Northern California - Tandem and Wheelsucker ride pictures

:D This makes the second person who thought you were Mrs. Hu :D!

Good thing my wife is out of town. I'll have to bribe the neighbors to keep our secret!She wasn't even gone a day, and already you were throwing wild parties and taking another girl on your tandem. You will have quite the reputation! :p

If Sunday was what goes on after one day, I can't wait for the group ride in three or four weeks time. :D

Here is a pic of Blastradius at the staging area. That is a nice Pinarello and wheelset. He rode with us most of the way down Highway 1 trading pulls and together, we missed the turnoff. We got a chance to chat with him on Gazos Creek on our way to Pesky.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/2008%20July%20Wheelsucker%20Ride/PICT0004.jpg

Ron, you need one of these. (next time let me know and I will bring mine!)

http://tokowifi.com/images/sierra/Sierra_AirCard875.jpg

Thanks for the suggestion. But I would still have to lug around a laptop. I missed all the fun. :mad:

Thanks everyone for a wonderful ride.

You could tell from the large crowd gathering at the start that this was going to be epic.
Meeting all the BF'ers I haven't met before and seeing familiar faces was a pleasure.

Alan calls the pre-ride meeting.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2647235424_b4647fed5f_b.jpg

Smooth and Sassy, Bostic, Andrea's sis and her BF (on a fixie).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2647234820_d2d174be18_b.jpg

Ty "shoots a crab" while his mom and step-dad looks way in embarrassment.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2646403253_0a9afcdd0a_b.jpg

The group lines up and gets ready to roll.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/2646402925_5a23d40b0d_b.jpg

Wait we're missing someone.....

Marco and Ruth arriving at 9:36 MT (Marco Time).
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2646402355_48553252f9_b.jpg

I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to hang with the tandem train as I was still battling
a cough my daughter gave me (sorry, I hope I didn't contaminate anyone). But, as any
good wheelsucker knows, just let the draft pull you along.

The pace was fast from the start and went from a double to a single line as the speed
increased and the road narrowed. The nice rhythm was only broken up by those darn hills.
Hermes/Velodiva, Doug (Alan's spin instructor?), and I ended up in a little group and took
turns at the front. After my mistake of turning off too early at Pescadero Crk Rd, I kept
my eye on the odometer for mile 25 where the Gazos Creek was supposed to be. FAIL.
Hermes/Velodiva and I totally passed the turnoff and apparently the bunch of riders yelling
to us as well. It wasn't until we passed Ano Nuevo that Rich called out for me to stop.
After some noodling we turned around to look for the turnoff.

A stop into the Gazos Grill and Gas station to ask for directions to Gazos Creek Rd,
and we were back onto the prescribed route. The ride on Gazo Creek Rd and Cloverdale
was wonderful, really peaceful with smooth roads. We were just about to Pescadero Rd
when my phone rang... hello Marco. We were almost at Pescadero so the gang waited
for us, thanks.

After a brief stop at Pescadero, to my surprise we headed back east on Pescadero Rd.
My failing memory thought we'd be heading north on Stage Rd. The attack on Haskins Hill
was something I wasn't expecting as it isn't good terrain to take advantage of wheelsucking
the tandems. We were sucking for air instead. On the other side we stopped for a
much needed breather.

Sassy getting a massage from Smooth after Hamburger Hill.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2646402005_38700a7556_b.jpg

Rumbutter (Mark) is ready for the Death Ride.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/2646401279_12cd78e25b_b.jpg

Pete, Reid, and Ramone
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2647231660_2af9bfc4bf_b.jpg

Ruth, Rich, Adam, and Marco
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2646400137_6f42087c86_b.jpg

Gary, Adam, Jack, and Dianne
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2647230538_bd2b362791_b.jpg

The wind back down 84 was brutal with Marco/Ruth pulling most of the way
until Smooth/Sassy came around to take over. (Marco, remember to take breaks.)
After regrouping at the top of Stage Rd, the group decide to head straight back
on Highway 1 and bypass Lobitos (whew, because I was getting tired with not
enough to eat).

The paceline back up Highway 1 was fast and even battling against the coastal
headwind. As we cruise along, some paper flew off a rider near the front so I
stopped to go back and pick it up. I was a route sheet so I'm glad I picked it
up since it had Alan's home address (and Becky's favorite paper clip) on it.
I solo'd it back to HMB and the party not knowing Jack was just behind me.

The party was truly a treat... the chili and polenta was delicious, the cake was
so good I had three pieces, and the music was delightful. It was nice to have
my wife and family come by to sort of meet everyone. Kids were off having
their own fun, and my wife was busy corralling them.

Cathy and Alan, thank you for hosting and cooking, you guys are great!
You've set quite a precedent!

Plus you may end up having a conversation like this:

A-hole from work: Dude we called you 30 mins ago, why didn't you answer?
Ron: Haskin's Hill
AHFW: What?
Ron: One sec, I have to ride down so my laptop gets a good wireless signal
AHFW: Bikes are lame.
Ron: On-call is lame... CLICK ;)

The wind back down 84 was brutal with Marco/Ruth pulling most of the way
until Smooth/Sassy came around to take over. (Marco, remember to take breaks.)

I'm always worried about following singles on the tandem over rolling terrain. Since the singles have less momentum (easy to accelerate, and less need to keep momentum on the DH portions) they can keep up with a tandem at the front. However it is VERY easy for a tandem team to lose contact with the group on a rise, and thus lose the draft. The result is busting ass to catch the group once the road levels or dips down. So, sometimes I (we) just like to bust our asses the whole time rather than in some desperate effort ;)

I was thinking more of rotating tandems :D
For maximum wheelsucker benefit. :thumb:

I'm always worried about following singles on the tandem over rolling terrain. Since the singles have less momentum (easy to accelerate, and less need to keep momentum on the DH portions) they can keep up with a tandem at the front. However it is VERY easy for a tandem team to lose contact with the group on a rise, and thus lose the draft. The result is busting ass to catch the group once the road levels or dips down. So, sometimes I (we) just like to bust our asses the whole time rather than in some desperate effort ;)

USPS pro, you kept up a storming pace out there and were a very smooth wheel to follow. I think you will do very well in your goal to compete in the everest challenge. I also think that the terrain was more suited towards single bikes than tandems on Sunday. You were blazing on those downhills.

I was thinking more of rotating tandems :D
For maximum wheelsucker benefit. :thumb:
We had plenty of that at the rally up north. I kinda feel bad that we didn't do much pulling, because all the tandems we rode with were faster than us, and it would have been a :crash: if we were to break the wind for more than a few yards. :twitchy:

I touched 48MPH trying to catch them up on one of the downhills.

Singles shall never be as fast as tandems on downhills. :D :love:

48mph is nothing.:twitchy:

very nice Norcal High School Mountain Bike Racing League "Leaders" jerseys.

... I also think that the terrain was more suited towards single bikes than tandems on Sunday...

Yeah, I'd agree; at least on the mild route, there was too much vertical for there to be a steady pace that wouldn't string everyone out. On the 'bullet train" we'd pretty quickly go backwards once things went uphill for more than a few hundred yards, which would be good because then we'd be gapped, and when we finally hit the top we'd just coast down the other side, and that's where the fun was for us because with absolutely no effort we'd make up a lot of distance lost on the climb.

very nice Norcal High School Mountain Bike Racing League "Leaders" jerseys.
I coached the last couple of years with El Cerrito High School. What a great experience working with the kids :thumb: Usually get one or two people on rides who recognize the jersey.

I'm always worried about following singles on the tandem over rolling terrain. Since the singles have less momentum (easy to accelerate, and less need to keep momentum on the DH portions) they can keep up with a tandem at the front. However it is VERY easy for a tandem team to lose contact with the group on a rise, and thus lose the draft. The result is busting ass to catch the group once the road levels or dips down. So, sometimes I (we) just like to bust our asses the whole time rather than in some desperate effort ;)

Great point Marco. I would like to shed light on another paceline challenge for tandems. This is the fact that the stoker cannot see what is happening. This leaves most of the initial effort of covering the gaps on the captain. Example: I see the gap, I accelerate and ask for "power", Sassy gives it, we cover, I ask her to ease up. It really takes great communication and experience to perfect this part of tandem riding.

I really learned my lesson one day when we took a team ride up to Davis. It was a very fast 90 mile ride, 19 mph average. We pacelined, I covered the gaps and only asked for power when I couldn't quite do it on my own. I was really trashed at the 70 mile mark and started asking for power to cover. It was too late. We made it, but it was a lesson learned.

Great point Marco. I would like to shed light on another paceline challenge for tandems. This is the fact that the stoker cannot see what is happening. This leaves most of the initial effort of covering the gaps on the captain. Example: I see the gap, I accelerate and ask for "power", Sassy gives it, we cover, I ask her to ease up. It really takes great communication and experience to perfect this part of tandem riding.

I really learned my lesson one day when we took a team ride up to Davis. It was a very fast 90 mile ride, 19 mph average. We pacelined, I covered the gaps and only asked for power when I couldn't quite do it on my own. I was really trashed at the 70 mile mark and started asking for power to cover. It was too late. We made it, but it was a lesson learned.

Confession...:p I found Rich/Mary Ellen most easy to ride with. M&R, Just thrash me except on climbs they settle down (Not a critic, but about style) I don't know the others styles but I wasn't feeling up to par so I wanted some familiar wheelsucking. R&M are gradual and methodical on catching lead riders. M&R Jump and it kills me after awhile.
I kept hearing Rich yell Pow! I thought he was yelling at PowPow:roflmao2: ...I couldn't figure out why he was yelling at him, but everytime he said Pow they would speed up??....DUH:mad: I figured it out...Pow as in Power...ha ha ha...What a schmuck I am!!!!!!!!!!1:roflmao2:
Pete

The rollers on Hwy 1 are just a little too long for tandems, IMO. It takes a lot of coordination from both members of the team to get through terrain like that. After going to the rally up north, we saw how different and more favorable the terrain is up there. I think this is one of the reasons why tandems are so much more popular there. The optimum terrain would have us come down at high speed and use the momentum gained to power over the next hill. When we rode Hwy 1 with Alan and the rest of the crew last time (in March), I don't remember many rollers like those.

Yeah, 1 has some fairly long slogs at times. And if the fog is thick enough, you can't see the top anyway, so you may as well be rolling that boulder of a bike up an infinite hill. :)

I've never ridden a tandem (with another person, at least), but would running the cranks out of phase help in a situation like that, or is that just going to put more stress on each individual?

would running the cranks out of phase help in a situation like that, or is that just going to put more stress on each individual?
That seems to be a matter of personal preference. I'm not sure if there are specific situations where teams should run one or the other, but from what we've experienced, OOP takes more skill from both riders. More experienced teams may get better results. We'll be sticking with IP cranks for a while, though.

Confession...:p I found Rich/Mary Ellen most easy to ride with. M&R, Just thrash me except on climbs they settle down (Not a critic, but about style) I don't know the others styles but I wasn't feeling up to par so I wanted some familiar wheelsucking. R&M are gradual and methodical on catching lead riders. M&R Jump and it kills me after awhile.
I kept hearing Rich yell Pow! I thought he was yelling at PowPow:roflmao2: ...I couldn't figure out why he was yelling at him, but everytime he said Pow they would speed up??....DUH:mad: I figured it out...Pow as in Power...ha ha ha...What a schmuck I am!!!!!!!!!!1:roflmao2:
Pete

:lol: On 84, we were in the middle of the pace line and had to play the accordion (expansion and contraction of the pace line) with everyone else. To get the benefit of a pace line and reduce energy use, single riders coast, accelerate and at times ride constant power. On a tandem, one must coordinate the power to cover the accelerations. Mary Ellen does a great job of anticipating power needs, but I call for power even before I need it anticipating acceleration and terrain changes.

That seems to be a matter of personal preference. I'm not sure if there are specific situations where teams should run one or the other, but from what we've experienced, OOP takes more skill from both riders. More experienced teams may get better results. We'll be sticking with IP cranks for a while, though.

Our first tandem in 1980, was shipped out of phase. We learned to ride that way. When we bought our new tandem, it was delivered in phase. We tried it for a few hundred miles and decided we were faster out of phase. Also, it is smoother for us with the stoker leading.

Thanks again for the great ride. We had a good time coordinating our second tandem ride together as a couple.

As I mentioned to some of the folks at the after-party, I thought I hit the wall at mile 25. I thought, this is strange, I shouldn't start to feel it this early. Then Andrea yells up, "Hey, is the drag brake on?" Sure enough that was the issue. Who needs hill repeats when you can flip the drag brake and enter a whole new world of suffering (on the flats)?

;)

Of course I ended up doing it again toward the end. Still, climbing on the tandem is a bit more of a slog since we haven't starting stretching out of the saddle yet.

As I mentioned to some of the folks at the after-party, I thought I hit the wall at mile 25. I thought, this is strange, I shouldn't start to feel it this early. Then Andrea yells up, "Hey, is the drag brake on?" Sure enough that was the issue. Who needs hill repeats when you can flip the drag brake and enter a whole new world of suffering (on the flats)?

The first rule of tandems: The stoker is never wrong.

:)

I'm sure you've all heard this before but, it'd be cool to have a stoker named Scotty.
"I need more power"
"Aye Captain, I'm given 'er all she's got"

I'm sure you've all heard this before but, it'd be cool to have a stoker named Scotty.
"I need more power"
"Aye Captain, I'm given 'er all she's got"I was trying my best to avoid making a Star Trek reference. Glad someone filled in for me. ;)

This is the fact that the stoker cannot see what is happening.

Except for Alan's bike, on which the captain cannot see what is happening (well when the captain is me). :p

Nobody posted a shot of the infamous machine gun dude???

http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/machinegundude2.jpg

Here's our elevation profile. Check out that blistering pace. Yeah, 3100 ft of climbing wasn't that much less than the wild ride's route.

http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/20080706-halfmoonbay-profile.gif

Except for Alan's bike, on which the captain cannot see what is happening (well when the captain is me). :p

So did Alan have to say "slight right" or "slight left"? :lol:

Yeah, 3100 ft of climbing wasn't that much less than the wild ride's route.We totally should have just kept going up Tunitas Creek, just to complete the effect.

So did Alan have to say "slight right" or "slight left"? :lol:Steering via wild changes in center-of-gravity. :P

I'm sure you've all heard this before but, it'd be cool to have a stoker named Scotty.
"I need more power"
"Aye Captain, I'm given 'er all she's got"

Better check the dilithium crystals :lol:

Too funny

Thanks for the suggestion. But I would still have to lug around a laptop. I missed all the fun. :mad:

I'll haul the laptop, I'm used to it. :)

Plus you may end up having a conversation like this:

A-hole from work: Dude we called you 30 mins ago, why didn't you answer?
Ron: Haskin's Hill
AHFW: What?
Ron: One sec, I have to ride down so my laptop gets a good wireless signal
AHFW: Bikes are lame.
Ron: On-call is lame... CLICK ;)

Another way to get in hill repeats! ;)

So did Alan have to say "slight right" or "slight left"? :lol:

Let's just say it was a good thing we were on Stage Rd and not Hwy 1 at that point! :D

I'll haul the laptop, I'm used to it. :)



Paula & Ron, have your IT beancounter pony up for the U810 (http://www.mobilitysite.com/2008/01/fujitsu-lifebook-u810-mini-convertible-and-lifebook-t2010-ultra-portable-convertible-notebooks/).

Paula & Ron, have your IT beancounter pony up for the U810 (http://www.mobilitysite.com/2008/01/fujitsu-lifebook-u810-mini-convertible-and-lifebook-t2010-ultra-portable-convertible-notebooks/).

Nice, might work for Ron, but not for me. :( I'm running processor-intensive software on databases of large images and need lots of hard drive space, memory, processor speed, and high-end video card.

Well, just use your VPN to do the "real" work on a computer at your desk. ;)

"Come Join the next Tandem and Wheelsucker Ride...Geek, Nerd and Trekkie Friendly!"

...just say'in. :D


Hey Pete, do I look like my avatar now? :rolleyes:

"Come Join the next Tandem and Wheelsucker Ride...Geek, Nerd and Trekkie Friendly!"

...just say'in. :D

...So it'll be just like this one, except with a pair of stick-on Spock ears and a D&D manual? ;)

...yes, and tribbles on everyone's handlebars. Phazers set on stun, unless we are run off the road when some cager crosses the nuetral zone...

Nice, might work for Ron, but not for me. :( I'm running processor-intensive software on databases of large images and need lots of hard drive space, memory, processor speed, and high-end video card.

Problem solved.

http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/supercomputer.jpg

meh...

What you really need is this:

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/numbers/machine/abacus.jpg

Nah, too heavy, and too bulky. :)

once upon a time I could do long division and square roots on an abacus....

:geek:

once upon a time I could do long division and square roots on an abacus....

:geek:

MsincrediGeek!!!:eek::)

Hey Gordon...where are your pics?

Nah, too heavy, and too bulky. :)I'm sure they make a smaller, carbon fiber model in this day and age.

I actually used this on my vector statics exams ... I eventually upgraded to an HP-41CV the following week.

http://www.screensite.org/courses/Jbutler/T389/SlideRule.jpg

Hey Gordon...where are your pics?

http://gallery.mac.com/gordonreese#100116

"Come Join the next Tandem and Wheelsucker Ride...Geek, Nerd and Trekkie Friendly!"

...just say'in. :D
...So it'll be just like this one, except with a pair of stick-on Spock ears and a D&D manual? ;)
If this is true, then we'll definitely show. :thumb:

We want to play next time too please.

We want to play next time too please.

You guys are always invited :)