Northern California - Oddball Ride Report

I thought I'd start a different thread on the ride report and pics. There was such a great turnout. Thanks to x136 for instigating this, and thanks to taxi777 for designing the route. Taxi777 is the ultimate ride leader, and kept coming back to gather up everyone.

This was the first time I've actually taken my recumbent on a real ride. Previously, the longest ride on it was 2-3 miles. What a perfect ride and day to take it on a real ride. There were about 5 recumbents, one tandem, plus Blastradius's triple tandem (front, and tagalong in the back).

Henry, I hope your kids had a lot of fun.
Siu, you were not holding us back.
Me, on the other hand ... I had issues getting my bent off to a rolling start, so I apologize for taking up so much space just to get going.

Pictures coming later ... gotta get ready for my stinkin' customer call ... yea, work related, on a Saturday. Don't even ask.

*wonders where pics are*

The suspense is killing you, aint it?

Slow but sure...be patient... sorry More Tomorrow...:(
Dave and Lisa
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DaveandLisacopy.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/SJBobColagecopy.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Zorroscopy.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Paulacopy.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/AlainFamilycopy.jpg

Group shot
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Group1-1.jpg

It was a great ride. Lots of fun. Thanks to everyone for showing up, and thanks to Pete for leading the way. Sorry some of it was too much for the younger members (Embarcadero was nutso, I don't blame you for hanging back) and a few of our recumbent riders (I loved seeing them!).

We'll definitely have to make this a regular occurrence.

I almost joined you guys...

I was in the City watching my girlfriend give her dive presentation at Pier 39 (She is a biologist/diver at the big aquarium there). I took the caltrain and rode the Embarcadero to Pier 39 and watched her presentation. Then I called Ramon to see if I could bump into you guys, but you were pretty far away.

So I rode embarcadero back downtown to go to the shopping center (Westfield), to look around until Ruth was done with her shift. Then I rode back on the Embarcadero to meet her, so we could drive back.

Embarcadro Northbound is pretty crazy at 3pm.

So anyway, I got hit by a car on my way back, but I'm ok, no big deal.

I got the "right cross" from an SUV turning into one of the pay lots, while I was riding along side in the bike lane.

I was going around 20 mph (very cautiously) when it happened. They wacked me with the nose of thier car, but at the same time, I made an evasive right . So I kind of bounced off their car, the change of direction was pretty fast so the bike got squirley for a quick moment, but I regained control and kept her up continuing forward.

I shouted something like "Damnit!.... You are so fricken lucky I kept my bike up!" I continued on, but looked at my arm and saw two bumps on the top of my forearm. So I decided to turn around and get their info just in case.

The woman who was driving was cool, so was I. However, her male passenger was kind of rude and belligerent. I can share the story of this guy in person on some BF ride. ;)

All and all, I was pretty proud of myself for keeping my bike up :)

Here's my pics for today:

The car's tire mark on my leg:

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/206268-1/DSCF1097.jpg

Bump/scraped arm:

http://carpron.com/multisite/d/206271-1/DSCF1098.jpg

Right-hooked at 20MPH and you didn't even fall down? That's some mighty fancy ridin', there, Tex. Glad you're mostly okay, and that the driver wasn't a pain about it.

Dang Marco. Glad to hear you were able to keep the bike upright. Today was very busy everywhere with the weather being so sunny.

My bikely mapping of the ride came out to about 21 miles and 1175' of elevation.

Some pics:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/271805c8.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/4beed94a.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/9bae25f6.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/b79bde5b.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/d2a7c49f.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/45ea0eaa.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/d9f03249.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/f64b96bd.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/a3ff0ae4.jpg

A few pic-a-tures:

As usual, there were plenty of cameras on hand. And as usual, Pete kicks it up a notch, shouldering an SLR all day.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2710/img0548rt0.jpg

Lots of different bikes on hand. Road bikes, mountain bikes, recumbents (two wheels and three!)...
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/9991/img0549rb3.jpg

...a tandem...
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5664/img0551wx9.jpg

...and of course, a folder.
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8964/img0553te1.jpg

Ron rides off in his recliner to find Henry and the gang.
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4541/img0559zt8.jpg

There they are!
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1550/img0564iw4.jpg

"I want to ride my own bike!"
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/5003/img0567fz0.jpg

BTW, if anyone hasn't noticed, we love digital! :D

Oh you watch, some smartass is going to bring a film rig next time.

<--

:p

Whoa, somebody's yellow bike musta got run over in the parking lot!

Wow, what a great turnout! I knew I should've gone. Even Siu was there! Am I the last NorCal'r holdout?

