Certainly not criticizing. Just personal observation. I can't downshift Fluffy under any serious tension and I know Thom doesn't have that problem with the tandem. I've never ridden with STI myself except as stoker , so nope can't criticize - mostly whining that my own cadence isn't smooth enough to go strictly platform pedals.

About a Bay Area ride - I was trying to come up with one that would be fairly flat, not too long, reasonably scenic and not too much traffic. That led me to a ride along the Delta levees. The wind is not that bad and in a paceline would be quite manageable.

Veronica