the stuff I've seen other people post on BF. I don't believe everything I read on the internet. I take it with a grain of salt.

Veronica only speaks up when she has something negative to say to me. That is "odd", IMHO.

This is a cycling forum. I don't feel comfortable sharing other things about my life with random strangers on the internet. I know there's no risk in sharing the climbs. And yes, I have posted in other people's threads about other subjects. I don't have the time to go through every thread on every forum though.

I can't figure out why those who are so quick to defend the BF poster can't understand where I'm coming from. You know him. I don't. I don't believe everything I read on the internet. That's just common sense. Now that several of you have insisted that he's telling the truth, I'll believe you.

[shootingstar]

This is a cycling forum. I don't feel comfortable sharing other things about my life with random strangers on the internet. I know there's no risk in sharing the climbs. And yes, I have posted in other people's threads about other subjects. I don't have the time to go through every thread on every forum though.

I highlighted a portion of your comments in green as a reference for mine, before..I get misunderstood.

Hopefully luv2climb you will continue to participate in other forum members' subject threads. Or even initiate topics that are outside of cycling hills.

While, true that it is probably this group of women who also cycle often, would appreciate your hill-climbing, it is after all, an Internet informal community virtual group.

Making it a place that is dynamic for ongoing dialogue, does need the lubricant of other side cycling topics or nothing to do with cycling. I think this is why TE forums has remained an active forum with a decent wide number of regular participants ("regular" can be thought of as only a few times per month/year even).

If we all stuck to just announcing our cycling achievements on the forums, it would be a pretty dry, boring place, after all. :)

Consider the "social lubricants" or other topics that are related and not related to cycling, that make TE a great place for women cyclists to dialogue and connect --globally.

We need to remind ourselves this..occasionally. :)

I actually don't care about the guy, etc. and his cycling. I just care about how TE forums hang together and not fall apart.

[MM_QFC!]

Why wasn't there an apology for the unnecessary and uncalled for rude and insulting response to Veronica?
There was a challenge to a post by the OP, but it neither rude nor insulting, so I found the response to be both and undeserved too.
IMHO, there is never a good reason to bring that type of behavior nor speak to any TE member in a rude and insulting way. Isn't that what many of us find objectionable on other forums? When someone chooses to deteriorate to insulting, rude comments to another TE member, then don't others of us have to challenge it to keep our experience here one that is enjoyable, educational, and respectful of each other. I'd prefer not to lower that bar; you?

[luv2climb]

Well, maybe I wouldn't have had to respond negatively if Veronica would stop being so negative to me. Like I said in an earlier post, she only speaks up in my threads to criticize me. Why should I be nice to someone who obviously dislikes me? Yeah sure, you can "kill them with kindness", but that doesn't always work. Some personalities clash no matter what.

For those who wonder why I talk about climbing more than anything else, I have a lifelong condition that I was born with. Cycling, especially hard climbing, is very therapeutic. If I couldn't ride I would be in much worse condition, believe me. That's as much as I'm willing to disclose in a public forum.

[snapdragen]

Let's all step away from our keyboards for a while.

Luv2 - your first mistake was even going to BF. :rolleyes:

Now, if any of you think there is a problem with another poster, you can put them on ignore. Then you don't have to worry about misinterpreting what they say, and vice versa. There is another handy feature here on TE - the ignore thread. It's awesome, you can completely block threads you don't want to see.

[luv2climb]

Yesterday I apologized to Bostic in the thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/783394-Climbing-the-steepest-streets-in-San-Francisco-on-a-folding-bike) on BF (start with post #17). After that he posted the Strava data I was looking for, in case any of you are interested. And yes, he seems very nice. This is the first time I've had any communication with him. Like I said earlier in this thread. I'm not familiar with him or his posts.

So if any of you are interested you can follow the thread over there. It is a prime example of why I love BF so much. I've been a member there since July 2006, and there are a lot of nice people over there. I ignore the BS threads now and just click on the ones that look more "genuine", if you know what I mean.

I have learned a valuable lesson from all this drama, and that is to keep any doubts I have to myself. I now know that the NorCal regional subforum is not full of the same BS as some of the other subforums on BF. ;)

Here's another reason I don't spend a lot of time on TE discussing non-cycling stuff. My father has told me several times that the internet is a "huge time suck". Like most of us, he loves his computers and keeps them updated, but he balances his time on the net with books and other hobbies (he's retired).

It is possible to waste a tremendous amount of time on the internet. Just the process of editing and uploading videos and photos is time-consuming. First you've got to copy it from the memory card to the computer, which takes several minutes. Then you've got to sift through all the footage and figure out what clips are worth keeping in the editing software. If I use DashWare to overlay the Garmin data onto the video, that's another long process. Then the video has to be rendered and uploaded to YouTube.

Photos are much quicker to edit and upload, but it still takes a few minutes.

I will make it a point to post more often around here, but there's only so many threads I can contribute useful information to. If I don't know about a subject, I'm not going to offer advice or an uninformed opinion.

[Veronica]

I now know that the NorCal regional subforum is not full of the same BS as some of the other subforums on BF. ;)


Yep, the NorCal group is a great bunch. I know you've had a chance to ride with Joel (gawd he's a fast climber!) LanceOldStrong and CCorlew are great to ride with too. If you can, you should join in on the Christmas Eve Diablo ride. It is a beautiful climb and they're a fun, nice group to ride with.

Veronica

[luv2climb]

Yes, JoelS was fast! If you saw that ride video I put up on BF back in June, you get to see me get dropped by him. :o I ran into him at the bottom of Indian Hill Road as I was reaching the top of Newcastle Road. His riding partners were very friendly too.

Not going to be able to make it to Mt. Diablo, as I have no truck until January. Old one got totalled last month, so I've been car-free all this time. I kind of like it, except that I'm somewhat limited in climbing locations.

[Veronica]

Not going to be able to make it to Mt. Diablo, as I have no truck until January. Old one got totalled last month, so I've been car-free all this time. I kind of like it, except that I'm somewhat limited in climbing locations.

Well, that's a bummer. Not hurt I hope.

NorCal BF seems to have an informal group ride most weekends, so maybe once you're vehicle enabled again. :)

Veronica

[shootingstar]

It is possible to waste a tremendous amount of time on the internet. Just the process of editing and uploading videos and photos is time-consuming. First you've got to copy it from the memory card ...............I will make it a point to post more often around here, but there's only so many threads I can contribute useful information to. If I don't know about a subject, I'm not going to offer advice or an uninformed opinion.

Hey luvtoclimb, I don't have a tv and don't plan to get one. So the Internet is my "timewaster". :D I also blog..um across 3 blogs. (actually there's a 4th blog.) Another time-waster or whatever. But thank goodness, it is about cycling...the Internet as advancing the cause of cycling and fun, whatever else. :o

As for being expert on other subjects....we just think we are about: materialism, pets, Christmas, career changes, etc. ;)

[luv2climb]

Got very lucky. No serious injuries, no blood. Just a few bruises that have all healed except the one at the bottom of my shin near my foot. It's better than it was, but there's still a slight lump there that hurts if I push on it.

The truck sacrificed itself to save me. I've got to hand it to the designers of modern automobiles. That safety equipment really does work!

[luv2climb]

Hey luvtoclimb, I don't have a tv and don't plan to get one. So the Internet is my "timewaster". :D I also blog..um across 3 blogs. (actually there's a 4th blog.) Another time-waster or whatever. But thank goodness, it is about cycling...the Internet as advancing the cause of cycling and fun, whatever else. :o

As for being expert on other subjects....we just think we are about: materialism, pets, Christmas, career changes, etc. ;)
I don't watch TV either. When I was growing up, my parents always made it a point to make sure I led a "balanced" life. They didn't even like it when I played with toy cars more than dolls, although they didn't raise me to be a delicate "fembot", as I used to call giggly teenagers years ago.

Good thing they both live many miles away. They don't need to know how obsessed I am with cycling and climbing! :o They do like the fact that I climb all these hills though, and they encourage me to keep doing it.

[luv2climb]

Well, that's a bummer. Not hurt I hope.

NorCal BF seems to have an informal group ride most weekends, so maybe once you're vehicle enabled again. :)

Veronica
I forgot to ask you how fast most of these rides are. I'm not going to waste other riders' time and hold them up if they're faster than me. Not to mention it would be demoralizing to be the slowest rider up a mountain. :(

I take back what I said a few days ago about putting me on ignore. I think I probably gave a few people here the wrong impression of me so the damage is probably already done, but now I'm glad you didn't put me on ignore. :) I can be a bit hot-headed when I think I'm being misunderstood or ganged up on.

[Blueberry]

So....how does the Friday compare climbing? I prefer mine for climbing (except for the weight!), but find that other bikes descend better....

Same experience for you?

[luv2climb]

It climbs great! It is sold as a touring bike, so it already had low gears. I made them even lower by replacing the 30t small chainring with a 24t (16" low gear).

With the higher bars I don't descend as fast as I would on the road bike. I've only gone 44 mph downhill on this bike so far. I did the same descent on the road bike at 50 mph once, but I was pushing it because I had a camera on the handlebars recording video. :D

[Veronica]

I just don't put people on ignore. I ignore threads, but there isn't a single person on TE that I want to completely ignore. :)

The group NorCal pace varies. Generally 16 - 18 on the flats and climb at your own pace. The last ride I did with them, I bonked hard and I was the last one. They were great waiting for me until we told them that I was pretty much done for the day. That'll teach me to go for a run and then ride without taking in enough calories. :p

Veronica

[luv2climb]

That's pretty close to a typical JoelS ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/784069-NorCal-East-Sunday-12-4-Sunday-Hills), so I might wait until I'm stronger and the last 20 pounds are gone before attempting any group rides. I'm not interested in holding anyone up. Many of these people have kids and are much busier on the weekends than I am, so I'll continue to ride solo.

For those who may wonder if I only ride solo and why, there's your answer. ;)

[jobob]

The BF Nor Cal gang used to have a very fun, very loosely-organized Slowpoke ride series, led by Bikingshearer & Bigbossman.

I went on a few of them and had a grand time. I was supposed to go on one the day after the crash that kept me off my bike for several months. :mad: I never did manage to go on another one after that. Over time the slowpoke rides faded away, no idea why.

Here's a thread with a bunch of photos from BF rides past -- not just the slowpoke rides, though they are well represented.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/701504-Historic-NorCal-photos?p=11945089

Many TE denizens appear in these photos.

Oh, and Bostic shows up from time to time too. ;)

[luv2climb]

Nice photos! I even saw a folding bike and a couple of recumbent trikes in there!

I saw spingineer in a bunch of those photos. I'm subscribed to his YouTube channel and I read his blog. Judging by his ride videos, I might be able to keep up with him on a climb. No guarantees though.

I've read a lot of posts from bikingshearer, Beaker, Lanceoldstrong, c0lnago, MarkoPolo, cccorlew, UmneyDurak, Ygduf, uspspro, VNA, and bigbossman. I'm not sure why I never saw Bostic's posts. Either that, or I saw one so long ago that I forgot about it. I've been a member of BF since July 2006, but most of those years I didn't even log in or read much, let alone post. It wasn't until last May when I started the climbing rides again and started losing weight that I became a regular reader and poster on BF.

[jobob]

I saw spingineer in a bunch of those photos. I'm subscribed to his YouTube channel and I read his blog. Judging by his ride videos, I might be able to keep up with him on a climb. No guarantees though.

A couple of years ago, possibly. Since then he's gotten quite fit and goes on pretty epic rides (he's a facebook friend and he posts a lot of his rides there). But he's another of the many excellent gentlement in the NorCal bunch, and great fun to be with. I seriously doubt he'd be pissed off about having to wait a bit -- heck, he's waited plenty of times for me. ;)

For what it's worth, that was a big part of what raised my hackles at your earlier posts, the intimation that most men who post in cycling forums forums engage in "bragging and outright lying" (your words).

I'm really glad you recognize that the people -- men and women -- who post in the NorCal forum don't subscribe to that sort of foolishness (well, rarely ;)). It's a good place, with good people. I hope you get a chance to meet more of them.

[tprevost]

Nice photos! I even saw a folding bike and a couple of recumbent trikes in there!

I saw spingineer in a bunch of those photos. I'm subscribed to his YouTube channel and I read his blog. Judging by his ride videos, I might be able to keep up with him on a climb. No guarantees though.

I've read a lot of posts from bikingshearer, Beaker, Lanceoldstrong, c0lnago, MarkoPolo, cccorlew, UmneyDurak, Ygduf, uspspro, VNA, and bigbossman. I'm not sure why I never saw Bostic's posts. Either that, or I saw one so long ago that I forgot about it. I've been a member of BF since July 2006, but most of those years I didn't even log in or read much, let alone post. It wasn't until last May when I started the climbing rides again and started losing weight that I became a regular reader and poster on BF.

If you ever get a chance to ride with any of the NorCal group, do it... They are a great group of cyclists and, thankfully for me, very patient. Particularly Ron (Spingineer) who is a fabulous riding partner! I look forward to getting enough time in the saddle to be able to do some riding with them sometime soon!

[jobob]

If you can, you should join in on the Christmas Eve Diablo ride.

Are you going, V?

All this reminiscing has me thinking about it. Heck, someone has to bring up the rear and make everyone else look good! :D

[tprevost]

Are you going, V?

All this reminiscing has me thinking about it. Heck, someone has to bring up the rear and make everyone else look good! :D

But I won't be there Jobob ;)

[jobob]

Well then, looks like I'll just have the turkey buzzards to keep me company. :p :D

[luv2climb]

A couple of years ago, possibly. Since then he's gotten quite fit and goes on pretty epic rides (he's a facebook friend and he posts a lot of his rides there). But he's another of the many excellent gentlement in the NorCal bunch, and great fun to be with. I seriously doubt he'd be pissed off about having to wait a bit -- heck, he's waited plenty of times for me. ;)

For what it's worth, that was a big part of what raised my hackles at your earlier posts, the intimation that most men who post in cycling forums forums engage in "bragging and outright lying" (your words).

I'm really glad you recognize that the people -- men and women -- who post in the NorCal forum don't subscribe to that sort of foolishness (well, rarely ;)). It's a good place, with good people. I hope you get a chance to meet more of them.


If you ever get a chance to ride with any of the NorCal group, do it... They are a great group of cyclists and, thankfully for me, very patient. Particularly Ron (Spingineer) who is a fabulous riding partner! I look forward to getting enough time in the saddle to be able to do some riding with them sometime soon!
I think you misunderstood my earlier posts slightly. I said many men, not most men. Yes, I'm very grateful that the NorCal section isn't like some of the other subforums, or some other entirely different forums that are even worse, with grown men in their 50s and 60s acting like teenagers.

I would love to ride with spingineer, especially since he left a comment on one of my mountain climbing ride videos mentioning how he would like to do some of the climbs I do in my videos. I replied telling him to let me know if he ever came up this way, and I would show him the best sufferfests we have to offer! :D

[tprevost]

You should drive over to the bay area! Don't wait for them to go east... Totally with it!

[luv2climb]

I should have told spingineer that I was heading to San Francisco to do those climbs. Turns out he was off that day, so maybe he would've ridden them with me.

[tprevost]

Well then, looks like I'll just have the turkey buzzards to keep me company. :p :D

HA! So not true!!!! :p

[Veronica]

Are you going, V?

All this reminiscing has me thinking about it. Heck, someone has to bring up the rear and make everyone else look good! :D


Probably not, Saturday is usually Thom's day with the trainer and my run day.

Veronica