Southern California - Stagecoach - Jan 13,2007 - Pix and Ride Reports

Ride report to follow..but this pic says it all!

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n188/hmeyerowitz/HPIM0617.jpg


This was at Rest Stop 2

DAAAYYM!!! cold??? :)

MarkAJ and I stayed in El Centro, our friend Steve came in from Pahrump,NV for the ride...
We had an early dinner and was unable to meet up with ME and everyone else....

We go to Ocotillo about 6:25...it was pretty cold...28-30 degrees....but the shy was clear, so we opted for some layers figuring it would warm up to the 58 degrees predicted...we knew it would be a bit cold when we started...
Steve and Mark took off...I met with Tracy and VMC..we had planned to ride together...
We then ran into ME, Sean, Tiff and some others...sorry I didnt get to say hi or meet anyone esle...we were tryong to get outta there asap...( we are the slow group) It was great to finally meet Sean...also saw Brandy and Vireo, and Scootcore
We headed out and realized it was getting cloudier as we rode...and colder...
Wayne had a flat about 1 mile before rest stop 2....we got incredibly cold while he changed his tube...
Rest stop 2 had some shelter...got a bit warm..we decided to push on...there was a major climb in 8 miles so we knew that would warm us up....it did...then on to rest stop 3...another climb...we talked about bailing...VMC wasn't feeling well. But he said he could do the 6 or so miles to lunch...
Off we went..more climbing..so we were a bit warm...a drop into Shelter Valley to lunch...Saw Mark,Steve and Scootcore, heading back...I was moving at a really good clip...and realized they had a headwind..great..
We got to the lunch stop and were so cold..there was no way we were doing the loop....
Went in for lunch and saw Tiff and Sean...then ME...and Dave as we were leaving!
Sorry B...I actually had some chili...only because it was hot...they also let me put my hands on the outside of the warming tray...nice...
There were some heaters in there...many people trying to thaw feet and hands...
The downside I realized is that when you went back out it felt twice as cold....we ate then got ready to head out...I started shivering really bad...and was getting concerned...but figured if we started riding I would feel better... I did warm just a bit since the sun decided to make an appearance...but we still had that headwind for a few miles...
then it was sweet downhills...I started to feel pretty good and started pushing pretty hard...got to rest stop2..VMC was feeling pretty bad so he and Trac decided to sag back....so I pushed on...I pressed a bit hard....trying to get done asap....
I ended up with 94 miles...and a personal best time..so I was very pleased...
But in thinking about this..I believe I was colder here than at Solvang...I had neoprene booties..toes were still frozen...of course my heavy jacket was left in the truck since I didnt want to be too warm...yeah right...

Gee Herb, sounds, like.. uh.... fun? Congrats on the personal best!

Gee Herb, sounds, like.. uh.... fun? Congrats on the personal best!


Yeah...Like a root canal....
thanks...I was happy about that at least...I even dropped a bunch of people...yee haw!!

Pix of BigSean?

I got on just to seem em.

Pix of BigSean?

I got on just to seem em.

Sorry...I didnt have take one...in fact my hands were so cold..I didnt take many pix..was afraid of dropping the camera!
But ME might have one!

Sorry...I didnt have take one...in fact my hands were so cold..I didnt take many pix..was afraid of dropping the camera!
But ME might have one!

I thought you said you didn't take many pics.

Sorry...I didnt have take one...in fact my hands were so cold..I didnt take many pix..was afraid of dropping the camera!
But ME might have one!
I have all sorts of pics, but I just got home and I've got to hit the hay! It was damn cold today. COLD. But the ride was great! Driving home from San Diego, though...not so much. I'll post pics sometime tomorrow, but I'm riding in the morning. :D

Pix of BigSean?

I got on just to seem em.


I took a ton of pics, but I was told not to post them in public without approval.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Oh and I didnt take any of myself.:rolleyes:

I took a ton of pics, but I was told not to post them in public without approval.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Oh and I didnt take any of myself.:rolleyes:
Sean, it was so nice to meet you. :) You're a great guy and fun to ride with. I have lots o' pics, but it would take half the night to upload them. I'm going to bed (no, really, truly...I am).

