scozim 

Well, the ride is done and we all survived. Despite some mechanical issues and thunderstorms creating muddy and wet roads at the finish today. 4 BF members that I know of were riding this year - Matt (northbend) was doing his third and Roger M, Dave (etherhuffer) and myself were doing our first. Matt's son Phillip also rode his first Cino. Everyone is probably on their way home and I drove over 4 hrs to my parents for the night.

In short, the ride was one of the toughest I've done over the years and also was one of the most fun and rewarding. 150 riders participated on a myriad of vintage bikes that made just walking somewhere a slow experience as you constantly stopped to check out peoples bikes. The oldest was from 1939. There was a huge array of 1980's vintage bikes and quite a few French bikes, which was nice since Roger, Matt and I all went French. One of the best things was the huge number of Campagnolo equipped rides. Only 7 ran with tubulars this year and there were quite a few with Pasela Tourguards including my PX10.

All kinds of mechanical things happened to people including three for me - my rear derailleur return spring wouldn't keep tension starting about mile 25 of 58 on Saturday. Roger and I took it apart that evening and cleaned it and reinstalled with enough spring tension that it worked well today. I kept it functioning Saturday by unclipping, reaching my foot back and pushing the derailleur back as needed (not a fun proposition on the heavier graveled/rocky sections). That created some mild tendonitis in my knee that 800mg of ibuprofen fixed. Wine, beer and ibuprofen were defintely in good supply in camp. At the end of the first day I noticed my front brake lever was really stiff. I discovered I had not used the correct ferrule and it had pulled about an inch of liner through the housing. With Roger's help (again) we flipped the housing around, threaded the cable through and had a makeshift solution. Even though I had a working front brake I didn't really need it today and didn't use it. The last problem was a front flat 3 miles from the finish after we were back on pavement.

John Howard was the guest rider last year and came back as a registered rider this year. Jackie Phelan was the guest rider this year. Howard still posesses an amazing engine and finished toward the front both days. Overall, I was very happy with my performance.

The course is definitely challenging with silty, sandy climbing, rocky/washboard steep descent and a rutted descent. And, did I mention climbing - there's a lot of it. Conquering the day two monster climb is a great feeling. The most fun was keeping up with John Howard on the muddy final descent (although I had to stay to the side of him because I kept wearing his mud from the rear tire on my face) and then joining up with him and another rider for a fast paceline as we hit the pavement.

Now it is time to get a little rest - there will be a myriad of photos posted in the next couple of days as we all get home and start going through them.

Saguaro

Awesome! Thanks for the preliminary report. We're looking forward to the photos but for now, get some well deserved rest. Well earned!

Did you get a jersey?

scozim 

No jersey for me - I had some emergency car repairs and with the entry fee, hotel and food costs to and from I wasn't about to ask permission for the jersey. I think you can still get them (and prior years) at the shop in Kalispell or Whitefish but at a retail price.

Saguaro

No doubt, the Cino Heroica is a huge commitment in terms of funds and time. Congratulations on completing the course!

Drillium Dude 

Scott, I'm glad you, Roger and Matt had a successful ride and I'm looking forward to the pics. Imagine, being able to ride with the great John Howard!

I'm going to have to look into getting into this next year; should be home and closer to being ready for some hills if I keep taking the bike out on the windiest days here

Welcome back - good show!

DD

gomango

Sounds like you had to be quite industrious!

I can't wait for the pics, as the combination of scenery, bicycles and participants are such an interesting combination.

Congrats on your adventure.

iab

I hope you got a few of that Crescent.

bibliobob

Cool! Riding with John Howard and Jackque Phelan must've been a treat.

What were they riding?

scozim 

The scenery is stunning and easily enjoyed despite the "suffering". And definitely industrious. One rider came in really late on Saturday night and I asked him if he had a mechanical issue - yep, broken seat post bolt on his Cinelli Equipe. Somehow he got another one and was able to make it work. Shoot on some of the downhills I was trying to figure out if it was my bike rattling or my bones. The biggest (and toughest) downhill section had a view at the top to die for and then half way down had a hairpin corner and then snaked its way around the hill well below you. As I was coming down I could look to my left and see the leaders for the Eddie Merckx heading down that lower section - just a really cool sight.

I know I got at least one at lunch on Saturday. The rider, Hans, inherited it from his dad.

John was an unbelievable at 66. He'd just fly past you with his long white hair sticking out from under his helmet. I did get a shot of his calves. John was on his red Cinelli. I didn't pay much attention to what Jackie was riding. She was wearing some tweed if I remember correctly on Saturday at the start. Every once in awhile at camp she'd pull out her banjo and start playing.

