Tire boots -- Power Bar wrappers supposedly work too.

Thanks for that link on tire rotation, I just rotated my tires a few months ago (before a 6 week hiatus from cycling), and after reading the article, think I'd better just shell out some money for new tires.

Top Hat Classic -- used to be a fun ride, but I don't know that I'll do it again. It's very crowded along the parts of the route shared by all courses, with lots of unskilled cyclists on the short routes. Plus the organizers keep screwing with, and screwing up, the route.

I really like the Grizzly Peak ride in early May, Sierra Century in early June, and Napa Century in August -- my two cents on favorite rides.