I took a ton of pics, but I was told not to post them in public without approval.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Oh and I didnt take any of myself.:rolleyes:
Fine. I'll wait. :)

I was stayin' warm all day. Other than the nightime jog I got in.

Ok, just a little teaser

ME posting on BF

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00626.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00628-1.jpg
The ladies looking good
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00632-1.jpg
preride carb loading

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00657.jpg
and yes we did ride, this in the beginning before we realized we would suffer all day.;)

Friday dinner at Apple some bodies, I dont recommend it.:rolleyes:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00634-1.jpg

Getting ready, we thought it was gonna get warmer at this point.:eek:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00635-1.jpg

the scenery was beautiful

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00636.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00638.jpg

Seemed to be a popular area for pre ride prayers.:o

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00642.jpg

This woould be the last of the sun for a good 6 hours

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00643.jpg

The hotties were out though, and friendly.;)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00646.jpg

the crew at the start
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00648.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00649.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00652.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00654.jpg

Great Pics Sean!!!! Are you thawed out yet? :p I'm still waiting to be able to feel a few parts of my body ;)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00656.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00659.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00663.jpg

Tiffanie was a true trooper as she was not wearingg as much gear as most of us.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00662.jpg

ME blazin down the road, she was flying here.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00665.jpg

Great Pics Sean!!!! Are you thawed out yet? :p I'm still waiting to be able to feel a few parts of my body ;)


Yeah, I think so anyhow. I dont feel real good though. I need food but I dont feel like it.:rolleyes: Im hoping after my morning coffee that I will be ready to eat again. I woke up at 5am and ate then went back to sleep.:o Now I wanna eat and go back to sleep again.

Yeah, I think so anyhow. I dont feel real good though. I need food but I dont feel like it.:rolleyes: Im hoping after my morning coffee that I will be ready to eat again. I woke up at 5am and ate then went back to sleep.:o Now I wanna eat and go back to sleep again.

that ride probably took a lot out of you... not only was it longer than you'd done before but I found that the cold itself zapped me as well... I must have been really gripping the handlebars hard because my back was totally cramped up afterwards!

So, how do you feel about your first century? Gonna do a few w/me when I get up there? :p Take it easy today and maybe do a short recovery ride... it'll take a little time for you body to recover :D

trac'

Here is a link to my pix
Will get the rest up when Mark gets me his..

Stagecoach Pix (http://www.meyerowitz.net/stagecoach2007/index.html)

that ride probably took a lot out of you... not only was it longer than you'd done before but I found that the cold itself zapped me as well... I must have been really gripping the handlebars hard because my back was totally cramped up afterwards!

So, how do you feel about your first century? Gonna do a few w/me when I get up there? :p Take it easy today and maybe do a short recovery ride... it'll take a little time for you body to recover :D

trac'


Well Im pretty stoked about the century. It was not great conditions, and I actually could have done another 20 miles without too much trouble. At one point the sag van pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride, I said "oh hell no dude". I was planning on a recovery ride, but I dont know that Ill even get my bike assembled today. Im lazy and very tired.....

Well Im pretty stoked about the century. It was not great conditions, and I actually could have done another 20 miles without too much trouble. At one point the sag van pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride, I said "oh hell no dude". I was planning on a recovery ride, but I dont know that Ill even get my bike assembled today. Im lazy and very tired.....


Congrats on the first century..great job!
Wish we had the time to hang out!

Well Im pretty stoked about the century. It was not great conditions, and I actually could have done another 20 miles without too much trouble. At one point the sag van pulled up and asked if we wanted a ride, I said "oh hell no dude". I was planning on a recovery ride, but I dont know that Ill even get my bike assembled today. Im lazy and very tired.....

ah... take the mtn bike for a quick trip up to lexington or something! Well done again Sean!!! :p

Here is a link to my pix
Will get the rest up when Mark gets me his..

Stagecoach Pix (http://www.meyerowitz.net/stagecoach2007/index.html)


Hey Herb,

Glad you made it home safe and sound! How was your event last night? I ended up at home after 11 and I was really really tired!!! Sorry we ended up bailing on you... just not a good ride day... You ROCKED!!!! Great job finishing!!!!! :D

ps. great Pics! I didn't realize you had been snapping away!

