Northern California - Waves to Wine - Interest Thread... BF Team?

Hi Everyone!

I started a thread in the Charity section but I doubt many people here check it out very often. So I am trying to see if anyone is interested in starting a BF NorCal team for this year's Waves to Wine (MS 150) ride on September 29-30. (A charity that's near and dear to me because of a friend that was diagnosed with MS two years ago.)

I was asked by the NorCal MS chapter to get a team together. But seeing that I've been in TX for the past 5 years and don't really know a lot of cyclists out here yet I wanted to see if anyone here would be up for starting a BF team for this ride. We can plan training rides and get to meet with other forum members leading up to the ride and so on.

Here's the link to my post in the Charity section with the general details: Waves to Wine Info (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=324699)

Here's the link for the route info:Ride Routes (http://wavestowine.org/route.html)

There are two routes: the normal 2 day route and a 1 day 40 mile route. So that means you can still contribute to a great cause without having to ride for the 2 days.

So please let me know if anyone would be interested in riding. If we get enough maybe we can some special MS jerseys made for the event! That or just wear our BF jerseys!

EDIT: Here's the link to join team so I won't be riding solo! :)

Team NorCal Bikeforums.net (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/NorCalBikeforums)

And my personal page (for posterity): My MS Page (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Gary.Lee)

Thanks!
Gary

I'm not sure about my availability for this event, but my dad did it last year and said the logistics was top knotch. He did the two day event and said it was a very good ride, great rest stops, hot showers the whole sha-bang.

I'll try and work my schedule, should know by the middle of Aug.

This is the same weekend as Knoxville Double Century. I'm still not committed to that one yet. Not sure about my conditioning at this point (tender knees). I should know by beginning of September if I am doing the double or not.

Cool! Just lemme know if you guys can! :) My friend is still iffy so it'd be nice to be able to ride with some others whilst I struggle! hehe!

Spin - I hope your knees feel better.

Gary

I'm brand new to San Francisco, and have been doing the NY MS ride for several years. How hard is this ride? I haven't ridden since april and am only just going to start getting back into shape starting next weekend, when I finish moving to san francisco

I'm brand new to San Francisco, and have been doing the NY MS ride for several years. How hard is this ride? I haven't ridden since april and am only just going to start getting back into shape starting next weekend, when I finish moving to san francisco

Hi and welcome to the Bay Area! Where will you be living at? SF itself?

As for the ride I was told that there was lots of climbing on the long route but after looking at the route it looks like the biggest peak is only 630ft. Small beans for lots of the NorCal guys. You can check out the links in my first post to the MS site and the routes. The route map shows the elevation for each ride.

But there are 3 ride options you can choose from: 1. The 40 mile Day 1 route; 2. The short route, which consists of the 40 mile day 1 route and the 75 mile day 2 route; and 3. the long route, which consists of the 80 mile day 1 route and the 75 mile day 2 route.

The cool thing is that the long routes starts at PacBell Park, goes through the City and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Then it heads down to Sausalito and up the coast to the Napa Valley area. It'll be a very scenic route. And being new to the city it'll be a great chance to explore the Bay Area.

Being that I started riding last year in flatter Dallas I was worried about the climbing difficulty too but I don't think it's as bad as I first thought. I rode with some of these guys a couple weeks back and the highest peak was about 1500ft. So if slow weak me can do that, 600ft doesn't seem too bad. :)

If you are interested in doing the BF NorCal team thing I'll set up the team on the MS site. I have a few others intersted so I'll most likely be setting up the team this week so people can start joining.

And I thought it'd be cool to get a group together to do this since I'd otherwise be riding solo... which I'd rather not do. hehe!

So hopefully you will decide to do the MS ride! Feel free to email or PM me if yo have any other questions!

TTYL,
Gary

that looks amazing. i have an uncle with late stage MS so its a particularly relevant cause, too. i will see if the timing works out but i'd really like to do this.

thanks for the friendly words, I did both the NYC century and the MS Century in NY last year, so, as long as my medical school apps are done by then, I'm going with the full 2 days ( I think). My riding will start this week, and I'm scared but exciting about the hills. I will be living on Fulton st, my flat faces Alamo square. I'd also like to get into group rides if anyone does that, but think I need to start out easy

The long ride on the first day is challenging. You definately need to be fit for that one. The other option and the second day are ok for average club cyclists. I live north of Sonoma Mountain village.

