May 22 - A Twist on the Tour of Napa Valley

[yellow]

Rod's waffling...seems he's rather ride with us women than participate in a charity golf tournament. The final decision, he says, depends upon how he feels after doing the Davis Double Sat.

And I forgot Steph, though I still need to confirm with her. So yellow's attendance list is:

yellow and Brian
Cara and Chris
Bea
Rod (maybe)
Steph (maybe)

And I still need to re-call Ed. Yah, yellow brings the hoardes this time. They just love y'all so much...kindred spirits, I suppose.

[SadieKate]

Hee-hee, what was Rod's license plate again? It will be nearby and unattended for several hours.

[SadieKate]

Bummer, looks like we're down by 2. V and Thom have been forced into DIY fence-fixing for the weekend.

[aka_kim]

Bummer, looks like we're down by 2. V and Thom have been forced into DIY fence-fixing for the weekend.

Bummer.

Well, good news on the weather. Ink Grade at midday in 90 degree heat wasn't sounding so great. But 80 degrees, a-ok.

[SadieKate]

It was hot but we had a fun ride. Yellow brought the hordes from Placerville this time. She used my camera, figured out the timer setting (she's so smart ) and got the whole gang in front of the fancy Pope Valley Post Office.

In front: Sue (Yellow) and Bea (who did Slug Gulch with us last week)
In back: Chris, Sarah, Brian (Yellow's DH), Nancy, Kim and Cara (Chris' DW)

The Napa and Pope Valleys were still very green with lots of flowers due to our late spring rains. The brooks were a'babbling big time! Amazing to see that much water in them this time of year.

Kim and I were most disappointed that V was unable to come as there were some really cute striped tote bags at the hoity-toity orgo-natch market in Calistoga but V wasn't there to carry them home for us.

[SadieKate]

looking cool and refreshed after a 5 mile climb, the last 3 miles at 7.5%. I think the temps were in the 80s by now and none are us are acclimated to it yet. We all went beyond glowing today.

[Veronica]

I've bought a nifty new bag for the summer. It barely carries all my tools and a red bull. I was looking forward to using it yesterday. AND I think I can finally take off my fenders! Of course I did ride on Bike to Work Day, in spite of the rain. But in the future, I can't be your bag lady.

Thom and I were at Riv last weekend. They have a beautiful lavendar Saluki on sale. It would make a beautiful commuter/touring bike. I still have lots of points from the piano purchase, so I was told I could have it. Unfortunately, it's a 56. Zippo clearance between me and the top tube. I don't really need a new bike. It's just that it was so pretty.

V.

[SadieKate]

I've bought a nifty new bag for the summer. It barely carries all my tools and a red bull. I was looking forward to using it yesterday. AND I think I can finally take off my fenders! Of course I did ride on Bike to Work Day, in spite of the rain. But in the future, I can't be your bag lady.

Oh no, Fluffy's getting stripped down for speed! Here she comes!

PS - Kim and I did NOT refer to you as the bag lady.

[aka_kim]

PS - Kim and I did NOT refer to you as the bag lady.

"The Bag Lady"! What a great new handle, even if no longer appropriate. It's either "The Bag Lady" or "Princess Zippy", take your pick.

[Veronica]

Princess Zippy! It just sounds so much more refined. But I'm kind of attached to my name too.

V.

[SadieKate]

You can just change your signature to "HRHZV" for "Her Royal Highness Zippy V"

[Bike Goddess]

Yep! Her Royal Highness missed a gooood ride! (Sorry about the fence).

If you ever need a back tire changed, just call on SK & CO. The very best! Even waved Chris on as the women had it handled!
It was a TE ride, after all!

I looked over my tube last night and all I could find was a slight indentation. No holes. I'll give it to my friend Mick and see what he says- looks like something bumped it, but who knows what. Perhaps fell out when SK took the tire off the rim!

YOU'RE the BEST, the BEST!! Plus.... good company, too!

MORE RIDES PLEASE!

[CorsairMac]

Thom and I were at Riv last weekend. They have a beautiful lavendar Saluki on sale. It would make a beautiful commuter/touring bike. I still have lots of points from the piano purchase, so I was told I could have it. Unfortunately, it's a 56. Zippo clearance between me and the top tube. I don't really need a new bike. It's just that it was so pretty.

V.

Would you have clearance if we could find you some cleated heels??

[SadieKate]

I looked over my tube last night and all I could find was a slight indentation. No holes.

Nancy, pump that tube up to a fairly high pressure and hold up to your face. You can sometimes feel escaping air that way and then mark with spit from your finger. Or pump up the tube and stick it in a tub of water. You should see bubbles from the tube or the base of the valve. Michelin tubes have a removable valve core which sometimes moves and then loses air also, though I wouldn't think it would do it at the end of a ride.

[yellow]

Thom and I were at Riv last weekend. They have a beautiful lavendar Saluki on sale. It would make a beautiful commuter/touring bike. I still have lots of points from the piano purchase, so I was told I could have it. Unfortunately, it's a 56. Zippo clearance between me and the top tube. I don't really need a new bike. It's just that it was so pretty.

Need? What does it have to do with need?

I had such high hopes for SK's pink knobby X, thinking maybe, just maybe, one of the stock ones would work for me.



I had to lean the bike sideways to stand over it. SK--yours is a 48, yes?

Bea and I switched bikes for the last 10 miles or so as she's in the market for a new bike. Hers is a tri bike, which I have never piloted before. I promptly almost fell over because of the toe overlap (LOTS of it). I managed to remain upright for the remainder of the ride.

I continue to look for that bike that I may not need, but want. I want to deck it out like Fluffy for commuting.

Oh! And don't forget that we got to watch and observe a large nesting colony of western grebes at whatever backwater that was above the lake. SK thought Bri was stopping to pee right there on the road. I said, no, he's watching birds. Sure' nuf, that's what he was doing. It was way cool. We've seen them doing that nesting/mating water dance stuff before, but not so many in one spot (there were probably 150 or so??).