Mojo Slim

The Chico (CA) Wildflower has been around for many years. They've got the marketing thing down. The jerseys, in about 6 colors, are beautiful. They sell socks, t-shirts, etc., at registration and at the post-ride dinner. The swag-bag is a back pack with a wide-mouth waterbottle and the route sheet printed on a bandana (my wife made my previous one into a pillow).

This year, I arrived the morning before the ride, to reserve a couple of camp spots under the trees for members of my old bike club (I'm still a member) from Plumas County. Before our potluck dinner, members of my current club (Lincoln Hills) dropped by for a beer/wine. I slept in the back of my pickup.

We all met at 7:00 the next morning for a group ride out. Here's a picture of my Lincoln group (I'm on the right).



Four from Lincoln, two from Plumas (and me) rode out together and there was soon lots of good bicycle chatter. I hadn't seen the guys from my old club for nearly two years.

The Wildflower is about 3700 feet of climbing, concentrated in three long hills. The first hill comes quickly. Humboldt Rd. is only about a 4% grade, but the road surface is little more than a string of pot holes held together by rough pavement for 3.5 miles. I'm always the last one up the hill, but I didn't embarrass myself too much. We are rewarded with a nice, smooth downhill.

Miles 14-18 ish are generally flat to inclined, following the river under a canopy of oak and dogwood.

I like this picture because about all you see are the club jerseys of the two clubs, riding together.



A brief water/potty stop at the historic Covered Bridge, then the next climb: Honey Run. Honey Run averages about 4.5%, but there are several switches back and steep bumps. No respite. It's not much wider than a bike path. I feel like I am chugging up the hill pretty well, but lose contact with all but one of our group. However, I am passing others.

About half way up, we encounter a young woman with her six year old son trailing behind on one of those things where he is supposed to pedal and help out. Except he's just crying. As I pass, I hear here say, "We'll stop here until you stop crying", and she hops off as he throws his back pack on the ground.

This picture shows a bit of the climb.



The first rest stop is a zoo. It seems everyone has gotten there at the same time. We end up being there well over a half hour. But, we've regrouped and the 7 of us take off together for what turns out to be a loooooong downhill on a wide, pretty smooth road. Most of us hit 43-45 mph, in a crowd. I admit it. I was actually somewhat relieved when it flattened out.

A roller-filled few miles takes us to Rest Stop #2. I'm not wild about the food choices. Some good fruit. Can't go wrong with M&Ms. Muffins are good, but don't really feel right. And the drink is more fruit juice than electrolyte replacement. This may be a factor later.

The next and last hill, Cherokee Rd., is another 3.5 mile bag of relentless, fortified with a sunny exposure on a warm afternoon. Again, I've lost contact with all but one of my group. At mile 51.3 I feel the bonk. I have NEVER given up on a hill. But I had to. I found a bit of shade, ate a GU, downed the fruit juice and carried on.

Everyone was waiting for me at the top. I think they had been there long enough to finish a pancake breakfast. As I pulled up, a loud cheer erupts from many of the riders gathered. Alas, it wasn't for me. There had just been a wedding proposal.

Fortunately, the next 8 miles to lunch is flat or downhill. I'm still hurting but I make it. Here's a picture of the top of Table Mountain.



And a short while later:



Lunch is great. One of the best turkey sandwiches ever. I am feeling better, grab my bike. Flat tire. Huh? A volunteer from a bike shop takes my wheel, puts in a new tube, gives me some energy bites and a handshake, all for no charge.

Thirty-eight miles from the end. I keep up with the pace line at 18-19 mph for several miles, taking my turn at the front, then a couple of us fall off the back. We arrive at the last rest stop when the rest are still taking off thier helmets, so I guess we weren't too slow.

After the rest stop, another pace line, this time with 4 or 5 other riders joining us. Again, 18-19 mph. Again, we fall back after several miles. As we slog in we begin to catch up to others from the pace line who have also slowed.

We pull in to the start/finish, not too far behind the others. The after -ride dinner was very good. We look around and see many riders just staring off into space, not eating, seemingly in a daze.

I have a 1 1/4 hour drive home. I pop the top on a Coke, light an Acid Earthiness Cigar and put my iPod on the blues playlist.

Yeah. Tough ride for me. Yeah. Life if good.

The Weak Link

Good pics. Sounds like good times were had by all except the kid.

jppe

Great report! Your Wildflower definitely blossomed! Being able to share the ride with several others makes it very special.

rdtompki

Great writeup and pics. We did the 100K so the lunch stop came shortly after the Paradise stop and was skipped - probably a mistake since I didn't find the choices at the two regular rest stops particularly appetizing. Still, I would do this ride again, but carry more of my own nutrition just in case. Next year we'll try the 100 mi on the tandem less the first climb.

BikeWNC

I'd like to do this ride someday. Thanks for your report.

palookabutt

Sounds like a ton of fun except for your near-bonk experience. That kid needs to HTFU.

Ahh, you've got me envious now -- with one minor event under my belt, I can't wait for the first big event in a few weeks. There's something about riding with a couple thousand other cyclists that just makes a body feel good.

Mojo Slim

I will at least carry my own Gatorade if/when I do the Wildflower again. I have some handy little packets. There were some Clif Bars at a couple of the rest stops, if you knew where to find them. That pack of GU it just always in my Bento Box and it saved me.

Velo Dog

probably my favorite organized ride. I've gone down with a group from Reno three or four times. Chico's a surprisingly cool town, too, if you like a college-town atmosphere, cheap(ish) restaurants and a great minibrewery.