Southern California - Spooktacular Oct. 20th Sat

Hey all,
Who is doing the Spooktacular??
I signed up for the Hideous Hundred.

http://www.kernwheelmen.org/spooktacular-alone.php

Karen

I've decided to do the Solvang Fall Double. Otherwise, I WOULD be doing this ride and highly recommend it to all riders. It's tough but worth it. And the volunteers are outstanding (at least they were the year I did it). :)

I may do it since I'm NOT doing Solvang.

I may do it since I'm NOT doing Solvang.

Yeah, but I want that room if you're not going...oh, and you suck. :p:D

Yeah, but I want that room if you're not going...oh, and you suck. :p:D

You can have the room and I know that I suck, but I'm done with riding in the Solvang area this year.

The Nightmare Ninety sounds pleasant. Not sure if I'm ready for the Horrible Hundred yet.

Your's truly is doing the food. :D

Oh man! This sounds awesome :D I did my 1st century a couple of weeks ago and I'm itching for another one.

I'm doing the Grizz on 10/6 instead, and providing SAG for the Solvang Double.

We did the 90 last year and that was nice, but I didn't enjoy the mileage up to the first SAG stop, just the flat portion of the SJ valley, with a couple of rollers. After the 1st SAG, the climbing starts and the scenery starts. The SAG support is excellent.

By the way, be prepared 2 years ago we were going to do the Hideous and it snowed the night before, and the Hideous route was closed. Weather can affect that ride. The Hideous is basically just 1 long climb up Breckinridge Mountain. Great if you like long climbs.

Oh man! This sounds awesome :D I did my 1st century a couple of weeks ago and I'm itching for another one.

Congrats on your first Century! :beer: This IS a good one but tough...unless you like to climb? :D

The Nightmare Ninety sounds pleasant. Not sure if I'm ready for the Horrible Hundred yet.

This sounds more like my speed. I might do this one. I don't usually do organized rides or group rides, but this looks fun and the jerseys look cool too.

I'm in for the Hideous. Hopefully the weather will stay nice. If it doesn't I'll have an excuse to get some cool weather clothes.

Hey M.E.

Soooo since you are not doing the Solvang Double this day, you are in for this ride, correct?? :D

:o I'm now out, Karen. My friend is having a baby in a month and that is the day now of her baby shower. This is a friend from that planet of NON-cycling friends that I have. If I keep blowing off their events for rides, they are going to stop reserving me a seat on the spaceship, if you get my meaning. So, sadly, I will not be at Spook.

On the bright side, the friend who is throwing the shower is a blast, and we will NOT be playing stupid baby-shower games (thank you, dear God) and instead, doing body shots off of her younger brothers' toned bodies (when I say younger, think twenties; and when I say brothers, think hot). :D

:o I'm now out, Karen. My friend is having a baby in a month and that is the day now of her baby shower. This is a friend from that planet of NON-cycling friends that I have. If I keep blowing off their events for rides, they are going to stop reserving me a seat on the spaceship, if you get my meaning. So, sadly, I will not be at Spook.

On the bright side, the friend who is throwing the shower is a blast, and we will NOT be playing stupid baby-shower games (thank you, dear God) and instead, doing body shots off of her younger brothers' toned bodies (when I say younger, think twenties; and when I say brothers, think hot). :D

DAMN!!!!! Now THAT is my kind of baby shower!!!!!!

I think anyone that has baby showers should have that kind.....

DAMN!!!!! Now THAT is my kind of baby shower!!!!!!

I think anyone that has baby showers should have that kind.....

Yeah, trust me...when a mutual friend called to talk about it (she got her invitation same time I did, this past Monday), we both were laughing. And knowing our friend's brothers, they will do it too. ;)

Damn, I didn't know Spooktacular was this day too. Sadly, I won't be able to do this either. Cousin's wedding is on the same day.

Your's truly is doing the food. :D


Hey Dante,
What has the weather been like up there?? I see there is a chance of rain on Saturday?
If the weather is going to be iffy, I may opt out, as some people I know that were going cancelled
and I don't really want to ride a ride like this by myself.

Thanks!
Karen

Hey Dante,
What has the weather been like up there?? I see there is a chance of rain on Saturday?
If the weather is going to be iffy, I may opt out, as some people I know that were going cancelled
and I don't really want to ride a ride like this by myself.

Thanks!
Karen

I hear everything from no rain to a slight chance of rain. This the streets were wet, but right now it is sunny and 71 degrees. I'll try to give updates as I find out.

I hear everything from no rain to a slight chance of rain. This the streets were wet, but right now it is sunny and 71 degrees. I'll try to give updates as I find out.

Cool! Thanks!

If I am driving up tomorrow afternoon to Bakersfield from Thousand Oaks what is the best route to take?
405 to the 5 to the 99?
Not sure if there is more then one way to go?

Thanks!

If I am driving up tomorrow afternoon to Bakersfield from Thousand Oaks what is the best route to take?
405 to the 5 to the 99?
Not sure if there is more then one way to go?

Thanks!

