Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Sat Tour Of California Ride Report and vids

What a ride. I figured we'd ride up GMR to watch the riders race our local climb. I was worried as we haven't done much climbing lately. That plus a big Camel Back with 5 bottles of Gatorade, cookies, bagels and a few other goodies. I have to say I was sweating on the first two miles like I hadn't before. Gina as always gives me a hard time when I suggest a climb. She struggled up but after a few milew, she was OK. After the ride, she was pretty excited that we had done something she had never imagined. Heck, we didn't think of this stuff as kids and only thought people riding up a mountain to watch a race was in the TDF videos. Well now we've done it and she says we'll do it again if we get another chance.

We ran into quite a few familiar faces. Let's see, Idoru500 caught me by surprise. He told me his name and I was still at a loss as I know most people by forum names ha ha! He and the Mr.s were on the mountain. Jason rolled on by looking for spot. OC Roadie with his buds. Sorry about the OC Cylist man. I can't ever get the name right while lacking oxygen to the brain. MarkAdam rolled by, Vertical Bob on his new bike(twice). Some dude in a small silver SUV rolled by and shouted "Beanz" out the window. Not sure who that was but it's always cool to get a shout. A SART tandem couple rolled by with some greetings as well. I had no idea they knew Gina's name ha ha! As we were waiting for the riders to roll by, MTBLrkr rode up and tried to steal our spot.

Watching the riders roll by, I'm actually sort of shocked that they looked so young. I guess I'm getting old cause they all looked like little kids to me ha ha! They do roll by pretty fast so it's hard o tell who is who. I'll have to review the tapes!

One thing I must say is the riders on the mountain, wow the mentality is so different from most on the trail. So encouraging! Just about every rider that rolled by shouted, "you can do it, keep the pedals turning, you're almost there!". After so many encouraging words, I almost felt a if I could manage my way up the 5 mile climb that we had planned ha ha! But seriously, the riders on the mountain are GREAT!!!!

Music video/interviews

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK76qXmKzk8

Race footage (raw)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65rgKChVYrM

More pics in my blog

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/052111500a.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/052111500b.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/052111500c.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/052111500d.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/052111500e.jpg

Sandbagger Beanz! You always ride up GMR! I think you secretly live on it. :) :) Great pics and vids and usual! :)

Sandbagger Beanz! You always ride up GMR! I think you secretly live on it. :) :) Great pics and vids and usual! :)

Hehehe! I wanted to go further up but Gina wa not happy with the surprise climb.:D....Still a cool experience for the both of us though!:thumb:

Looks like lots of fun!:D You probably had more fun than I did. I had an off day yesterday in El Dorado Hills, so I only climbed a little less than 2,200 feet instead of my usual 3,000 or more. I was passed by a couple of very friendly roadies on a flatter section though. At least the climbing helped get rid of the bummed out feeling I had all morning due to my dad flying back home yesterday. I felt that his visit went by way too quickly:(

I think I would have loved riding up GMR and recording the riders. Thanks for the two versions. I like that song too:thumb:

I think I would have loved riding up GMR and recording the riders. Thanks for the two versions.

It was cool, tons of local riders and the excitement of surrounding spectators.:thumb:



Adding this picture taken by MTBLurkr.

Baking in the sun waiting for the peleton.:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/fredgina2.jpg

It was cool, tons of local riders and the excitement of surrounding spectators.:thumb:

Baking in the sun waiting for the peleton.:D
You guys had sooo much more fun!:thumb: You saw my video from Stage 2. Rain and wind, and no hills. Le Suck!

You guys had sooo much more fun!:thumb: You saw my video from Stage 2. Rain and wind, and no hills. Le Suck!

Yup! One perfect day here this week and this was it! Aaaaaaaalllllll day looooooong!:thumb:

Little side note for FTUH:

I gots my music version and my raw version of the racers. Music version is ahead 109 to 99.

And no, don't go watch the raw version ten times just to even the score!:D

I'm not watching, still got the original in my files.;)

Little side note for FTUH:

I gots my music version and my raw version of the racers. Music version is ahead 109 to 99.

And no, don't go watch the raw version ten times just to even the score!:D

I'm not watching, still got the original in my files.;)
Music version also has another interesting part-the conversations between you and other riders;)

My stats. EDIT: Deleted music videos from YouTube to prevent any copyright strikes. 3 strikes and you're out according to YouTube. I have a clean record and would like to keep it that way.

side-by-side recumbent tandem trike ride 5-6-11 (8x speed) 100% music video-46 views

side-by-side recumbent tandem trike ride 5-6-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atba7-zycxY) raw version-93 views. This is in spite of the fact that it is a longer video than the music version. Like your ATOC music video, there is a conversation between me and my passenger in the video.

Ride For Earth 2011 (Benny Hill-themed)-127 views

Ride For Earth 2011 4-22-11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bVM9r3Xmuw) 124 views and gaining on the 100% music Benny Hill version, in spite of the fact that the Benny Hill version was posted on the LBS's website and Facebook page in addition to BF, while this raw version was only posted on BF.

Like you, I don't watch my uploaded videos in order to pad my view count. I only watch the original versions I have on my computer.

Like you, I don't watch my uploaded videos in order to pad my view count. I only watch the original versions I have on my computer.

Anudder stat: total upload views of my videos.... 38,417 :D..that's pretty cool.:thumb:

Anudder stat: total upload views of my videos.... 38,417 :D..that's pretty cool.:thumb:
Give me time:p I joined YouTube May 18, 2010 and I have 81 videos and 17,872 total upload views, versus your join date of December 14, 2009 and 169 videos;)

Give me time:p I joined YouTube May 18, 2010 and I have 81 videos and 17,872 total upload views, versus your join date of December 14, 2009 and 169 videos;)

I wasn't competing with you, just cool to see that the vids have that many views!:thumb:

I wasn't competing with you, just cool to see that the vids have that many views!:thumb:
I know, I was just throwing that out there:p

Update on raw vs music views, the side-by-side recumbent tandem videos are now 46 music, 95 raw. Raw advanced 2 views since last night's post on this subject. The Ride For Earth videos, 125 raw, 127 Benny Hill. Raw advanced one view. This proves that the content of the video can increase the views more than the song used. In my case, people must be interested in the conversations between me and other people.

I gots my music version and my raw version of the racers. Music version is ahead 109 to 99.
:p:p:p

Your raw version is catching up to your music version. Raw: 132. Music: 135

My side-by-side recumbent ride and Ride For Earth raw versions just went up another view to 96 for the recumbent vid and 126 for the Ride For Earth vid.

:p:p:p

Your raw version is catching up to your music version. Raw: 132. Music: 135



I just saw that. I'm thinking it could be that first forum members and blog viewers viewed the vids I posted. Now maybe youtube users searching for AMGEN might be viewing the raw version.

That's what I'm thinking but when I think, there is usually some kind of trouble!:D

Edit. Just got a message in my yt inbox. A viewer said he enjoyed the raw video so much that he watched it ten times. That would explain the sudden equalization of the two.;)