Northern California - Early Birds?

Anyone going to Early Birds (http://www.velopromo.com/ebcr-ent.htm) tomorrow?

Maybe the later ones. Two weeks off the bike, no to mention not having a bike at the moment, does not translate to good racing experience. :(

I've done my time; got my upgrade. :) I might show up for the EB RR.

- SteveE

I'll be there.

Maybe the later ones. Two weeks off the bike, no to mention not having a bike at the moment, does not translate to good racing experience. :(

Ha ha. Try two months! :D

I'm mainly going for the clinic. The races are just practice anyway so phhht, nothing to lose.

The races are just practice anyway so phhht, nothing to lose.Just remember, there's nothing to win, either! Nothing wrong with trying to win but, in the end, don't do anything stupid at the end and keep your eyes open for other folks doing stupid things at the end. Don't think you're going to come from umpteenth position and power home for the win. If I remember correctly, corner number two is the one that gives riders the most problems, as there is a median strip on the roadway you turn onto.

Just remember, there's nothing to win, either! Nothing wrong with trying to win but, in the end, don't do anything stupid at the end and keep your eyes open for other folks doing stupid things at the end. Don't think you're going to come from umpteenth position and power home for the win. If I remember correctly, corner number two is the one that gives riders the most problems, as there is a median strip on the roadway you turn onto.

Yeah, no doubt. Don't worry, I'm not gonna be sprinting for 50th place :)

Thanks for the tip on turn #2. I do not remember that from last year but I had limited experience there and most of it was with my tongue hanging out trying to catch my breath :p

... with my tongue hanging out trying to catch my breath :p

That's definately going to be me today. :)

Well, saw my teammate toshi out there today, and a few other friends. Platypus I don't know what you look like, were you in 35+ or the other 5s group?

Great day for it! Planning to go back next week and as much as I can throughout the series...

I was in the 35+ race. I hung on to the pack for about the first 10 minutes, and then sat out a lap to let the pack lap me. I jumped back in, and hung on till about 4 to go when I ran out of gas. The final 3 laps I was suffering like a dog. You may have seen me, I was in a plain grey jersey.

edit: I don't have any recent pictures of myself handy, but here's a little older one: http://www.oxide.org/unix/pics/yoda1.jpg

so, are y'all gonna be going out for next weekend? I'll be there for sure.

I am planning on it, but need to work out some scheduling issues (kids/babysitting) first, so I'm not 100% certain yet.

I would also like to get a lung transplant before returning. ugh!

Which race were you in, 'nother? The 35+ race had one nasty sounding crash (at least there was only one that I saw while I was in the pack).

Yeah, I was in that 35+. I was just behind and to the left of the crash...close enough to smell the distinct odor of melting rubber :) Per mentor's instructions, I didn't look to see who or what, just kept on going (it was right before the first corner so we were setting up for that. It did sound pretty nasty, but I didn't hear any ambulances or anything.

I was riding a blue-green Jade bike, wearing Webcor/Alto Velo jersey + black armwarmers.

oh hey, I think I remember the bike. :)

You might have seen me rejoin the pack just before the crash then - sounds like you and I were right near each other.

oh hey, I think I remember the bike. :).

It's the only one around these parts :D

Give me a shout (well, if it's safe to do so!) if you see me next weekend.

I soooo hate you guys right now. :D Can't wait untill my new bike gets assembled.

I soooo hate you guys right now. :D Can't wait untill my new bike gets assembled.

Dude: beg, borrow, or steal a bike and come on down!

the folks at the work noontime ride aren't happy with me now, since I'm pushing the pace instead of noodling along.

This weekend's goal, don't get dropped until at least 2 from the end.

mission accomplished on that one - albeit at the cost of the race getting stopped due to a bad crash. :(

I'm on the road all week on a business trip so no riding for me at all this week. Hoo boy is EB#3 gonna suck.

Who's in?

I'm out for #3; prior commitment that day. I'll be back for the last 2, though.

Platypus: B ride (http://altovelo.org/ride_calendar/b_ride.php) on Saturday as a warmup? :)

I'm out for #3; prior commitment that day. I'll be back for the last 2, though.

Platypus: B ride (http://altovelo.org/ride_calendar/b_ride.php) on Saturday as a warmup? :)
Is it still a hammer fest?

which, the B ride? I've never noticed it being a hammerfest when I've gone on it. 'nother I can't make the B ride this week - I'm on a plane all day Saturday flying back home from CT (where I'm marooned on business this week).

Cool! How often do they put these series on? I'd like to learn how to race and stuff. sounds like fun, although I'd be the guy way in the back that everyone is lapping. But I'd still have a ton of fun! :)

check the link in the first post. :)

Thanks! I didn't see anything like that happening again on their schedule (or I missed it). :(

Anyone else or any other group in the bay area that puts on clinics and stuff like that for newbies?

eh? The EB series isn't done yet. The third race in the set is this Sunday, with both racing and Mentoring sessions available. Take a look at the velopromo page again. The information's there. :-)

Is it still a hammer fest?

I'm not sure whether you're talking about EBs or B ride.

EBs are hammer-ish, though the second week was noticeably slower pace than the first, at least in the 35+ group. I'll be tuning in to hear the week 3 report, and whether it's cooled off even more or picked back up again. I'll be back for weeks 4 and 5.


B ride can be a hammerfest but seems like it's usually more mellow this time of year. Of course if you're off the front you can mix it up all you want :)

Just posted the B-ride. Coastal Classic. Approximately 60 miles.