That reminds me; years ago I used to drive to Sunnyvale once a month or so. One day I thought I would take a short cut straight up Highway 33 to Coalinga to 5. That short cut only added 3 hours to my trip.

For you, 23, north to 118 east to 405 north to 5 north to 99 north is probably the best way. From Moorpark, I usually just take 23 north (Grimes Canyon) to 126 east to 5 north. That is another option and better if you are traveling during commuter hours.

If I am driving up tomorrow afternoon to Bakersfield from Thousand Oaks what is the best route to take?
405 to the 5 to the 99?
Not sure if there is more then one way to go?

Thanks!

The weather looking great for the Spooktacular!!!! High 60’s and sunshine. Where are you staying?

Karen, have fun out there and be safe! :) I wish I was joining.

Dante, you have fun too, even though I know you're not riding. :D

The weather looking great for the Spooktacular!!!! High 60’s and sunshine. Where are you staying?

Staying @ the Hilton Garden Inn, the host Hotel.
Is the ride start close to there??
Which stop will you be at?
Look for me, I will be in PINK :)

That reminds me; years ago I used to drive to Sunnyvale once a month or so. One day I thought I would take a short cut straight up Highway 33 to Coalinga to 5. That short cut only added 3 hours to my trip.

For you, 23, north to 118 east to 405 north to 5 north to 99 north is probably the best way. From Moorpark, I usually just take 23 north (Grimes Canyon) to 126 east to 5 north. That is another option and better if you are traveling during commuter hours.

Thanks Jim! I am leaving Thousand Oaks around 12:30 ish.....

Thanks Jim! I am leaving Thousand Oaks around 12:30 ish.....

Have a good ride!!

Karen, have fun out there and be safe! :) I wish I was joining.

Dante, you have fun too, even though I know you're not riding. :D


Thanks Mary! I wish you were joining too....
I am riding solo!! I don't know ANYONE riding the Horrible or the Hideous...
Well Tony is riding but not with me.
If I am solo, I will be doing the Horrible Hundred rather then the Hideous....

Thanks Mary! I wish you were joining too....
I am riding solo!! I don't know ANYONE riding the Horrible or the Hideous...
Well Tony is riding but not with me.
If I am solo, I will be doing the Horrible Hundred rather then the Hideous....

:eek::(

Well, Karen, you are so pretty, I can guarantee you some boys are going to come along and stick with you!

Staying @ the Hilton Garden Inn, the host Hotel.
Is the ride start close to there??
Which stop will you be at?
Look for me, I will be in PINK :)

The ride starts at the Kern River County Park, behind the golf course. It's about 5 miles away: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=&city=Bakersfield&state=CA&zipcode=&country=US&title=%3cb%3e%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%

I'll be doing the cooking for the after ride meal. Look for me, I'll be in……something, state of panic:rolleyes:.

The ride starts at the Kern River County Park, behind the golf course. It's about 5 miles away: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=&city=Bakersfield&state=CA&zipcode=&country=US&title=%3cb%3e%3cspan%20style%3d%22display%3ainline%3bmargin%2dbottom%3a0px%

I'll be doing the cooking for the after ride meal. Look for me, I'll be in……something, state of panic:rolleyes:.

Can we come up just for the meal?

Can we come up just for the meal?

Anything for you JP. But as long as you're here you might as well ride or you can work helping me (you know helping the cook....free meal).

Anything for you JP. But as long as you're here you might as well ride or you can work helping me (you know helping the cook....free meal).

I wish I could make it. :(

I wish I could make it. :(

Just tell the wife something must have happened, a blackout, alien abduction, hijackers……"I just don't know how I ended up in Bakersfield".:rolleyes:

<----- In Bakersfield.

First time ever in Bakersfield. Seems like a lower, greener, and more hazy Antelope Valley.

If anyone has a Garmin unit can you link the route you do here...my brother was set to do it but had a family thing come up so he can't. He wants to do it later on his own at least...

<----- In Bakersfield.

First time ever in Bakersfield. Seems like a lower, greener, and more hazy Antelope Valley.

Look up Dewar's Candy Store...yum

Dewar's, go to the one at 1120 EYE St., just south of California. I might be a little late on this, but try Frugatti's Italian Eatery for dinner, 600 Coffee Rd.

Dewar's, go to the one at 1120 EYE St., just south of California. I might be a little late on this, but try Frugatti's Italian Eatery for dinner, 600 Coffee Rd.

I'll have to try that next time. I just walked over to Black Angus for dinner.

The ride went pretty well for me. I always think I am woefully out of shape before I start these things but so far I've proved myself wrong. The ride started out innocently enough rolling through the foothills outside of Bakersfield.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7624/spooktacular008fd4.jpg

Then it becamse progressively colder and foggier. It also started misting to add to the charm. It proved that I should really get a windbreaker and some full-fingered glovess for just this type of weather. The descent literally gave me chills.

