Tierra Bella April 9th in Gilroy?

[jobob]

Hi Cindy, and welcome !

My philosophy is, it doesn't matter how fast you go, just so long as you get there - no sense in blowing out your knees or what-have-you trying to make it up a hill faster than you're able. Low gears are your friend ! And as you build up endurance, you'll go faster.

- Jo.

[slinkedog]

Hey CindySue... I hope you have a blast at the Cinderella and the TB. Are you doing the full 100 miles for the TB? I'm only going to do the 35 mile route this year. Maybe by next April I'll be able to do the full century... although like Jo said, Metcalf does not look nice.

Hope to see you out there!

[cindysue]

Hi Slinke,

I'm very excited about the cinderella. There are a couple girls from school going. Should be lots of fun! Yes, I'm doing the full 100 miles at TB. I've been training on the hills here in the east bay - but have slacked off the last week. I need to get back on it! I'm also planning on doing the Chico Wildflower ride.

Hmmm, Metcalf? I think I'll live in denial for the moment!

[BikeMomma]

Hi Everyone -

I've signed up for the 100k route of the Tierra Bella, as well. I'm extremely partial to the gorgeous scenery around Gilroy, as it's on the way to one of my favorite places, Monterey/Pacific Grove. I'm secretly thinking of using this ride to sneak over to my fav restaurant in Pacific Grove (Vito's). We'll see how wiped out I am afterwards. I don't know if I can resist though...I highly recommend that place.

Any tips for a TB newbie? I read some of the riders' reviews from last year and it seems that this is a great, organized ride. Let's hope there are no hit-and-run/DUI incidents though - yikes!

I haven't decided if I'll stay the night in a hotel over there yet. The drive to Gilroy from here is probably just over an hour and a quarter, which isn't bad. However, I am NOT an early morning riser.....getting up for work m-f is bad enough!! I'm doing the Cinderella, as well, and that one is an over-nighter, for sure. What's the closest (and cheapest - I AM on a budget) hotel to the starting point? It would be nice if I can just ride over, rather than fight for a parking spot (read that too).

Thanks gals! See ya there, possibly (although out of 2000 riders...how do you weed out a few? ). I'll be the tall 30-ish ponytail gal on the white Cannondale and wearing a cranberry-color helmet....'course I may be meeting a few of you on the 2nd at the Cinderella....
- Kim

[jobob]

I haven't decided if I'll stay the night in a hotel over there yet. The drive to Gilroy from here is probably just over an hour and a quarter, which isn't bad. However, I am NOT an early morning riser.....getting up for work m-f is bad enough!! I'm doing the Cinderella, as well, and that one is an over-nighter, for sure. What's the closest (and cheapest - I AM on a budget) hotel to the starting point? It would be nice if I can just ride over, rather than fight for a parking spot (read that too).

Hi Kim, I kind of lost you here - are you asking about a hotel for the TB?

For the Tierra Bella, the website provides a bit of info at the bottom.
http://www.actc.org/tb/route.html

and the FAQ at http://www.actc.org/tb/faqs.html provides the following info:

Q - Are there campgrounds or motels nearby?
A - Check the following links:
www.usa-lodging.com/motels/califn/Gilroy.htm
www.gilroyvisitor.org/lodging.asp

Sorry I can't be more help than that, I don't know the area at all.

I won't be riding TB, I'll be working safety, so I'll probably be standing out at some intersection or corner trying to keep people from getting killed and/or going the wrong way

If I know where I'll be posted ahead of time I'll let y'all know.

- Jo.

[BikeMomma]

Hi there Jo -

Yea, sorry - I got a little long-winded there, didn't I? You interpreted my gibberish correctly - I was looking for hotel tips. Camping sounds fun, but a soft bed before a long ride sounds even better, especially since I"ll be on my own for this.

I checked out those links, but thought that one or two possibilities may have fallen through the cracks. That's me, checking all avenues before the decision is made. I'm sorta backwards that way....drives my hubby crazy.

By all means, let us know where your post might be! I'll stop and say hi!
- Kim

[slinkedog]

Hey BikeMomma! Also check out Morgan Hill and south San Jose as options if you don't want to stay right in Gilroy or they're all booked. There's a nice Holiday Inn (but may be more pricey) in south San Jose right near the freeway that will take you to Gilroy. (It's about a 20 minute drive from there or so.) I think it's called Holiday Inn Silicon Valley.

[BikeMomma]

Thanks, Slinkedog! I'll check it out!