Yes

Kids
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/f8f75b8e.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/9f25dfc6.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/2642a60a.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/9de28463.jpg

Off and rolling
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/c88f9759.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/ad60f494.jpg

Bay Bridge
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/7ec18d10.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/f48a6de9.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/6e855acf.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/f144b421.jpg

You know it's been one of us every week now? Scary, great bike handling skills Marco. I'm glad you'll be ok for tomorrow. Should be a fun ride.
Pete

Marco, I think I saw you zoom past heading north. You were on the yellow Cannondale right? Thankfully you have mad skillz.

My team time trial didn't make as good a time as I had hoped and we got dropped!

The kids did have a great time though even with all the peds. Annaleigh, my 7-year-old who just got on two wheels three weeks/three rides ago handled it like a champ even though she hit two poles, a concrete bench, and had low-speed tip overs at least a dozen times. She'll be rocking it next time. Luke who just got his own bike wanted so much to ride his own bike but that would have been too much even with training wheels.

I can't wait till the next one!

I'm going to be at the next one. I showed my GF the pictures of you're kids Henry and she thought it was the cutest thing.

She said she would try and learn and accompany me, because I was showing her all the pics and she saw that I wanted to do group rides again. (she knows I've been off the saddle for 6 months)

AWww poor Annaleigh!! I hope that didn't crush her spirit!!

Marco, I think I saw you zoom past heading north. You were on the yellow Cannondale right? Thankfully you have mad skillz.


Yeah I was on the Yellow CAAD4 Commuter.

When did you see me?

I went north 2x. Once at around 10:40 AM and the other at around 3:00 PM

Too bad I missed the ride!

Marco I heard you were a pretty good rider. I bet you could have made it to meet us. I was the one having slight asthma attacks and leg cramps. (I was stalling everyone just for you)

I'm going to be at the next one. I showed my GF the pictures of you're kids Henry and she thought it was the cutest thing.

She said she would try and learn and accompany me, because I was showing her all the pics and she saw that I wanted to do group rides again. (she knows I've been off the saddle for 6 months)

Why didn't you go? Your name was on the list.

The kids did have a great time though even with all the peds. Annaleigh, my 7-year-old who just got on two wheels three weeks/three rides ago handled it like a champ even though she hit two poles, a concrete bench, and had low-speed tip overs at least a dozen times. She'll be rocking it next time. Luke who just got his own bike wanted so much to ride his own bike but that would have been too much even with training wheels.The pedestrian and automotive traffic on Embarcadero was really challenging at times. Sorry you had to stay behind, but I'm glad you all had a good time anyway (well, minus the pains of growing into two wheels).

What does everyone think about doing this again? I was thinking it could at least be bi-yearly, but maybe more often? I know I had a lot of fun, and it was nice getting some people out who normally don't come out to rides. Slowly tooling around is a nice change of pace once in a while, too. :)

That was a great ride. Thanks to Alex for suggesting it and Pete for leading it. :beer:

My wife Julie really enjoy the ride and meeting everyone. This was her first ride of any significant miles in more than 10 years. She even asked when next one is. Now if I can get my son off of his training wheels....

Lots of happy people out there! Sorry I couldn't join you :(.

Lots of happy people out there! Sorry I couldn't join you :(.Yeah, we missed you out there as well. Everyone was looking forward to seeing "how the hell you ride that weird triangle bike." :lol:

That was a great ride. Thanks to Alex for suggesting it and Pete for leading it. :beer:

My wife Julie really enjoy the ride and meeting everyone. This was her first ride of any significant miles in more than 10 years. She even asked when next one is. Now if I can get my son off of his training wheels....

NO WAY!! She did way better than I did!! You go, Julie!! :D


Lots of happy people out there! Sorry I couldn't join you :(.

You were definitely missed. And so was your triangle bike. :p

That was a great ride. Thanks to Alex for suggesting it and Pete for leading it. :beer:

My wife Julie really enjoy the ride and meeting everyone. This was her first ride of any significant miles in more than 10 years. She even asked when next one is. Now if I can get my son off of his training wheels....

We all enjoyed you guyz joining up...BTW Julie did awsome, what a natural! Your bike is pretty cool Gary.

Lots of happy people out there! Sorry I couldn't join you :(.

You better make it next time!!

Looks like a fun time was had by all. :) I must say that if there exists a good candidate for weekend/Sunday Ciclovias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclovía) anywhere in San Francisco, The Embarcadero is it.

More pics:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/97c0f97c.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/d4afa0e7.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/9991d1c3.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/a6221389.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w112/spingineer/Oddball/6f2d5a1b.jpg

Ahh, that hand thing must've been on the bridge itself at one point, and they moved it to the fence when they "heightened security."