Random riders emerging from the mist at Breckenridge Summit.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6155/spooktacular017vn8.jpg

The descent was the sketchiest I've ever seen. The steep wet road covered in sand was bad enough. Throw in some fog with 75 feet visibility and it's quite difficult. I was happy to go slow through here because I couldn't stop shivering anyway. After breaking through the clouds it was pretty much a long descent back to Bakersfield with a few climbs thrown in. There were intermittent periods of rain and fog but it was warmer and I could feel my fingers again.

Moo!
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6058/spooktacular018rd2.jpg

All in all it was an OK ride. Well supported and a great route, at least the parts that you could see. I got to meet and ride halfway with Karen and her pink bike, pink tires, and pink clothes. It was nice meeting you by the way! If I do it next year I'm coming prepared with all the cold weather gear possible. And someone needs to get on inventing heated brifters.

I had a bunch of other pictures but they're all blurry from my shakiness.

Look up Dewar's Candy Store...yum

That sure brings up memories. Black & White is what I remember having there! (at least I think that is the name of it)

Nice pics, Entropy! :) Good to hear you had a safe ride with the fog and moisture. Karen is great to ride with and I look forward to hearing from her about the ride.

great pics!!!!!!! Tha climbs looks like a lil butt kicker

That sure brings up memories. Black & White is what I remember having there! (at least I think that is the name of it)

Tiffanie, you’re right it’s called a Black & White. Oh they’re great, come up sometime we’ll go for a ride and a Black & White.

I hope everyone had a good ride. The weather wasn’t the greatest, but everyone seemed to have a good time. I enjoyed talking with everyone at the after ride meal. Karen thanks for coming by and saying hello.

Arriving in Bakersfield Friday afternoon the weather was NICE!! (not so nice on saturday)
Met Mike (Entropy906) at the Check in friday afternoon. Mike, James( another guy we met @ checkin)
and an 18 yr old kid named Ruben started the ride together. Travis started with us too, but dropped us in the first 1/2 mile. Hope you had a good ride Travis.
First off, I will say in the better conditions the ride would have been great, the route was nice.
The first 19 miles was nice, lots of Cows everywhere. After that the weather changed drastically!!
As Vertical bob always says the weather in the mountains in unpredicible! Yes, it is!
It stared raining, and it was windy and VERY foggy....
The climb up to Breckenridge was TOUGH!! The steepest parts got to 22%~~
At the very top we had gone 33 miles with 7000 ft of gain!!
The DESCENT was SCARY, very wet and foggy (you couldn't see 5 ft in front of you)
James had turned around at that point, so it was Mike and I. He is SOOO patient.
I stopped a zillion times on the descent just to warm my hands up....we were both shivering soo bad!
At one point I told him go ahead and go, I am going to wait here for SAG.
He said, no I am okay with going slow. What a GUY! Thanks Mike!
The sun came out at the bottom for a second, then it started raining again. By this time I was very wet and cold.... I decided I was DONE! At mile 51 with 8200 ft of gain, I quit :(
The guy at the rest stop said I was the lone female on the Hideous route!! I said "The lone female is DONE!" Got in the guys truck to warm up and wait for the SAG....
Sorry to bail on you Mike! It was very nice to met you and ride with you!
The SAG guy told me more then 1/2 the rides either quit early or sagged it back.
This is the only ride I have even quit and I was bummed with myself all night, BUT better safe then sorry!
I was SCARED to death on the wet, sandy descent :(
I met Dan (DanteB) at the BBQ afterwards, what a nice guy! Him and his family were doing the food afterwards, great job~

I MAY attempt this ride again in better conditions.....
It took me 2 hours this morning to wash all the grit and grime off my bike! Now she is all shiny again!!


Karen :)

Karen, don't feel one bit bad about stopping (sorry, I don't view it as "quitting") the ride. Those conditions are awful and unpredictable. I've been in similar before and it makes the ride horrible. You have a tiny build and wet-cold conditions must affect you terribly. I'm glad you were safe and that you did the ride you did - which was no small potatoes! :)

I MAY attempt this ride again in better conditions.....
It took me 2 hours this morning to wash all the grit and grime off my bike! Now she is all shiny again!!


Karen :)


Karen, don’t feel bad. The Hideous century is hard on a good day, let alone in the weather we were having yesterday. You never can tell what the weather is like on the mountain during the Spook. I’ve seen everything from 90 degrees to snow. In 3 attempts I’ve finished once, broken spokes on a rear wheel and being sick (should have never started) were my 2 failures. When my oldest son got back from the top of the hill, he was running the sag stop there, he was telling me how bad it was up there. Anyway, I’m more tired today than if I had ridden the ride. It was great to meet you, now I have a face to put with the name. Come up sometime and we will ride to the top and be on.

Wow. Dante, if you've tried this ride three times and finished once, it must be as tough as I've heard rumored. That says something about Karen being the lone woman out there. Karen, you are one TOUGH, pink broad. ;) :)

great pics!!!!!!! Tha climbs looks like a lil butt kicker


Indeed they were. It was a tough ride for sure. I wish I would have brought a couple gels with me for the last 15 miles.

Karen charging up one of the steeper sections.
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1717/spooktacular009dk2.jpg