Amici Veloci’s Grand Day Out !

[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]

--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!

[SadieKate]

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!

He said he liked his women "likkered up!"

[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/*

[Adventure Girl]

He said he liked his women "likkered up!"

Unfortunately for him, when I'm "likkered up" it usually means "fell asleep like a rock"

[SadieKate]

Now that I know the route, I just cruised around on my trusty Krebs map. I've lost count of the number of double and triple chevrons we rode - some of them pretty closely spaced. The Redwood/Pinehurst climb included quite a few also.

Give yourselves another round of *\o/*

[Adventure Girl]

I know a few of you have worn the tattoos before, but this was my first time. Did anybody else have to really scrub to get them off? I tried baby oil and extra virgin olive oil and they didn't work. I was going to try some pesto (as suggeested in Bubba's instructions) but I didn't want my leg to smell like garlic.

I ended up using finger nail polish remover and had to scrub pretty hard. Is this normal? I have a race on the 14th and I'm going to head back to the tattoo parlor and proudly wear the Amici Veloci tag for it. I guess I just have to be tougher when it comes to the scrubbing!

[Veronica]

I've gotten the tattoos off in the shower with just soap and water. And a little light scrubbing.

V.

[SadieKate]

Saturday, I used a lot of baby oil and scrubbed hard with a paper towel. It kind of shredded into little balls and rolled off. It came off more easily the day we wore them on Diablo - when I worked up more than a ladylike glow.

[snapdragen]

Mine kinda "rolled" off, with light rubbing. Maybe because I put lotion on my legs before hand?

[jobob]

Hee, I also was starting to worry about getting the tatoo off, it was hanging on for dear life !

This morning I slathered it with Oil of Olay (come to find out I didn't have any baby oil laying around) and worked it in for a few minutes. Then I rubbed the tatoo with my fingertips and eventually the friction caused it to roll off in bits & pieces, the way snap said.

[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!