Amici Veloci’s Grand Day Out !

[snapdragen]

I arrived as jobob was putting air in Dusty’s tires. She introduced me to the gang, it was so great to finally have faces to go with the names! Poor V got teased, Fluffy isn’t the lightest bike on the planet, I have so much respect for V’s riding abilities. Jeez, put her on some high zoot feather bike, she’d dust us all!

Starting off was fine, although it was mighty cold. My toes were not happy; it was then I remembered I left my sock liners in my bike
bag. Oh well. The main pack shot off, Bubba and I rode together for a bit, until the first hill. Off goes Bubba, I settled into my own little zen thing “the hill will not kill me, I like the hill”.

All was fine until Dublin Canyon Rd, both calves decided to get cramps. I continued riding as long as I could, finally had to stop at the roadside and stretch. Of course, my endurolyte caps are also in the bike bag, in the car. I stretch, then get on the bike, and they’d seize up again. A woman I know from ACTC rode by, then stopped. We chatted, I tried recruiting her to the TE boards….we’ll see. Finally after about 15 minutes, I was able to get on my bike and continue. Got to the first rest stop. Holy Mother of whatever, Accelerade is NASTY stuff. I knew I’d be leaving it on the roadside if I continued to drink. I had plenty of Gatorade in my bottle, figured if I had to I could stop at one of the numerous quickie marts. Not too impressed with the snax, pretzels, oranges and Sharkies. Maybe Cinderella has spoiled me? Met up with Debbie (ACTC club) and we left together, promptly missing the first turn and continued up Crow Canyon-a hill of course! After a bit, Debbie realized we had blown it. We turned around, and rode back. I told her I just needed another hill, ‘cause there weren’t enough in this ride. Besides, we would have missed 2 dead deer. Oh geez….

We went up Heyer – wtf is that about? – this nasty sharp, short hill. How rude! Once we got on to Redwood, Debbie went on – damn those light bikes, Bleu is no feather either V! I continued in the zen hill thing, stopping for photo ops and leg rests. Met up with another woman, whose name I’ve of course forgotten. We pretty much dragged each other up the THE HILL THAT WENT ON FREAKIN’ FOREVER (thank you jobob). Somewhere along this road to hell, as I was starting one of the many false decents, my seat made a “clunk” sound. Oh please God, let something be broken so I can ride off Beelzebub’s Boulevard in a car…… My saddle had come loose. I began to rummage around in my pack for my tools, when a lovely man stopped, whipped out the right allen wrench, and tightend everything up. A special thanks to Coach Curtis Cramblett, who marked my saddle position when he did my bike fit. So everything was back where it belonged, I could ride on.

At one point my new friend and I stopped for a quick snack. We could see the top; she wanted to walk! I explained walking was harder than riding; if I say that often enough I’ll believe it. Didn’t tell her I had vowed a year ago to never walk another hill. By this time, not only do my calves hurt, now my thighs are beginning to cramp too. We get to the lunch stop and are met with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to scream or cry – so I politely asked where one might catch a ride with the SAG. It took about 20 minutes for SAG to get there, that’s when I called jobob’s cell phone. I have no excuse for not leaving a message, let’s just say I was so fried at that point it just didn’t occur to me! Duh! As Mr. SAG and I are leaving, he asks if I’d help find an address, there was a rider with a broken chain waiting, and he couldn’t find her. Of we go, after a couple minutes, we see said rider walking down the street. Note to all riders: If you have the highway patrol call in to the SAG, and tell them you will be at a certain place – STAY THERE! We dropped broken chain girl off at a bike store in Danville, then got called BACK to the lunch stop for two more riders. Picked them up, and finally got back to the starting point of the ride.

A very mild chastising from jobob, a little snack, drank half of jobob’s current beer, some champagne and strawberries, and I’ve just about forgotten about the road to hell…..