I gotta say I'm feeling pretty good this morning - only 400 mg of ibuprofen and my night was filled with dreams of Cino.

scozim 

There were also a lot of humorous stories. Breakfast Sunday was to start at 8 but Roger, Frank (a waiting list rider from Seattle who was called the week before and told there was a spot for him) and myself went to the little café on the main street that was open. Tables were 5 or 6 large wood picnic tables. We were told we could sit where we wanted and picked a table. After a couple of minutes Franks points to a sign on the wall above our table that said 'This is Leroy O'Penny's table and unless you are a good looking woman you may be asked to leave by management'. We were lucky that Leroy didn't decide to come in for breakfast.

northbend 

Slow internet connection. I am still uploading photos.
I'll start the photo dump first with my pre-Cino ride up Logan Pass with my son on Friday. We were fortunate to get this in before the weather closed in.
P1030405 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
My son had me pegged as he set the pace. I sure felt it the legs the next day
P1030404 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
We stayed just briefly on the summit.The clouds started boiling down the Mtns behind us. We got back to the car just as it started to rain.
P1030411 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

northbend 

Now for the Cino Day 1:

Here is the infamous number 86, with the highly anticipated Cresent. As Scott has already mentioned, inherited from his dad.
P1030422 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Introducing Lane, the 2013 white handlebar award winner
P1030424 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
P1030425 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

A lot of French bikes in the mix this year
P1030433 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
Including our very own forumites scozim and RogerM. Both riding pugs.
P1030441 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

northbend 

The riders were getting anxious, some moreso than others
P1030435 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

We ride out of town.
P1030450 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

My son and John Howard bridge the gap to the lead riders. Scott was right there too mixing it up with the big dogs.
P1030453 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

My son was kind enough to wait for me at the top of the big climb of the day. We rode to the lunch stop with Lane
P1030462 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Where Scott was waiting for us. Let's eat!
P1030465 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
P1030473 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

due ruote 

Wow, that looks like a fun event. I don't know what the white handlebar award is, but Lane looks very much like someone who can put the hammer down. Cool bike too.

jeirvine 

Fookin' love it. Anything like this on the east coast?

northbend 

Waiting to be released after lunch
P1030476 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Lots of cool bikes to look at, here is a sample.
P1030486 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
This one reminded me of the Dude - lots o' shiny holes
P1030480 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

northbend 

Check out the bike repair stand
P1030479 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Finally, the riders interested in competing for the "Eddy Merckx" award are released. Scozim takes off with this lead group
P1030484 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

My son and I take off a little while later once the dust has settled. This is my favorite section. It's really something how fast you go from being surrounded by comrades to being totally alone.
P1030488 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
P1030491 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

There are some punishing sections of nasty washboard gravel but eventually it leads to pavement about 10 miles from our destination - Hot Springs.
P1030494 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr
P1030492 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Just outside of Hot Springs, there is cute woman with a cooler full of beer to greet us. We grab some cold ones and casually ride into town.
P1030497 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

We arrive at Alamedas resort and the end of our ride.
One beer is certainly not enough after a day like this. There is plenty to go around..two kegs of ice cold Sierra Nevada are just behind the hop bushes
P1030498 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

northbend 

The day is done.
P1030502 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

A little while later, Roger arrives holding a can of Rainier and the big 'ol grin on his face.
P1030501 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

John Howard tows his luggage down the street to the Symes. We take his lead and do the same
P1030504 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Ahhh, the Symes. A bit rough around the edges. Just perfect for us. After a good soak in the hot springs and some sleep we are ready to go for day 2..
P1030508 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

OK that is it for now. Day 2 later..

Lascauxcaveman 

Love Roger's fredly riding kit. Exactly the same kinda stuff I wear whether it's commuting, grocery-getting or century; doesn't make any difference.

scozim 

Finally made it home and time for my photo dump. Lots of bike photos and a few scenery shots when I remembered to stop and take them. I should clarify one comment - I didn't leave with the "contenders" after lunch on the first day. Rather, Roger and I left about a minute or so later so they could sort themselves out. I knew I wasn't going to keep up - they were animals. John Howard was in the mix until a cattle drive split his group (the winner dared to ride through the cows really irritating one of the ranchers moving them) while the others waited like the rest of us when we encountered the drive.

Matt posted this but it was too cool - according to the owner it's a 1952 Bianchi





This was one huge and heavy Schwinn Varsity


Etherhuffer's Fuji:



1974 Moulton folder



Specialized Sequoia



Pretty in pink:



Another PX10



And a sweet Gitane Tour de France:

scozim 

A repainted PX10



And really nicely polished Super Champion rims and Campagnolo high flange hub:



Dropout on a Ciocc:







The Squadra 086 team - one member was from Switzerland



Walking to the starting "sermon"



The first Team Miyata I've seen:

scozim 

We even had a "Soviet" guy there:



The BF C&V contingent plus Phillip:



Roger at the start



John Howard's calves



The lead out group:



The view from up top somewhere - I think this was after the leaders took a wrong turn which worked great for me and another rider who were the first two to get to lunch.





Howard's Cinelli:



Our lunch spot:

scozim 

More eye candy:







The big climb of the afternoon was epic - not super hard but unbelievably scenic:





You can definitely ride for miles upon miles without seeing anyone - just following tire tracks in the dirt:

scozim 

We got back to pavement and had to deal with the fresh remnants of the cattle drive:



This guy wasn't so lucky - he didn't do a good job of avoidance





Raleigh International:



Raleigh RacingUSA



Our redneck dinner table:



Camp - Day 1

scozim 

Seriously, I'm almost done now:

A few day 2 shots - this day had one of the toughest climbs I think I've ever done. The gradient was probably 7-8% but it was rocky and sandy which made for no traction if you stood up and a bumpy ride. Quite rewarding to get to the top, though. Heading up to the ridge in the background



Day 2 lunch stop



We hit mud and wet roads on the way down to the finish: