Does the wind blow in Davis?

[Veronica]

The Davis 200+ K was a training ride for me, which I meant approached it with much different mindset. I didn't want to just finish; I wanted to see how hard I could push and for how long.

The ride started with a group start at 7 AM. There were 40 or 50 people. It was about 50 degrees out. I stayed with the pack for the first two miles or so. When they were doing 18 mph that was great, but every 1000 feet or so, they would surge up to 22. I have a hard time doing 22 when I'm warmed up, so these sprints and the cold were really killing my knees. So I dropped off the back.

At first I was a little annoyed with myself, because it is SO windy in Davis. But as I was riding along, struggling into the wind, I was able to look around and see the 6 hot air ballons, the huge birds,the beautiful sky as the sun came up... much better than staring at someone's wheel.

The first thirty miles are through flat farmland. The route than rolls along Putah Creek through a beautiful canyon. I really enjoy this part of the ride everytime I do it. Funny, I guess I just like riding through canyons. The route than has a short climb to the dam for Lake Berryessa, a little bit of descent than another climb - up Cardiac. Cardiac climbs 530 feet in 1.5 miles, average grade 6.7%

My average HR to this point had been 168 - right where I wanted it. But my legs were paying the price. In addition I wanted to stay out of my 24 x 27 gear when I climbed. My new bike will not have this gear. Those two things made Cardiac a bear for me.

After descending Cardiac the route climbs some more for another 3 miles at 2.5% average grade. Then you arrive at Muskovite Corners where there is a general store. I'm hoping there will be some other cyclists there. I round the corner and see a green wooly warm jersey, and think, "Hey, that's like the one Lee wears." Wait, that is Lee! And SK, Bubba, Jobob and Trekhawk! I gave them the appropriate AV greeting and we rode together to my next turn. I wasn't working hard enough. So had to head off on my own.

I continued on out to the turnaround and lunch spot. The AV gang rode up a few minutes before I was ready to leave. We made plans to hook up for dinner.

The route out climbed 2655 feet in 65 miles, my average HR was 168, average speed 14.2

This is an out and back route so now read the above backwards.

Starting back I was a little cold. I eventually caught up to another rider and we rode together back to Muskovite, where he stopped at the store. I was now having a hard time keeping my HR above 160. I really enjoyed the descent out of Muskovite, the climb back up Cardiac, not so much.

I stopped at a convenience store at mile 100, called Thom and bought water, Gatorade and a Red Bull. I was now back to the flats. And being Davis, I still had headwinds. Actually, that's not entirely true. There were times when it was a crosswind or even a tailwind.

Thom called me back and said he wasn't going to make it to the finish in time, that I was going too fast! I love it! I caught up to another rider and we finished together.

The return trip average HR was 155, a bit lower than I wanted. The goal was 160. The route climbed 2000 feet, I averaged 15mph.

Total time: 9:37
Overall HR average: 161
Overall average speed: 14.6 mph
Total Climb: 4655 ft.

I'm pleased with how hard I pushed. On the Mount Tam double my average HR was 143. Today, my muscles are a little tired, but not sore.

Dinner with the gang was great. We sang Happy Birthday to SK.


V.

PS
I also know why I want knickers. I never took off my knee warmers, by the end of the ride, I had nasty imprints that hurt caused by the elastic of the knee warmers.

[jobob]

... and in Winters, and at Muscovite Corner, and at Pope Valley, and all points in-between. Gahhhhh.

SK had the brilliant idea to ride essentially the Davis 200K brevet route but starting and ending in Winters rather than Davis, which would be 80 miles instead of the ~120 miles of the brevet route. “40 miles less, works for us !” thought LeeBob and I. (Turns out the brevet was 130 miles). We sort of chose to ignore the part where SK mentioned that we’d be doing essentially all the hilly parts of the brevet.

We arrived at Steady Eddy’s coffeehouse in Winters very early (GoogleMaps assumes you’ll be driving at the speed limit), where we found Trekhawk patiently waiting, on her second (or was it her third?) coffee. Evidently she too believed the travel times provided by MapQuest, plus she gave herself extra time in case she was lost. But if you have to wait somewhere, Steady Eddy’s is better than most.

SK and Bubba arrived soon afterward. Unlike Trekhawk and I, SK was not wearing her AV jersey. She mentioned that she’s been wearing it so much lately that she didn’t want to wear it out so she’d save it for Special Occasions. Trekhawk and I were hurt – crushed! – that SK didn’t consider a day out with us a Special Occasion, but we took it well and only gave her grief about it through the entire ride and dinner afterwards. And we’ll continue to do so at every opportunity for only the next year or so.

It was a bit chilly when we headed out so I wore my wool armwarmers and my AV vest although this was not a special occasion. I assumed I wouldn’t need them for very long, but as it turned out it stayed fairly chilly for most of the morning and well into the afternoon. I could still kick myself for not bringing my bolero along too – I had my big “winter” carradice saddlebag with me so there was plenty of room for it – since Trekhawk didn’t wear any arm or leg warmers and I could imagine the poor girl was freezing on the downhills.

