Tierra Bella April 9th in Gilroy?

[slinkedog]

Thanks for the info, ladies! Yes, no Hot Springs on the 60k... thank God for small favors!! My husband is going to do the ride with me, so he can push me up whatever I can't make if it gets bad. I need lots of time in the saddle, and I think I need some new shorts. My PI ones are not kind to what my three year old calls her "winkie."

I'm looking forward to the ride. Hopefully I'll get to meet you somewhere along the way!! Are you working the ride, too, Jobob? Good luck on Hamilton today. I'd never, ever make it up that thing. Sheesh. You guys are masochists. My husband loves to ride that thing just so he can race cars on the way down. He's crazy.

[slinkedog]

Was the ride yesterday pretty much flat, and do you know the gal who is leading it is planning on using the same route every week? I really need to get in a group ride soon. I've never done one with more than two other people.

[snapdragen]

Yesterday was flat, I believe Anita is increasing the mileage by 5 miles each week. We will be doing some hills in the future, probably up to the reservoirs (Calero, Uvas). Come and join us, Anita and her husband Duncan take good care of you.

I just thought of something else, have you considered taking ACTC's academy? It's a great way to learn group riding skills--right jobob?

[jobob]

you betcha!

[slinkedog]

Sounds like a great idea! I have to check and see if I can swing the schedule. My 13 year old has a dance competition next Saturday and the Saturday after that, so those days will be shot. I'll go on ACTC's site and see what it's all about!!

[jobob]

There's a writeup on pages 1 & 5 of the ACTC newsletter.
http://www.actc.org/bbb/feb2005/0205.pdf

It starts on Feb. 26 - hope you can make it!
- Jo.

[slinkedog]

I'll check it out, Jobob. Thanks so much to both of you for all the helpful information!!! Can't wait to meet you both!

[jobob]

Good luck on Hamilton today. I'd never, ever make it up that thing. Sheesh. You guys are masochists.

Slinkedog, for what it's worth, less than a year ago I was saying I'd never climb up Diablo, never climb up Hamilton, never make it up {insert name of steep hill here}. It just was not going to happen, of that I was sure!

In fact, sometime this past spring Veronica had talked me into riding partway up Diablo with her, and, just between you and me, I was terrified at the prospect! I'm ashamed to admit that I was so relieved when she had to call the ride off that morning (her cat was sick and V. had to take her to the vet - that of course was not a Good Thing, but luckily Tilda turned out OK. I have a soft spot in my heart for that cat to this very day, and when I officially met Tilda a couple of months ago I gave her a surreptitious little pat of thanks).

This all changed sometime in October when I went on my first ride up Diablo with a group of Rivendell owners. My husband and I only made it partway up (up as far as V. was trying to get me to go this past spring) but still, I realized I could actually DO it!

Jo's Great Truths About Hills:

1) Go at your own pace. Don't let anyone make you go faster than what you're capable of, otherwise, you will burn out. Take your time, stop for short breaks. So what if you're slow, just the fact that you're doing it is awesome !

2) If you don't make it up the hill the first time, fine, it'll still be around for when you try it again. Sooner or later you'll make it to the top, and you'll feel sooo good about yourself.

3) Low Gears!! Make believe you're Lance, spinning up L'Alpe d'Huez. Of course, you'll be going about 1/10 of his speed but spinning is better for your knees and your stamina than grinding up in a high gear. Try to avoid standing too much, it can tire you out very quickly (that said, it's nice to stand briefly once in a while to give your backside a rest)

My husband loves to ride that thing just so he can race cars on the way down. He's crazy.

Oh, the descent down Hamilton is the best part - what a blast!! Altho we don't race the cars down ... we get to a spot where cars can safely pass us and we pull over and wave them on past.

And then we often match their speed when we follow them, but not too close, don't want to piss'em off

Basically, slinkedog, don't write yourself off. If a 45 year old slightly overweight former confirmed couch potato can climb Mt. Diablo & Mt. Hamilton (albeit at a snails pace), then so can you.

- Jo.

[slinkedog]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. Blaine keeps telling me that if I have the attitude of not being able to do it, I won't.

Yeah, I have a granny gear, and I'm not afraid to use it! I guess you just have to start working on those hills and keep trying. I'm still trying to get up the courage to tackle the one not far from my house that I died on when I first started riding back in July. I don't mind spinning up a hill. It's just the part where I run out of gears that I hate!!

So how was the ride yesterday? The weather was beautiful until about 3:00 and then that storm started blowing in.

[jobob]

It was fabulous !! We were joined by another woman from ACTC whose pace up the mountain was very similar to ours, so we had a nice, companionable little group going.

The last few miles to the summit seemed to take for-EVER, mountains seem to be perverse that way but it made it all the more sweeter when I finally reached the top - I let out a very LOUD whoop rolling up to the front entrance of the observatory.

The weather was great - it was chilly near the summit but I don't do well in the heat so I can't complain. There was very little vehicle traffic (maybe people were already off to their stupor bowl parties - fine by me) and it was lovely up there. I took some photos that I'll post, eventually. Even better, we encountered very few cars heading down (and did I mention the descent is a blast??? oops, I do believe I did). We were done before 3 so we missed the storm.

And the looks of awe on people's faces today at lunchtime when we were all talking about what we did this weekend, and I casually mentioned, oh, I cycled up Mt. Hamilton .... priceless

- Jo.

[slinkedog]

I'm so glad you guys had a good ride! I will try it sometime. I really will. Let me know the next time you're going when it's not a Sunday. I go to church on Sunday mornings. I'll get Blaine to come too so he can give me pushes along the way.