End-of-year

Above: The design for my cards/magnets. Many thanks to dear friend Brent

(Sutton Communications).

oops, I can't even spell my name correctly :-) it's L'Italien

....

So on this showery and damn cold evening, I'm resigned to the fact that my road bike will stay nestled in its rack for the remainder of the year. I'll be spending the next few days making sure everything is set for Trevor and my European Christmas Vacation. We depart for Paris on Christmas Eve and arrive the next morning. To say that we are looking forward to it is an understatement. I truly hope it isn't too cold or I'll never hear the end of 'we could be on the beach in Hawaii now'.

...

I figure mileage wise for the year 2008, I'll end with nearly 5,200 miles ridden. That seems like a hell of a lot to me, but I'm thinking I can do more next year. With all your help I hope to raise over $3,000.00 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and participate in the 8th California AIDS Lifecycle. You know, 545 miles from SF to LA the first week of June.

..

....

In the spirit of new year's, I might as well post a short list of personal goals I'm thinking about planning for 2009 ;-)

1. Raising greater than $3,000.00 for the SF AIDS foundation and riding every mile of the Lifecycle.

2. Complete the Death Ride.

3. Complete at least one double century (I'm already registered for the Solvang Spring Double).

4. If I end up surviving the 15-18 hours on the bike for the Solvang Double, making a run at the California Triple Crown (3 doubles in calender year).

5. Loose 10-15 pounds (ha, ha, ha, already know this one is going to bite the dust).

6. Participating in numerous organized centuries and reach 7,000 total miles for the year.

7. Make it to Germany to visit Trevor's Sister and her family (maybe a side trip to Italy??).

8. Spending lots of time with good friends and family, new and old.

9. Loving Thor and Smokey and all the cuddling they can handle (that goes for Trevor too).

10. and being thankful that my doomsday clock has not yet rung.

...

Wishing you all a great holiday

and sending out the warmest of thoughts and prayers.

Love always,

Larry

Update: (12/22/08)

2008 end-of-year totals
5,143.02miles,
53 spin classes,
10 flat tires (tubes),
4 tires replaced,
replaced 2 wheels,
one broken frame, and one stolen bike.

I'm in....

as well as the Solvang Double Century.

5001...5002...5003

2008 year-to-date (as of December 6, 2008):

5,084.44 miles,

45 spin classes,

9 flat tires (tubes),

3 tires replaced,

replaced 2 wheels,

one broken frame, and one stolen bike.

Home-2-Work via Alice's Restaurant

I had a couple of hours of work to do this afternoon so I rode in but took the hard way. Climbed Highway 92 to Skyline and followed Skyline to Highway 84. At the junction of the two sits Alice's Restaurant. Alice's and the store across the street are a gathering place of sorts for motorcyclists and bicyclists (leather and lycra)...

Above: Crystal Springs Reservoir from the Sawyer Camp Trail. If you haven't bicycled or jogged or walked Sawyer Camp trail get off your duff and do it. It is beautiful.

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58.27 miles; 4,278 feet of climbing

Pre&Post Turkey Burn

With Thanksgiving and all the eating that entails I decided to ride the day before and the day after. On Wednesday I woke to cloudy sky's and wet roads but the weather report said showers only. I climbed aboard my bike and headed out to Ocean Beach to Skyline to Sawyer Camp Trail to Canada Rd. Once I hit Canada those showers arrived and they arrived as RAIN. I was drenched by the time I cycled the last 10 miles into work.

On Friday I was up and on my way to San Rafael mid-morning to meet up with other DSSF'ers for a ride through Lucas Valley, Alp de Fromage, and Marshall's Wall. It would be my first time through Lucas Valley and up Marshall's Wall so I was looking forward to the ride. Lucas Valley, on the back side towards Nicasio, is unbelievably gorgeous as you descend into the tall Redwoods. Absolutely stunning. Marshall's Wall was meh. Jerome was right that it's a nice climb but short. With Jerome, Topher, Doug, Stephanie, David, and Nancy, riding we kept a real moving pace going.

Above: Alp de Fromage (Cheese Factory Hill)

Below: Nancy at the Cheese Factory

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61.68 miles; 3336 ft of climbing (not all that much)

Below: Looking towards Marshall from atop Marshall's Wall

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44.25 miles; 2,229 feet of climbing