Cinderella is next week already

[jobob]

Wow, how time flies. I just went on the last ride of the Cinderella training series - we went from Newark over the Dumbarton Bridge up Route 84 to Canada Road (it's Canyada with a tilde but darned if I know how to do one) past Filoli and clear up to Route 92, and back again. I never would have believed I could do such a long ride - heck, I consider that a long *car* ride. And we even had cake back at the finish to celebrate our achievement. (Poor Melissa, one of her helium-filled tires went kaboom. No harm done though.)

So, ladies, what's the plan for next Saturday?

When last we spoke there was a move to show up early (would 7-ish be OK?) and have a bit of a get-together, maybe near the registration area. V, are you still willing to make a sign? That's a good idea.

Let's not forget it will be Trek's birthday (or can we call you Mondonico yet? )

Adventure Girl, Melissa mentioned you were taking part (I had missed your recent post in the mtn bike thread) - excellent.

So, any thought, suggestions, words of wisdom?
(Am I the only one for whom this is their first organized ride?)

- Jo.

[aka_kim]

Well, suggestion maybe. Although they'll have loads of great food, rest stops at Cinderella will have only lemonade and water for fluids. So bring your own energy drink if you think you might need it.

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by jobob
I just went on the last ride of the Cinderella training series -

Yes I have decided to do the Cinderella next weekend. I didn't want to commit to it until I was sure. I did my last training ride today, too. My training consisted of 55 miles today, 45 last Saturday and 35 the Saturday before. Is that enough? I hadn't been outside on my road bike since the last century I did in August... I know I'll be slow. I'm not in top form (I wonder why with those 135 miles of training ), but I'm up for it. It'll be fun.

Did anyone do it last year (or previous years?) Can you give me an idea of the terrain? Or maybe some of you who did the training series. Any ideas? I'm expecting a fairly flat ride with a few moderate hills. I hope so.

From reading old posts, here's a list of gals I think are doing it.

Veronica (and her stoker)
jobob
Trek420
aka_kim
snapdragen
melissam
Adventure Girl

Any others?

As far as meeting before the ride (early), I think Veronica and her big tandem would probably be easier to find than one of the other 2,000 or so bikes....

P.S. I'm not riding if it rains. The ride is "rain-or-shine", but I'm not.

[Veronica]

The gates open at 6:30 and I hope to be there then, for sure by 7.

I'm going to print out a 12 X 18 inch sign that will say something like TE Bulletin Board to make it easier to find. Maybe hang out by the registration area.

I do want to be on the road early. It's my first organized ride as a captain and since I suspect there will be lots of folks with somewhat shaky group riding skills, I want to get off the front early. I plan on riding rain or shine. Thom mentioned the weather to Joann today and she didn't seem fazed. The tandem has fenders, it would be good to put them to use.

I haven't done the ride before, but the ladies in my club tell me that's fairly flat with one short, steep hill. If you're doing 55 miles with little problem, you'll be okay.

Veronica

[jobob]

Yeah, I too heard there's a chance of rain next weekend. We're being punished for all the glorious weather we've been having lately

I'll be there rain or shine - Pokey has fenders too. A little rain doesn't worry me too much; if it's more than that, may have to rethink.

I'm hoping to be on the road early because I don't want to feel like I have to rush. I'll be one of the ones with the shaky group riding skills V & J will be trying to avoid

fingers crossed for good weather.

- Jo.

[Veronica]

I'm only worried because my skills on the tandem aren't what they are on Fluffy! It's hard to manueveur that thing. I don't know how Thom does it. I always feel so safe on the bike with him.

V.

[snapdragen]

Hey girls, sniffy snapdragen here, coming back from the dead. Well the almost dead. I have never felt so bad - a four day sore throat, stuffy head. But enough already!

I've done the Cinderella twice (although last year I sagged with knee issues). None of the hills are horrible, the one you've probably heard about the most is Lemon Drop Hill. It's one of those, long lazy climbs, not real steep, but the kind where you say, hey! Is this almost over???? At the top is the Lemon Drop Man, handing out - you guessed it - lemon drop candies.

For those that did the Cindy training rides, there are no hills on Cinderella like Calaveras. Piece 'o Cake!

I'm not planning on riding if it rains, so lets all do sun dances this week!

[aka_kim]

I won't be riding if it rains either -- a few sprinkles I can handle but nothing more. Yep, the ride is flat with a few moderate climbs out in Livermore. It can get windy out on the way to the 3rd rest stop too.

I usually start later (but I'll make an exception this year ) and it's usually quite crowded until the 1st rest stop around mile 18. Then it's long waits for food and restrooms. There are many folks with shaky group skills, and those first miles can be pretty slow going.

There are 3 rest stops, the middle one is actually a lunch, and there's a post-ride meal. I can never remember the course and never keep the map, so can't help with any course specifics.

What else? There's a kind of expo thing after the ride -- that's actually where I heard about TE for the first time.

And, it's always fun.

[jobob]

Well, if it does rain, we'll just have to find some other ride to do together, or have one of our own.

- Jo.

PS - gotta brag. I finally hit the 100K mark yesterday; between the epic Cinderella training ride and my 'commute' to and from the start location, I logged 68 miles. Check off one of my 2004 goals.

[Trek420]

"Let's not forget it will be Trek's birthday (or can we call you Mondonico yet? )"

Thanks, no name change yet, the bike is in LA being painted, so you can call me Red-Della Santa-on-loan-from-my-LBS ;-) I rode it on the Velogirls ride today, getting used to Campy shifters, big change. It's a nice bike but big for me, 50 cm and I ride a 47 so I feel stretched out like the rack in the Spanish Inquisition. Might be able to make some further adjustments or...ride the mountain bike, slow but fits well.

[jobob]

It's a nice bike but big for me, 50 cm and I ride a 47 so I feel stretched out like the rack in the Spanish Inquisition.

Could you raise up the handlebar stem? That would, in effect, bring the bars closer to you.

- Jo (from the gospel according to Grant)

[Trek420]

"Could you raise up the handlebar stem? That would, in effect, bring the bars closer to you."

Could slide the seat a little forward, raise the stem, or get they guys to swap out a shorter stem?

[Adventure Girl]

Originally posted by Trek420
Could slide the seat a little forward, raise the stem, or get they guys to swap out a shorter stem?

Be careful about moving the seat forward. Your butt/pedal alignment will change. It could make your pedaling less efficient, or more seriously, it could cause some knee or hip problems.

[Adventure Girl]

Weather.com's forecast (6 days away) says 40% chance of rain! We need more good sunshine thoughts!

[jobob]

Well, look at the bright side, long-range weather forecasting (as in, more than a few hours!) is a pretty hit-or-miss proposition out here. I'd say they have a 50% chance of getting it right. So the chance of rain is actually somewhere between 90% and -10%
Oh, and AG, I think you're absolutely right about the seat position. Much better to tinker with the stem height and extension rather than the seat position, for the reasons you said.
Then again, I'm reluctant to mess with anything before a big ride; I just got a call from Rivendell telling me that my long-awaited narrow width Nitto Noodle bars have arrived, but I probably won't swap them out until Sunday.
- Jo.