Jobob came back to my hotel for coffee and a short snooze. We had a lovely dinner at Fuzio (mmmmm lemondrops).

What I learned:
1.I need more hill training
2.Massive quantities of sinus medication the week before, can really screw you up hydration wise-thus the cramps (I think)
3.Endurolytes go in the seat pack.

If I had known the level of hill climbing on this ride, I would not have done the 50 miler (well, 37 miler in my case!) So I’m glad I didn’t know, I'm quite proud of myself for making it up those monsters.

I had an absolute blast guys!

Hugs to all! Pictures to follow later!

[yellow]

Looks like everyone--OK, well MOST everyone--had a grand time.

I thought about you guys alot yesterday and was hoping the weather there was better than here...and it sounds like it was.

Congratulations. You guys kick some booty!

y

[slinkedog]

Oh Snap, I'm sorry you had such a time, but your story sure did have me LOLing for 10 minutes or so. You're quite a gal to keep going for so long! Good for you and I really do hope to get to ride with you sometime in the near future!

[Bike Goddess]

Snap-You get the award for persisting despite the painful cramps. One that note - I recommend that you get the electrolyte packets at whole foods- instant success! I 've now done 2 centuries using them and they work!!! If you are taking sinsus med, yes you need to hydrate like crazy all the time since that stuff does dehydrate you! I even start drinking fluids on the way to a ride, to make sure I am hydrated enough!

THANKS TO EVERYONE for the pictures and the narrative. Would love to know what the route was for future hill training rides!

[CorsairMac]

WTG all you guys and gals!! I signed on tonight in the hopes of reading your days adventures!....Jobob Loved your description of that hill....and tyvm for stopping to help that lady put her chain back on. Snap, Loved your Tale of 2 Woes! I'm sorry you didn't finish the ride hun - but you sure gave it you Snappiest all!!! and loved that pixs!!!


I do believe there is a She-Ra Princess of Power Tiara for the whole team! (ok....we'll find a He-Man Prince of Power Crown for the guys! )

[aka_kim]

If I had known the level of hill climbing on this ride, I would not have done the 50 miler (well, 37 miler in my case!)

Mea culpa. Sorry about that. But strawberries and champagne are a great reward.

[snapdragen]

Mea culpa. Sorry about that. But strawberries and champagne are a great reward.

Oh, no problem, like I said, I'm quite proud it did it! I agree, strawberries and champagne cure everything!

[jobob]

Jobob came back to my hotel for coffee and a short snooze.

My dear friend Snap is so kind, "briefly passed out" might have been a bit more accurate.

[SadieKate]

On the 5 chain ring scale:
Pavement quality – 4 of 5
Food- 3 of 5
Route – first and last sections get a 0, the rest gets a 5
Company – 20!!

The Breakfast and Tattoo Parlor opened at 3:45 am when Robb knocked on our door and set off the canine alarm unit. A crowbar was applied to Petunia so we could get her vertical and loaded in the car, always the first big challenge of the day. Amazingly, the eastern contingent actually arrived on time and Bubba re-opened his tattoo parlor for those who hadn’t arrived adorned already. We got lots of nice comments all day about these. It was really fun to see our long line of calves all decked out.

You’ve read all the stories from the 50-mile group, so here is a bit on the 8 of us who continued on the 75 mile route. Except for a few times, we pretty much stuck together for the remaining 50 miles. Bubba and I both talked about how special it was that we managed to get all 8 people back as a unit – camaraderie and team spirit was the rule of the day.

Anyway, we took off from the 2nd rest stop with our Doom and Gloom Forecaster (aka_kim) who forgot to mention the aptly named “Happy Valley Rd.” All this talk of Pig Farm (lovely estate property – comes with its own trash dump ) and Reliez Valley, and she just happened to leave out the steepest climb of the day. I felt like I was on the last bit of Diablo but somehow the parking lot had been moved. According to the map it is 2 miles long. I was definitely happy at the top (and very happy that we’d put a 28 tooth cog on the night before).

Pig Farm was steep but very short so it wasn’t too bad. We had a lovely stroll around Briones Regional Park where Bubba and I mtbike (and the location of our first ride with V and Thom) so it was nice to see a frequently driven road from a different perspective. The hills at Briones were covered with wildflowers and at one corner we found a very friendly chicken who liked our trail mix. She trilled and clucked very happily at this horde of machines that arrived to dole out goodies for her. Half the group decided to go into the Briones rest stop while the other half spun off to the last climb of the day, Reliez Valley. The sun had appeared so we started breaking up even more as the fashion parade had to go through impromtu wardrobe changes (Jo – did you get a picture of Em and Jason’s tres chic outfits?).

Reliez Valley turned out to be mostly a mental challenge because it had no shoulder and what I thought were the most unfriendly drivers of the day. Fortunately, there was a sort of bike path that you could ride portions of, going on and off it through driveways. As Kim had said, the climb probably seems harder than it is because you’ve already ridden 50 miles and most of the climbing. The route info states 6,136 of climbing and shows only one last long and gentle grade after Reliez. So this last climb with traffic can be a challenge but everyone did it and we re-grouped at the lunch rest stop where we scarfed down P&B sandwiches, threw out the Accelerade (I’m with Snap -- pee-uuu!) and switched to Lemonade.

We had one climb before we headed down into Danville, Dublin, Pleasanton and the eternal Bay Area traffic jam. We actually rode by the train museum where we parked for our last Diablo assault which meant I sort of knew where we were. Then, we just stuck racer boy (Jason) up front and motored on in to the cheers of Jo, Robb, Snap and Adventure Boy with AG jumping up and down waving bright yellow pom-poms.

As you know, ABoy had champagne (including some mighty fine stemware) and strawberries ready to go with our veggie burgers, potato salad and chocolate milk. Someone found OJ so mimosas were then served. It was so nice to have almost the entire group ‘round the table even as the weather was turning inclement. G’s wife and son had come down to be at the finish. With Adventure Boy we had quite the little party going. Through out the day I had been watching the other teams and thought ours displayed the most rapport and emotional cohesiveness and you know this was so because I’m not biased
I loved everyone’s stories of the day and seeing new friendships develop.

Additional observations:
--Contrary to appearances in the winnerphotos, I am NOT 10 months pregnant.
--Be sitting down when Robb announces that he really liked climbing up along Lake Chabot (Moose liking hills? What?)
--Robb and Jo need designated drivers

I am rolling in the bounty of friendship. It was a special day with my fast friends and I know there will be more to come.

[Adventure Girl]

Then, we just stuck racer boy (Jason) up front and motored on in to the cheers of Jo, Robb, Snap and Adventure Boy with AG jumping up and down waving bright yellow pom-poms.

*\o/*

[jobob]

The sun had appeared so we started breaking up even more as the fashion parade had to go through impromtu wardrobe changes (Jo – did you get a picture of Em and Jason’s tres chic outfits?).

Why, but of course

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Jo. I guess you don't need to worry about having "your colors done" if you just wear them all.

[snapdragen]

Who says cyclists have no fashion sense!

[SadieKate]

I just received a Top Hat patch in the mail from the MS Society! I love these. I have a corkboard of patches that serves as my memory. I actually have a patch from the 1987 Cindy when there were well less than a thousand of us out there (hard to imagine that!). Someday, I'll be in my rocker with my little lace hankie and start reminiscing about the Top Hat and all my TE friends. Ah, now that was THE year . . . 2005!

[Adventure Girl]

--Robb and Jo need designated drivers

My dear friend Snap is so kind, "briefly passed out" might have been a bit more accurate.

I was glad I had Adventure Boy there to drive me home. I not much of a drinker, so after a good ride, a beer and a little champagne, I wouldn't have made it solo! I took a "short snooze" myself on the way home!