need some route suggestions

[cindysue]

Cindy, we could do a 40 mile reservoir loop from my house.... We could also do the classic Woodside loop on the peninsula.... and you could do the climb of Old La Honda up to Skyline Blvd.,

Looking forward to Holstein Hundred trip reports from you and Bike Goddess! (I think she was there, no?)

OK, let me know about the soccer game timing. Hmmmmm... Decisions, decisions: The reservoir loop was great. but, it's been years since I did the woodside loop - so I'd love to do that one too......

-------------
Just me from TE on the Holstein - great century - lots of climbing - Yummy eggplant parmesean at the end of the ride. Lots of cows! If you couldn't see them through the fog (it was cold!), you could smell them

I struggled with my compact double and 12-25 cassette - but I DID IT. Met some great folks - one guy talked me up one of the tougher climbs. Met another guy who coaches High School MTB, and another who has a daughter on the Cal Cycling team. All in all a GREAT day - I just love how organized rides empower me and remind me how much I love the sport and other cyclists. I get the same feeling when I'm out with you TE girls.

[Bike Goddess]

Bike Goddess did the Napa Century on Sunday (seldom does she get to ride on Saturdays (work) . Since you asked, here's my report I did for the Bike Journal (under Metric Century thread)

The Napa Century Ride- thought I was going to do a century but......

Total miles= 68.36
AVG Speed+ 15.54
Total time= 4:24

Temps- started out in the fog- mid 50's and then after climbing Mt Veeder and traversing the Napa Valley in the fog, as we were climbing up the opposite ridge into the Pope Valley, the sky cleared and the temps went from a comfortable 60 to 80+ and later high 90's in the course of about 10 minutes!

The Lunch Stop was at mile 63. I was excited as it looked like this would be my fastest century yet! Just 36.5 miles to go- one steep uphill grade of 5 miles, a screaming downhill back into the Napa Valley, and some fast level stretches back to the finish. I started up the Ink Grade (famous out here for the climb and because we pass the property of the Cliff Bar owner-himself a cyclist of sorts)when about 1/4 of the way up- BANG!- the bike came to a sudden halt!. Fortunately I was able to unclip. Cause- broken spoke.

The upshot of the story- got SAGGED in- my first SAG experience and my first ever DNF. Not fun either as I had to face my fellow riders from our club (about 20)with my excuse! Turns out another member also had a broken spoke (front wheel), but he found a mechanic who trued the wheel so he could finish the ride. Of course I got an earful of broken spoke stories so at least it was fodder for some interesting conversations.

The good news- one of the riders in my club has the dream bike repair area in his garage. After the ride, he changed out the rear cluster on one of his spare wheels, put my cluster on, and I'm good to go. Now I have to find a straight pull spoke for my rear wheel. Of course I have to have a spoke that is rarely seen these days on bikes!

I've gotten about 8000 miles on that wheel so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Glad it didn't happen on the downhill!

P.S. Anyone else had this happen to them????

[snapdragen]

P.S. Anyone else had this happen to them????

Yup - bikerz coming down Diablo Sagged her in the trusty blue Suby.

[jobob]

The Chain Reaction website has some very nice routes mapped out, many with photos.

http://www.chainreaction.com/theloop.htm --> the Most Excellent Woodside / Portola Valley (mini) loop

http://www.chainreaction.com/bigloop.htm --> the beefier version of the mini loop, which adds Old La Honda up and the descent down 84 (not for the faint of heart, but quite the blast, I think!)


http://www.chainreaction.com/coastloop.htm --> Pescadero/Tunitas Creek. This one is for the studly.

http://www.chainreaction.com/roadrides.htm --> overview of many of the rides described on their site

Also http://www.chainreaction.com/ check the drop-down menu at the very bottom of the page.

[bikerz]

Yup - bikerz coming down Diablo Sagged her in the trusty blue Suby.

Yes indeedy - thank goodness for Snap and the Subaru - I would have and a depressing 7 mile walk downhill! Good thing you were able to stop, Nancy, and that it happened on an uphill, not at high speed going downhill. And after 8000 miles - good golly Ned! Sounds like a great ride otherwise!

[cindysue]

The Chain Reaction website has some very nice routes mapped out, many with photos.

Thanks!

[cindysue]

Turns out another member also had a broken spoke (front wheel), but he found a mechanic who trued the wheel so he could finish the ride.

Bummer BG! But, sounds like you had a great ride up to that point!

so, if this happens to someone else, is there no quick fix? Any mini-tools / knowledge we can take on the road with us?

[Bike Goddess]

Yes, Cindy Sue. there is something called a spoke wrench. You have to get one that fits your spokes. When a spoke pops as my did you true the wheel ON the bike by loosening the spokes on either side of the broken one. A bit tricky, but can be done. DO NOT take wheel off bike!! Ask at your LBS guys to show you.

[cindysue]

there is something called a spoke wrench. Ask at your LBS guys to show you.

thanks Nancy!

[Veronica]

so, if this happens to someone else, is there no quick fix? Any mini-tools / knowledge we can take on the road with us?

I had a rear spoke break last spring. It started off as a weird noise and then popped out. I was able to ride home - about 5 miles - by loosening my rear brakes to avoid rubbing. Not something you can do if you are riding low spoke count wheels. It went to the shop for a new spoke and truing and I stole Thom's rear wheel.

On the Primavera century I was still riding Thom's wheel (he got the fixed one) and I had a spoke start working loose. I actually have a spoke wrench in my tool kit, so we fixed it up enough to get back to the car.

After that I started checking the spokes every so often to see if they were loose until Thom got me some snazzy new wheels. Alas, if a spoke breaks on these I won't be able to ride home. That's the risk you take when you go light.

V.

[slinkedog]

Let me map out something good. The ride to Uvas and back is about 37, and to Chesbro dam and back is a little shorter. To do a loop all the way around would be more like 40, so maybe we should do an out and back.

Let me cook something up on my bike-route mapping software and I'll give you some more options.

Looking forward to it!!