Dam Corners and Valley road ride - Sat, May 20

[DirtDiva]

It's also a fairly major bit of metabolism involved in the production of ATP (energy). Knew that biochem degree would come in handy one day...

[slinkedog]

Slinke - what does your krebs say about Tunnel Rd?

I have to find that post that explains what "Krebs" is...

*Looking for Tunnel Rd. on map* Is it the same as Hwy. 24?
If so, it's monstrous and I could never do it, according to the map. It's 9% grade or more for a good portion of the climb. There be arrows all over the place on that section of the country. (Arrows denote climbs)

[bikerz]

Old Tunnel Rd runs sort of parallel to 24, then keeps going up when 24 goes through the Caldecott tunnel - and finally meets Grizzly Peak at Skyline. Hmmm - 9% seems very steep - if it's that steep, what the heck am I doing climbing it!

[slinkedog]

It's that 34 in the bad, I tell you!

[winddance]

Old Tunnel Rd runs sort of parallel to 24, then keeps going up when 24 goes through the Caldecott tunnel - and finally meets Grizzly Peak at Skyline. Hmmm - 9% seems very steep - if it's that steep, what the heck am I doing climbing it!

Climbing it very well, indeed! With the added bonus that you managed to complete the ride without any parts falling off of your bike...

[SadieKate]

I think it is more of an accomplishment if no parts fall off your body.

[winddance]

I was pretty proud of myself for keeping myself in one piece, definitely!

Unfortunately, I *did* have something fall off of my bike...but I was all for the fact that when my chain broke, it broke after we had completed the ride safely, and within coasting distance of my car!

[bikerz]

Yeah - that was something - I've never seen a chain break like that!

So Winddance did great on Tunnel Rd - there were several times when she was so far ahead of me that I coudn't see her on any of the curves ahead, and wondered if she had accidentally fallen off the side of the road! m (Luckily not!)

With her new rear cassette, she'll be blasting up those East Bay hills in no time, and the new brakes will help with the downhills!

[SadieKate]

There's been a lot of hijacking here but I'll try to get us (at least me) re-focused a bit. The "when" was TBD, but I've now had a look at the Davis Double map and rest stop hours (at least on the 2001 map). I think to get us up over the Dam and to the first Corner (Moskowite) before the really horrendous heat sets in and before the idjit boat trailers show up, we need to be on our bikes at 7 am.

The DD has a rest stop at Markeley Cove (after the Dam at the base of Cardiac Hill) from 6 to 9 so we might see a few of the riders. Might even be able to provide some company for Veronica.

Start: Parking lot next to Steady Eddy's Coffee House in Winters
When: On bikes at 7 am
Length: 62-72
Climbing: shorter ride 2,780 / longer ride maybe another 800-900 ft

If anyone is interested in a shorter option, let me know. You could ride the course backwards until you find us. That would reduce the climbing significantly and still be a pretty ride (with no idjit boat trailers). You would have the option of climbing Cantelow on the way back to give you a little climbing.

PS - I know boat trailers don't have any brains, so don't any of you grammar grinches be sassing me about calling them idjits.

[maillotpois]

I believe that's the second rest stop for DD there at the dam. There'll be water there, and I am sure they won't mind sharing. Most riders will hit that pretty early, though. Even though it may be as much as 50 - 60 miles into the ride, the first part goes by very quickly.

[jobob]

What time does Steady Eddy's open ?

Just curious, for coffee consumption planning purposes ...

[SadieKate]

Just called them. 6:30 am on Saturday.

http://www.wintersca.org/steadyeddy.htm

I have no problem setting the start time back even earlier if'ns everyone wants.

[jobob]

Ah, perfect. Gives me a half hour window of caffeination.

[SadieKate]

I've got this little list going. I have no idea of it's accuracy.

Yes
Kim
Jo
Lee
Sarah
Bubba
Patric

Maybe
BikerZ
PABadger
Emerald
Winddance
Ed

If anyone wants a shorter ride than the 62 miles, they could ride the route backward. You could start with us to get pointed in the right direction and use a marked Solano BikeLinks map for the route (I'll provide). You could ride all the way into Fairfield, but a ride into old town Vacaville would prolly be nicer and easy to find on the map. It would be about 38 miles for this option and you could still join us for the short climb over Cantelow. BikerZ may be looking for company on this option.

[snapdragen]

Is Cantelow open yet? The guys on "the other forum" are still talking like it's closed.