Congratulations on your first century Sean!!! :) :) :)

Here is a link to my pix
Will get the rest up when Mark gets me his..

Stagecoach Pix (http://www.meyerowitz.net/stagecoach2007/index.html)


Great pics Herb, they really showed the weather change.:eek: burrrrrrrrrrrr.......

Congrats on the century, Sean! And congrats to the rest of you for braving the cold!

Looks like it was a lot of fuh-fuh-ffun? ;)

Thanks everybody, I couldnt have done it without my pace setter, kept me from blowing up.;)

Congratulations on your first century Sean!!! :) :) :)


Hey B, love the new title, you wear it well.:p

Looks like it was a lot of fuh-fuh-ffun? ;)

I had a fun day. I think. Some of my brain cells are still frozen, so I'll have to get back to you on it when they thaw out. ;)

No really, we were able to hit a bunch of pacelines which made the ride much more bearable, especially with the winds. It was definitely my day to suffer, I was dehydrated at one point...totally my fault...I had Cytomax in my initial bottles and it was so sweet that I didn't want to drink it. We blew by the first aid station and at the second one I filled up with HEED, which was also way too sweet...apparently I was one of the only ones that thought that though...and if you can taste the sweetness it means you're dehydrated. I got this weird pain/cramp in my side right before we hit Campbell Grade (the wall) and it stuck with me until the last aid station and I felt fine in the last section when we were hammering back. Oh...and I flatted less than two miles from the finish, but my tube was changed and we were riding again less than five minutes later, so you know I didn't change it myself. :roflmao:

It was cold, but I have a new appreciation for the mornings here that start at 45 degrees...I shall never complain about riding for a few miles in the cold before it warms up. 100 miles in temps below that has definitely changed my perspective!

Hey B, love the new title, you wear it well.:p

Where have you been? I've been sporting that one for a week now. :D

Hey Herb,

Glad you made it home safe and sound! How was your event last night? I ended up at home after 11 and I was really really tired!!! Sorry we ended up bailing on you... just not a good ride day... You ROCKED!!!! Great job finishing!!!!! :D

ps. great Pics! I didn't realize you had been snapping away!

We didnt get home till 8:30ish..so it was pretty late to go....we were pretty fried by then anyway...but it was ok we didnt make it...
I would have taken more..but my hands were so cold..I was afraid I would drop the camera...that and I didnt want to open the zipper pocket..it might let more cold air in!! Brrr....

Thanks for riding with me...I had a great time...yeah sorry you had to bail...I hope VMC is feeling better today...you did really good also...I think on the out part..we went about as fast and hard as we could...I dont think I could have done much more...but i was feeling good on the return..

You all did a great job on this ride. Congratulations! :beer:

I didn't notice any pics with Sean in em. He's like waldo. I'm going call call him waldo from now on.

Where's WALDO!!!!!

I didn't notice any pics with Sean in em. He's like waldo. I'm going call call him waldo from now on.

Where's WALDO!!!!!


ME has them...and she will post them one of these days when shes not riding!!

I didn't notice any pics with Sean in em. He's like waldo. I'm going call call him waldo from now on.

Where's WALDO!!!!!

he's VERY tall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My ride report…

Sorry, no pics. Too cold to take the gloves off.


- Oh my it’s early. Gotta–go. Where the heck are my keys? Where are the keys’s, ahhhhh
- OK, only a little late. Driving. Climbing. Descending. Open door. Checking - ahh not to bad. I can hanld these temps.
- Ok, maybe a little chilly.
- Lot’s of layers. Two layers of gloves. Check.
- And we’re off.
- Fingers are a little cold.
- Correction, fingers are very cold.
- The burning. The pain. For the love of god, please keep my fingers warm.
- First rest stop pretty early. Tempted to ride through, but gotta pee. Hammer Gel – nice!
- Say hello to DaveYYZ.
- Long decent. Will be a fun climb on the way home. Fingers buringing again and I cannot feel my face..
- Ahh, finally down, starting to warm up. Maybe the sun will poke through?
- Second rest stop. Love the Cliff bars, but they are frozen. Hard to eat.
- Start to hammer a bit – gotta get to the lunch stop.
- Where the heck is the sun?
- Pass the lunch stop on the way to the turn-around. U-turn.
- Wholly crap – where did that wind come from?
- Tears. Wind burn. Must get warm.. Get the pace line organized. Wind coming from all directions. No way to hide. Ahhhhhhhh!
- Lunch stop. Chilly! Shoes off – that feels so necessary!
- Don’t want to go back into the frozen wind tunnel.
- No, I am not going. I am not going. No friggen way! Wait for me!
- Fingers already cold. Oh fun, now my face is frozen. I hate this friggen wind.
- Head down – pedal like a mad man.
- Big climb – must keep going.
- One more Gel. Say Hi to GrumpyPig.
- Ahh- the car. Wait, only 98 miles on the computer. Drat! It’s only a number right??? Just go home.
- Darn, out and back – I want this to be over.
- 100.3
- That was fun – right????

