Oct 11 rides

[Fredwina]

I did the 50 mile verision of the Riverside bicycle clubs Inland Express
a statue of Juan Bautista DeAnza

some shots along the road:



some shots of the upper section of the Santa Ana River trail:

[RoadRaven]

Stunning pix, Fredwina - 'spesh the first on with the trees all silohetted (sp?).

My Saturday ride was the club race - approx 30kms over a few hills and back into a very strong head wind - no time to stop for pictures at all.

I came in mid-field, but it was a great ride for me. The last 10km I was towing an U15 girl back, making her stay behind me and protected from the wind. Despite me doing almost all the work, we managed to open the gap between us and a chasing group of 4 who were all sharing the work between them. The gap was nearly a minute and a half by the finish line.

I felt really good, extremely tired, did a PB on the course and clocked up 36km in total.

[7rider]

Did the N2 today.
The group was positively noodling along. I actually stayed with them for the first 12 miles, when I realized that they were noodling because half were going out to Sugarloaf - an 85 mile ride - and so were saving themselves.
That suited me just fine.
These group rides are really funny. It's like watching television with the remote control in your hand. Ride for a while with one guy. Chat for a bit. Catch up since the last time you rode with him last week/two weeks ago/whatever. Then, move up the line to an old friend, and chat with her for a while. Then, fall back and talk about an upcoming racing clinic with an old pro. And on and on it goes. Talking with one...change the channels, chat with another...change the channel, talk with someone else.
Regardless, it's a GREAT way to pass the morning, and it makes 40 miles go by in a heartbeat.
By the way...DH did the 85 mile route, and - as predicted - they did NOT noodle the whole way. Poor guy is beat!

[tzvia]

We had perfect weather today. Nice and cool, from the mid 60's to about a high of 70f. Not a cloud in the sky and just a slight breeze. This was the half way point, where we stopped climbing and got to bomb back down to the truck. About 8.5 miles total.