Southern California - Grand Tour Lite Ride Report and Pics

Here is my synopsis (report):

1. Great weather! Note to self: STOP over-dressing. Yes, I wore my jacket so UN-OCP tied around my waist today as I didn't need it!
2. Great to see: Ronjon, Jschen, DaveSANYYZ, Indolent58, Scvroadie, Grrlyrida (Vanessa), Karen (Pink Lady who was radiant in her pink today), Cassave (for a brief moment in time before he was disappeared in a cloud of smoke), Stan (ditto), LABaby (more on him in a moment) and Irene (amazingly strong rider and lovely woman) - I pray I didn't miss anyone. If so, my excuse is, I NEED to shower.
3. Also great to see the Adobo boys (Francis, Rick, Alan, David, etc.). They too disappeared in a cloud of smoke, but I got a few pics of them.
4. We took off at 7:30am, and rode directly to Latigo where I got my first flat (:mad:). Jshen changed it for me :love: and was then stuck with me cursing and *****ing all the way up that climb. But I really blew it all out trying to go up that as fast as possible to catch the others, who did, in fact, wait :love:.
5. LABaby crashed on the descent off of Westlake. :( Last I heard, he broke his shoulder and is scheduled for surgery tonight. For those of you who don't know him, his name is John and he is the sweetest man. I've ridden with him before and this was just a freak accident. I feel horrible for him! :(
6. Dave had our second flat of the day and then I had our third! Ugh...Jschen changed my second one too (and massaged my shoulders all day - I'm sure I'll get the bill in the mail next week ;)) :love: and then we hammered in head wind to catch up with the rest of the group who did, in fact, wait again. :love:
7. Great volunteers as always and great food (IMO) at the stops. I was starving by the last stop and ate again there (another sandwich after having had one at lunch too). But I needed it, as this was not a good riding-mojo day for me. The cycling gigolos were not "putting out" if you get my drift and I had lead leg. Thanks to Jschen, Dave, Lee and Irene for giving the strongest pulls of the day, with Karen right with them. The headwinds were fierce! On PCH back, I pushed through the desire to quit at mile 100. Glad I did!
8. Thanks guys for a wonderful day! And thanks Dan, Jason and Dave for having dinner with me after. :)

Wow, great sounding ride (except for the flats and crashes). It gives me something to plan for next year.

Great ride! It was nice riding with everyone. :D

For me it's my second time riding this route (first time was a few months ago in Grand Tour DM). I feel much better than last time and didn't fade! Yeah!

So, being a little blah yesterday, I didn't take as many pics as I would have liked to. But when I start to fatigue (which happened by mile 80 on this ride), I put the camera away for safety reasons and focus only on riding and what's in front of me. But here are some to enjoy:

The Adobo guys getting ready to leave in a plume of smoke (them boys are fast):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/10.jpg

Francis with his usual smile at me:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/9.jpg

The BF group about to take off (we were missing Scvroadie, Grrlyrida, LaBaby & Eileen, unfortunately):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/8.jpg

The group again after a volunteer offered to take anther:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/7.jpg

And we are off on PCH:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/6.jpg

Stan already ahead:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/5.jpg

Rare shot of Steve who, gasp, waited at the bottom of Latigo. But then he was gone in a plume of smoke:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/4.jpg

The pretty pink lady
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/3.jpg

And again, with Dave:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/2.jpg

My first flat and Jason changing it, that sweetie:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/1.jpg

The carrot I chased up Latigo:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/20.jpg


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/19.jpg


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/18.jpg


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/17.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/16.jpg

Rest stop 1:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/15.jpg

Bored, so what better to do than take pics with the men:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/14.jpg

And another:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/13.jpg

DaveSANYYZ:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/12.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/11.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/30.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/29.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/28.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/27.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/26.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/25.jpg

Indolent58 (Dan):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/24.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/23.jpg

The Pink Hammer Girl
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/22.jpg

Flat #2:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/21.jpg

Lunchstop:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/40.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/39.jpg

Dave and Ronjon:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/38.jpg

Irene and Scvroadie (Lee):
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p27/merider/gtlite07/37.jpg

Hey ME! Those are some nice pictures!! Looks like a fun ride.

great report and pics!!!! Weather looked great too!! How was the wind up there? I had winds from all directions on yesturday's ride, but I rode late, Had to watch the foosball game at 10

Hey ME! Those are some nice pictures!! Looks like a fun ride.

Hi Lady, if you are ever out here, we'd love to have you along. :)

great report and pics!!!! Weather looked great too!! How was the wind up there? I had winds from all directions on yesturday's ride, but I rode late, Had to watch the foosball game at 10

Jeff, the wind was pretty rough in a lot of the flat sections (gotta love that), but we had some strong pulls by those I mentioned. I was very grateful that I was in a pack yesterday!

yah I'd imagine pack riding in that type of swirlling winds is less draining. I can'y imagine doing a windy century solo....

Great job, everyone! Love the pix. I rode Hidden Valley reverse, via Newbury Park to Westlake, and looked for the BF crowd as I went through. I was probably a bit early though.

Sheldon

Thank you M.E.!!! Another great report and awesome pics! :p

M.E. already put together an awesome ride report, so all I have to add are the following:

(1) I really enjoyed the hour when the others left M.E. and me alone to engage in some labored breathing.

(2) My seated climbing legs fatigued at mile 105. The rollers on the home stretch were a bit painful.

Awesome ride, awesome company.

I also wanted to add wishes to LABaby for a quick recovery! Sorry to hear about your crash :(

That was fun.

Very sorry to hear about the crash on Latigo. After a rain all the canyon roads can be
treacherous due to sand and rock washed down by the rain.

And stop getting those flats!

To those riding Lighthouse, see you next week.

Great pics, looks like a nice ride. I'm a bit perplexed by all the leg warmers though. I thought you lived in SoCal? What's up with that? :p

Great pics, looks like a nice ride. I'm a bit perplexed by all the leg warmers though. I thought you lived in SoCal? What's up with that? :p

They didn't shave that day.

Great ride,

Didn't hook up with the BF group until the lunch stop, had to help get LAbaby (John) to a care facility. I am waiting to hear from John, and I will post later a synposis of my ride and John's current condition.

M.E., just a couple of little corrections. It's Irene, not Eileen. The crash occurred on the downhill portion of 23 (westlake). Much more treacherous than the descent off of Latigo.

Nice reporting and pics! Sorry I had to miss this ride this year.
Sorry to hear about LAbaby's crash. Hope he recovers quickly.

Great ride,

Didn't hook up with the BF group until the lunch stop, had to help get LAbaby (John) to a care facility. I am waiting to hear from John, and I will post later a synposis of my ride and John's current condition.

M.E., just a couple of little corrections. It's Irene, not Eileen. The crash occurred on the downhill portion of 23 (westlake). Much more treacherous than the descent off of Latigo.

Sorry, Lee, I wrote that late last night.

Great to see everyone yesterday.

I'll add myself to the no mojo list. I probably shouldn't have done the weightlifting on Saturday, I ran out of power somewhere around hidden valley. I was fine spinning on flats, but had no legs for climbing after that. To top it off, coming into Zuma beach, I started to feel nauseous. I'm not sure if it was the exertion, or some lethal combination of food with the goos and sandwiches and cokes and heed and electrolyte pills and pretzels. It certainly wasn't my best day on the bike, but I was happy to get through it and I did set another personal daily mileage mark.

I'll add my thanks to everyone who pulled through the headwinds. It was all I could do to hang at the back of the group.

Great pics, looks like a nice ride. I'm a bit perplexed by all the leg warmers though. I thought you lived in SoCal? What's up with that? :pIt was actually quite cold in the morning. Most of us took off our arm warmers before an early climb on Latigo. It was great during the climb, but on the descend I was shivering; so I put it back on until later on in the day. :p

I'll add myself to the no mojo list.


I don't like to mention when others didn't feel well on a ride, but since you have, I'll just say that you sure held it together Ron for feeling so awful (I've had nauseau on rides before and that is the worst). You even had your sense of humor at the end as we pulled into the parking lot when you said (jokingly, of course), "I hate this ride. I'm never riding it again. I'm never riding with you people again. I'm never logging back onto Bike Forums again."

I see you changed your mind... ;) :D

For those with the Garmin/Polar etc altimeter thingees - what do you have for elavation gain for yesterday?

I had close to 7,000 toward the end, but my garmin battery went out, so I'm going to have to go off of one of yours.

For those with the Garmin/Polar etc altimeter thingees - what do you have for elavation gain for yesterday?

It shows around 7400 feet on motionbased, but it always reports high on motionbased. I'll see what it says on the unit itself tonight.

6184 ft for me (pressure based).

I'll just take the highest number. Do I hear 7500ft?

I'll just take the highest number. Do I hear 7500ft?

:rolleyes: No! Especially considering we all took the short cut on PCH and missed the last butt-kicker roller. :p

:rolleyes: No! Especially considering we all took the short cut on PCH and missed the last butt-kicker roller. :p

You guys cheated?

Appalling.

You guys cheated?

Appalling.

Oh, you be quite. :rolleyes: Besides, I would have QUIT at mile 100 if the SAG car had driven up, so I'm not too concerned aboutthe short cut. :p

Oh, you be quite. :rolleyes: Besides, I would have QUIT at mile 100 if the SAG car had driven up, so I'm not too concerned aboutthe short cut. :p

You can quit at mile 100 next Saturday.

Great report, and great pics. Looks like too much fun out there.

Well, I finally I have a chance to post a ride report on this interrupted ride. As most of you know I started this ride with my friends from Santa Clarita (Jane, Irene, & John) all who have at one time or another joined in on various BF rides.

We started just after most of the BF group, said Hi to M.E. and Jason at the bottom of Latigo as Jason was helping M.E. with a flat. We climbed Latigo, then on to the top of Westlake (23). That is where our ride took a detour. John, who most of you know, crashed on the descent down 23, he went into a corner a little hot, locked up his brakes, fishtailed, caught an edge and was thrown to the pavement. Luckily someone came along in a p/u truck and we were able to put John and his bike into the vehicle, he had a big rasberry on his hip, and his shoulder bothered him. They took him to an urgent care facility in Westlake. We rode our bikes to the facility, just one problem. He has Kaiser and they wouldn't take Kaiser, so after calling friends we were able to get another truck and a ride to Kaiser in Woodland Hills for John. Since it was Jane's friend she rode along with him & John to the hospital, then the friend was able to give Jane and both bikes a lift back to Malibu.

From the urgent care facility, Irene and I returned to the ride, just a little different route, while still on Potero in Thousand Oaks, we went right on Lynn Rd instead of dropping down to the coast. We took Lynn across T.O., then turned left on Moorpark and at the intersection of Moorpark and Santa Rosa, rejoined the route. Looking forward to the lunch stop, which we thought was at Poindexter park like it always is. Nobody was a Poindexter Park, so Irene and I decided to turn around and ride the 2.5 miles back to park. With the extra 5 miles, it meant at the end of the ride our totals for elevation and mileage were virtually the same as for everyone else, even with our little detour. (Totally unexpected)

Well from the rest stop the ride was pretty much the same as the rest of the group, since we were riding with them.

As for John's condition, I talked to him last night. He broke his shoulder in 8 placesand it had to be repaired surgically. Apparently the bone around the socket is softer, so they sutured the bone fragments back into place instead of using pins and screws. He will be off the bike for at least 2 months. He can ride a trainer as soon as he feels like it.

As for John's condition, I talked to him last night. He broke his shoulder in 8 placesand it had to be repaired surgically. Apparently the bone around the socket is softer, so they sutured the bone fragments back into place instead of using pins and screws. He will be off the bike for at least 2 months. He can ride a trainer as soon as he feels like it.

Thanks for the update on John, Lee. What a bummer and I hope he gets well soon.

Thanks all for your well wishes! I hit the deck hard, what a bummer. I seem to be managing the shoulder pain ok and the gigantic raspberry on my left hip/cheek isn't bothing me at all except for when they scrubbed it clean in the ER. It sucks not having the use of my left arm. I'm in a sling, on vicodin and am doing simple shoulder mobility exercises 2-3 times a day. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the trainer soon.

Thanks all for your well wishes! I hit the deck hard, what a bummer. I seem to be managing the shoulder pain ok and the gigantic raspberry on my left hip/cheek isn't bothing me at all except for when they scrubbed it clean in the ER. It sucks not having the use of my left arm. I'm in a sling, on vicodin and am doing simple shoulder mobility exercises 2-3 times a day. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the trainer soon.

Well, you sound upbeat which is a good thing. That means you'll be up on the trainer in no time, John. That descent off of Westlake scares me as it's a steep one. Feel better and keep us posted on your healing progress. :)

Glad you are (relatively) okay, John. Shoulders can be a real challenge (not to mention painful) when it comes to rehab. Here's to hoping your recovery is a speedy one!

Thanks all for your well wishes! I hit the deck hard, what a bummer. I seem to be managing the shoulder pain ok and the gigantic raspberry on my left hip/cheek isn't bothing me at all except for when they scrubbed it clean in the ER. It sucks not having the use of my left arm. I'm in a sling, on vicodin and am doing simple shoulder mobility exercises 2-3 times a day. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the trainer soon.

Get well soon John!!!

Karen :)

Good thoughts to you for a speedy and painless recovery. There is one decreasing radius left turn coming down that road that ALWAYS scares the heck out of me.

Sheldon




Thanks all for your well wishes! I hit the deck hard, what a bummer. I seem to be managing the shoulder pain ok and the gigantic raspberry on my left hip/cheek isn't bothing me at all except for when they scrubbed it clean in the ER. It sucks not having the use of my left arm. I'm in a sling, on vicodin and am doing simple shoulder mobility exercises 2-3 times a day. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the trainer soon.

Thanks all for your well wishes! I hit the deck hard, what a bummer. I seem to be managing the shoulder pain ok and the gigantic raspberry on my left hip/cheek isn't bothing me at all except for when they scrubbed it clean in the ER. It sucks not having the use of my left arm. I'm in a sling, on vicodin and am doing simple shoulder mobility exercises 2-3 times a day. Hopefully I'll be able to get on the trainer soon.Get well soon.

Hope you recover quickly, John.