Northern California - Tour de Napa Reports

Just got back from the 65 mile ride, and I have to say, the Eagle Cycling Club puts on a great event. I thought it was going to be hard to top the Marin Century, but this was nice. Leaving a 8:00 or slightly before, the weather was glorious, as were the views with about 8 hot air balloons above (I neglected to bring my camera, so if you took pictures post a few). I thought the first rest stop at about 10 miles was a little close, but stopped anyway to top off the bottle. The rests stops were great, great food, pleasant volunteers, plenty to sample, and Cytomax was a nice touch as you don't ususally see it.

Ink Grade? What can you say. Wow, what a pain in the ass, but the top of the hill mini-stop was a welcome sight and the 9 miles of downhill after that was a nice payoff. I'd say the TDV 65 is not as challenging as the Marin (Metric) Century (I signed up for the Century but sadly opted for the 65 in a snap decision), but I think the ride was really pleasant. The BBQ at the end was great, though I passed on the Ben & Jerrys. Met some really nice people, but didn't spy any BF'ers.

I did the century with a group of TnT alumni - it is a great ride. I'd never ridden up in Napa before, and the scenery is pretty spectacular. The century route is also really nice. There are a couple of climbs - Mt. Vedeer and the Ink Grade. Both are a bit long, but neither is real steep. For the rest of the ride, 8 of us hooked up in a nice, 19 - 20 mph paceline along the flat and rolling sections. We didn't break any speed records, just a nice century with some good people. The weather also cooperated nicely - we rolled at about 7:15 and it was already in the mid-sixties. I don't think it got much above 90 all day, and there was a nice breeze in the afternoon, but nothing you'd really call a headwind. We finished in 6 1/2 hours of riding time, closer to 8 hours out on the course (ok, so we took our time in the rest stops!).

My stomach was off all day, so I can't say I sampled much of the food. Lots of fresh fruit and cookies, though. The lunch stop seemed to have a good variety of food.

Overall a very nice and enjoyable ride.

JB

I did the 65 as well and rolled out around 0700. Great ride, good stock of food and beverages at the rest stops and an abundance of fruit and BBQ at the end. I'm doing TDV again next year. Yup, Ink Grade was a pain but I'm going to do it again on my own until I get faster on it. Someone got SAG'd off on that 4 mile hill of torture. He didn't look so great

Hey JB, did you ride with Cooper, Dee Dee and Nader?

Hey JB, did you ride with Cooper, Dee Dee and Nader?

No, 6 of us were refugees from this year's Death Ride team - the other two I hadn't met before, but had ridden on various TnT rides. I did see a few TnT jerseys scattered around, but not on anyone I knew.

JB

It was a great first century for me!! weather was great, tons of great folks I had a blast!

I also did the 100k (first event ride in five years or more). What a pretty ride!! The run from Lake Hennessy to the Pope Valley area was truly a joy. Unfortunately, Ink Grade, while very pretty, was awfully tough for this out-of-shape Clydesdale. I ended up bailing at the final rest stop at mile 53because (a) another hour or so in the wind on low rollers would have been the difference between being beat but having a good time and being thrashed and being absolutely miserable, (b) I haven't done anything like a 60 mile ride in I don't know how long, and (c) my main goal was to make 50 miles to celebrate my 50th later this week. I'll take that, and come next year to do the entire 100k, only in better shape.

I agree that the Eagle BC puts on a damn good ride. The rest stops were well stocked (BIG kudos for the Cytomax), the people unfailingly helpful and friendly - first-rate all the way. And how the Eagles managed to arrange to have so many good-looking and friendly women on the road I don't know, but I am grateful. :D

What he said. :)

The bluegrass band at the top of Mt. Veeder was a nice touch too. I enjoyed this ride a lot last year, but this year it was even better. The Eagle Cycling Club really outdid itself with the food at the rest-stops and the post-ride lunch. Even better than Marin and Grizzly Peak, IMHO...

What is SAG'd off?

I even made one of my buddies read the sentence and did a google search, but could not find such SAG'd word definition.

I dunno know what you call it. The SAG vehicle came, loaded the guy's bike and he rode off in the car.

http://www.bikecal.com/bloom/columns-detail.asp?bRecNo=119

The pix are available at photocrazy.com now.

Man, I gotta keep riding. My poor bike is going crack under my weight.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd232/96conv/TNV2007.jpg

OK, here's mine, in our little paceline.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/TourofNapapaceline2.jpg

Plus, balloons early in the morning (the rest of the shots I took came out blurry. Since it couldn't be my fault, it must be time for a new camera):

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/DSCN0411.jpg

JB

Smiling through the pain....the balls of my feet felt like they were on fire at that point:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1401/1188626978_560055289b_o.jpg

Someone got SAG'd off on that 4 mile hill of torture. He didn't look so great



Isn't lunch not too long before turning to start up Ink Grade? I remember quite a few people in the past that loaded up at lunch and regretted it.

I did the 65 as well and rolled out around 0700. Great ride, good stock of food and beverages at the rest stops and an abundance of fruit and BBQ at the end. I'm doing TDV again next year. Yup, Ink Grade was a pain but I'm going to do it again on my own until I get faster on it. Someone got SAG'd off on that 4 mile hill of torture. He didn't look so great

Hey JB, did you ride with Cooper, Dee Dee and Nader?

4 miles? You're kidding me? That's all it was? I really felt like I was going to exit it at Squaw Valley or something :rolleyes: But I am going to ride it again and again until it's no big deal.

What is SAG'd off?

I even made one of my buddies read the sentence and did a google search, but could not find such SAG'd word definition.

It's when you get a ride in the SAG, or support vehicle. If I remember correctly, you turn to start up Ink Grade not long after eating lunch. I've heard many riders say they REALLY regretted not eating a lighter lunch before starting the climb.

It's when you get a ride in the SAG, or support vehicle. If I remember correctly, you turn to start up Ink Grade not long after eating lunch. I've heard many riders say they REALLY regretted not eating a lighter lunch before starting the climb.

A few people I was riding with stuck a sandwich in their back pocket (wrapped in a napkin) and ate it at the summit.

JB

And here was I, feeling alright, but I did then again I did the 100k, unlike some of you guys that did the 100 mile. I'm just glad this summer was nowhere near as hot as last summer, because I was worried that I'd bake up there in Napa.

Yeah, hard to believe that Ink Grade is only 4 miles because it kept going and going...

Very smart of the folks who bagged their lunch and ate it after the grade. I wish I could say that it was a full belly that contributed to my slow ascent. I'm just a very slow climber.

All I did was munch on the mixed "organic" nuts you could scoop out.

I am going to state the following and please cut me some slack on this;

This is my first Tour cycling event and I have a few observations which for me was a little on the cheap side.

1. The water on the Igloo tasted like garden hose water. Here is when I noticed my Whirlpool & Brita filtration system does make a difference. I did really missed Gatorade badly on this ride... I tasted the water and was like WTF? and I did try different containers.

2. The whatever the hell sport drink that was was nasty and I was not the only one complaining about it.

3. No sponsors at all on freebies, no free t-shirt, coffee mug. I could not believe all they gave me was a cheap #@?! water bottle.

I did once the Times Picayune marathon in New Orleans Lousiana, that was a real event and it was much cheaper than this one. At the end of the run there was Gumbo, Cajun rice, garlic bread, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, beer, all kinds of BOTTLED drinks.

Maybe the approach is totally different and the way things are organized, once again I also did the Big Sur Marathon and it was superb, tons of orchestras, high school music bands. I will never forget a musician at one of the peak playing one of those black classical pianos all dressed in tuxedo.

I think that because it is an event and not really a race like a marathon is, maybe thats why there are not so many sponsors.

All in all it was my first Tour, people were very friendly, no drama at all and I will always remember the endless Ink grade.

All I did was munch on the mixed "organic" nuts you could scoop out.

I am going to state the following and please cut me some slack on this;

This is my first Tour cycling event and I have a few observations which for me was a little on the cheap side.

1. The water on the Igloo tasted like garden hose water. Here is when I noticed my Whirlpool & Brita filtration system does make a difference. I did really missed Gatorade badly on this ride... I tasted the water and was like WTF? and I did try different containers.

2. The whatever the hell sport drink that was was nasty and I was not the only one complaining about it.

3. No sponsors at all on freebies, no free t-shirt, coffee mug. I could not believe all they gave me was a cheap #@?! water bottle.

I did once the Times Picayune marathon in New Orleans Lousiana, that was a real event and it was much cheaper than this one. At the end of the run there was Gumbo, Cajun rice, garlic bread, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, beer, all kinds of BOTTLED drinks.

Maybe the approach is totally different and the way things are organized, once again I also did the Big Sur Marathon and it was superb, tons of orchestras, high school music bands. I will never forget a musician at one of the peak playing one of those black classical pianos all dressed in tuxedo.

I think that because it is an event and not really a race like a marathon is, maybe thats why there are not so many sponsors.

All in all it was my first Tour, people were very friendly, no drama at all and I will always remember the endless Ink grade.

There was one stop where the water was truly nasty - the one just before the climb to the lake. We all stopped at a store about 10 miles up the road and replaced the water in our bottles with bottled water. I carry my own energy drink powder on these kind of rides, so I don't worry about what the club provides. Having said that, Cytomax is a pretty good energy drink, and much better than Gatorade IMHO. On a long hard ride, Gatorade just sits in my stomach and sloshes around. YMMV.

And as for freebies, well, I honestly couldn't care - any swag like that ends up with my kids anyway. I thought overall it was a very well run event.

JB

They did have fountain drinks and bottled water at the BBQ and I thought the food was good but nothing like the spread at the Marin event earlier in the month.

I loved this ride. Sorry I didn't meet up with anyone. Started just after 7 AM

I made one stop at mile 65 (lunch). Total saddle time, 5 hours 48 minutes. Top speed 40 mph.

I loved this ride. Sorry I didn't meet up with anyone. Started just after 7 AM

I made one stop at mile 65 (lunch). Total saddle time, 5 hours 48 minutes. Top speed 40 mph.

You were cruisin'! I don't think you would have had the patience to ride with us. It was a great course, though - definitely a ride I'll do again in the future.

JB

Only one stop?! Not even to empty the bladder?! Sheesh.

1. The water on the Igloo tasted like garden hose water. Here is when I noticed my Whirlpool & Brita filtration system does make a difference. I did really missed Gatorade badly on this ride... I tasted the water and was like WTF? and I did try different containers.



That taste on many organized rides turned me off, also. My club puts on the Primavera Century in April. I use a food grade type plastic hose to fill the jugs at my rest stop.

I'm pretty sure I saw them using a garden hose to fill the Igloos at the last rest stop. Seriously.

Only one stop?! Not even to empty the bladder?! Sheesh.

I saw quite a few guys with your same jersey. From the Benecia Cycling Club, correct? I pulled and drafted behind a few of your club mates. Seems like you had a good group showing on the century.

You were cruisin'! I don't think you would have had the patience to ride with us. It was a great course, though - definitely a ride I'll do again in the future.

JB

As far as stopping, I think I should have pulled into the last rest stop, but I had 3/4 of a water bottle left. I was in a groove, so I kept going.

Sorry I missed you guys - I would enjoy a good group century ride.

I saw quite a few guys with your same jersey. From the Benecia Cycling Club, correct? I pulled and drafted behind a few of your club mates. Seems like you had a good group showing on the century.There were over 30 of us there. It was my first outing with the club. Friendly group of people.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd232/96conv/BBCgroupphoto.jpg

There were over 30 of us there. It was my first outing with the club. Friendly group of people.

When we turned left onto 128 the Benicia peloton was approaching from the 100 mile route. We stayed ahead of them until the rest stop. We all went in at once. Here is a pic.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/FirstRestStop.jpg

Here are a few more pics from the ride.

Us at the 2nd rest stop.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/RFAMEA2ndRestStop.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/TopofClimb.jpg

Starting descent after Ink Grade

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/StartingDescent.jpg

Typical scenery...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/AlongtheRoad.jpg

Lunch at the finish...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Tour%20of%20Napa%202007/Lunch.jpg

Great photos!

There were over 30 of us there. It was my first outing with the club. Friendly group of people.

I rode with one of your club members for a few miles. He was riding a fixie, and he still dropped me as we were heading north on Silverado Trail (i.e., the beginning of the ride, not the end.) He was a really strong rider...

He rode the century, believe it or not.

http://www.photocrazy.com/instantdigitaldownload/P070819155126860a5.jpg
http://www.photocrazy.com/instantdigitaldownload/P070819155127882ad.jpg
http://www.photocrazy.com/instantdigitaldownload/P070819155127037ab.jpg

Had a great time, but struggled w/o out enough salt intake between stops and had mega leg cramps up the last half of Ink Grade and had to walk it out and shake it off. Otherwise it was a beautiful ride, and a bit cooler then my last TNV 2yrs ago.

Smiling through the pain....the balls of my feet felt like they were on fire at that point:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1401/1188626978_560055289b_o.jpg

Looking pretty good for someone who is on fire! :rolleyes: Big ringin' it too I see! Nice. Man, it's been a long time since I've done a century. :(