Northern California - 1st B&B Slowpoke ride report

Just got back from the brisket-fest. We had a huge turnout (25 or so) and a great ride. The weather cooperated, it was a great group of folks, and the after-ride luinch was pretty good, too. :)

So - post your ride reports and pics!!

Just got back from the brisket-fest. We had a huge turnout (25 or so) and a great ride. The weather cooperated, it was a great group of folks, and the after-ride luinch was pretty good, too. :)

So - post your ride reports and pics!!

Great ride. Just the recovery ride I needed, and the rain delayed long enough for us to get the ride in. Okay, here are some pics:

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470095259_pyMYW-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470095335_aJ7Yp-M.jpg

BBM proudly wearing blue
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470096294_ioxEd-M.jpg

And ... we're off
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470096319_vGV6X-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470097284_LBNkj-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470098179_t4H59-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470098250_GEa5Z-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470098273_BkTkf-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470098292_m73uy-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470098336_v7cEp-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470099210_djMAg-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470099239_KLxkg-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470099333_CxKiv-M.jpg

Lowridin' Mark, aka Rumbutter
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100203_igCZD-M.jpg

Regroup and turn around point
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100264_Tc5nf-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100359_baEcX-M.jpg

1st back to the restaurant
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100928_fgYoA-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100985_pUdoS-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470101032_g74to-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470102264_dJspo-M.jpg

Cuteness!
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470102323_6TZBA-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470102377_erUak-M.jpg

More pics at http://spingineer.smugmug.com/gallery/7309299_mkLFS/1/470095259_pyMYW

Great Day today, Bikingshearer & Bossmans's BBQ ride was a grand success!. I got to ride my new bike, so we had a contingent of singles speed bikes. It was nice to see so many BikeForums people. Many I hadn't met before.
Here's some picts.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/ApookRich.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BBq.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BossmansGirl.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BritPower.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DanWifePeloton.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Knubby.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/MarkoPolo.jpg

10 Priceless Things About Today's Ride


BossMan and Bikingshearer Taking The Time To Organize A Shindig That Couldn't Be Beat
How Welcoming Everyone Was to Mrs. Oldstrong
The Very Nice Route
The Superb Service And Food At Back Forty
A Critical Mass Rest Stop That Lasted So Long People Actually Had To Whiz Twice
Meeting Many New Folks That Were First Timers On Bike Forums Rides
Seeing Old Friends I Had Not Seen In A While
Managing To Match Ron's "Recovery Ride" Pace On The Hills of Northbound Foothill
Watching Frank (pohlf) Ride With Gusto And No After Effects From His Wicked September Crash
Being Part Of The Biggest Group Of Riders I Saw On The Road Today

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Sunol.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TheRace-1.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TriciaCurt.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/curtisjon.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/frombehind-3.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/jo.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/knubbyTandem.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/whowants.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BBq2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/BossmanFamily2.jpg

Hey that was a lot of fun. Great to get to an area I have not ridden before. Great company and a perfect attitude/vibe on the ride. Hope we can make the rest of the "series" as well.

Wow, it looks like I missed out on a fantastic ride. If I had more notice of the date (I need at least two weeks) then I might be able to make it next time.

Can you guys say who is who please? People like me who don't get out to meet you all would like to know a name to a face. :o

Pete, I must say that when I saw that pic of you above with the bike, it just made my heart dance. It came out so beautiful. I am sooo glad that you got it together in time for this ride. Thanks for taking care of it and giving it the attention it needed. :love:

Maybe one day I'll have my old steel bike. :)

Great meeting you folks! That was a fun ride. Let's go again.

Wow, it looks like I missed out on a fantastic ride. If I had more notice of the date (I need at least two weeks) then I might be able to make it next time.


Feb 21/22. Mark it on your calendar, details in a day or two...... :D

Thanks B and B! I sure had fun. :)

I think that's the farthest I've ridden my fixed gear. And even though I got a slow leak and had to stop twice to pump it up, I still averaged almost 15mph.

Being as I'm still dialing in riding that bike, and was a might worried about riding in a group, I left my camera in my jersey the whole ride. So, no photos from me :(

Feb 21/22. Mark it on your calendar, details in a day or two...... :D

Duly noted. Feb 21 I have to work for sure because my boss told me ahead of time he'd be out of town and I'm in charge that day. Thanks. :)

A great time for sure! This was my first group ride -- with ANY group -- and I don't think it could have been a better experience. I met some cool people, on cool bikes, had a great ride, and finished with good food. This will be a tough act to follow.

Thanks again to bigbossman and bikingshearer for putting it together, and to all the riders who didn't run me over when they had the chance. I'm already looking forward to the next one. :)

That looked like great fun. I hope I can make at least one of the series.
And +1 to names to faces (especially the people on their first BF ride).

It was fun, even if I skipped the BBQ lunch (ok, and the 2nd half of the ride too - my kids' teams both won, and the younger even scored a goal, so it was worth bailing early). My favorite part of the ride was watching Pete and Curtis reel in the triathletes on that hill just before Sunol - Pete & Curtis were both on single speeds!

pre ride prep:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1278.jpg

I didn't get a chance to meet these 3:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1280.jpg

Curtis & Trica
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1281.jpg

Our fearless ride leader acting like he's got us all organized
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1282.jpg

Pete & Curtis - 2 speeds total between the 2 bikes:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1283.jpg

JB

I wouldn't mind doing a sign up sheet, maybe a good thing for rides like this, with email/names...I personally can't keep track of it all. I wouldn't mind taking responsibility for it, it would sure help me out. I was embarrassed I never got a chance to really talk to some of the newbies. :(

I need a HUGE group photo with real names and BF names and a circle and arrows and a paragraph on the back explaining ....

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecccorlew/hosting/fat.jpg

Wow! What a great day! You guys were simply terrific. The ride just flew by, and the atmosphere throughout the ride and at the Back Forty afterwards was great. Many, many thanks to all of you for making the inaugural B&B Slowpoke Series Ride a roaring success.

We rolled of the Back Forty parking lot at 10:30 with gray skies and somewhat chilly temps but a ton of sunny dispositions. The ride down to Sunol was rolling and progressively more rural and more pretty.

The stop at the Sunol train station was, as Lanceoldstrong suggests, somewhat lengthy, but having 25+ riders and only a single Port-a-Potty will do that. (I cheated and used the empty outhouses at the Pleasanton Ridge park a few miles before Sunol.)

What had been a comparatively coherent group in the way to Sunol quickly dissolved into lots of mini-groups on the way back. No problem there, and since BBQ was luring everyone onward, I was not the least bit worried about the fact that both bigbossman and I were, shall we say, making sure no one was left behind. :innocent: But although we came back in dribs and drabs, come back we all did.

Lunch at the Back Forty was great. I cannot compliment the way we were treated too highly. Our tables were waiting for us (I warned them several times to expect us, the last time being from Sunol), the food was great, and the service was simply excellent. 20+ smelly bike riders walked in, and they treated us like royalty. Separate checks? No problem, and they didn't so much as bat an eye at the request. These folks were extremely "cyclist friendly," and the food is good, so do not hesitate to give them your business if you get a chance.

Photos to come, but I wanted to gt this off before heading off to bed. Thanks again, everyone. There will be more B&B Slowpoke rides. Count on it. :thumb:

Our fearless ride leader acting like he's got us all organized
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/jonathanb715/IMG_1282.jpg


And believe me, it was an act. :rolleyes:

Hey, thanks everyone for making it a great ride! To introduce myself to the board, I'm the guy here with Ahpook and Jen.

------------------------------------------------V Right There! (your milage may vary depending on font size :D )

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/470100928_fgYoA-M.jpg

Nice to meet all of you, and I'd definitely like to come back for the future rides!

http://home.comcast.net/%7Ecccorlew/hosting/fat.jpg

:roflmao2: Bwahahahahaha! :roflmao2:

Thanks to the "Glimmer Twins", Bikingshearer and Bossman for the inspiration and organization of the first B&B ride. You really struck a chord by hosting an unintimidating, "slowpoke" friendly ride and getting nearly 30 people out for a ride in February. We would have come even without the BBQ (well some of us anyway). It was great to see/meet some regular posters, as well as some new folks. Job well done boys! :thumb: :thumb:

Looking forward to the future rides.

Thanks to the "Glimmer Twins", Bikingshearer and Bossman

:roflmao2::roflmao2:

Next thing ya know, they'll be bustin' a disco move here and there

"That's the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh" ... :roflmao2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWf1MdHv80Q

Next thing ya know, they'll be bustin' a disco move here and there


To quote a bumper sticker I saw in a store in the middle-of-nowhere store in Idaho in 1980:

"Disco is to music as Etch-a-Sketch is to art."


I think that pretty well sums it up.

A few photos. Most of 'em cover stuff other people did better, but here goes anyway.


Cat-herding at the start. That's cantdrv55, t4mv and Son of t4mv at the left. leebob, hubby of jobob, she of the pretty lavender Rivendell, is at the right in the yellow vest. MarkoPolo is in blue staring either at his pretty white Tomassini or leebob's naval.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0611.jpg


Cats resisting being herded, also at the start. At the left is t4mv (facing) talking with pohlf (back wisely turned), probably about the fact that both pohlf and Son-of-t4mv ride bee-yoo-tee-full lugged steel Meltons. Mmmmmmm, lugged steel . . . . Cccorlew is in the red "Over 50" jacket, with bigbosslady smiling to his left and bigbossman spewing verbiage to his right. Taxi777, aka Pete, is in the black NorCal jersey smiling like the crazy person he is.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0614.jpg


We owned that road!
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0615.jpg


The Sunol train station, finding out that 25+ riders + 1 Port-A-Potty = Longer than usual regrouping stop. That's jonathan715 on the right trying to add a badly needed air of dignity to the proceedings. Cccorlew is stil in the red "Over 50" jacket, and that is his lovely briode Tricia on the left in the day-glo jacket, gazing upon him with either love or indigestion. Meanwhile, MarkoPolo (in blue) and taxi777 (in NorCal black) appear to be having a stare-down or something. Whatever it is, Spingeneer seems to find it amusing.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0619.jpg

"Hey Siu! Told'ya I'd ride the Centurion-Siu-mobile!" Thus spaketh taxi777.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0621.jpg


Lanceoldstrong and MrsOldstrong. And I still say she's waaaay too good for him. :rolleyes:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0625.jpg


Based on the expressions, think of bigbossman as George H.W. Bush and Spingeneer as the Japanese Prime Minister.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0631.jpg


Satisfied customers Spingeneer and MarkoPolo.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0634.jpg


Slightly less satisfied customer bigbossdaughter.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0636.jpg


Once again, thank you, thank you, thank to everyone who came out, and also to everyone who sent their regrets. We have a great group of people here in the NorCal, and it is a real treat to ride with you folks. See you next time.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to scrub barbecue sauce out of my Brooklyn jersey . . . .

:roflmao2::roflmao2:

Next thing ya know, they'll be bustin' a disco move here and there

"That's the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh" ... :roflmao2:


No, that would be the "Glitter Twins".

The "Glimmer Twins" were Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It's the pseudonym they used when they produced Stones albums. I was envisioning B & B breaking into the chorus of "I know, it's only Rock'n'Roll and I like it, like it. Yes I do!" :eek:

No, that would be the "Glitter Twins".

The "Glimmer Twins" were Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It's the pseudonym they used when they produced Stones albums. I was envisioning B & B breaking into the chorus of "I know, it's only Rock'n'Roll and I like it, like it. Yes I do!" :eek:

Much better.

For me personally, "Comfortably Numb" might be even closer to the mark. :twitchy:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/FirstSlowpokeRide020809/100_0621.jpg

He did such a wonderful job with that bike, didn't he? And to think it was going to be dumped by the original owner. Thanks Pete :o ((hugs))

Biking shearer is a cute man. Please have a girl so I can date her.

Big Thank You to the B&B Show for putting this on. Too bad I couldn't stay for the BBQ, but I had to ride home from there (another 15 miles), putting me right about my limit at this point (53 miles for the whole ride - too long on the bike and I start to turn into a tree).

You "Bike People" are a bunch of freaks - MY kind of people!! :eek:

Thanks to everyone - had a great time. Already looking forward to the upcoming ride.

Thanks to Rich(Bikingshearer) and John(Bigbossman) for hosting the B&B slowpoke ride. We had a great time and look forward to more rides.

I need a HUGE group photo with real names and BF names and a circle and arrows and a paragraph on the back explaining ....

Why am I hearing Arlo Guthrie singing.....?

You can get anything you want.....

JB

OK, who needs to use the potty again before we head back? :roflmao2:


http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/whowants.jpg

:lol: