Ride Report: Somebody Stop Me !
12-05-08, 08:20 PM
#1
Family, Health, Cycling
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Ride Report: Somebody Stop Me !
A 50 Mile out and 50 mile back unsupported Century that featured Sierra Rd.
I began in south Walnut Creek at 7:30 AM when it was 38 degrees out.
I get pretty stupid sometimes but Brain Dead Macho cycling is a calling I guess.
Did I mention I had never climbed Sierra before?
First I went down to Sunol and up Calaveras to Felter Rd. I saw the cutest little fuzzy-woolly goats you ever saw near the summit of Felter. I wanted to hug them, but then I remembered they would smell like goats.
Continued up Felter and then descended Sierra. Wow, that was an intense descent,especially knowing I had to climb it all again on the way home.
The intersection of Sierra Rd and N. Capitol is 50 mi.from the car so that was my turn around.
Stopped for lunch at Sunny Day Donuts, I'll bet that is cyclist hang out. Great place to carbo load for Sierra, nice folks too and it is right at the base of Sierra Rd.
Thank goodness I was able to call Pete from the donut shop for some Sierra Rd tips.
His suggestion to switch back was the key to me surviving the climb.
Lunch was good. 4 donuts, a banana and a cup of coffee.
Descending Felter back towards Calaveras I was shredding today, really in the zone. I was cornering like the bike was on rails. I caught a cyclist named Darrel, that I had seen up the road with my kamikaze descending and chatted him up for a while before I just had to let it out again and pull away from him.
Barreling along at 45 mph I came around a gentle bend in the road and I had to thread the needle between two wild turkeys, huge ones, that were taking up my lane. If I had tried to radically change my line I might have gone down, so I just split them. One took flight right as I shot by, fortunately in the direction away from me, not right into my wheel.
For organized Centuries like Foxy's, Solvang etc. I can turn in a 6 or 6 1/2 hour time.
Unsupported, and pulling the whole way with no help from a friendly wheel is different kettle of fish.
7000 ft of climbing slowed me a bit too, that's for sure.
Pete called me with 12 miles to go to check on me. That gave me a boost I needed right then.
It sure is nice to have friends. BikeForums people are the best.
Total Time: 9 hours
Time on bike: 7:48
Avg Speed: 12.8
Max Speed: 45.5 (right as I shot through the turkeys
)
Bikely Route
I began in south Walnut Creek at 7:30 AM when it was 38 degrees out.
I get pretty stupid sometimes but Brain Dead Macho cycling is a calling I guess.
Did I mention I had never climbed Sierra before?
First I went down to Sunol and up Calaveras to Felter Rd. I saw the cutest little fuzzy-woolly goats you ever saw near the summit of Felter. I wanted to hug them, but then I remembered they would smell like goats.
Continued up Felter and then descended Sierra. Wow, that was an intense descent,especially knowing I had to climb it all again on the way home.
The intersection of Sierra Rd and N. Capitol is 50 mi.from the car so that was my turn around.
Stopped for lunch at Sunny Day Donuts, I'll bet that is cyclist hang out. Great place to carbo load for Sierra, nice folks too and it is right at the base of Sierra Rd.
Thank goodness I was able to call Pete from the donut shop for some Sierra Rd tips.
His suggestion to switch back was the key to me surviving the climb.
Lunch was good. 4 donuts, a banana and a cup of coffee.
Descending Felter back towards Calaveras I was shredding today, really in the zone. I was cornering like the bike was on rails. I caught a cyclist named Darrel, that I had seen up the road with my kamikaze descending and chatted him up for a while before I just had to let it out again and pull away from him.
Barreling along at 45 mph I came around a gentle bend in the road and I had to thread the needle between two wild turkeys, huge ones, that were taking up my lane. If I had tried to radically change my line I might have gone down, so I just split them. One took flight right as I shot by, fortunately in the direction away from me, not right into my wheel.
For organized Centuries like Foxy's, Solvang etc. I can turn in a 6 or 6 1/2 hour time.
Unsupported, and pulling the whole way with no help from a friendly wheel is different kettle of fish.
7000 ft of climbing slowed me a bit too, that's for sure.
Pete called me with 12 miles to go to check on me. That gave me a boost I needed right then.
It sure is nice to have friends. BikeForums people are the best.
Total Time: 9 hours
Time on bike: 7:48
Avg Speed: 12.8
Max Speed: 45.5 (right as I shot through the turkeys
)Bikely Route
Last edited by Lanceoldstrong; 12-06-08 at 12:00 AM.
12-05-08, 08:26 PM
#2
moth -----> flame
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Great report Dan! Sounds like a really nice day, especially with you in the zone. I'm jealous.
12-05-08, 08:29 PM
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Great job, Dan. Any pics?
12-05-08, 08:51 PM
#4
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12-05-08, 08:52 PM
#5
Wheres my snuggie?
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Good work Dan...I took Cathy out to O'Reillys for an Irish breakfast, so I was wishin ya luck burping some of the "Blarney" your way!
St. Peter
St. Peter
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12-05-08, 09:09 PM
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Great report, Daniel. Um, why do you want someone to stop you. That's great! Join us tomorrow, and you can experience it in the reverse direction!
I've always done Sierra then Felter, not the other way around.
I've always done Sierra then Felter, not the other way around.
12-05-08, 09:38 PM
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Nice job. How'd your fingers and toes fare? Last night just riding around the Polo field in GGP my fingers and toes were numb... and I was wearing full-fingered gloves!
12-05-08, 10:11 PM
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Wheres my snuggie?
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12-05-08, 10:31 PM
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Sounds like a fun ride! Wish I lived closer so I could have joined you.
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12-05-08, 10:32 PM
#10
Don't mince words
12-05-08, 10:34 PM
#11
Don't mince words
Sounds like a fun ride. Sorry I was such a wuss as to not want to leave the house in time to join you.
Our ride didn't start until 2, and the sun was warm. Did I mention that I was a temperature wuss?
Our ride didn't start until 2, and the sun was warm. Did I mention that I was a temperature wuss?
12-05-08, 11:54 PM
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Wheres my snuggie?
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EEyye the Celtic blood runs like Ice!
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12-05-08, 11:57 PM
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12-06-08, 07:51 PM
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Great ride report and I love your idea of lunch 
Methinks donuts are on the menu for my post-Hamilton dinner tonight 
Methinks donuts are on the menu for my post-Hamilton dinner tonight
12-07-08, 11:33 AM
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Join RUSA. I have 3 more 200Ks to get my R-12 and I could use the company. JOIN RUSA! PLEEEEEEASE. 
12-07-08, 04:43 PM
#18
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I just spent several minutes perusing the RUSA site and SF Randonneurs site.
I am considering it. I plan to do the Davis Double this year as a test of how much I like real long distances.
I know I am happy with with 100 miles, I rode 6 centuries this year. I will begin to stretch out to 200K very soon.
Veronica and Jobob it was nice to get a howdy on this thread from both of you.
Please come on a BikeForums ride sometime soon.
"Lance"
12-08-08, 03:34 PM
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Davis Bike Club has their 200km brevet on Saturday, March 7, 2009... Something to aim for..? Davis to Pope Valley and back.
I did it in 9hrs 4min last year. My toes went numb the last 5 miles. It was EPIC!!!
I did it in 9hrs 4min last year. My toes went numb the last 5 miles. It was EPIC!!!
