SoCal TE Ride - Memorial Day (long)

[laughlaugh18]

I guess it's only fair for me to start this ride report, since I was the first one done (by hours!).

So, I get up at 6:00am and am in my car by 6:30. I drive forever (okay, 50minutes). BCIPam's directions are impeccable, and I turn into a pretty little park in Tustin Ranch (inland orange county). I sort of notice that it's on the side of a foothill, but that can't be too important, can it? I park in the parking lot, use what has to be the cleanest park bathroom I've ever seen, and pull my bike out of my car. My plan is to ride around a bit before everyone else gets there so that if they all look too scary to ride with, I can just say I'm done riding and skeedaddle (hey, it's the first time meeting internet people, so you never know ;) )

I ride up a trail for a little bit and come back to the parking lot, riding right past a woman who's calling my name! It's Tracy. She got there early, too. We chat, and wait for the others. Eventually, Brandy, Pam, Nina and her husband, Judy and some other friends of Pam's show up too (sorry if I forgot anyone). I start looking at their kit - everyone has really nice bikes and really nice clipless pedals and really nice . . . well you get the idea from this newbie's perspective.

Still, everyone's really nice and encouraging, so I decide to go for it. They're planning on riding out to the ocean, and I figure if I can hang on for a few miles, it'll be enough for me. We start out, at a very sedate pace. We're going for a while and I'm thinking "hey, this isn't too bad". Then I realize I've only had to pedal about once every 5 minutes - we're going downhill.

And suddenly it dawns on me why going downhill is bad - my car's parked back up the hill :eek: !!! See, hills scare the bejeepers out of me. About 20 minutes into the ride, Pam kindly tells me that we're at a good turnaround point for me. I bid everyone goodbye, and figure I'll be lucky to make it back to my car before they finish their ride!

Someone else will have to describe the rest of their adventure, but I took a deep breath, turned around and started to slog my way back to my car. And, much to my surprise and delight, it only took me about 25 minutes to get back to my car, and I never even had to go out of my middle chainring!!! :D (okay, it was more of an incline than hill, but still . . . ) I even rode up a bit more past the parking lot, just cuz I could!

I had a great time meeting everyone, and I really appreciate all the encouragement. I'm definitely looking forward to another SoCal TE adventure.

Cathy

[tprevost]

I'm so glad to see you made it back safe and sound Cathy! Here's a link to my photobucket album

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/ec8302ae.jpg


http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/

This was a fabulous ride, thank you to Pam who chose the most wonderful perfect route imaginable! I'm going to let someone who is more versed in writing ride reports do the honors (see, I still can't figure out how to get the pictures from photobucket into this message!) but we did about 42 miles mostly on bike paths with perfect weather and wonderful company!!!

This was probably up there amongst my favorite rides of all time! Thank you again to everyone who came to ride, I had a blast!

Tracy

ps. Hey! I did it, I got a picture in here!!!!

[tprevost]

okay, I'm going to try to get one that you can actually see... what a concept!


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/2f56b5f2.jpg


Me (tprevost), Brandy, Nina, Judy, Connie, Nina's Husband, Wayne, & Pam

and here's one w/Cathy at the start!

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/TERide001.jpg
Pam, Cathy, Nina, and Brandy

T~

[Veronica]

Looks like you had a lovely day.

V.

[Brandy]

I had a great time today. Thanks to our fearless leader Pam, you put together a great ride and I feel like my riding options here near home have been totally expanded! No more skeery Santa Ana River Trail for me...I'm aiming for Back Bay and the San Diego Creek Trail from now on.

It was so nice to finally meet everyone. I am really looking forward to riding with all of you again and again and again!

Thanks for posting the pictures Tracy! Cathy, I'm so glad that you were able to join us, even if it was for a short while.

[bcipam]

Cool pictures (although I hate to see how uh, "fluffy" I am!!!).

Cathy next time, you do the whole ride. You would love it. So glad you let us know if you made it back OK. I hated to have you turn around so soon. Keep riding, in no time 40 miles will be nothing!

[tprevost]

Pam, you are a wonderful ride leader (I know you are probably tired of hearing this, but you are!)!

I'd like to make plans to come over one evening and do that mtn bike ride behind the park you told me about today. I'll figure out my schedule and PM you to see what is convenient!

Thanks again!

Trac'

[laughlaugh18]

Trac' - fun pictures. The trails you were on looked great (and mostly flat!)

Pam - I was very happy with my ride, however short. Next time a bit more, and a bit more, etc.

[Tiffanie]

I've been dying to hear about the Otter Pop jersey story! :D

Glad to hear everyone had such a great day!

[Brandy]

I've been dying to hear about the Otter Pop jersey story! :D

Glad to hear everyone had such a great day!

Sorry...you'll have to come on the next group ride for the details. ;) July 1st...it's mandatory or your TE membership will be revoked. :eek:

[Tiffanie]

:p

Let's hope my bike is here and ready by then! :D

[Brandy]

I would hope so! No estimated arrival date?

[SadieKate]

This is great that all of you are getting together for rides also. Very cool.

[slinkedog]

Wow! Great photos and a great ride report! Thanks for sharing with us. It's good to see more evidence of TE gals meeting and riding!! :)

Looking forward to hearing more reports SOON! :cool:

[greenmachine]

I had such a fun ride with all of you today, and it was great finally meeting everybody!

A huge Thank You to Pam for an excellent route, and to Tracy too, for getting us all together! Pam, please also thank Wayne for the sweeps.

Cathy, I'm so glad you came out today for even a short ride! You'll be riding longer distances before you know it. I hope you will join us again very soon!

Tracy, great pictures, but I see you got quite a few of my... ahem... backside... :p LOL

Well, it was a long day for me. I went to work after the ride and came home after 6 hours; nothing to do there :(

I'm looking forward to more riding with all of you!! And I'm hoping to meet and ride with the other So Cal TE ladies too.

Judy

[bikerz]

Looks like you all had a wonderful time! Looks like a really nice route!

[Brandy]

This is great that all of you are getting together for rides also. Very cool.

We're just jealous of all of your no. Cal. ride reports and we're trying to keep up! :p

[Ninabike]

Hi So Cal ride girls.

Thanks for the great ride. My husband, Alex, really enjoyed it too. It was so great to meet all of you, and Connie too. We really appreciated having her and Wayne on the ride. Cathy, glad you got back Okay.

Re: future rides - You know how I am on hills. Distance and rolling hills Okay; short steep hills kinda Okay; long hills, I walk!! I do have another bike with a triple I could use however. July 1st is probably not good for us as we will leave that Saturday for Catalina for the 4th of July holiday. Normally, however, Saturdays are best for us, or a Friday would be Okay for my schedule. Even another weekday could be worked into my schedule (probably not my husband's though.)

Anyway, thanks to all for a great ride; great company and especially Pam for organizing and Tracy for the idea!!

Nina

[tprevost]

"Alex"!!! I don't think I heard him in the morning (mentally absent??) because I for sure would have remembered that name (my 7 year old is alex too).

You two are such a great couple!

Tracy

[Trekhawk]

My plan is to ride around a bit before everyone else gets there so that if they all look too scary to ride with, I can just say I'm done riding and skeedaddle (hey, it's the first time meeting internet people, so you never know ;) )



LOL - thats so funny.:D :D

Glad to hear you all had such a great ride.

[greenmachine]

Nina!

Have you seen this thread? Lots of great tips here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=7006

Looking forward to riding with you again...hills or not! :)

Judy


Hi So Cal ride girls.

Re: future rides - You know how I am on hills. Distance and rolling hills Okay; short steep hills kinda Okay; long hills, I walk!! I do have another bike with a triple I could use however.
Nina

[bcipam]

Brandy:

I just went into your Blog - that was very cool. I'm amazed you remember the route so well.

Maybe if the ladies don't mind, I'll set up the next ride (just decide on a date and time). Definitely keeping in mind I probably need to keep us off busy streets etc. I have a couple of rides in mind, one might involve some climbing (sorry - it's hard to do a flat ride in OC - you all just did the one that exists).

When everyone is ready to do alittle hill climbing challenge, my favorite ride is called the "3 Bumps". It includes Skyline Drive, Cannon and Amapola Drive. Tough climbs but scenary and homes (mostly multi-million dollar) are impressive. We can do a shorter ride and then after do lunch properly. I'll like to make sure "Lassie" uh, Wayne and my pal Richard can join us. Someone has to be around to change tires!!!! ;)

Also I would really like to set up a beginner MTB ride. Between Wayne and I we have a numebr of bikes that can be loaned out. Thankfully Brandy and Tracy are tall, almost my height but if I have to, I could probably locate some smaller bikes.

My only problem is that I hate riding in the heat. I like cool weather and July, August and September tend to get warmest. I usually start riding either really early or late in the afternoon (say 6).

OK let's get the next one started. Kathy defnitely plan on joining me on
the BCI "newbie" ride in July.

[Ninabike]

Hi Judy,

Thanks for the links to the "hill" posts. I think for me, it's just training on hills that I need, and I just really have done none of that lately. There's also that fear of falling when you are going really slow!!

Nina

[bcipam]

Nina, you saw me so you know I go slow on hills. The slowest I've ever gone and still went forward and stayed upright was 2.3 miles per hour. Yes, it is possible to almost be going backwards and still get up a hill. The key is to plan the hill. If you have low gears get into them and spin if you don't then get alittle speed and power up. I perfer both methods but I typically only power a shorter hill (like a freeway overpass). Come out and do my 3 Bump ride. That will make you stronger (if it doesn't kill you! :p )

[Ninabike]

Thanks Pam. I'll get there!!

Nina

[caligurl]

oh wow! awesome job, cathy!!!!!

tracy.... i love the pics! gorgeous!

sounds like you all had a great time!!!!!!!!!!

[laughlaugh18]

Kathy defnitely plan on joining me on
the BCI "newbie" ride in July.

Hmmm - July newbie ride/Italy, July newbie Ride/Italy. Nope, sorry Italy it is!:D I'll try for August, tho'.

Sounds like we've got a bunch of early risers - me, too (okay, not 4am, because that's just nuts :p )

Cathy

[Brandy]

Brandy:

I just went into your Blog - that was very cool. I'm amazed you remember the route so well.



Don't be amazed. I cheated and used your ride description that you posted last week! :p

[bikerchick68]

what great reports and pics! Sorry I missed this one... I'm back from vaca now and all signed up for the July 1 ride tho :D

sounds like everyone did really, really well... I am proud of everyone who overcame their nerves and just went for it, no matter the distance or speed! To me that is the toughest part of going on a ride with new people... so way to go! :D

I look forward to meeting everyone...