Northern California - B & B Slowpoke Ride #2, Ride Report

Kind of an anemic turnout for this one - I guess the thrill is gone and no-one loves me anymore. :(

We had in attendance myself (and family), Lanceoldstrong (with wife, family, and friend), Bikingshearer, Britpower, Markopolo, x136, and Cantdrv55 - for a total of 13 riders. Britpower rode in from Livermore, x136 came to Danville from Walnut Creek via the Diablo Junction (:eek:), and I rode over from home in San Ramon.

We met up at 11:00, and were on the road by about 11:30 or so. Dan (Lanceoldstrong) took the kids down the short way on the Iron horse trail, and the rest of the group went up Sycamore and around on Dougherty. We met up on Dublin Blvd and stopped at Peet's Coffee in Dublin for refreshment, and then made the run for home going over Windemere Parkway and back down Camino Tassajara/Sycamore.

Following the ride was a late lunch at Amechi's in Danville, featuring some very decent pizza.

The weather was perfect, the wind was minimal, and a good time was had by all. Dan's little one's probably got in 1,500-2,000 feet of climbing over ~30 miles of riding, and seemed to have a ball doing it. :thumb:

Anyway - too bad more people didn't show, but here are a few pics to show you what the cool kids were doing today:

Dan's wife Julie waiting for her son to appear, midway up the Windemere climb:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/Julie.jpg

Bikingshearer, in all his glory:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/Rich.jpg

Dan (Lanceoldstrong) and his fledglings:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/danandco.jpg

A pretty fountain:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/fountain.jpg

Half the group, waiting on the light:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/group.jpg

Sorry we couldn't be in two places at once. We chose the closer ride (Capay Valley). This is a ride you would really like. Beautiful scenery, very little climbing, mostly downhill on the way home, casino at the end with food and gambling. Looks like a pretty day down there. See you on another.

So jealous! :(

Can't be two places at once.
Still, your turnout for ride one was AMAZING. You can't judge all rides from that. Looks like you still had enough folks to have fun, and that's what counts!

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4327/img1541r.jpg http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9098/img1543.jpg

Couldn't have asked for a nicer day to ride.

Can't wait for Numero Tres.

A great ride, we even got a little sunburned. How great is that!

See you next timehttp://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Slow%20Poke%20March%2009/DSC00025.jpg

Looked fun. Even if I didn't have the scheduling conflict, I totally wrecked(sprained) my ankle at the gym on friday and am currently a gimp.

Sorry we couldn't be in two places at once. We chose the closer ride (Capay Valley). This is a ride you would really like. Beautiful scenery, very little climbing, mostly downhill on the way home, casino at the end with food and gambling. Looks like a pretty day down there. See you on another.

Actually, the Capay ride was one I wanted to do last year, and it got cancelled. I would have been up there today, but I inadvertently scheduled the B&B #2 on the same date. By the time I realized it, we were already commited.

Oh, well.

B&B Slowpoke Ride #3 is already being discussed. Stay tuned.......

And I can't over-emphasize how impressed everyone was with Dan's son and daughter (8 & 10, respectively) going the distance with energy to spare.

Looks fun! I'm jealous, I wish I had pizza for lunch - probably a bit better than an old Clif Bar and some Sport Beans
:lol:

I'll certainly try and make the next one, I think these sound like a lot of fun.

And I can't over-emphasize how impressed everyone was with Dan's son and daughter (8 & 10, respectively) going the distance with energy to spare.

Agreed. No way would I, could I have done the same at their age. As someone said early in the ride, "They look like real cyclists only smaller."

I had a great time again. Thanks for putting Slowpoke Ride #2 together, John and company. See you at future rides.

Oh yeah, I can't believe Alex (x136) rode up to Diablo junction and with us the whole day in a short sleeve jersey. He's either from the Arctic Circle or outer space. I don't even think he had on a base layer.

About the time you all were enjoying lunch, I was in the Iron Horse gym "enjoying" an end of indoor soccer season party for my 8 and 10 year olds. Well, they had fun.

Looked like a fun ride!

JB

Really had a pleasant time, thanks to everyone for being so nice and welcoming to a newbie.
bigbossman and family for planning, the Oldstrong's for the invite, Bikingshearer for the support(moral & technical) & Peete's. The others I remember that let me cruise with them-Mark, Alex, Chris, the fast lady on a Trek, thanks for showing me a nice ride.
Pizza was awesome, perfect way to end a ride.
Hope to join y'all again soon.

Oh yeah, I can't believe Alex (x136) rode up to Diablo junction and with us the whole day in a short sleeve jersey.Wool is awesome. :) (Okay, it was a little chilly on the way down.)


He's either from the Arctic Circle or outer space.I can neither confirm nor deny these allegations.

Actually, the Capay ride was one I wanted to do last year, and it got cancelled. I would have been up there today, but I inadvertently scheduled the B&B #2 on the same date. By the time I realized it, we were already commited.

Oh, well.

B&B Slowpoke Ride #3 is already being discussed. Stay tuned.......

And I can't over-emphasize how impressed everyone was with Dan's son and daughter (8 & 10, respectively) going the distance with energy to spare.

We'll try it again in the fall after the rafters are done on Cache Creek...sorry you missed out.

Thanks for a great day and fun ride. Had a lot of fun, look forward to the next ride.

Kind of an anemic turnout for this one - I guess the thrill is gone and no-one loves me anymore. :(

What do you mean, "anymore"? :innocent:



Bikingshearer, in all his glory:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%202/Rich.jpg


Photographic proof that the words "bikingshearer" and "glory" do not, under any circumstances, belong in the same sentence.



I, for one, think the ride was a great success. When you add the attendance for this ride and the attendance for the Capay Valley ramble, I'd say BF NorCal rocked this weekend. I know BBM put together a great route with great people having a great time, and it sounds like Rushfan did the same.

Plans for future Slowpoke Rides are in the works, with some exciting new developments. Can't divulge details just yet, but here's a word of advice - keep the first Sundays of the upcoming months free if the Slowpoke series floats your boat . . . .