Notes from the Dead of Winter Double Century, Dec. 5th 2015
12-10-15, 10:14 AM
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Notes from the Dead of Winter Double Century, Dec. 5th 2015
Dead of Winter Double Century (DOWD) 12/05/2015:
Notes; This report started out as an email to my friend (and doubles rider) Linda Adams, who didn’t ride this one but wanted a full report. It’s mostly the same with a few lines added (and some pronunciation guides). Kermit Ganier is the DOWD ride director so you understand the references to him below. First half same as Grand Tour Lowland double course, second half same as Grand Tour Highland course. Grand Tour is end of June, on the longest day-light day of the year. All riders noted below (and Kermit!) are 50+, most 60+. Peg Miller is 60, I am 65. Jackie (my wife) is 54, Kris is 65, Rosanne is 58.
Hi Linda,
Yes, I was asleep when you called. Totally knackered after riding DOWD on Sat., working the ride on Sun. and then back at my day job on Monday (rode my bike to work and back of course!).
Then Jackie and I went out to Island’s for dinner so probably some food coma effects too.
The Dead of Winter Double prep. started when I took off work at noon on Fri. to drive out to Calabasas, met Jackie there (and Kris Okubo - the Jackie / Rosanne SAG driver). After dinner (at Wood Ranch in Agoura Hills) we drove to Kermit's house in Malibu to Register/Check-In, get our numbers (mine was #4 4 - same as Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton!) wrist bands and route sheets.
Kermit lives up on the hill next to Pepperdine, so it was quick and easy to get to his house.
Saturday morning we got up early (Kris and Rosanne had shared a room) and were ready to go (out the door!) at about 3:45 AM. When we got to the start (Starbucks in Malibu) it was all very organized. I parked the Insight behind the Starbucks and Kris took over the RAV4 from Jackie.
Kermit was okay with Kris being a private SAG as long as she helped other riders in need, which she did (mostly flat tires).
Peg Miller (my good friend and doubles riding partner) rolled up shortly thereafter but it took her awhile to get the route data to respond (she had loaded it into her Garmin). This year’s route was not on-line, so Peg down-loaded last years, which was mostly the same. Due to that short delay, Jackie and Rosanne actually hit the road before we did.
Very dark, of course, 4:30 AM start, but no problems as we rode up the coast, PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) had very little motor traffic, but lots of loud surf crashing on the beaches, pretty much like Grand Tour except colder. We passed Rosanne and Jackie before too long but later found out that Jackie had a flat tire shortly thereafter.
Not too cold on PCH but as soon as we turned inland onto Mugu Navy Base Road the temp. dropped dramatically, down to 33 Deg.F for a while. We weren't dressed for temps that low since the forecasts I’d looked at on line were for the towns and cities we’d pass through . . . which hold heat lots better overnight than the agricultural wilderness (kind of) we were riding through; so we complained (in bitter-cold voices!) but survived.
We switched our headlights off as we turned onto Port Heuneme (pronounced “why-nee’-me”) road and rolled into Checkpoint #1 (mile 35) in the park just past the usual Grand Tour checkpoint location. Hammer products only, Heed, Perpetuem, Hammer Gel (no real food) but as advertised, so no surprise and with a $35 entry fee, no complaints either. We saw Dennis Miller working at Checkpoint #1 and I introduced him to Peg Miller as a possible long lost relative (yeah, a long shot but you never know!).
From there it was over the GT-Lowland course (Grimes Canyon, Balcomb Canyon, etc.) with headwinds and some serious climbing to Peach Hill Park in Moorpark, Checkpoint #2 (mile 60) which is the same as Grand Tour. Warm by now, 60's and low 70's so sunny and very nice, really. We’d taken our jackets off as soon as it warmed up on Pleasant Valley Road. Pretty roads through here, not much traffic until we got a lot closer to Checkpoint #3 (mile 98) which is where riders had their lunch bags sent. I had purchased a Turkey sandwich the night before and sent it ahead, so I dug into that as Peg refilled her bottles and talked to friends there, esp. Teresa (“Tiger”) Beck.
