Southern California - Simi Valley Ride

http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/seasonal/simi_ride.htm

Is this on for tomorrow and is anyone going?

It is on. I will be there with Keith and Stan.

If you have never done this ride before, be careful. It is a pretty competitive crowd and there is a lot of bumping.

http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/seasonal/simi_ride.htm

Is this on for tomorrow and is anyone going?

Thurlow Rogers is going.

If you have never done this ride before, be careful. It is a pretty competitive crowd and there is a lot of bumping.

I would be going to slowly for anyone to bump me.

Even for the off season, this is a fast paced ride. The route is great, but don't expect to be with the group after the first 5 miles. The last time I attempted this, I was a national caliber junior racer and they averaged 30 mph on LA Ave before turning up Norwegian Grade where I struggled to keep up and got dropped by Moorpark Rd. I have seen the likes of Thurlow Rogers, Tinker Juarez, John Warden, etc. on this ride. All elite or pro riders.

Yea, not a social ride. At all. I'll be falling off the back in no time.

Well, if there's going to be an "off the back club" I might join you guys some time. I think I'm still going to ride Angeles Crest tomorrow. Maybe the wife will let me bring her camera for some pics.

I thought I would give this a shot this morning. I rode to Kuehner and LA Ave and awaited the crowd. The crowd just kept getting bigger and bigger. I estimated 100 riders. There were some instructions yelled at the beginning but I couldn’t hear much of what was said. We then started rolling.

Having no experience with these guys and since I have not been in a paceline for 20 years, I thought I would hang toward the back until I got used to the crowd. The run through Simi was pretty tame, lots of red light running but lots of stopping for them too. At 1st street, some riders headed south. At Madera some more headed south. I knew I was with the fast group but I figured I would hang on as long as I could and as long as I didn’t get in anybody’s way, I would consider it a success.

The rolling hills between Simi and Moorpark was a pace way faster that I have ever done. By the time we hit Norwegian Grade I didn’t have much left. I really lack snap in my legs. Once I got to the top of Norwegian Grade, the pack was long gone. There were a few stragglers and I rode with them. I was out of water and unless we were going to stop soon, I would have to break off. When we got to Flores and Erbes, I decided to head north instead of following the pack south. The plan was to go to the park at the top of Erbes and fill my water, but, d’oh, no water at that park. I went down into Moorpark and up Miller Parkway to Miller Park and filled there.

Just a couple of miles from home, I decided I needed to do some more hills, sooooo, a couple of times up and down Miller and then I headed back over Norwegian Grade and up Calle Contento. Then some minor hills in Thousand Oaks and Moorpark until I got home.

All in all, a nice ride. I will definitely do this again and I will just keep pressing and try to hold on as long as I can. I do think I will start the ride at Madera and LA though. We hit that at about 9:00 am today so that will be my target. I will spend a few hours riding around prior. But riding with a pack significantly faster than me will allow me to develop some snap back to my riding.

Saw Vance, Keith, and Stan. They all looked great.

Cheers Jim. It was quite a different experience riding with Thurlow Rogers, David Clinger, Ivan Dominguez, etc. I prefer climbing, but yes you are right on target for using this ride for speed work ("snap in your legs" :) ).

The thing about hill climbing for me, is I tend to go my own pace when what I really need to do is go faster than my own pace. These guys went WAY faster than my pace. An example that first little hill as you head west on Tierra Rejada from Madera, I typically go up that at about 16 mph, today it was 24. I was hanging on for dear life as we rounded Moorpark Road toward Norwegian Grade. That is good stuff.

I also forgot to mention that at the start when Keith says to me, "so you just want people to know your name?”. I thought he was making a comment about my seatpost when he points to my helmet. Yes folks, I still had “Jim Thomson” on a big sticker that was leftover from The JoyRide a few weeks ago. I have been riding all around town with it for 3 weeks. Even last week with Mary/Steve/Jason/Ron, no one commented on it.

A great ride. I got in 60 miles. I will be back.

Yes folks, I still had “Jim Thomson” on a big sticker that was leftover from The JoyRide a few weeks ago. I have been riding all around town with it for 3 weeks.


:roflmao::lol::roflmao::lol::roflmao:

So... thomson, u gonna shave your legs and turn crit racer on us???:p

:roflmao::lol::roflmao::lol::roflmao:

So... thomson, u gonna shave your legs and turn crit racer on us???:p

If I move from the back of this pack to the front of the pack, I will shave my legs and put on toenail polish. In other words, NFW

Just don't call me if you get lost and need directions

Just don't call me if you get lost and need directions

People do that ;)? Since you didn't call back, I assume you found your destination...

Just so you know, I wasn't lost. I was just quizzing you to make sure you knew the area, just so you wouldn't get lost in the future. Just looking out for you, as usual. ;)

Whew on that!!

