ALC Expo & Ride - Tiburon Loop

Short ride, home to shower, and back to see if I could win a bike with a 'Granny' gear. No such luck :-( Gorgeous day again and suppose I should do what the shirt below says.

Trevor says his behind can't handle the bike seats so I keep threatening to get him a recumbent bike like this tandem above and below. Evidently 'No! Sore asses' need apply.

Above: Morning before 250 of us headed out.

Below: Massage afterwards (no I didn't get one).

Above: The staff of ALC Lifecycle.

route and data:

View Larger Map

Total Time (h:m:s): 4:30:01, 5:17 pace

Moving Time (h:m:s): 3:43:38, 4:23 pace

Distance (mi )51.01

Moving Speed (mph): 13.7 avg., 32.8 max.

Elevation Gain (ft)+6,201 / -6,197

Heart Rate Data: Avg, Low, High

Heart Rate (%max): 74, 48, 99

Heart Rate (bpm): 137, 88, 183

Week ending Saturday March 29, 2008

spin classes: 0

commute miles: 66.14
training miles: 187.35
weekly total: 253.49 miles

2008 Year-to-date: 1,366.54 miles, 16 spin classes, two flats

weight 174 pounds

Mountain View to San Ramon

Relatively flat, the ride only had one 'real' hill in Norris Canyon. Niles Canyon and Norris Canyon are beautiful, but all in all the South Bay is ugly. It's all strip malls and suburbia. Don't mean to offend, sorry.

Finally had the flat that I've been expecting for awhile now. The roads were wet this morning from drizzle, and when the roads are wet the chances of flats increase because things stick to the tire. I noticed the puncture as soon as it happened, phtheet.....phtheet......phtheet. Can't really complain it's my first flat with this bike (~2000 miles) and the tire is starting to wear with cracks and holes. If I start getting more flats, I'll purchase new.

Above: Niles Canyon with the low hanging clouds shortly after my flat.

Below: The source of god's elixir, a vineyard off from Foothill. Maybe I'll have to track down the specific vineyard.

route and data:

View Larger MapTotal Time (h:m:s): 7:37:39, 5:15 pace

Moving Time (h:m:s): 5:45:32, 3:58 pace

Distance (mi ) 87.02

Moving Speed (mph): 15.1 avg., 39.0 max.

Elevation Gain (ft)+4,693 / -4,693

Heart Rate Data: Avg, Low, High

Heart Rate (%max): 74, 46, 98

Heart Rate (bpm): 136, 85, 182

Woo Hoo, too. My first century ride.

I just did my first century ride today!!! I rode Julie Brown's Cheese Factory/Petaluma ride from Mike's Bikes in Sausalito, but I rode there and back from home. My total mileage was 100.33 miles. I know it is just barely over one hundred but at least I didn't have to ride around the block a few times to get me above the mark. The last few hills were tough. My legs were screaming at me, push and pull, push and pull. Another great ride. Now time for a glass or two of wine.

Above: Lunch stop at the Apple Box in Petaluma. Left to right: Diane, Carol, Geoff, ???, and Lynne. Below: Group of riders leaving the Cheese Factory, I tagged along.

Above: View from the top of Wilson's Hill
Below: Jennifer and Pamela cresting Wilson's


Above: Sean cresting Wilson's Hill (can you tell I needed to give my legs a rest)

Below: Pelicans in Nicasio Reservoir

Lastly, I know I said I wouldn't give Thor anymore limelight, but Smokey and Thor sleeping snugly is just too much. Also the Licky, Licky too.

route and data:

View Larger Map

Total Time (h:m:s)142:11:23, 5:49 pace

Moving Time (h:m:s)7:20:37, 4:23 pace

Distance (mi )100.33

Moving Speed (mph) 13.7 avg., 41.9 max.

Elevation Gain (ft) +11,297 / -11,293

Heart Rate Data: Avg, Low, High

Heart Rate (%max): 56, 40, 102

Heart Rate (bpm): 104, 74, 189

Temperature (°F) 55.4°F avg., 62.6°F high

Wind Speed ( mph) ESE 7.4 avg., ESE 23.0 max.

1,001...1,002...1,003...

Week ending Saturday March 22, 2008

Wo hoo!!! I passed the 1,000 mile mark for the year last Sunday. Maybe 2,000 by the end of April??

:-( I've missed a training ride I've been literally looking forward to for months. The ride from Mountain View/Palo Alto up over Old La Honda, over to San Gregorio, and back is one of my favorite rides. It was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but with the roads wet from the previous night's rain I bailed out and the ride was cancelled (of course it turned out to be a beautiful day). It was re-scheduled for today...but I had work to do. About 5 hours worth to be exact. I'm thinking I'm going to be taking a day off later in the week so I can get this training ride in.

Mono Lake, California

spin classes: 2 (Tues. 6:15 am, Thur. 6:30 pm)

commute miles: 64.97

training miles: 82.23

weekly total: 147.20 miles

2008 Year-to-date: 1,113.05 miles, 16 spin classes

weight: 174 pounds

Nicasio Valley Loop, 3-16-2008

I now have a new favorite ride. After having been to Lagunitas twice now and thinking ho hum, pretty and all quite enjoyable. Nicasio Valley is simply stunning. I'm sure it being spring, and everything being nice and GREEN has nothing to do with it. Happy Cows were everywhere, and Happy Horses too. This was also my longest ride of the year, I have a feeling I'll do longer real soon. I even enjoyed the unpaved 2.5 mile trail that I took by accident in Samuel Taylor State Park. I wondered why I could see riders on the pavement across the river, while I'm dodging puddles and rocks. Lots of pics, I got tired of stopping every few miles.

