Red Rider

We did essentially the same ride as yesterday but it was more of a Winters Loop. Weather conditions if anything were worse -- the fog was lower and very drippy-wet. But it sure beat the trainer.

BenRidin

32 miles & 5300' of Diablo MTB'ing. Lot's of pain, for it was a hammerfest of a ride with friends Chuck and Andy. Crap, those two do not settle down!! Chuck showed us some new single track off Oyster Point. Originally, this was going to be an way mellow velo, but enthusiasm got the better of us. Today's ride was a easy 25 miler to get the lactic build up out of the legs. Ouch, I'm sore.

BR

JoelS

Today's ride was cloudy, foggy, wet, and cold. But still fun. I'm liking the new Garmin 500. Even the calories burned estimate seems better. Here's the data: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/22103250

MarkoPolo

Got out for a short 22 mile solo loop today. Quito Rd to Hwy 9; the two little climbs up Pierce Rd and Mt. Eden (short, but knee-strainingly steep); around Stevens Creek Reservoir and then back home through the suburbian landscape of Cupertino and Saratoga.

Almost got taken out by a woman on a cruiser whose dog was leashed to her bike. She came around a corner on the wrong side of the rode and almost rode dog and bike right into me! I love dogs, but sometimes I wonder about the complete lack of common sense in some people.

The good news for the day - for at least 4 or 5 minutes, I actually felt some sun on my face...

ahmose

Today i went biking around Los Altos (less than 40miles), went up Elena Rd and Taaffe Rd, then i went back to MtEden. https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=sygothwrnquespbx
Yesterday (about 47 miles) I did MtEden both sides, Pierce, Peach, Canon, Kennedy and Shannon https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=egflccyncwptmylv

BTW, anybody notice the no biking sign on Canon drive ? I just noticed it yesterday.

Lanceoldstrong

Sierra Road Climb as part of a 55 mile loop out of Pleasanton with Midland.
2nd time up Sierra for me, the 1st for Midland. We both had a ball. That is one tough nut but I was better prepared this time.

My Garmin Edge 500 says I hit 57.1 mph on one descent.
I was moving, I don't know if it was that fast but I have been over 50 a few times before, so maybe.

Beaker

Hadn't really planned to do this until BlastRadius talked me into it recently, but did my first crit at the Early Bird's in Fremont today. I also dragged Brentley down with me, and met up with OffTheBack briefly. I only had 2 goals today - try to hang on and stay out of trouble. For reasons of timing, I snuck into the Cat5 "Under 30" race

For those who haven't done these before, they are training races. The first 45mins are a mentored skills clinic taught in groups by experienced racers. This was excellent - I learned how to ride over "bott dots" in the road, practice double and single pace lines, take corners quickly while riding 3 abreast etc. The mentors then also do the race along side the groups, motivating you to close a gap, or offering encouragement when you take a good line.

The race was a great experience. The first few laps were hang on for dear life and remember to look down the road while trying not to loose the wheel in front. People were starting to get tired after 8 or 9 laps and some riders were getting a little ragged in the corners; consequently a bunch of riders went down in the 2nd corner. I saw it play out a few rows ahead of me, and was able to pull up to a stop without hitting anyone or getting hit. Then the race took a different turn as I started off again solo - I lost 2.5mph from my average speed from here on. I was able to catch up with another racer in a Hammer jersey and we started working together trading pulls, eventually bringing in a 3rd rider. We then did the remaining 4 1/2 laps taking turns to pull - I was so stoked just to be able to hang in and do my bit. That last part was hard, but it felt fantastic to cross the line with my 2 newfound team mates.

A great day, hope everyone who went down in turn 2 heals up well. Big kudos to the mentors and leaders (including our own Pizzaman and velogirl) for a great learning experience and a first class work out.

bikingshearer 

BBM is being too modest - he did fine. It was a fun ride, although a bit more climbng than either of us intended. It got very foggy up on Cummings Skyway (I was very glad both for my blinky and the wide paved shoulders), but ranged between hazy sunshine and overcast the rest of the time. It was a tad chilly, though. The repast of which BBM spoke was made even nicer by my fiance meeting us for lunch. A good day.