Cheers Jim. It was quite a different experience riding with Thurlow Rogers, David Clinger, Ivan Dominguez, etc. I prefer climbing, but yes you are right on target for using this ride for speed work ("snap in your legs" :) ).

Ivan Dominguez in a monster... I think he is the fastest sprinter in the United States right now, hands down. He's also a really nice guy.

One of his teammates from Toyota-United is a friend of mine, as well as my riding partner/coach. I'll be out there with them within the next few weekends to get my legs torn off and get fit for the next season.

Riding with guys faster than you is the best and most sure-fire way to get faster. It can be intimidating, but they immediatly change your perception of fast and give you a new outlook on what is possible.

Unless you simply don't enjoy it, make it a point to do group rides, they really do help.

Just so you know, I wasn't lost.

Joy is a man!

Cheers Jim. It was quite a different experience riding with Thurlow Rogers, David Clinger, Ivan Dominguez, etc. I prefer climbing, but yes you are right on target for using this ride for speed work ("snap in your legs" :) ).


Try racing against them! So Clinger is still riding?

Joy is a man!

::: scratching myself :::

U cruisin' for a bruisin', Valley Boy? :mad:

One of his teammates from Toyota-United is a friend of mine, as well as my riding partner/coach. I'll be out there with them within the next few weekends to get my legs torn off and get fit for the next season.


Chepe?

Chepe?

Yessir. Probably one of the nicest guys I've met through cycling. Do you know him?

Yessir. Probably one of the nicest guys I've met through cycling. Do you know him?

Yes. Chepe and I were teammates in 1993. I knew him for a few years before that because we had raced against each other as juniors. I've raced against him the last couple of years here and in 2006 he was teammates with Tony.

Try racing against them! So Clinger is still riding?

Yea, someone said something like "so you're back on the bike?" Do you know why he left (or was asked to leave) Rock & Republic? That seemed like a perfect match.

Yes. Chepe and I were teammates in 1993. I knew him for a few years before that because we had raced against each other as juniors. I've raced against him the last couple of years here and in 2006 he was teammates with Tony.

He was racing in Mexico in '93, right?

He was racing in Mexico in '93, right?
He raced here in 90 and 91 for Canyon Velo. In 92 and 93 he raced here for Los Portales. We had a few other guys from Mexico and all of them would go home and do some races, but they spent most of the year here. We also did the two week Vuelta a Costa Rica. After that I think he went to Belgium (?) and then raced in Mexico for a while.

Yeah, he was in Belgium for 5 years, and then moved over here. Belgium gave him a pretty good pallette for fine Beers :)

By any chance... do you know Christian Valenzeula or Gustavo Mendez?

Yeah, he was in Belgium for 5 years, and then moved over here. Belgium gave him a pretty good pallette for fine Beers :)

By any chance... do you know Christian Valenzeula or Gustavo Mendez?

Gustavo's my teammate and Christian is a really cool guy.

Thomson, thanks for the ride report. I've heard about this ride a lot. Interesting to hear your take on it. Is there a set route that they do? I've thought about doing the ride, but didn't want to get ditched way out there without knowing the way home. If you have the route, please post it.

Vance, you gonna post a ride report too?

Gustavo's my teammate and Christian is a really cool guy.

Yeah, we've probably met. Gus and I ride and hang out together. Small world.

Thomson, thanks for the ride report. I've heard about this ride a lot. Interesting to hear your take on it. Is there a set route that they do? I've thought about doing the ride, but didn't want to get ditched way out there without knowing the way home. If you have the route, please post it.

Vance, you gonna post a ride report too?

Paul
The original poster (whom I forgot to thank for starting this thread and reminding me about this ride) posted a ride link http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/seasonal/simi_ride.htm In it is the route slip http://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20Rides/seasonal/simi_route.htm but that was not the route we did today. In fact, today there were 3 routes and I certainly belonged on one of the slower paced ones. There was a guy at the beginning yelling out route information (anyone know who this is?) but I didn't hear him. I got the impression that it isn't a fixed route but changes over the course of the winter.

This is not a ride where people will wait for you. If you flat, you are out. If you get caught at a red light, you are out. Heck, if you fall off the pack, it will be very hard to get back in the pack, you are out. I think it is assumed that the riders know the area.

In case you were thinking of going with a buddy, from my perspective, it is very hard to keep track of anyone except what is immediately around you. You will have to move about the pack a lot and you probably won’t be able to keep track of each other.

Having said that, it isn’t too hard to make it back to the valley. If you are smarter than me (and trust me, slugs are) you may opt for one of the slower groups to start. I am sure you can keep up with them enough to keep you on course. If you flat or something, you are on your own though.

Yes folks, I still had “Jim Thomson” on a big sticker that was leftover from The JoyRide a few weeks ago. I have been riding all around town with it for 3 weeks. Even last week with Mary/Steve/Jason/Ron, no one commented on it.

A great ride. I got in 60 miles. I will be back.