Above: Nicasio Reservoir. Below: Happy Horses just before Samuel Taylor State Park.

Above: Lunch stop in Lagunitas, computer says I burned 4360 calories over the course of the ride, Big Mac here I come. Below: Lynne, one of the ride leaders, passing me while I stopped to take pics of the Happy Cows.

Above and Below: The chapel in Nicasio Valley.

Above: Nicasio Reservoir.

Below: More riders passing me while I take a look at ALL the Happy Cows.

Above and Below: Fellow Cat 3 riders listening to Safety speech while getting ready.
Below: Say it with me, Happy Cows. With all the green goodness, how could they not be. Although, if I was closer that young one in the middle I'm sure would give me trouble if I was closer.
Lastly, another pic of Thor trying to tell Trevor 'enough with your studying already'. (more pics of Smokey soon, can't let Thor hog all the limelight (not that he minds).)
route and data:

View Larger Map

Total Time (h:m:s): 8:16:52, 6:01 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s): 6:12:14, 4:31 pace
Distance (mi ): 82.23
Moving Speed (mph): 13.3 avg., 38.6 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +9,664 / -9,661

Temperature (°F): 54.9°F avg., 60.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph): NW 13.6 avg., NW 17.2 max.

Week ending Saturday March 15, 2008

Bar Harbor, Maine early morning tide going out.

spin classes: 0
commute miles: 55.92
training miles: 75.27
weekly total: 131.19 miles

2008 Year-to-date:

965.85 miles (so close),

14 spin classes

weight: 174 pounds

and a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kim S. It's her big five-ohhhh shit today (shhhhh)

Be Careful Out There...(updated...)

Far Left: Matt Peterson (photo by Larry Rosa via SFgate.com)
Left: Kristy Gough (photo courtesy of Karen Clarkson via San Jose Mercury News)

Sheriff's deputy hits cyclists, killing 2 on Steven's Canyon Road. This road is heavily traveled by bicyclists, including myself. My heart goes out to Kristy Gough's and Matt Peterson's friends and family, and hoping for recovery, as quick as possible, for Christopher Knapp, who's currently in stable condition. I did not know either of them, but when fellow bicyclists are felled it hits a bit close to home.

Updated...okay, what the hell is happening out there. Today there was a hit-and-run at gates of hell intersection (Market&Octavia). Yesterday an ALC rider, Kumar, had an accident while going downhill. Via Chris (and Julie Brown), he was airlifted from King City to San Jose and today is beginning his recuperation from "broken ribs, a punctured lung, a broken shoulder and a broken vertebrae". Get well Kumar.

Certainly makes me want to hop on out there tomorrow morning.

China Camp, 03-09-2008

Woo hoo, first back to back days of significant riding. Felt a lot stronger today than I had thought I would. Lots of pics. Also a few weeks back my cyclo-computer registered my fastest speed at 140 mph. Not bloody likely ;-) Well today in San Anselmo as I'm stopped waiting at two different stop lights, my speedometer registers over 80 mph. Pretty damn good for having one foot on the ground. Curious as to what is causing the interference.

Below: Hunchback of SF just leaving the house

Above: View South towards the Richmond/San Rafael bridge

Below: View North/NE from China Camp

Below: View South/SE from China Camp. Those aren't buildings off towards the right. Those are the Richmond Gas refinery smokestacks.

Below: Lunch at China Camp

Above: Marina in Sausalito, with view towards SF.

Below: The Marin Bike Path, with who knows biking. Like the houseboats.

route and data:

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Total Time (h:m:s) 7:09:58, 5:42 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 5:18:02, 4:13 pace
Distance (mi ) 75.27
Moving Speed (mph) 14.2 avg., 40.4 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +8,229 / -8,228

Heart Rate Data: Avg, Low, High
Heart Rate (%max): 74, 49, 97
Heart Rate (bpm): 136, 90, 179

Temperature (°F): 54.7°F avg., 57.2°F high
Wind Speed ( mph): NE 3.0 avg., NE 4.6 max.

Week ending Saturday March 8, 2008

Above: Thor in the Daffodils last weekend (he has a harness on to be out front)

spin classes: 1 (Thur. 6:30 pm)
commute miles: 54.58
training miles: 124.09
weekly total: 178.67 miles

2008 Year-to-date: 834.66 miles, 14 spin classes

weight: 174 pounds

Below: Daffodils last weekend, Tulips this weekend (front flower/palm tree box)

03-08-2008; DSSF Jersey Ride

Above: left to right: Aaron, Tim, John, and Chris, at the regroup before crossing the GG.

Below: Gorgeous friggin' day, from the top of Conzelman looking towards SF, GG foreground.

Below: Look at all the sailboats!! and bikers. Angel Island (center left) and across the bay is Berkley (center right, never thought I'd put Berkeley and center right together, did you?)

route and data:

View Larger Map
Total Time (h:m:s) 5:29:08, 5:59 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 4:01:18, 4:23 pace
Distance (mi ) 55.51
Moving Speed (mph) 13.6 avg., 36.3 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +7,385 / -7,394

Heart Rate Data: Avg, Low, High
Heart Rate (%max): 77, 42, 104
Heart Rate (bpm): 143, 78, 193

Temperature (°F): 55.1°F avg., 59°F high
Wind Speed ( mph): W 11.7 avg., W 14.9 max.

I'm getting a kick out of Jerome and Michael wanting me to stop half way up Sausalito hill. Like hell. Thanks to Jerome for the pic.