Tierra Bella 2012

[cccorlew]

MyLilPony and I signed up for the Tierra Bella Century. Howz about you?

Here's a photo from our 2008 effort, with Taxi777

[gpelpel]

Wow, colorful jersey!
Never rode that one but heard good things about it.
I am on the may be list.

[cccorlew]

They do have the best jerseys. This one is from 2008


Here's this years version

[SesameCrunch]

I may sign up and do this on a recumbent. I switched over this year and will have enough of my 'bent legs developed by the time this ride happens.

[Lanceoldstrong]

I may sign up and do this on a recumbent. I switched over this year...

Switched over to the dark side? NOooooooooo!

[SesameCrunch]

Switched over to the dark side? NOooooooooo!

Not quite so sinister... Here's my ride:

[cccorlew]

It's not only a recumbent, it's a front wheel drive recumbent?

It also looks like it's sporting a buzz-wheel of death on the front.

[Lanceoldstrong]

Wow, that thing looks fast just sitting there. Pretty nice.

[bikingshearer]

It also looks like it's sporting a buzz-wheel of death on the front.

Yeah, if the guy he is drafting is too squirrelly, he can use that "buzz-wheel" to take revenge on the guy's rear tire.

[DiabloScott]

I don't see a bottle cage... ?

[cccorlew]

I don't see a bottle cage... ?

It's right there.It looks like a tiny pumpkin.

[rdtompki]

For those who might stumble onto this thread expecting a wealth of information on the TB I offer the following suggestion. If you're old or weak (that would be us) but don't want to wear the shame of only doing a 100K, skip Henry Coe, but do all the rest. This makes for a very nice 80 mile ride. Not knocking Coe, mind you, the descent is a blast especially on a tandem, but I suspect there may be more than a few climbing obstacles on the preferred line.

[SesameCrunch]

It's not only a recumbent, it's a front wheel drive recumbent?

It also looks like it's sporting a buzz-wheel of death on the front.

Good eye. I like front wheel drive in a recumbent. Gets rid of the long chain. Climbs better. Haven't had to buzz anybody yet tho..... Maybe on the Tierra Bella.

Anyway, back to the scheduled programming - I like the TB and will sign up this year. Thanks for the reminder. By the way, anybody wanting to draft a fast 'bent is welcome.

[rdtompki]

... By the way, anybody wanting to draft a fast 'bent is welcome.

Most disingenuous offer I've ever seen on BF. You'd have to be a 6 y/o on a tricycle to suck any draft off that thing.

[SesameCrunch]

Most disingenuous offer I've ever seen on BF. You'd have to be a 6 y/o on a tricycle to suck any draft off that thing.

It's not as bad as the Darth Vader bike.

Actually, my wheels are 650C so I'm sitting up pretty high. Supposedly my aero profile is similar to a pro TT setup.

[Red Rider]

The Red Rider/c_gallagh team is holding out -- we can hardly plan the current weekend, let alone one several months hence. We reserve the right to register late, or ghost the ride (we'll hunt down cccorlew and hang onto his wheel as though it's an oxygen pump.

[Dchiefransom]

This year the Tierra Bella is one weekend, and the Primavera the next.

[cccorlew]

Thanks Dchiefransom! I've signed up for both now.

[Dchiefransom]

You're welcome. Too bad the jersey orders had to close out on Jan 26th to get the jerseys back in time.

[cccorlew]

This ride is next weekend. Should I be looking for any additional BF folk?

[Dchiefransom]

Two weeks ago a customer on my mail route said there were over 1,700 signed up for the Tierra Bella. Looks to be a killer ride this year. I'm crossing my fingers for great weather on both weekends. I think we're over 800 signed up for the Primavera. I'll be driving SAG in a red Wrangler(they did away with my Water Stop). I also went totally relaxed with a new ride last month.

[SesameCrunch]

Alas, I am going to be out of town...

[cccorlew]

A bit of report:
http://ccorlew.blogspot.com/2012/04/...in-gilroy.html

[rdtompki]

Nice report. We rode the 100K on our tandem and really enjoyed the ride. The red-skinned potatoes and bread at the rest stops are very special and there are volunteers everywhere. I was thinking that the top of Coe might be a bit chilly and windy, but it's a very nice descent on a road that's in good condition; the two worst places are the very first pitch up what is called Thomas Grade and that nasty pitch near the end that must hit 16+%. Best part is as you turn to home with that tailwind after the Calero rest stop (100mi ride only); we love that stretch on the tandem since it's mostly a gradually downhill.

[jbmadtown]

Nice report CCCorlew (I also noticed the Astana kit!) Hats off to the Almaden club for all of their efforts! I am a newbie to this area and the riding here never stops impressing me- this ride was no exception. (I used to run with the Madison, WI/Great Lakes crowd, then had a 2yr hiatus b/c of grad school.) Cccorlew: I am pretty sure I was riding w/ you up the climb to Coe and into the headwind around miles 65-75. (I was wearing the "Cat 6" jersey.) It wasn't until after I passed you that I realized you were wearing a bikeforums jersey. Hope to cross paths with you again. -JB