oh happy day...

photo via theleftcoaster

Many sincere congratulations to the Obama's and to all of us...even this old skeptical heart is hopeful today. May my deep cynicisms be proven wrong. Cheers to that.

Los Gatos Hills (i.e. Redwood Gulch)

David, Stephanie, and Jerome, in Los Gatos.
Season is starting off to a real slow start. After an awesome vacation in Paris over the holidays, Trevor and I arrived back in SF for work to immediately become sick. At least we made it home before succumbing. It was a Cold/Flu thingy. For awhile there I thought it was going to be pneumonia. My chest was heavily congested feeling as if a vice was gripping and tightening. It made it very difficult to breath. This lasted a few days and then one morning I get up, get all ready to head out the door to go to work but sit down on the couch watching the weather because I had a few minutes and I never got back up. Ever have one of those moments when you just realize that things were going to get bad; well I slept for two entire days straight with a high fever to boot. Not fun.

Stephanie and Jon at the top of the hill.

I declined to train for an entire week afterwards to make sure I had recovered sufficiently. Yesterday was my first real ride of 2009. David Gaus, DSSF, was leading a ride in the South Bay so I grabbed the bike and went. David, another David, Jon, Stephanie, Jerome, and I, rode a figure 8ish loop from Sunnyvale to Los Gatos and back. Jerome and I opted to ride up Redwood Gulch while the others chose Mt. Eden. Let’s just say I’m in such bad shape and with my heart rate beating around 198bpm I decided to walk a portion up Redwood. Last fall I would have made it, but after over two months off and being sick, I was literally near death ;-) Very, very humbling, I’ll have to retry soon.

Wondering whether Jerome headed to the top, top or already descended.


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53.53 miles
3,280 feet of climbing
(63.05 miles total for the day)

Paris III

For those that haven't seen the pics I posted to Facebook...

Day 6 - Versailles

Day 7 - 8 - 9

Paris II

For those that haven't seen the pics I posted to Facebook...

Day 4 - Picasso

Day 5 - Louvre

Paris I

For those that haven't seen the pics I've posted to Facebook...

Day 1 - Notre Dame

Day 2 - La Tour Eiffel

Day 3 - Sacre-Coeur

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