SK and LeeBob took off from the get-go. I hung off the back and TH stayed with me and we proceeded to alternatively marvel at the lovely scenery and grouse about the headwind we were riding through. We all slogged up the Dam(n) hill and then Cardiac, TH whining about how she’s not used to hills and in true sandbagger fashion then proceeding to smoke me on them. We passed by the spot where HotRodd first shouted out the infamous AV motto “Amici Veloci my @ss!” so I used what little breath I had available to do likewise. TH and SK were so far ahead of me I doubt they heard.

Got to the top of Cardiac and waited a little for LeeBob. I’m not sure if the rest of our group knew that he had slightly sprained his ankle earlier in the week, and he insisted that it felt fine but he dropped back some on Cardiac so I wanted to make sure he was OK. While there I had a nice chat with a guy on the Davis brevet who was waiting for his companion. Lee and the companion arrived within moments of each other, and the brevet guys remared about our lovely old bikes. They were very surprised to find out that Lee’s was only about 3 years old and mine was about 10.

We all regrouped at Moskovite corner and we were all thrilled to see Veronica pull in. Although it wasn't a Special Occasion she saw fit to wear her AV jersey. We figured we’d see her at some point since the route was out and back but it was very nice to see her at a stop. Hopefully we didn’t hold her up too long!

We all headed out and rode together a bit, but our pace was a bit too leisurely for our Princess Zippy so after a few miles she took off, which we totally understood since this is a timed event and she wanted to get in a good time (whereas some of us just wanted to survive! ).

We reached the turnaround at Pope Valley (which was about 40 miles for us) and stopped at the store for a rest and eats. V was at the brevet checkpoint at the building next door and she stopped for a moment to chat again before she headed out, and we all made plans to meet up in Davis for dinner.

Our group headed out again and my legs felt like LEAD for at least the first 10 miles ! Gahhh. Bubba hung back with me for a while as TH and LeeBob became small specks way up ahead of me and SK was somewhere in the next county. I eventually caught up to Lee and TH (only 'cuz they were waiting very patiently for me). We then went down one particularly steep and bumpy hill and unbeknownst to me I had left one of the small side pockets on my saddlebag open since Pope Valley, and my long thin cablelock fell out of that pocket probably going over one of the bumps. Trekhawk yelled out to me but I didn’t hear her over the wind noise and when she caught up to me on the next hill we couldn’t figure out what it was. It only occurred to me what it was when we reached Moscovite Corners again and I saw that pocket was open. d’oh.

I livened up a lot once we reached Moscovite Corner and I downed a mocha frappuchino and a small bag of potato chips. yum. There was still Cardiac Hill to climb over, and although it’s considered harder going in the direction we went in the morning, it sure was harder for me on the way back. Gahhhh. Trekhawk was grousing about nearly needing to puke but she still did the hill twice as fast as me in true sandbagger fashion. Once we made it over Cardiac and saw that lovely “cheese wedge” sign warning trucks to use low gears, we knew it was pretty much downhill the rest of the way.

Here's the profile showing my blistering pace.



When we reached the parking lot in Winters we called V who was very nearly done with her ride, and we all met up for a fun dinner in Davis at S(p)udwerks Brewery which morphed into SadieKate’s pre-birthday dinner.

That gold-wrapped Scharffen Berger chocloate is goooood stuff, many thumbs up.

Another grand day out with my pals, and I’m only a little achey today.

[maillotpois]

Sounds like a great ride - for all of you! I love that area. Great time on the 200k, V!

I actually miss headwinds....

[Trekhawk]

V - It was great to see you yesterday and congratulations on a speedy 200km Brevet.

Jo - Thanks for posting the profile - now I know why I felt like hurling.

Oh yes and I must add to Jo's report that although I may have gone up a few of the hills faster I DID STOP FOR A REST on the way back up Cardiac and Jobob did not and on the flat run into the end I couldnt catch her. Team Sandbagger has a few members I think.

Thanks SK for putting it together.

[tprevost]

What a great ride reports! Great job on your ride and stats everyone... I can't even imagine being able to do that stuff!

Thanks so much for sharing your adventures!

Tracy

SK... you shoulda worn your AV jersey!!! tsk tsk

[yellow]

Congratulations to all. Sounds like a great ride and a great day.

I talked to the burfday gurl this morning and she told me all about it. I'll have you all know that I wore my AV jersey yesterday to commemorate SK's birthday on what has to be one of the prettiest rides I've been on here in Salt Lake (something out of Crayola's "Fall Colors" collection; still kicking myself for not having a camera). I also painted my toenails "Belize it or Not" in her honor (if I had "Melon of Troy" I would have used that but...alas...I do not. The fishing is good in Belize, so there is a connection, sort of). So there.

[SadieKate]

Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. Sorry. Sorry. What is if I wear it out from constant use? Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. I should ordered a second one so I wouldn't worry. Sorry. I am not worthy of such good friends. Sorry. Mea culpa. Sorry. Je suis désolé. Sono spiacente. Ich bin traurig. Ich bin nicht von solchen guten Freunden angemessen. Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. SORRY. Flog me with a wet noodle. Flail me with a flat tube. I'll try not to transgress again.

[Veronica]

I liked the jersey you were wearing. But I did wonder where your AV one was. Don't you have the vest?

V.

[jobob]

Oy vey. OK, you're suitably penitent. Nevermind.