SoCal TE Ride 7/1 (Saturday)... who's in?

[bcipam]

Cali and Nina:

I look at it this way we all have certain gifts. Cali, clearly yours is endurance and stamina. I can't and won't even think about doing some of the rides you do. It makes me tired thinking of them.

Nina is definitely fast on flats. I am too. My gift is having very large, very powerful, strong legs. I can also push a big gear in wind. But put me on a hill.... well, the big parachute sail comes out and I drop way behind. Now, I can climb the hill but my size and weight keeps me behind the pack but once I crest that hill I can usually make up the deficient. I'm not afraid of the downhills on a road bike - mountain biking has helped me over that fear.

That's why group riding is interesting. I consider it to be an "ebb and flow" people go forward, people drop back but eventually you usually catch up and regroup. Signals lights are a great equalizer.

Jess is definitely coming up with an interesting although challenging ride for us. It may be shorter than 50 miles (I'll cut it short if it gets too hot) but will definitely be challenging. Nina bring the triple although none of the hills are as steep as Shady Ridge, just long. Newport Coast is about a mile. Jess is also going to take us up off the busy, narrow part of PCH so we have to climb Dover, not a bad hill. The toughest hill will actually be the first - Lemon Heights. It is very short - just several 100 feet but crests at 10% or so, then a nice rolly road through beautiful 1,000,000+ homes and up onto Skyline, another doable but long hill with some switchbacks corners at about 10%.

Hills are not my favorite thing but they are good for me. Help burn off all those calories, make me lose weight so someday I can climb like Cali!

Nina don't be scared off - its all doable.

AND CALI - the reason your average is onl;y 13 is all the hills and elevation you do. Geez... considering 13 is awesome!!!!!!

[tprevost]

Okay, everyone who is on the fence!!!! Cut it out!!!! Pam is an excellent leader and this is not going to be a race; cause, believe me - if it was... ya'll could have a long lunch and I'd still be catching up! Besides, we have our ladies who are strong on the flats/downhills, those who rock on the uphills, and ME, who isn't good an anything yet! But darned it, I'm trying and hopefully it will eventually pay off!

Caligurl and Chartman64.... please come it will be so great to have you there! Heck, if I can keep up, anyone can!!!

Tracy

ps. Brandy, I'm seriously bummed that you can't come! When can you and Tiff come ride the wine country loop???

[caligurl]

it all depends on what's up with hubby's neck and what we have on tap for next weekend! (he's not even riding the grand tour tomorrow and he's already paid ) and of course... the weekend after the 1st is 3 harbors... not sure he will want to drive 3 weekends in a row..... we'll see!

[bcipam]

Cali (and hubby) come - it will be a friendly easy ride. Just something to stretch out your legs. And its not that far to OC maybe an hour, hour and an half, not too bad....

[caligurl]

well see! it's not the getting there that is the problem... it's the getting home! traffic pics up by then.. and we've NEVER been on the 91 on the other side of green valley without HORRIBLE traffic!

with the drive to malibu tomorrow.... and then back to ventura in two weeks... he may not want to drive "down the hill" next weekend! plus gas gets spendy on all those trips!

[tprevost]

I've been begging and pleading w/Caligurl too but it is a long drive.... its at least 2+ hours; could be more w/any traffic. I hope they come though!

[tprevost]

Brandy,

I did it this morning and it was nice, probably mid 80's at the end. We started at a little before 9am. Of course, you wouldn't want to be doing it any later than lunch time!

T~

[Brandy]

ps. Brandy, I'm seriously bummed that you can't come! When can you and Tiff come ride the wine country loop???

I know...I'm bummed too. I'm using up all of my babysitting time with Grandma next week and then I had something come up so I thought it was better to bow out. I'd like to do the wine country loop, but I melt in the heat...would I be dying out there?

[chartman64]

Okay, everyone who is on the fence!!!! Cut it out!!!! Pam is an excellent leader and this is not going to be a race; cause, believe me - if it was... ya'll could have a long lunch and I'd still be catching up!

Well, I *still* think I'm probably way too new for this and that 50 miles is most likely too ambitious at this point, but if you don't mind the giving a newbie a shot at it, I'll come. I figure, worse comes to worse, so long as I have a map and can get back to my car, I can always turn around.

Can anyone give me directions from downtown L.A. to the starting point, and let me know what time to be there?

Cindi

[tprevost]

YEAH Cindi!!!

Just wanted to pipe in to say I'm glad you're coming!!! I only know how to get there from my house so I'm no help w/directions ... sorry. I was in Irvine all day today though and it was actually pretty cool - the June gloom was over the airport area pretty much all day and it didn't get too warm... hopefully it will be that way next weekend too!

Trac'

[bcipam]

I will post the route and directions next week for anyone interested

[chartman64]

YEAH Cindi!!!

Just wanted to pipe in to say I'm glad you're coming!!! Trac'

Thanks very much! I really look forward to meeting you!