Roll call for Week 4...who's in besides me?

Do you even have to ask? I'll be there for the crit, but I'm going to give the RR a pass this time around.

<--raises hand

Do you even have to ask? I'll be there for the crit, but I'm going to give the RR a pass this time around.
haha, well just checkin' :)

No RR for me either. It would be fun I think, but in addition to needing to be a dad tomorrow, the threat of ugly conditions is enough to scare me off.

I dunno, it looks awfully rainy outside. We'll see if we get to race today...

Good job out there today platypus. It was fun being out in front for a while, eh? :)

Hey 'nother, it was nice to meet you today.

Hey 'nother, it was nice to meet you today.

Likewise! You guys were looking great out there, really working together well.

Good job out there today platypus. It was fun being out in front for a while, eh? :)

Absolutely, but next time let's be out in front on the last lap instead of the first, eh? :D

Absolutely, but next time let's be out in front on the last lap instead of the first, eh? :D
Yeah we had it a little backwards. I've been saving it until it counts (next week) :p

I am thinking of going to the last one. Not sure if I do CAT5/5, then training, or just training. Plan is to ride there from Santa Clara, and after everything said and done ride back. Anyone want to join me?
I am debating which one to do. I have 5+ races, but after a crash on La Honda I am still hesitant on the corners. :(

We'll see which race shows up this weekend. I'll definately be out there for the final EB, though.

I am thinking of going to the last one. Not sure if I do CAT5/5, then training, or just training. Plan is to ride there from Santa Clara, and after everything said and done ride back. Anyone want to join me?
I am debating which one to do. I have 5+ races, but after a crash on La Honda I am still hesitant on the corners. :(

Hope you make it out!

If you are doing the "more than 5 races experience" one, it starts at 8:30 you're gonna have to leave Santa Clara on the early side to make that I think. Unfortunately I have to be back here in SJ so cannot ride over/back, but that would be a great ride.

But I don't think they're too persnickety about the more than 5/less than 5 races bit. I would think about doing the mentoring at 11:10 and then the race that immediately follows (<5 races, <35 years old...if memory serves you qualify for that). That would give you plenty of time to get over there without having to get up before sunrise :)

Hope you make it out!

If you are doing the "more than 5 races experience" one, it starts at 8:30 you're gonna have to leave Santa Clara on the early side to make that I think. Unfortunately I have to be back here in SJ so cannot ride over/back, but that would be a great ride.

But I don't think they're too persnickety about the more than 5/less than 5 races bit. I would think about doing the mentoring at 11:10 and then the race that immediately follows (<5 races, <35 years old...if memory serves you qualify for that). That would give you plenty of time to get over there without having to get up before sunrise :)
Yeah, I think I probably do that. Not really lookiing to win or even place, just want to do it for practice. Might just pull out with 5 minutes or so to go. Before things get too dicy. Jut got new clip on fenders for my bike. PITA to install them. Going to look like a total, umm what is the proper terminology here?

By the way can anyone recommend the best route there from Santa Clara?

By the way can anyone recommend the best route there from Santa Clara?

Can you get to Middlefield from where you are? Take that to Willow, and head right to cross the Dumbarton. When you come out of the Wildlife Refuge, take a left on Thornton, and you'll go right by the course. Stop and put a foot down at all the stop signs in the Wildlife Refuge. The rangers are stopping people. They might write a ticket for it.

Up the east side of the Bay, can you ride on Trimble? Take Trimble/Montague to Milpitas Blvd, turn left, becomes Warm Springs in Fremont, turn left on Grimmer(2 lights past Mission), left on Auto Mall(just past fire station), right on Boyce(Toyota dealer at Boyce), becomes Cherry. Cross Thornton to first stop sign (Dairy), right on Dairy, next stop sign is Newark Blvd, left on Newark Blvd. Follow that until it goes under 84 and over the railroad tracks. I think you have to turn left at the light on the other side of the railroad overpass.

Can you get to Middlefield from where you are?

He should be able to take Foothill up from Santa Clara and then take just about anything that cuts across to get to Middlefield... Arastradero would probably be one of the better choices, traffic wise.

This is where it is, correct?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=fremont,+ca&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=37.548592,-122.067161&spn=0.014273,0.033989&om=1&iwloc=addr

Up the east side of the Bay, can you ride on Trimble? Take Trimble/Montague to Milpitas Blvd, turn left, becomes Warm Springs in Fremont, turn left on Grimmer(2 lights past Mission), left on Auto Mall(just past fire station), right on Boyce(Toyota dealer at Boyce), becomes Cherry. Cross Thornton to first stop sign (Dairy), right on Dairy, next stop sign is Newark Blvd, left on Newark Blvd. Follow that until it goes under 84 and over the railroad tracks. I think you have to turn left at the light on the other side of the railroad overpass.
I think I'll take this path. Thanks. Just need to leave early to allow time for me to get lost. :)

This is where it is, correct?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=fremont,+ca&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=37.548592,-122.067161&spn=0.014273,0.033989&om=1&iwloc=addr

Yep, that's it. The registration, etc. is right there on Dumbarton Circle.

I think I'll take this path. Thanks. Just need to leave early to allow time for me to get lost. :)


I think you'll be doing almost 30 miles. I live about 200 yards from that turn onto Newark Blvd, and riding to work was 47 miles round trip. My Post Office is about 1/2 mile east of Valley Medical Center.
If you see a guy headed down Newark Blvd on a silver recumbent tomorrow, that will be me going to lead a club ride.