How's it looking for Party Pardee

[tprevost]

What a great report Jobob! Sounds like a fabulous day and certainly made me wish I were there. AND, I realized as I was reading your report that I am one of those people that don't do the rollers right... so, I even learned something too! Whoo Hooo!

Thanks again for the great report!

Tracy

[jobob]

Anytime, Tracy!

Harnessing your momentum to go over rollers was one of the things I learned from the road riding academy my club puts on.

When I'm rolling up and down hills, it's so tempting to coast down a hill and up into the beginning of the next hill, putting off the inevitable and only starting to pedal again once I start slowing down on the uphill grade.

It was a real surprise when I learned that if I started pedalling before I reached the bottom of the hill, I would often have enough momentum to carry me well up the next hill, sometimes even clear to the top, with a minimum of effort. Sometimes if the next hill isn't too steep or long and if I time it right I don't even have to downshift. Whee!

[tprevost]

Jobob,

are you talking about ACTC (I think I have the initials wrong!) I belonged to that club eons ago when I was up in the bay area and I meant to go to that darned riding academy.... Dang, and I've spent all this time makin' things hard on myself!!! ... figures!

Thanks again - maybe I can get more tips out of you at the LRRH or ???

Tracy

[jobob]

Yep, ACTC. Snapdragen was one of our instructors when LeeBob and I took it. Lee & I were then assistant instructors for the following session, and for part of the session after that.

We're on "sabbatical" right now, it's nice to have our Saturdays free so we can go on rides with our friends and to participate in organized rides like Party Pardee.

We'll be working our club ride again this year, the Tierra Bella. I'm going to be the Official Skeleton (afternoon shift) standing before the descent on Canada road, after Gilroy Hot Springs. (It can be a dicey descent, a bit steep, windey and often gravelley, so the skeleton sort of reinforces the concept of Slow Down or Die )

So if anyone is riding the 100K route on the TB, say hi to the skeleton after the Gilroy Hot Springs rest stop - that'll be me !

[tprevost]

how funny, I'd forgotten what the route was for that ride. I lived off of Roop Road when I was growing up and used to sneak my dad's truck out and drive around the lake and hot springs road (less likely to be busted!) and out Canada.

I sure do get homesick for Norcal when I read these posts!

Trac'

[SadieKate]

I sure do get homesick for Norcal when I read these posts!

Trac'

I finally looked up Canyon Valley. You are a ways a way from us! It'll be fun to finally meet. Thanks for the nice post on BJ.

[aka_kim]

You know, the skeleton is probably a good idea, but I've found when doing TB that I'm focusing on the skeleton as I start the descent, instead of the road. I think last year the skeleton was waving around a sign that it took me several seconds to read and process, and I really wasn't going too fast (my brain obviously wasn't going too fast ).

But I do think it's very cool you're helping your club - just try not to startle or distract the riders.

[jobob]

But I do think it's very cool you're helping your club - just try not to startle or distract the riders.

Hee hee, then I'll refrain from doing the Spastic Skeleton Dance.

Maybe I'll just stand off to one side and do one of those Royal Family waves (you know, where you hold up your arm at a slight angle and just rotate your hand from the wrist very slowly - tres regal)

[SadieKate]

You need to wear a tiara to go with the wave. Maybe a string of pink pearls.

[tprevost]

Yah, I'm about 40 miles south of Riverside. We moved from Scotts Valley about 5 years ago and I'm usually up in the bay area 3-5 times a year to visit friends (plus DH still works out of Santa Cruz). My sister lives in Davis though so you may get a call when I get up there to visit ! I've already harrassed poor Slinkedog into doing a ride with me the 19th when I'm there!

In regards to the BJ post, your welcome; definately true, I feel like you all are my friends even though I've never met most of you!

Trac'

[SadieKate]

Cool. Let me know when!

[Hill Slug]

OK, so JoBob, we're you wearing the Ameci jersey, and a coral colored vest??? And had a rather large-ish saddle bag on the back??

Because if so, you passed me at about mile 5.....I had the cheesy orange wings attached to my camelbak. It wasn't too far from the start going up one of those early rollers, a little ways before the photo guy.

Anyway, I was exhausted because my partner was one of the volunteers who had to be there at 6am, so I had to be there at 6am.......so I decided to just do the short route. And it was nice. The clouds came around and the sun came out a bit, but no rain, so that was nice. There were a couple of wannabees who came very close while passing, and had I turned to look over my shoulder I know we would've gone down. There was also one VERY large peleton of about 30 riders, that sounded like a large car coming behind me. I almost called out car back, then realized it was just a bunch of bikes.

All the rest stop folks were nice and they kept things filled up. There were alot of SAG vehicles visibly patrolling. I only saw a few folks with flats.

It was a nice day, and I got home about 1-ish. According to my friend who was the registration person, they only had about 950 show up, after selling out at about 1,500....Obviously the weather kept folks home, but that's ok there were still plenty of riders out there.