ALC 5 has started!

[Trek420]

Just got a call from John, todays ride was only 43.5 miles from Lompoc to Santa Maria. It is also red dress day so I hope our TE gals are wearing their finest frocks.

Though short the ride includes 3 long climbs, the one to and through Vandenberg AFB is especially challenging, then more rolling hills on 1. John says he had a problem in his tendon, stopped at Sports Medicine at rest stop 1 and was afraid they'd pull him from the ride. Instead they gave him some stretches and Bio Freeze and it worked, he's rolling on like new.

Tomorrow our intrepid gals go on to Ventura, the distance should be close to a Century again. It's one of the nicest routes, starts out with a 20 mile climb then you see the coast again! The rest of the route should be rollers, some steep. They'll pass through Santa Barabara and the Paradise Rest Stop.

This is a stop put on by some past riders with NO HEALTHY STUFF AT ALL. No Cliff bars, no gatorade, there will be gourmet ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers...

The photo's a little back lit but your intrepid reporter is in the middle, left to right that's Trek, John Hronowski, and Jack on Day 0 last year.