it's practically official now

[Susie]

To answer everyone's questions:

Tprevost -- I'm already signed up for the Strawberry Fields full century. I did the Surf City ride in September, which is a very similar course. I'm really looking forward to doing Strawberry Fields in May.

Brandi -- I was wearing Terry full fingered gloves (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=14148). As far as hand warmers, I bought Heat Factory mini warmers at my local outdoor store, but you can find them on http://www.heatfactory.ca/warmer.html. Basically, you open the package, squeeze the packet of stuff, and it heats right up and stays warm for up to 8 hours. You can tuck them just about anywhere and they really work (my toes can vouch for them). And Solvang is open registration. There were many folks actually registering the morning of the ride, which suprised me. If I hadn't have already spent the money, I wouldn't have gone. Conditions were way too nasty.

I have only one thing left to clean. I never knew that helmets could get so muddy on a road ride!

Susie