Yeah Jim, I noticed that when we were sitting around at the mission. I just figured
you didn't want anybody stealing your helmet, or you had a cocktail mixer to attend later
in the day.

Yeah Jim, I noticed that when we were sitting around at the mission. I just figured
you didn't want anybody stealing your helmet, or you had a cocktail mixer to attend later
in the day.

I always wear my black helmet to cocktail mixers....

I plan on going again this week, if anyone is interested?

Maybe...

Probably

I might if I don't go up to SLO for our Base Camp (I have in-laws in town that I forgot about, so I might have to appease them & the wife and miss SLO).

Just out of curiosity, once over Santa Sue, I was under the impression there was a sort of re-group. Is this true? And if so, where? (since I am sure I'll be off the back on that little climb!)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=e+los+angeles+and+alscot,+simi+valley,+ca&sll=34.271687,-118.669338&sspn=0.008476,0.023324&ie=UTF8&ll=34.272396,-118.669295&spn=0.033904,0.093298&z=14&om=1

Down SS to LA Ave, turn left and the first little side street on the right is where people meet. The clue is there will be 700 cyclists there (maybe a few less). Last week we rolled about 8:40 from there. Hope to see you there!

Jim, FYI that park at the top of Erbes does have water, but it is hard to spot. It's over by the playground.

Jim

Jim, FYI that park at the top of Erbes does have water, but it is hard to spot. It's over by the playground.

Jim

Ahh, Thanks Jim, I should have looked harder.

Today’s ride was interesting. There looked to be about 100 riders and we are cruising through Simi, not as fast as last week, perhaps 25-30 in most spots. We occupied the entire right lane. Somewhere along the line a motorcop got in the left lane and was going our speed. We keep puttering along and then a signal turns red in the middle of the pack. I immediately pull to the right and stop, however many just kept going. Well, the cop pulled them all over. It looked like he nabbed about 15 of them. Some of the 15 snuck off the back and when the light turned green, it looked like the copy had about 5 bicyclists corralled. The copy was off his motorcycle and looked like he was ready to do some ticket writing. As we passed, he turns to us and yells (I mean vein-popping yell!!) “STOP AT RED LIGHTS!!!”. We were the only ones that did stop but whatever. We kept rolling, a few minutes, there is the motorcop again. There wasn’t enough elapsed time for him to write tickets so I guess our fellow bicyclists got off with a very stern warning.

By this time the fast group that was ahead of the whole red light incident was long gone, so I rode up Madera instead. The group I was with didn’t really know where the first stop was so we were just aimlessly riding around, up Madera to Peterson to Erbes to Arboles to Westlake. It was here I turned on Kanan and figured I would do my own ride and I have no idea what happened to everybody else.

So, week2, I still haven’t kept up with the group long enough to make it the first stop!! <laughs> Good ride though, great weather.

Those that are going next week, I have a sneaking suspicion that Simi’s finest will be out in force. Be careful.

I have always heard that Simi PD has it in for cyclists...rolling stop signs...etc...
Something about the Chief not liking cyclists

I have always heard that Simi PD has it in for cyclists...rolling stop signs...etc...
Something about the Chief not liking cyclists

I just hope they aren't lumping all cyclists together, because frankly, the ones running red lights they should have it out for.

I just hope they aren't lumping all cyclists together, because frankly, the ones running red lights they should have it out for.

Oh I agree...
But I have heard these warnings for about 2 years....also riding more than 2 across...even slowing at stop sign, but not a complete stop...

Oh I agree...
But I have heard these warnings for about 2 years....also riding more than 2 across...even slowing at stop sign, but not a complete stop...

Yea, it's all those little gray areas that we (should) get away with... but then the aggressive riders who blow lights and such ruin the reputation of all bikers, and then they crack down on us (when they should be cracking down on the clueless motorists who are running us down while talking on their cell phones).

Yea, it's all those little gray areas that we (should) get away with... but then the aggressive riders who blow lights and such ruin the reputation of all bikers, and then they crack down on us (when they should be cracking down on the clueless motorists who are running us down while talking on their cell phones).

+100

I saw a guy almost get taken out today on foothill by some lady on the phone and turning into a shopping center..good thing he was on the ball!

That was the scary thing about the Simi ride. At least back in the 90's if one rider got through the intersection, it was expected for the whole pack to go through no matter what the lights did. I was scared to stop because the moment I tapped my brakes the guy behind me yelled "ROLL IT!" like he was going to ride up my @$$ if I didn't!

That was the scary thing about the Simi ride. At least back in the 90's if one rider got through the intersection, it was expected for the whole pack to go through no matter what the lights did. I was scared to stop because the moment I tapped my brakes the guy behind me yelled "ROLL IT!" like he was going to ride up my @$$ if I didn't!

I think that is pretty much how it is today. I think Vance has hit on something, would the cops be less aggressive toward bicyclists if the large groups (not just the Simi Ride) weren’t so flagrant?