Slug Gulch-May 15

[SadieKate]

The only flat was in the parking lot before we started

Don't you meant "the only flat part was in the parking lot?"

i learned that my definition of "rollers" is way different from that of others.

Yes, Kim and I explained that "rollers" requires involvement of momentum as in "your downhill momentum carries you at least partway up the next hill." The double freakin' hill (we were guessing at how Jo would describe it) following Slug Gulch just rolls UP and UP with a few somewhat shallower spots. It is not a roller. I particularly liked it when I turned onto SG Road, slam into a 14% grade, get over it and think "Ok, one hump down, and ? more to go" when Yellow zips by and perkily says "Here's where the REAL SG starts." There were only a few 19% spots after that. Since it does have periodic flat spots, it can be done - even after only a few miles of warm-up. Just not sure that I would want to tackle it after the first 78 miles of the Sierra Century.

As the top of Slug Gulch and the following hills wandered up a beautiful forested ridge, I decided that Yellow earned the tiara for the most wildflowers per mile. They were truly stupendous. I thoroughly enjoyed meandering along these quiet mountain roads with turkeys gobbling away. A big thank you to her fellow Hangtown Velo monsters for patiently waiting for us flatlanders at the intersections.

Post ride food and wine are a big, big bonus.

Don’t forget your yummy curried butternut squash samosas (empanadas). You must have been cooking all day and we took about 10 mins to polish it all off. Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Thanks, Yellow, for a really fun ride. We just whined to harrass you. You get a double tiara for the best post ride drinks.

Now, we're going to have to get Jo to organize a Mt. Hamilton ride and someone else to do a Mt. Tam ride so we'll get the Bay Area trifecta.

[Veronica]

Thom and I have been thinking about doing Mt. Hamiliton from Livermore as an out and back. That will be about a century I think.

V.

[yellow]

Yes, Kim and I explained that "rollers" requires involvement of momentum as in "your downhill momentum carries you at least partway up the next hill."

And Bubba (and I think SK) added that rollers shouldn't require major gear changes (e.g. switching chainrings). AND Bubba also partially explained my confusion by noting that what I think of as "rollers" is actually "rolling uphill". In paying attention to how I usually describe that part of Slug Gulch above the switchbacks but before the school...I call it "rolly". So I think "rolly" means rolling uphill!

Oh, and I think the empanadas should have been included in the Barbera menu course.

y

[SadieKate]

And Bubba (and I think SK) added that rollers shouldn't require major gear changes (e.g. switching chainrings). y

That was Miss Kim. Yes, your eyes and legs are just tuned differently to ours. At Diablo, Rod said nothing was as steep as the top of Diablo. I just need a translation device when talking to the two of you.

But you got me over a big mental obstacle and I'm feeling strong! Woohoo!

[aka_kim]

Yes, your eyes and legs are just tuned differently to ours.

And hearts, and lungs. You Hangtown Velo riders rock -- I think I said the women were all Amazons, and the men the equivalent (not sure what that would be -- bionic? Herculean?).

I didn't know the empanadas were homemade -- they were delicious! And went well with the Sangiovese too.

[SadieKate]

Yellow, just in case you and Brian forget it again look at the "little rolly hill" at the end of option one on this map. Isn't that the climb on Dorado Canyon that isn't shown on the map you originally gave us for Slug Gulch?

http://www.beautifulvista.com/Bike_R...anyon_loop.htm

[yellow]

Yellow, just in case you and Brian forget it again look at the "little rolly hill" at the end of option one on this map. Isn't that the climb on Dorado Canyon that isn't shown on the map you originally gave us for Slug Gulch?

Rolly? Did I say rolly?

We both admit that we'd forgotten about that. I of course am always more focused on that downhill before that uphill, since I almost killed myself on that (downhill) a couple of years ago. Funny, I never remember the uphill. Of course, usually by that time in any of those rides out there I'm thinking about WHAT I'M GOING TO EAT WHEN I FINISH. I started doing that yesterday out loud and I think Bea would have slugged me if she was a little closer.

[SadieKate]

Of course, usually by that time in any of those rides out there I'm thinking about WHAT I'M GOING TO EAT WHEN I FINISH. I started doing that yesterday out loud and I think Bea would have slugged me if she was a little closer.

That is why we's eating where we's parking on Sunday. I'd hate to see chomp bites on the Bus' upholstery.