Peg had looked up McDonald’s locations on-line and found one right on the route just after we left Checkpoint #3 , so we stopped there and had a fine McDonalds lunch: cheeseburgers, fries, shakes and Cokes. All good and nice clean restrooms as a bonus! She was having issues with her Garmin “Monkey” (recharger) so there was that to deal with too. But . . . rather time consuming I thought, although didn't tell Peg that!
After Mickey D's the course heads through suburban residential Ventura, over Venture Avenue to Hwy 33 (lots of traffic!) to a turn onto Creek Road (almost no traffic and very scenic). Nice ride through here up to (eventually) Ojai (oh’-hi) where Peg's Garmin wanted us on last year's course (the only one available on the Internet) whereas this year's was slightly different.
We actually passed where we were supposed to turn for Checkpoint #4 and another rider flagged us down and informed us that we’d missed it. I wanted to turn back and go to the checkpoint but Peg said, "Just forget it, we don't need to stop, and anyway we're already past it."
“Well, yes, but” (I pointed out) “we need to give them our numbers to verify we were through here.”
"No, no," she replied, "We'll just check in at the next one and it will be alright."
"Ah . . .no." I said. Then added, "I'm going back to the checkpoint, I really think we should. Look, it's only four blocks, it's not like it's that far."
I thought she had listened to me, but wasn't sure. She can be stubborn. I took the initiative and turned my bike around and headed for the checkpoint. Peg (reluctantly) followed me, still in a bit of a huff, I think, but whatever.
Once at the checkpoint (The Mob Bike Shop, mile 120) she was glad we stopped since she needed to refill bottles plus Tony Misorafite and Margaret Benson were there, so that was fun seeing them. They had some pastry treats that someone had baked (no idea who) that were actually quite excellent! We filled our bottles with Heed and Perpetuem (Café Latte for me!) and we were off. Tony got some funny photos of us there too.
Casitas Pass was next, you know that bit, same as Grand Tour Highland route now but partially in the shade by this time (about 3:00) so a bit warm on the climbing bits and cool on the descents but really pretty comfortable overall. Peg was fascinated by the “Free Pigeon Manure” sign (see attached photo) on the fourth and last of the Casitas climbs, so we stopped there for a selfie. Kind of funny too! No, I have no idea what Pigeon Manure could be good for; fertilizer maybe?
Past that final Casitas climb it was downhill most of the way into Checkpoint #5 (mile 142) which was an "actual" checkpoint in the usual sense, this one courtesy of the Bull-Shifters from Phoenix, AZ. They had hot Cup-O-Soups, real soda (Mt. Dew, Coke, Sprite, etc.) plus potato chips, pretzels (need that salt!) lots of different energy bars, Gatorade, plus the Hammer stuff, same as the other checkpoints. As if that weren't enough, they had Astro-Tuff carpet over the dirt, real comfy chairs to sit in and lots of friendly banter with all the riders. Great stop! Thanks to Jim Petit and all the Bull-Shifters for that excellent checkpoint!
Where, yes, we probably stayed too long, but whatever. It was fun and the Bull-Shifters are great folks with great food and drink so hey, no worries and this isn’t a race, after all.
From there we were on the new bike path (protected!), parallel to the freeway, down past the motor-homes and RV's (not protected but pretty deserted), to a dark place where Peg could have a pee, to the 2nd bike path that drops us onto Main Street Ventura. I found a dark place there to pee, so we were all good for the next part along Channel Islands Blvd, rolling at good speed until someone opened a car door and almost took Peg out.
It was a really close thing as she swerved out to miss the car door and I had to swerve to miss her so it was a second (part of a second?) of panic but thankfully no damage done. The bike lane along there really is too close to the parked cars so something like
this was (pretty much) just waiting to happen . . . though I've never had a problem like that along there before.
We did have a good time cussing out the idiot that opened the door onus, so that part was fun!
After that it was a boring part through Oxnard, mostly straight and flat into the Ventura Harbor area. You remember, that long road with the fence on your right? Anyway, along here Peg was leading and almost ran over an opossum or raccoon (couldn’t tell which in the micro-second we had to look) that had the audacity to lay down and die in the bike lane. We both missed it but not by much. It was another scary moment and not all that long after the door incident.
It was just another challenge while riding at night. In the daylight we would have seen the dead critter much sooner.
Ventura Blvd. was next (cue Tom Petty "Free Fallin’") and we took that past Port Hueneme road, all the way to the beach before swinging around in a huge left turn arc and rolling into Checkpoint # 6 at mile 169. Mel Cutler was running this one, so it was
fun talking to him as we filled our bottles with Perpetuem one last time, ate some JPF (jersey pocket food) that we'd brought along and got ready (mentally) for the last 32 miles into Malibu.
The temps at this point were pretty mild, probably low 60's but started to drop as we headed out through the farm fields after Port Hueneme, so a quick stop for "jackets on" and then rolling on until we hit the coast (Point Mugu) where it was considerably warmer . . . so, jackets off. Just like the morning though, the waves were very loud as they crashed onto the beaches.
Unfortunately, and not as per script (or usual conditions), we had a headwind as we headed South along PCH, so that was rather tedious, plus, by this time (and probably earlier) Peg was having saddle sore issues ("Pain in my nether regions!" as she said) so by the time we hit the Malibu climbs she was standing on all the climbs and coasting out of the saddle on the descents. Not the fastest or most efficient way to go but it did reduce her suffering.
She had put on a new saddle since her old one was torn up after riding P-B-P but since the new one was the same make and model as the old one she didn’t anticipate any problems. It turned out to be another “live and learn” educational experience, albeit a painful one.
Dee and Arlene passed us along here (we weren't going very fast at all) but no worries, we weren't racing. By the time we got to Zuma Beach our lights (helmet and bike mounted) were dimming out so we stopped for a light and battery (helmet light) change out, then it was an unspectacular (thankfully!) ride up the last climbs and the final descent into the finish at Starbucks in Malibu.
Selina finished just after us plus we saw Dee at the finish as well. Victor Cooper was on the ride too but he started later and so was behind us all day. Didn't know he was riding until I went back to my car and saw the blue Subaru with his signature: BIKE395 license plates!
We had a 4:30 AM start and a 10:00PM finish. Due to the wind (mostly) our times were about two hours longer than last year. Jackie dropped out at Checkpoint #4 (The Mob Bike Shop in Ojai) so Rosanne started riding with some Adobo's after Jackie dropped out and finished with them at midnight.
I drove back up the hill to sleep at the Good-Nite Inn, and then started driving SAG (in Jackie’s RAV4) for the Sunday Dead of Winter riders about 8:00 AM on Sunday. I worked all day and thankfully Kermit let me off after the last checkpoint on Sunday (about 7:00 PM) so yes, I was really tired on Monday. At that time on a Sunday evening it was a 2.5 hour drive from Port Hueneme to home. But . . . that’s LA traffic, so what can you do?
Feeling better today!
Any questions?
Oh; stats: . . . 200.5 miles with 7,812 feet of climbing. Actual riding time: 15:03:49.
Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/446299905
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
Photos Below, Checkpoint#4. Margaret, Ellen and Tony. "How many hot blonds does it take to change a tube?" Center: Peg Miller, Right: Me
Notes; This report started out as an email to my friend (and doubles rider) Linda Adams, who didn’t ride this one but wanted a full report. It’s mostly the same with a few lines added (and some pronunciation guides). Kermit Ganier is the DOWD ride director so you understand the references to him below. First half same as Grand Tour Lowland double course, second half same as Grand Tour Highland course. Grand Tour is end of June, on the longest day-light day of the year. All riders noted below (and Kermit!) are 50+, most 60+. Peg Miller is 60, I am 65. Jackie (my wife) is 54, Kris is 65, Rosanne is 58.
Hi Linda,
Yes, I was asleep when you called. Totally knackered after riding DOWD on Sat., working the ride on Sun. and then back at my day job on Monday (rode my bike to work and back of course!).
Then Jackie and I went out to Island’s for dinner so probably some food coma effects too.
The Dead of Winter Double prep. started when I took off work at noon on Fri. to drive out to Calabasas, met Jackie there (and Kris Okubo - the Jackie / Rosanne SAG driver). After dinner (at Wood Ranch in Agoura Hills) we drove to Kermit's house in Malibu to Register/Check-In, get our numbers (mine was #4 4 - same as Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton!) wrist bands and route sheets.
Kermit lives up on the hill next to Pepperdine, so it was quick and easy to get to his house.
Saturday morning we got up early (Kris and Rosanne had shared a room) and were ready to go (out the door!) at about 3:45 AM. When we got to the start (Starbucks in Malibu) it was all very organized. I parked the Insight behind the Starbucks and Kris took over the RAV4 from Jackie.
Kermit was okay with Kris being a private SAG as long as she helped other riders in need, which she did (mostly flat tires).
Peg Miller (my good friend and doubles riding partner) rolled up shortly thereafter but it took her awhile to get the route data to respond (she had loaded it into her Garmin). This year’s route was not on-line, so Peg down-loaded last years, which was mostly the same. Due to that short delay, Jackie and Rosanne actually hit the road before we did.
Very dark, of course, 4:30 AM start, but no problems as we rode up the coast, PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) had very little motor traffic, but lots of loud surf crashing on the beaches, pretty much like Grand Tour except colder. We passed Rosanne and Jackie before too long but later found out that Jackie had a flat tire shortly thereafter.
Not too cold on PCH but as soon as we turned inland onto Mugu Navy Base Road the temp. dropped dramatically, down to 33 Deg.F for a while. We weren't dressed for temps that low since the forecasts I’d looked at on line were for the towns and cities we’d pass through . . . which hold heat lots better overnight than the agricultural wilderness (kind of) we were riding through; so we complained (in bitter-cold voices!) but survived.
We switched our headlights off as we turned onto Port Heuneme (pronounced “why-nee’-me”) road and rolled into Checkpoint #1 (mile 35) in the park just past the usual Grand Tour checkpoint location. Hammer products only, Heed, Perpetuem, Hammer Gel (no real food) but as advertised, so no surprise and with a $35 entry fee, no complaints either. We saw Dennis Miller working at Checkpoint #1 and I introduced him to Peg Miller as a possible long lost relative (yeah, a long shot but you never know!).
From there it was over the GT-Lowland course (Grimes Canyon, Balcomb Canyon, etc.) with headwinds and some serious climbing to Peach Hill Park in Moorpark, Checkpoint #2 (mile 60) which is the same as Grand Tour. Warm by now, 60's and low 70's so sunny and very nice, really. We’d taken our jackets off as soon as it warmed up on Pleasant Valley Road. Pretty roads through here, not much traffic until we got a lot closer to Checkpoint #3 (mile 98) which is where riders had their lunch bags sent. I had purchased a Turkey sandwich the night before and sent it ahead, so I dug into that as Peg refilled her bottles and talked to friends there, esp. Teresa (“Tiger”) Beck.
Peg had looked up McDonald’s locations on-line and found one right on the route just after we left Checkpoint #3 , so we stopped there and had a fine McDonalds lunch: cheeseburgers, fries, shakes and Cokes. All good and nice clean restrooms as a bonus! She was having issues with her Garmin “Monkey” (recharger) so there was that to deal with too. But . . . rather time consuming I thought, although didn't tell Peg that!
After Mickey D's the course heads through suburban residential Ventura, over Venture Avenue to Hwy 33 (lots of traffic!) to a turn onto Creek Road (almost no traffic and very scenic). Nice ride through here up to (eventually) Ojai (oh’-hi) where Peg's Garmin wanted us on last year's course (the only one available on the Internet) whereas this year's was slightly different.
We actually passed where we were supposed to turn for Checkpoint #4 and another rider flagged us down and informed us that we’d missed it. I wanted to turn back and go to the checkpoint but Peg said, "Just forget it, we don't need to stop, and anyway we're already past it."
“Well, yes, but” (I pointed out) “we need to give them our numbers to verify we were through here.”
"No, no," she replied, "We'll just check in at the next one and it will be alright."
"Ah . . .no." I said. Then added, "I'm going back to the checkpoint, I really think we should. Look, it's only four blocks, it's not like it's that far."
I thought she had listened to me, but wasn't sure. She can be stubborn. I took the initiative and turned my bike around and headed for the checkpoint. Peg (reluctantly) followed me, still in a bit of a huff, I think, but whatever.
Once at the checkpoint (The Mob Bike Shop, mile 120) she was glad we stopped since she needed to refill bottles plus Tony Misorafite and Margaret Benson were there, so that was fun seeing them. They had some pastry treats that someone had baked (no idea who) that were actually quite excellent! We filled our bottles with Heed and Perpetuem (Café Latte for me!) and we were off. Tony got some funny photos of us there too.
Casitas Pass was next, you know that bit, same as Grand Tour Highland route now but partially in the shade by this time (about 3:00) so a bit warm on the climbing bits and cool on the descents but really pretty comfortable overall. Peg was fascinated by the “Free Pigeon Manure” sign (see attached photo) on the fourth and last of the Casitas climbs, so we stopped there for a selfie. Kind of funny too! No, I have no idea what Pigeon Manure could be good for; fertilizer maybe?
Past that final Casitas climb it was downhill most of the way into Checkpoint #5 (mile 142) which was an "actual" checkpoint in the usual sense, this one courtesy of the Bull-Shifters from Phoenix, AZ. They had hot Cup-O-Soups, real soda (Mt. Dew, Coke, Sprite, etc.) plus potato chips, pretzels (need that salt!) lots of different energy bars, Gatorade, plus the Hammer stuff, same as the other checkpoints. As if that weren't enough, they had Astro-Tuff carpet over the dirt, real comfy chairs to sit in and lots of friendly banter with all the riders. Great stop! Thanks to Jim Petit and all the Bull-Shifters for that excellent checkpoint!
Where, yes, we probably stayed too long, but whatever. It was fun and the Bull-Shifters are great folks with great food and drink so hey, no worries and this isn’t a race, after all.
From there we were on the new bike path (protected!), parallel to the freeway, down past the motor-homes and RV's (not protected but pretty deserted), to a dark place where Peg could have a pee, to the 2nd bike path that drops us onto Main Street Ventura. I found a dark place there to pee, so we were all good for the next part along Channel Islands Blvd, rolling at good speed until someone opened a car door and almost took Peg out.
It was a really close thing as she swerved out to miss the car door and I had to swerve to miss her so it was a second (part of a second?) of panic but thankfully no damage done. The bike lane along there really is too close to the parked cars so something like
this was (pretty much) just waiting to happen . . . though I've never had a problem like that along there before.
We did have a good time cussing out the idiot that opened the door onus, so that part was fun!
After that it was a boring part through Oxnard, mostly straight and flat into the Ventura Harbor area. You remember, that long road with the fence on your right? Anyway, along here Peg was leading and almost ran over an opossum or raccoon (couldn’t tell which in the micro-second we had to look) that had the audacity to lay down and die in the bike lane. We both missed it but not by much. It was another scary moment and not all that long after the door incident.
It was just another challenge while riding at night. In the daylight we would have seen the dead critter much sooner.
Ventura Blvd. was next (cue Tom Petty "Free Fallin’") and we took that past Port Hueneme road, all the way to the beach before swinging around in a huge left turn arc and rolling into Checkpoint # 6 at mile 169. Mel Cutler was running this one, so it was
fun talking to him as we filled our bottles with Perpetuem one last time, ate some JPF (jersey pocket food) that we'd brought along and got ready (mentally) for the last 32 miles into Malibu.
The temps at this point were pretty mild, probably low 60's but started to drop as we headed out through the farm fields after Port Hueneme, so a quick stop for "jackets on" and then rolling on until we hit the coast (Point Mugu) where it was considerably warmer . . . so, jackets off. Just like the morning though, the waves were very loud as they crashed onto the beaches.
Unfortunately, and not as per script (or usual conditions), we had a headwind as we headed South along PCH, so that was rather tedious, plus, by this time (and probably earlier) Peg was having saddle sore issues ("Pain in my nether regions!" as she said) so by the time we hit the Malibu climbs she was standing on all the climbs and coasting out of the saddle on the descents. Not the fastest or most efficient way to go but it did reduce her suffering.
She had put on a new saddle since her old one was torn up after riding P-B-P but since the new one was the same make and model as the old one she didn’t anticipate any problems. It turned out to be another “live and learn” educational experience, albeit a painful one.
Dee and Arlene passed us along here (we weren't going very fast at all) but no worries, we weren't racing. By the time we got to Zuma Beach our lights (helmet and bike mounted) were dimming out so we stopped for a light and battery (helmet light) change out, then it was an unspectacular (thankfully!) ride up the last climbs and the final descent into the finish at Starbucks in Malibu.
Selina finished just after us plus we saw Dee at the finish as well. Victor Cooper was on the ride too but he started later and so was behind us all day. Didn't know he was riding until I went back to my car and saw the blue Subaru with his signature: BIKE395 license plates!
We had a 4:30 AM start and a 10:00PM finish. Due to the wind (mostly) our times were about two hours longer than last year. Jackie dropped out at Checkpoint #4 (The Mob Bike Shop in Ojai) so Rosanne started riding with some Adobo's after Jackie dropped out and finished with them at midnight.
I drove back up the hill to sleep at the Good-Nite Inn, and then started driving SAG (in Jackie’s RAV4) for the Sunday Dead of Winter riders about 8:00 AM on Sunday. I worked all day and thankfully Kermit let me off after the last checkpoint on Sunday (about 7:00 PM) so yes, I was really tired on Monday. At that time on a Sunday evening it was a 2.5 hour drive from Port Hueneme to home. But . . . that’s LA traffic, so what can you do?
Feeling better today!
Any questions?
Oh; stats: . . . 200.5 miles with 7,812 feet of climbing. Actual riding time: 15:03:49.
Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/446299905
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
Photos Below, Checkpoint#4. Margaret, Ellen and Tony. "How many hot blonds does it take to change a tube?" Center: Peg Miller, Right: Me
Last edited by Rick@OCRR; 12-10-15 at 10:30 AM.
12-10-15, 11:03 AM
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Thanks, Rick! Boy have I been slacking off on the trip reports ... glad you've got it covered! I'll add some pix, though.
We started about and hour and a half behind Rick and never caught up. But we did get treated to an awesome sunrise.
Here is Loren and Molly approaching "Big Rock" or Pt. Mugu.
Another AM pix of them:
Like you say, it was EFFING cold after Pt. Mugu. I left my long fingered gloves behind, as the low temperatures were supposed to be in the low 50s. Since it was in fact in the low 30s, that made for stinging fingers and cold feet. Yikes.
I love the riding up in the hills around Moorpark. After doing a lot of gentle climbing into the wind, we found ourselves on empty, beautiful roads.
Right after that pix was taken, we rode by a ranch. This guy opens his pickup door and out hops 3 baby goats, prancing around. Soooo cute.
I'm not a fan of the ride after Spanish Hills. That flat section through the outskirts of Ventura is ... meh. But once you get to Ventura and start heading to the ocean, you get awesome views of the ocean and the Channel Islands National Park. This photo (taken at 35 MPH), doesn't begin to do it justice. BTW, if you've not been kayaking there, add it to your list. Waaaay cool.
From there, we head to Ojai. Some of this road is busy, but we turn off on a little spur that is quite scenic and quiet. I love this climb.
We decided to stop for a real lunch in Ojai. There is a market there that has tri-tip BBQing right out in front. Molly got a whiff and we followed her nose into lunch. Oy, was that BBQ tri tip sandwich good! That's why we were so late getting into the rest stop in Ojai. But someone got a good pix of us.
From there, through the little town of Meiner's Oaks (love that place), and up and over Casitas Pass, and to the Bullshifter's rest stop. OMG did I have the pretzels and double stuff Oreos there. Cup O Noodles too. The Bullshifters rock!
Molly had left her armwarmers and sleeves in Kermit's car, so we called from there and asked if Kermit could wait for us at Tony's Pizzaria in Ventura. He happily obliged, and was waiting there with pizza when we arrived.
And it is YUMMY pizza.
From there, the dark ride back to the start. Kinda strange weather. It would be fairly warm, then when you passed a canyon, the temperatures would drop precipitously. But we made it back for some hot chocolate at the gas station nearby.
Great time!
We started about and hour and a half behind Rick and never caught up. But we did get treated to an awesome sunrise.
Here is Loren and Molly approaching "Big Rock" or Pt. Mugu.
Another AM pix of them:
Like you say, it was EFFING cold after Pt. Mugu. I left my long fingered gloves behind, as the low temperatures were supposed to be in the low 50s. Since it was in fact in the low 30s, that made for stinging fingers and cold feet. Yikes.
I love the riding up in the hills around Moorpark. After doing a lot of gentle climbing into the wind, we found ourselves on empty, beautiful roads.
Right after that pix was taken, we rode by a ranch. This guy opens his pickup door and out hops 3 baby goats, prancing around. Soooo cute.
I'm not a fan of the ride after Spanish Hills. That flat section through the outskirts of Ventura is ... meh. But once you get to Ventura and start heading to the ocean, you get awesome views of the ocean and the Channel Islands National Park. This photo (taken at 35 MPH), doesn't begin to do it justice. BTW, if you've not been kayaking there, add it to your list. Waaaay cool.
From there, we head to Ojai. Some of this road is busy, but we turn off on a little spur that is quite scenic and quiet. I love this climb.
We decided to stop for a real lunch in Ojai. There is a market there that has tri-tip BBQing right out in front. Molly got a whiff and we followed her nose into lunch. Oy, was that BBQ tri tip sandwich good! That's why we were so late getting into the rest stop in Ojai. But someone got a good pix of us.
From there, through the little town of Meiner's Oaks (love that place), and up and over Casitas Pass, and to the Bullshifter's rest stop. OMG did I have the pretzels and double stuff Oreos there. Cup O Noodles too. The Bullshifters rock!
Molly had left her armwarmers and sleeves in Kermit's car, so we called from there and asked if Kermit could wait for us at Tony's Pizzaria in Ventura. He happily obliged, and was waiting there with pizza when we arrived.
And it is YUMMY pizza.
From there, the dark ride back to the start. Kinda strange weather. It would be fairly warm, then when you passed a canyon, the temperatures would drop precipitously. But we made it back for some hot chocolate at the gas station nearby.
Great time!
__________________
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Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
12-13-15, 01:20 AM
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Now these guys know how to do a ride write up, great pictures 395, and fantastic narrative Rick.
Rick, I don't know anything about Strava but I looked at the data from your ride , what is up with the calorie computation? It appears to be half of what it should be.
Rick, I don't know anything about Strava but I looked at the data from your ride , what is up with the calorie computation? It appears to be half of what it should be.
Last edited by bykemike; 12-13-15 at 01:44 AM.
12-14-15, 10:29 AM
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First of all, thanks for the positive comments on the report and Vic's photos!
Regarding calories: I honestly don't know what the formula is that Stava uses to compute calories burned but from my experience riding doubles, their total (5,380) is pretty consistent with the past. Of course, I'm only comparing them to other Strava totals . . . so I really don't know.
A couple of things to keep in mind though: 1. This was a pretty easy double so I wasn't really "working" very hard and 2. I was riding at Peg's speed, not mine, so I was going a lot slower than I otherwise could/would have, particularly near the end when she was having saddle sore issues.
Just out of curiosity though, what were you thinking in terms of probable calories burned?
Rick / OCRR
12-14-15, 12:15 PM
#5
Beicwyr Hapus
I enjoy these ride reports and pics while we're in a very murky and dreary spell of weather here in Wales. Well done both of you! 
12-14-15, 12:48 PM
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Using a wide variety of sources it seems 500-900 calories per hour depending on cruise speed and body weight. The strava guess on your double century seems almost half of what I would guess.
I am not sure climbing counts that much because of the theoretical resulting downhill.
Looking at your report I can plainly see I need to move to California, BTW. I spent some time there last year in Bishop and Lee Vinning area...so very nice.
I am not sure climbing counts that much because of the theoretical resulting downhill.
Looking at your report I can plainly see I need to move to California, BTW. I spent some time there last year in Bishop and Lee Vinning area...so very nice.
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12-14-15, 02:43 PM
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Using a wide variety of sources it seems 500-900 calories per hour depending on cruise speed and body weight. The strava guess on your double century seems almost half of what I would guess.
I am not sure climbing counts that much because of the theoretical resulting downhill.
Looking at your report I can plainly see I need to move to California, BTW. I spent some time there last year in Bishop and Lee Vinning area...so very nice.
I am not sure climbing counts that much because of the theoretical resulting downhill.
Looking at your report I can plainly see I need to move to California, BTW. I spent some time there last year in Bishop and Lee Vinning area...so very nice.
Yes, Lee Vining and Bishop areas (and Hwy 395) have lots of excellent cycling roads!
Rick / OCRR
12-14-15, 10:28 PM
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Thanks Dwight! And thank Jim and the other Bull-Shifters who helped out at Checkpoint #5 on DOWD. Checkpoint wise it was absolutely the high light of our day. Great food and drinks and a super-friendly Bull-Shifter spirit to help us on our way; much appreciated!
Rick / OCRR
Rick / OCRR
12-16-15, 11:15 AM
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Last edited by Biker395; 12-16-15 at 01:42 PM.
12-16-15, 08:40 PM
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Great report and great adventure, Rick, as always. 
I can relate to the comment about gloves -- my hands are the first place I notice the cold. In fact, I generally wear long-fingered gloves year-round.
I can relate to the comment about gloves -- my hands are the first place I notice the cold. In fact, I generally wear long-fingered gloves year-round.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
12-18-15, 12:09 PM
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Rick / OCRR
12-18-15, 12:38 PM
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Awesome, the ride report and pictures are very inspiring.
You don't know how much fun that looks like to a guy that always rides alone.
You don't know how much fun that looks like to a guy that always rides alone.
Last edited by dksix; 12-18-15 at 12:54 PM.
12-19-15, 11:31 AM
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The Official California Triple Crown Web Site
Lots of info available here about the rides, the people and the adventures of/with double centuries. Train your endurance legs, pick an event (Grand Tour in June is a good one to try as your first) and fly out here and join us! I know there are lots of good climbs to train on in TN!
Rick / OCRR
