Northern California - B&B SlowPoke: Report 3/29

Nice recovery ride today in the East bay's B&B Slowpoke ride. It lived up two it's name and was very "SlowPokie" Thanks for putting this on your guys. I seemed to eat an awful lot of food today? There was a fair bit of climbing which is always good. Carl (knotty) gave me a ride over to Martinez, so it was an easy travel day.
I'm enjoying these rides, they make for a great recovery rides after long Saturday rides and they capture the essence of what being part of bike group really is.
Some Picts:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2518.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2521.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Group2-2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2523.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Preride.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Joice.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Thegroup-1.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/RichandRon.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2529.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2540.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/CarlDan.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Dan-3.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Recum.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/SanFranicco-1.jpg

Thanks to Bikingshearer again(repairs & support) and BBM(waiting for a noobie) it really was a nice day out in the green hills. Enjoyed meeting new people and climbing some hills.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/DSCN2529.jpg


That there is what you call a stud horse, right there. :D

Thanks for putting this together. Umm ... recovery ride ... yea ... was a bit hillier than I thought for a Slowpoke ride. Was a little more than a recovery for a century the day before. I guess I had to HTFU again today ...

Ride leader taking charge ... take no prisoners!
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535314_shWKP-M.jpg

Off and on the road
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535381_o7wdR-M.jpg

BBM always looking for the camera
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535442_xKuET-M.jpg

BBM enjoying the ride
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535508_Qeedm-M.jpg

Cresting Pig Farm Hill
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535717_5YcfU-M.jpg

1st Regroup
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535674_XSa2i-M.jpg

Classy jesture
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535639_QFxF8-M.jpg

What are they scheming this time?
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535805_3u7No-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535842_syR5k-M.jpg

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535883_9Zv77-M.jpg

Great pics. It looked downright HOT. Was there BBQ after this ride too?

Great pics. It looked downright HOT. Was there BBQ after this ride too?

Naw - mebbe low 70's and breezy. No BBQ this time. The group got so fractured that we ended up dribbling into the parking lot over a long stretch of time, and people had other things to do.

Thanks for the fun time. Wish I didn't have to bow out only 12 miles in, but my ankle definitely needs a good rest. Hopefully I'll be ready to roll for the next ride.

Thanks to Bikingshearer for putting this one together. It was a great day, great ride, great group. I hope I can make the next one. Thanks guys!

Thanks for the fun time. Wish I didn't have to bow out only 12 miles in, but my ankle definitely needs a good rest. Hopefully I'll be ready to roll for the next ride.

dude! that really freaked me out! Glad it wasn't worse. Hope you heal fast:thumb:

This was a fun ride, kind of weird though. Somehow it devolved into anarchy and a series of time trials racing from regroup point to regroup point. After each "time trial" us knuckle, dragging, chest beating, testosterone monkeys would wait for the more social paced rider to catch up. Then off we would go roaring off to the next regroup. Weird, fast, intense and very fun.

Thanks Bikingshearer and Bigbossman

p.s. With my pre-ride warm up of 40 miles and my ride home thrown in, I got 80 total miles and 5617 feet of climbing. Of course the best part of the ride was the 30 miles I spent with "the gang"

That there is what you call a stud horse, right there. :D

:roflmao2::roflmao2:

*wipes tears* Thanks, I needed that.

*ducks and runs for cover*

Thanks bikingshearer for putting today's ride together.
and thanks to everyone for waiting for me and helping with the tire.
new area for me to ride; the scenery was great (save for the refinery bit).
great to meet everyone.

Naw - mebbe low 70's and breezy.You guys were lucky, then, I guess. I was riding by the area on 80 (er, different kind of bike.) and just about got blown into the weeds a few times. :eek:

So did anyone take the McEwen Challenge? Pete, I know the Taxibike wants some McEwen action...?

Nice day to be out and about.Garmin tells me I spent about as much time sitting around as I did riding - about 2 hours! Anyway - great turnout and loads of fun. A few pics from me:

A nice little toy cruises by in Crockett:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/ferrari.jpg

Pete actually helping out:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/fixingflat.jpg

A horse in Hercules:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/horse.jpg

Looking over the bars on Alhambra Road:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/overthebars.jpg

Going into the wind in Hercules:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/paceline.jpg

Pete being Pete:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/pete-1.jpg

Poppies:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/poppies.jpg

Loitering with intent - Jack-in-the-Box, Pinole:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/thegroup.jpg

A pretty tree amid lots of poppies:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/tree-1.jpg

Two boys chasing one girl:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/turkeys.jpg

A nice little toy cruises by in Crockett:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/ferrari.jpgMmm, Dino.

Your red bike would look good mounted on a roof rack on that. :D

Mmm, Dino.

Your red bike would look good mounted on a roof rack on that. :D

Don't think that thought didn't cross my mind. :) A vintage red '72 Dino and a vintage red italian bike. Mmmmmmmmm......

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/paloalto.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/ferrari.jpg

Pfft, Thule's configurator doesn't have entries for Dino or Ferrari. Lame.

Pfft, Thule's configurator doesn't have entries for Dino or Ferrari. Lame.

Then we toss the blonde out and put the bike in the passenger seat. :)

Looks like a lot of fun. I look forward to the next one, one I might be able to get out to...as long as its not May 3rd! :) It looks like these "recovery" rides would be perfect for me to get my feet wet with a group. I hope to see ya guys soon.

Then we toss the blonde out and put the bike in the passenger seat. :)I guess, but it'd look so much better mounted up top all proper-like. Didn't your old 911 have a roof-rack?

I guess, but it'd look so much better mounted up top all proper-like. Didn't your old 911 have a roof-rack?

Yeah - but no such luck with the new one. Might as well be a Dino, as far as Thule is concerned.

Thanks a lot for the ride, it was fun and especially nice to finally see the faces and names I've been looking at on BF for a while.

A few Photos.

Pig Farm regroup, Ron showing them how to put on warmers :lol:.
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q446/knotty_photos/Martinez/regroup1.jpg

Just a few more yards to go.
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q446/knotty_photos/Martinez/pigfarmroad.jpg

http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q446/knotty_photos/Martinez/peteshooting.jpg

Pete always photographs good.
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q446/knotty_photos/Martinez/peteposing.jpg

I guess this is/was the Pig Farm.
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q446/knotty_photos/Martinez/pigfarmfar.jpg

Okay, lemme take stock here.

Give tube to total stranger not with our group who had a flat -- check.

Help untangle Midland's chain when it decided to do an imitation of an anaconda choking the life out his BB -- check.

Use my nifty CO2 gizmo that bigbossman gave me to inflate bentpebbles' tire after he had a flat -- check.

Yup, I think that's enough to qualify for my Good Samaritan Cyclist merit badge. :D

Absolutely gorgeous day out there. The grass was green, the poppies and lupine and mustard were out, and the wind was mostly at our backs, and when it wasn't, we were usually going downhill. It was great seeing some familiar faces and great seeing some new ones. Thanks to all for coming out. You folks make the rides.

I'll try to post some more pics tonight - I even have one of Pete when he is not telling the photographer the he/she is #1. :p

Yeah - but no such luck with the new one. Might as well be a Dino, as far as Thule is concerned.Bummer. You may want to scour some message boards, though. Thule's configurator is pretty useless when it comes to old air-cooled Volkswagens, but I've seen various posts of successful roof-rack installs.

Yup, I think that's enough to qualify for my Good Samaritan Cyclist merit badge. :D

On the other hand...

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

...Filing a lawsuit, right there on the side of the road? Tsk tsk!

Okay, a few more photos. Forward these to your East Coast or Midwest friends to make them insanely jealous of NorCal weather.


Pete proving that he really does know how to faise more than one finger at a time when he wants to.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0678.jpg


All together riding along Alhambra Valley Road.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0682.jpg

Bentpebbles in the Alhambra Valley. What a day!!
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0683.jpg

Poppies and mustard . . .
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0692.jpg

. . . and lupines . . .
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0687.jpg

and a picturesque tree.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0693.jpg

And yes, this is why they call it "Pig Farm Hill."
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u46/bikingshearer/SlowPokeRide309March27/100_0688.jpg

That there is what you call a glue factory horse, right there. :D

Fixed it for you.

Fixed it for you.

"Hello, pot? This is kettle..... " :D

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t267/jd6572/2009%20Rides/Slowpoke%20ride%203/paceline.jpg


Ron, what do you have in your pockets in this picture? Enough food for the whole group?!!:eek:

JB

Ron, what do you have in your pockets in this picture? Enough food for the whole group?!!:eek:

JB
:roflmao2::lol:

Ahemm....

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Wideload_edited-1.jpg

:lol:

Ron, Moots and Tubus make titanium racks. With a small trunk bag, you could carry all of that stuff much more comfortably. :)

(Plus, since it's Moots and Tubus, your wallet would be much lighter, too!)

All the essentials ... and wouldn't you like to know what they are ... :p

What are they scheming this time?
http://spingineer.smugmug.com/photos/501535805_3u7No-M.jpg


Looks like a lot of fun - I dunno about you guys, but I'm thinking that conversations about knitting and choir practice can't produce expressions like this^^.

Great picture, Ron.

"Hello, pot? This is kettle..... " :D

What's your point?









:p

Looks like a lot of fun - I dunno about you guys, but I'm thinking that conversations about knitting and choir practice can't produce expressions like this^^.

Man - that's spooky. How did you know that the conversation was about exactly that? Pete was schooling me on the finer points of purling, and we shared funny anecdotes about choir practice and being altar boys when we were youngsters.

That Pete - what a rapscallion.

Hey gang - Sorry for the no-show, I would have been there if I could have!


http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=527050


Hope to ride with you all again eventually if not sooner.

- Jo.