These are (more or less) the routes for the long two day ride according to the turn by turn directions.
http://www.routeslip.com/routes/53153
http://www.routeslip.com/routes/53168

If anyone is interested I set up a NorCal Bikeforums Team:

EDIT: Here's the link to join team so I won't be riding solo! Hopefully...

LINK: Team NorCal Bikeforums (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/NorCalBikeforums)

And if you have already signed up but are not on a specific team already you can simply send an email to: info@wavestowine.org requesting to be put on the NorCal Bikeforums.net Team and they will switch you with no problem. (per Jessica Fewless at the MS Society)

Thanks!
Gary

Hey Gee3... your "iffy" friend just signed up so at least you know you won't be riding solo... :) Just no hammering...for me this is gonna be an endurance event.. :p

Hey Gee3... your "iffy" friend just signed up so at least you know you won't be riding solo... :) Just no hammering...for me this is gonna be an endurance event.. :p

I heard that... I'm far from being able to hammer anything! hehe!

So are you gonna join my non-hammer fest along with my other buddy?

Thanks!
Gary

After about six years away from my bike addiction just getting back into it. A very close friend has MS and it would be great way to show my support for her. I'm just in no shape to do it:(.

My wife and I are considering this ride.
We have questions. Maybe you can help.
How do you get back from the end of the ride?
What do you need to bring? Tent? Just credit cards?
It's a fund raiser, right? But if we just pony up, how much is it, and would it be wrong to not raise more (we both aren't comfortable with, or in a positions to ask people for money)We're both trying to research logistics, and the web site isn't a lot of help.
Thanks!

Hi Curtis, maybe I can help answer a few of your questions. I'm captaining a different team for W2W (sorry Gary, we formed this team a couple of years ago for the Top Hat, otherwise I'd join you).

In case you don't know about it, there's a lot of info here: http://www.wavestowine.org, especially the FAQ page at http://www.wavestowine.org/riders_faq.html

1. There will be busses to take you and your bike back from Lake Sonoma to AT&T park on Sunday.

2. See the Accomodations section and the Gear & Packing Suggestions section in the FAQ. You have two options: camping out at Sonoma Mtn. Village for free, or getting a hotel room at your own cost. You need to book the hotel room yourself (or your team can book a bunch of rooms together, that's what we did). See also http://www.wavestowine.org/accommodations.html. If you book a room at one of the participating hotels then you can take a shuttle to & from Sonoma Mtn Village.

3. The minimum fundraising amt is $250.

I would love to do it, but I'm not going to be able to do much fundraising (maybe $50 or so). If someone has already met the goal for the team and would like to add me without much additional fundraising on my part, I would love to chat with you. Hit a reply or send me a PM.

Thanks.

After about six years away from my bike addiction just getting back into it. A very close friend has MS and it would be great way to show my support for her. I'm just in no shape to do it:(.


Rice - they have a 1 day only 40 mile option. It's well supported and if you can't make it all the way then you can get a ride in the SAG vans. :)

Hi Curtis, maybe I can help answer a few of your questions. I'm captaining a different team for W2W (sorry Gary, we formed this team a couple of years ago for the Top Hat, otherwise I'd join you).

In case you don't know about it, there's a lot of info here: http://www.wavestowine.org, especially the FAQ page at http://www.wavestowine.org/riders_faq.html

1. There will be busses to take you and your bike back from Lake Sonoma to AT&T park on Sunday.

2. See the Accomodations section and the Gear & Packing Suggestions section in the FAQ. You have two options: camping out at Sonoma Mtn. Village for free, or getting a hotel room at your own cost. You need to book the hotel room yourself (or your team can book a bunch of rooms together, that's what we did). See also http://www.wavestowine.org/accommodations.html. If you book a room at one of the participating hotels then you can take a shuttle to & from Sonoma Mtn Village.

3. The minimum fundraising amt is $250.

jobob - thanks for answering Curtis. :) and I understand about your own team. Maybe i should have joined you guys instead. Although I think I'd be the only guy on the roster... :)

Actually, raising the $250 was alot easier than I thought it would be. I made a lot of contacts for fundraising by adding the link to my donations page to my signature at the end of emails. Plus my old work matched donations. So I figured if I could raise at least $125 I could get my work to match it. turns out I raised $1800 last year. But I work for the government now so I'm not supposed to add that stuff to my emails and they don't match. Doh! and I started late so I don't think I'll make that much
again this year.

But if you have any other questions let jobob or myself know. Otherwise, come join us! :)

Gary

OK. My wife says "sign us up."
I'm a bit worried about the fund raising part. I'm guessing we'll end up shelling out the cash ourselves.
I'm hoping when we sign up just how we collect and transfer $$ will become more clear.

We did Seattle-to-Portland, 200 miles in 2 days. But it was flat. Compare this 60 mile route to 100 flat miles. I'm I gonna be in trouble for getting her into this?

Anyway, we'll do the reg stuff Fri or Sat I think.

It turns out I'm doing Lighthouse, which is the same weekend as Waves to Wine.

OK. My wife says "sign us up."
I'm a bit worried about the fund raising part. I'm guessing we'll end up shelling out the cash ourselves.
I'm hoping when we sign up just how we collect and transfer $$ will become more clear.

We did Seattle-to-Portland, 200 miles in 2 days. But it was flat. Compare this 60 mile route to 100 flat miles. I'm I gonna be in trouble for getting her into this?

Anyway, we'll do the reg stuff Fri or Sat I think.

I was worried too but I've already raised over the minimum. And if I can do that anyone can. I used the link to my MS page in my signature at the end of my emails. Worked like a charm!

As for the miles... the first day we have 80 miles with lots of climbing, But like you I'm used to the flats so it may be tough. But there is also the option of doing the 40 mile day 1 ride and the flatter 75 mile second day if the 80 miles is making you guys nervous.

My friend Andy (NeCrO632) just got his first road bike about a month ago so you won't be alone climbing because I'll be right next to him. hehe!

I also think about those with MS and think how hard they have it compared to climbing these hills. And it gives me inspiration to keep on going. That and getting angry and using the mantra: "These hills will not beat me!" It sounds goofy but it got me though my first MS ride last year in Dallas!

So hopefully that is convincing enough... feel free to PM me with any other questions!

Thanks again to you both for joining!! We should all get together and try to do a training ride before the MS ride.

TTYL,
Gary

Shout out a hello if you see the Amici Veloci team jerseys.

Veronica

I just signed on! We'll get Tricia signed on later tonight.
We were thinking we'd BART in and have a friend pick us up at the end, but BART doesn't start running until 6 am and blast off is 6:30.

I'd like to avoid a bus ride back to SF to pick up the car.
How are the rest of you getting to the start?

I'd like to avoid a bus ride back to SF to pick up the car.
How are the rest of you getting to the start?

I was just planning to drive up to the city early on the morning of the start...

I just signed on! We'll get Tricia signed on later tonight.
We were thinking we'd BART in and have a friend pick us up at the end, but BART doesn't start running until 6 am and blast off is 6:30.

I'd like to avoid a bus ride back to SF to pick up the car.
How are the rest of you getting to the start?

Curtis/Tricia - Thanks to the both of you for signing up! :) As for the ride out there... my wife is dropping me off. Although I guess I better let her know about it soon! hehe!

If possible maybe we can do a ride some Sunday as a group... kinda to get to know each other. Although I know schedules make it difficult so we'll play it by ear.

We should see if we can all meet up and roll out together as a group the morning of the MS ride. Maybe roll with the Amici Veloci team!

If you see us in the BF jerseys give a holler back!

Spin, maybe I'll get you for next year! Thanks!

Thanks again everyone!!
Gary

Gee3, I'm at work now and will have to check the calendar with my wife for weekends, but I know we are really booked a bunch this month...
I'll have my NorCal jersey by then I hope, and I'll be wearing it. We should indeed look for reach other and start together if we can. Maybe trade cell phone numbers and see if the "team" can hook up Saturday evening. Just a a possibility.

Let's get over to the pages and donate, people. Curtis and Tricia haven't made the minimum to ride yet.

I wish I had that weekend off, but I'll be working that Saturday. I'm not back up to that much riding yet. I took vacation for the Tahoe MS150 this weekend, and drove SAG. It was some killer climbing.
Here's some pics from last year, the same routes out of Northstar at Tahoe.
The lake is Donner Lake, and the riders climbed to where the pic was taken from the lake level.

Let's get over to the pages and donate, people. Curtis and Tricia haven't made the minimum to ride yet.

I wish I had that weekend off, but I'll be working that Saturday. I'm not back up to that much riding yet. I took vacation for the Tahoe MS150 this weekend, and drove SAG. It was some killer climbing.
Here's some pics from last year, the same routes out of Northstar at Tahoe.
The lake is Donner Lake, and the riders climbed to where the pic was taken from the lake level.

Dchiefransom - Thanks for the push! Let's get Curtis and Tricia over the top!

Thanks for everyone's support!

Dchiefransom - Thanks for the push! Let's get Curtis and Tricia over the top!

Thanks for everyone's support!

That's so nice. We haven't done much work ourselves yet, but we will. Heck, our folks will help a bit. So panic not, we'll make it one way or the other!

Does anyone know how much climbing is involved on each of the days? I am thinking day 1 is pretty steep, maybe 5000 ft of climbing? Day 2 should be less, but I'm just guessing.

Day 1 looks like it pretty much follows Rte. 1. Other than the nasty climb right after Muir Woods, 1 is mostly rollers. The highest climb on the elevation profile is 630 feet, and I think that's probably the nasty climb on Rte. 1

Day 2 looks like it has a lot more rollers.

Veronica

Does anyone know how much climbing is involved on each of the days? I am thinking day 1 is pretty steep, maybe 5000 ft of climbing? Day 2 should be less, but I'm just guessing.According to routeslip.com (which AFAIK takes maps.google.com elevation data) it's around 6000ft the first day and somewhere in the 4800ft on the second.

I just don't know what those numbers mean. 6000 feet sounds like a lot. 630 doesn't. Climbing Diablo is really hard, and that's only 3800 feet, but it's over 10-ish miles.
Is this goig to be like going up Diablo twice, or is the fact it's pread over so many miles make it easier?

BTW, I at last have money coming in!

I just don't know what those numbers mean. 6000 feet sounds like a lot. 630 doesn't. Climbing Diablo is really hard, and that's only 3800 feet, but it's over 10-ish miles.
Is this goig to be like going up Diablo twice, or is the fact it's pread over so many miles make it easier?

BTW, I at last have money coming in!

Curtis, from the route map on the MS site with the elevation map it "looks" like there won't be anything like Diablo... just a lot of smaller hills with the biggest hill peaking at about 630ft. So, without really riding the course, it looks to me that it's not as bad or as daunting as just the "total" elevation of the whole ride. But don't get me wrong, it will still be challenging, at least to me who's not that strong of a climber. :)

Gary

I just don't know what those numbers mean. 6000 feet sounds like a lot. 630 doesn't. Climbing Diablo is really hard, and that's only 3800 feet, but it's over 10-ish miles.
Is this goig to be like going up Diablo twice, or is the fact it's pread over so many miles make it easier?
I don't expect it to be anything like Mt. Diablo at all! The climbs are not as steep and by far not as long as Mt. Diablo.

Wow- that is a TOUGH ride! I would roughly estimate that 75 miles with 6000 ft of climbing is approximately equivalent to 105 flat miles.

Wow- that is a TOUGH ride! I would roughly estimate that 75 miles with 6000 ft of climbing is approximately equivalent to 105 flat miles.

I hope you're calculations are right. 105 is a long day, but we can, and have, done that.

Curtis the terrain of most of the ride will be like riding over Deer Valley. The two climbs on Deer Valley are both about 6%. Most of the climbs on day 1 will be less steep than that and a little bit longer.

The climb on Rte 1 after Muir Woods is more like going up to the reservoir - specifically from the gate at the end of the road to the reservoir. But a lot longer.

If you and Tricia can ride to Morgan Territory and back with no problem, you'll have no problem. That's very similar terrain and is about 60 miles round trip from Antioch. The descent from MT back to Marsh Creek is not much fun though.

Veronica

Hey! I'm actually OVER my goal now!
I'm telling my friends who haven't done anything yet to give it to Tricia.
I've been riding lots, and this weekend I'm training by going to Amador and attending a Winemaker dinner, drinking lots of Zin and having a great time.