Great report....
and unfortunately...oh so true...
I thought the Fig Newtons were stale...but I realized they were frozen like the Cliff Bars!!

Oh...and of course...as usual...not sure why I only do this on centuries...
I accidently reset my ()*&(^ computer...
Like Cali...this is why I have 2...well she has 3 I believe??

Where have you been? I've been sporting that one for a week now. :D


The two brain cells I have left are still frozen, im a bit slow ok?...... Dont mess with me or you'll get the foot, just as soon as i can get it off the floor.:o

Great report....
and unfortunately...oh so true...
I thought the Fig Newtons were stale...but I realized they were frozen like the Cliff Bars!!

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: I tried eating a handful of them at the second aid station and I had such a hard time! It was too much effort after the first two, so I threw the rest away.

I definitely didn't fuel as well as I should have on the first half of this ride. It was just so damn cold that the last thing on my mind was downing a gel. I had one little PB&J wedge at the really cold aid station (#3), both times that I was there, but other than that I survived on gels the whole day. We skipped the lunch stop and from the reports about it being harder to start up after enjoying the warmth of the heaters, I'm glad that we did!

Congrats to all that beared the cold weather conditions and completed the ride.:beer: You are all a bunch of animals.:eek:

My report would sound very similar to blue_noses! :D Soooooooo, so cold. My hands, face and feet were completely numb for most of the ride! Even with the cold, though, I still say I'm glad I did it... as it's always great to ride with people you know. Makes it so much better. :D

Now, I'm working on getting all the feeling/strength back in my left hand, particularly my thumb and index finger! :eek:

My report would sound very similar to blue_noses! :D Soooooooo, so cold. My hands, face and feet were completely numb for most of the ride! Even with the cold, though, I still say I'm glad I did it... as it's always great to ride with people you know. Makes it so much better. :D

Now, I'm working on getting all the feeling/strength back in my left hand, particularly my thumb and index finger! :eek:


Its still bothering you?:eek:

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: We skipped the lunch stop and from the reports about it being harder to start up after enjoying the warmth of the heaters, I'm glad that we did!


I think it was the biggest mistake we made was going in and warming up. The next hour plus after was pure torture.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: I tried eating a handful of them at the second aid station and I had such a hard time! It was too much effort after the first two, so I threw the rest away.

I definitely didn't fuel as well as I should have on the first half of this ride. It was just so damn cold that the last thing on my mind was downing a gel. I had one little PB&J wedge at the really cold aid station (#3), both times that I was there, but other than that I survived on gels the whole day. We skipped the lunch stop and from the reports about it being harder to start up after enjoying the warmth of the heaters, I'm glad that we did!


I was afraid I would crack a tooth...:eek:

I carried some extra drink mix...never used them...I topped my water off...but that was it...
I did gel once before the first big climb...and some green bananas at some of the stops...

Yeah..getting in the heat was nice..but coming out was aweful...I saw few people run in get food and sit outside...that may have been a better thing to do...so I think you did the right thing..but you need to make you have enough calories to keep you going!

Great pics and reports - love the one of ME blazing down, and there's one where Tiff had a "twinkle" in her eye (sunglasses).

The hotties were out though, and friendly.;)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/BigSean_02/DSC00646.jpg



There's the "twinkle"! And Sean - congrats on your first century! :beer:

I think it was the biggest mistake we made was going in and warming up. The next hour plus after was pure torture.


I totally agree!!!