Today, I headed out on my own from the Democratic Peoples Republic along the Arlington through Kensington, El Ceritto and Richmond, thence to San Pablo Dam Road to Wilcat adn up and over to home. 24.75 mile, 2100 feet of climbing - after yesterday, I felt it towards the end, but it's another good ride in the books. More hazy sunshine alternating with overcast - no fog, though. Turning onto the Dam Road into El Sobrante (motto: "Fewer meth lab houses blowing up than before") brought on a head wind that I could have done without, but nothing too bad.

silentben

That looks like an interesting route from Saratoga to Los Gatos. I will have to try it sometime.

My night riding thread kind of died out a month or so ago but I thought you might be interested in joining since those rides take a lot of meandering neighborhood roads.

Midland

Was a fun ride with LanceOldstrong and all new roads for me. Also one big ass hill.

BlastRadius

Good job staying alert and avoiding the crash. I'm glad you had a good time. I suspect your fitness is pretty good to complete the race after losing the main group.

jonathanb715

Hey, I was out with our TnT team (including Mrs. Oldstrong) on the bears and Pig Farm on Saturday also. Pig Farm is always a challenge!

JB

bigbossman 

We saw you at the beginning of our ride, then. I remember because as we passed on San Pablo Dam road, I looked right, saw your group unloading, and said to Rich - "look, TnT. Let's get the hell out of here".

ahmose

I would love to join and thanks for the invitation. However, weekdays are a little tough for me.
I hope as the days get longer to would join you guys (if you don't mind someone slowing you guys down).

scottmorrison99

I worked long hours all weekend, so trainer and roller rides only all weekend. Blah.

genejockey 

I rode from San Mateo to Portola Valley/Palo Alto and back, 48 miles. There was another rider I kept leapfrogging, who was riding the same route, at least the 'out' part - she passed me on the uphill, I passed her on the downhill.

But the real highlight was getting to yell at a car for going too slowly. I was coming down Crystal Springs from the dam. Usually I go into as aero a position as I can, and see how fast I can go just by gravity - usually topping 40. I came around the corner directly under the Doran Bridge, and this Honda had pulled out. He then proceeded to CRAWL down the hill.

I started shouting for him to speed up, but I guess he couldn't hear, and he SLOWED DOWN.


So I passed him.

I wanted to yell, "Get off the road!", but didn't.

bigbossman 

Heh - I actually had a SUV pull over to let me pass, coming off the top of Diablo. I like courteous drivers.

bikingshearer 

Not true. He wasn't that polite.

Ygduf

Were you in the blue/white BF kit? I think we saw you coming down Sandhill.

F4UX3/2

Beaker you must have been right next to me when that crash went down (scott cr1 and a red longsleve jersey) because I was a few riders behind it and came just short of running over my roommate who went down in the crash.

I missed the mentoring part though. I rode there from SF - 2 wrong turns, 1 flat and 50 miles later I got there at 8:55 , but the crit was, as you said, a great learning experience.

genejockey 

If it was Sandhill, it wasn't me. I don't like the 280 interchange on Sandhill(I HATE the one on Page Mill!!!), so I usually take 84 back to Woodside instead. That long, long overpass in the middle lane is just not my cup of tea.

OTOH, I was wearing the blue and white BF kit, so you might have seen me on Portola, or Alpine, etc.

loopybunny

I watched people racing cyclocross, does that count?

I hate being sick.

Beaker

That is entirely possible, I was trying to be a good boy and look ahead. I was very non-descript in a white jersey, black arm warmers and Hammer bibs on my black Roubaix.

F4UX3/2

can't say I remember seeing you, but maybe next sunday

Fueco

I rode the Winter Solstice Century on Saturday with my fiancee and a bunch of crazy ultra cycling friends. 5 of us did the ride on our fixed gear bikes. Such fun!

The ride is put on by the Almaden Cycle Touring Club, and goes from Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy to just past Pinnacles and back.The route isn't terribly tough, and has very nice scenery. It's certainly a worthy way to spend a chilly January day. I ended up with 121 miles on my bike computer after two wrong turns, but I made it to the end along with everyone (at least the people I know all finished, and I didn't see anyone sagged off the course). Many thanks to Deb and David for the awesome support. Not bad for your first time organizing a major ride!

Here's the route:


and here's a link to some pics taken by another rider. I'm the one giving the "Hang Loose" sign in one of the pics.
https://actc.smugmug.com/ACTC-Road-Bi...61216028_9U7Gf