I always consider the Montrose Ride a gamble with the large pack and twitchy riders. Is it worse or better in the rain? Either way, I'm out for this week. Getting eye exams with my wife that morning (I know you're all jealous) then possibly riding that afternoon... on the trainer if it's raining hard.

See you all in the AM.

Any information on the fellow injured in the crash on Royal Oak?

I think I saw 3 people in the crash. I hear there was a noob on a yellow bike that was moving around without ever looking (he caused the accident). The accident looked pretty bad. There was a bike and person (i only saw the bike) ended up accross the street. Thank goodness there wasn't a car approaching.

I hope those involved are recovering well.

See you all in the AM.

What jersey will you be wearing, Tom? Luwin, you riding this week?

You've seen my entire wardrobe already. I've only got one long sleeve. :( Solid yellow.

You've seen my entire wardrobe already. I've only got one long sleeve. :( Solid yellow.
More than I've got. I don't see the need for long sleeve jerseys, kinckers or tights. That's what arm, knee and leg warmers are for!

What jersey will you be wearing, Tom? Luwin, you riding this week?


Sorry for the late response - I'm not there this morning (duh) - it's playoff time for the basketball league and I have a game at 1pm and didn't want to tire myself out for it.

Sorry for the late response - I'm not there this morning (duh) - it's playoff time for the basketball league and I have a game at 1pm and didn't want to tire myself out for it.

Yes, I can imagine you that would make for some heavy legs on the court. You weren't the only no-show, btw. :) Tom was there, and had a nice chat with JP after running into him after the ride.

There seemed to be more sketchy riders there this week. Definitely have to keep alert at all times.

Yes, I can imagine you that would make for some heavy legs on the court. You weren't the only no-show, btw. :) Tom was there, and had a nice chat with JP after running into him after the ride.

There seemed to be more sketchy riders there this week. Definitely have to keep alert at all times.

I haven't done it in a while, but it seems like it's always bigger (and consequently sketchier, due to non regulars coming out) when there's a big tour going on to motivate people to come out. The second week of the TdF it seems like it's more than double the usual numbers. It could be ToC is motivating people.

The easiest ways to deal with sketchy riders are (in order):
- do the version that leaves at 8 am from TJs and rides steady tempo in a double paceline most of the way. It usually goes most of the winter and can be quite civilized.
- Ride near the front (close enough that you end up in the wind occasionally) so all the sketchiness is behind you. This is physically harder than being in the pack, but it makes it easy for it to be smooth.
- Know how to identify a good wheel and hold onto it. When I didn't feel like hanging out on the front I would sometimes pick a good wheel and turn on cruise control.

I'll be there this Saturday, hopefully from Descanso since I want to get 50-60 miles in before noon.

I might be there this Saturday. Depends on what I feel like when I wake on on Saturday. Anyone else? I'll probably wait at TJ's.

I'll be there. If you see a tall rider in the Coates kit and black Fuji, say "hi". We jump in on Huntington at the gas station in San Marino. I'm doing two races on Sunday, so I'll probably lay back and cruise in the middle of the pack tomorrow.

I'll be jumping on at Trader Joe's.

I always consider the Montrose Ride a gamble with the large pack and twitchy riders. Is it worse or better in the rain? Either way, I'm out for this week. Getting eye exams with my wife that morning (I know you're all jealous) then possibly riding that afternoon... on the trainer if it's raining hard.

It's only sketchy near the middle/back. Just be at or near the front and all is well.

I'm in as usual. Descanso start

I originally had plans to be in SoCal this weekend. But I had this one customer who wouldn't let me off the hook, and I'm still here in NorCal. Hence, I won't be there this weekend ... maybe next weekend.

I rode a few laps with someone that went down at the last montrose ride. He had bruised ribs and hip but seemed to be doing well enough.
He said someone blew by and sideswiped him.

stay at the front, it's more fun and easier. look at me giving advice and i haven't been on that ride for a long time but it was one of my favorites. The long loop is a good course, I always wished that was a road race course.

Will....
that was me saying hi!!

hi herb!!! i was wondering who that was...

hi herb!!! i was wondering who that was...

How'd it go today? Status quo?

The pace was wild from slow to very fast to slow again. I took it easy and dropped off at Encanto to save myself for tomorrow.

The pace was wild from slow to very fast to slow again. I took it easy and dropped off at Encanto to save myself for tomorrow.

What's tomorrow?
Did you guys see Sarah and Lea out there?

pretty much status quo, i went easy to save it for the lax races. i acted as domestique for sarah near the bridge and up to bradbury to help her move up and to try not to get dropped on bradbury. if the girls stick with the ride for about 4 to 6 weeks they'll have it dialed in. for my help i made sarah give me a ride home so i wouldn't have to ride 70 miles before the races

thanks again sarah!

What's tomorrow?
Did you guys see Sarah and Lea out there?
Circuit Race at LAX. I figured I could do the Montrose ride since my race tomorrow is only 24 miles and is in the afternoon. I saw Sarah, and I think Lea (can't remember her face... or bike), but didn't have a chance to really say hi.

Lea is about 4'10" and rides a Seven. You know Sarah? Keith's wife with the long braids on a Specialized.
Good luck at your race, Brian!

I think I've met Sarah. Didn't I meet her and Brandy on the ride that went up Spunky Canyon last year? Based on the description, Lea was next to Sarah right before we started.

I think I've met Sarah. Didn't I meet her and Brandy on the ride that went up Spunky Canyon last year? Based on the description, Lea was next to Sarah right before we started.
Yeah, that might have been Sarah on that ride to Spunky, but not Brandy. Brandy doesn't live in our area, we only see her occaisionaly. The other woman on that ride may have been Cathy.
So, tell us about the race.

I'll let the seasoned racers give the real report. All I remember is nobody wanting to take a pull on the back straight into the headwind, so we went 13-18 mph there bunching up and yelling frequently. The crosswinds had the pack zig zagging like a school of fish. The front straight with the tailwind seemed to be big gear show-off time and actually had my heart rate higher than with the headwind. At about 2 miles to go, the La Grange team started a train up the inside but that caused things to bunch up and get dangerous into the last U-turn. From there I just tried to hang onto the pack but saw the main group start to slip away with about 500m to go. I suppose I'd still be considered with the pack as I was towards the back of a long string of riders who also couldn't keep up with the 1 mile drag race to the finish.

I had forgotten why I hated that course as a junior. Now I remember. U-turns into an incline and high winds!!!