Wait the GGB is still open to bikes, right?

Yup. West lane on weekends and holidays for cyclists only and on weekdays, you have to brave the crowds of tourists on the east side.

Wait the GGB is still open to bikes, right?Dunno, we didn't make the attempt today. Hope so, or the ride tomorrow is going to be cut awfully short. :)

Yup. West lane on weekends and holidays for cyclists only and on weekdays, you have to brave the crowds of tourists on the east side.

No wonder! We took the east side and the south end was loaded with peds :(.

p.s. pics to come as soon as they've been uploaded

Yup. West lane on weekends and holidays for cyclists only and on weekdays, you have to brave the crowds of tourists on the east side.

Yeah I know normally. I meant after the "Free Tibet" demonstrators.

What a great turnout and such great weather too! Thanks go out to taxi777 and x136 for starting and organizing this ride.

Our (me, wife, and son) journey started with a train ride from Walnut Creek BART to the Embarcadero station where we soon ran into both siu and x136 (alex) for the first time. Then, at the upper level, we started running into more bf'ers... zorrov999 (angel) + girlfriend, sweetnsourbkr (david) + wife lisa, and msincredible (paula). From BART to the ball park we already had a significant sized riding group.

At the designated meeting point, we found new and familiar faces as well checked out the combination of "other", "oddball", and "only" bikes. Soon after everyone arrived, we set off for the golden gate with several regroups and photo op stops along the way. It got a little hairy along Embarcadero at the cruise terminal with all the cars, bikes, and people. Other than that, the ride went smoothly and uneventful (i.e. no crashes). And now the pics (yes, we likes our digital cameras)... btw, more pics here (http://alainp.zenfolio.com/p230529506).

sweetnsourbkr (david), lisa, and msincredible
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p952205918-3.jpg

siu blue wind (siu), x136 (alex), nicolas, michelle, zorov999 (angel), and back left... betty? (sorry if i got it wrong)
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p729347763-3.jpg

taxi777 (peter), spingineer (ron), sanjosebob ("headless" bob!), and mtnwalker (tony)
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1060877881-3.jpg

recumbent with windshield
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1003668292-3.jpg

michelle trying out the carbon recumbent trike
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p809453435-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p668203356-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p962108844-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p722805362-3.jpg

msincredible's "incredible" shrinking bike
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1033423515-3.jpg

x136's fixie with the "special" energy drink flask/cage (http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p839738652-4.jpg)
http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p949041188-3.jpg

More pics:

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p572466723-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p819161801-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1053796145-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1030801915-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p614781688-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1021486612-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p990138212-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p566984366-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p831877227-3.jpg

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p981163088-3.jpg

Again, the rest can be found here (http://alainp.zenfolio.com/p230529506).

NO WAY!! She did way better than I did!! You go, Julie!! :D



You did fine Siu. Remember, you were carrying a whole bike shop in your bag.:eek::D

An nice ride indeed, and an excellent day to do it in San Francisco! All was good until we headed for Baker Beach, when the little bit of climbing was too much for my knee. So I bailed and headed back to catch the train home. By the time I got home, I could barely allow my left leg to go around the circle as I used my right leg to pedal the bike. No problem walking or with stairs. Big pain starting from below and to the outside of the knee cap, running up past the knee cap around the outside of it and ending on the outside of the top part of the knee. Doctor ( a D.O.) looked at it last Monday and said nothing was wrong with it. Can anyone recommend a doctor experienced with cyclist's knee problems?

In any case, a great time on the bike in the city, with a really nice group, and worries of everyday life set firmly on the back burner for a while. Thanks everybody!

Great pics, everyone!! Pete, I love those collages! Keep adding them!! :)

Great pics, everyone!! Pete, I love those collages! Keep adding them!! :)
slow but sure, keep checking in, I'm still working on yours my fair Princess!;)

http://alainp.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p1021486612-3.jpg


Why do I look so chubby? Doesn't look like a guy who cycles every weekend. I think there's something wrong with your camera, Alain. :rolleyes:

It's the recliner, Ron. Put Pete next to it and it would have the same effect. ;)

slow but sure, keep checking in, I'm still working on yours my fair Princess!;)

:)

Why do I look so chubby? Doesn't look like a guy who cycles every weekend. I think there's something wrong with your camera, Alain. :rolleyes:The camera is just uncalibrated, probably.

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/3824/p10214866123cf4.jpg

Don't let Ron fool you guys. He is buff.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa268/acayaban/ronbuff.jpg

I still can't figure out the reverse-tan-line, though. He must ride around in the summer in arm- and leg-warmers, a balaclava/neck gaiter, and nothing else. :eek: