spingineer

Good thing we started the ride a little later than usual (we rolled about 10:35 am). It was a little brisky riding to the start, but the sky opened up by the time I got to Mountain View.

Met Marco, Ruth, and Pete, who arrived on Caltrain together (although Ruth had to split off earlier, as she had to get back by 2 pm).



Ramon showed up a little earlier ...


We waited around till about 10:30 am ...


Just as we were about to leave, BigBossMan showed up ... so we had a nice little crowd to ring in the new BF kits.

Since Ruth had to leave early, I had to get one shot of her. The girl never takes a bad picture.


Almost from the beginning, we lose taxi777 and bigbossman (didn't make the turn). So instead, Bostic, myself, uspspro, kb5ql climb up Mora. Steeper than I remember, I guess because it had been a while since I had done that. Came as a surprise to everyone else ... steeper than everyone else thought. Nice steep short hill to start the day.

We caught up with taxi and bigbossman later. This gave us the opportunity to take a group shot of the BF Kits together.




After climbing out of Stonebrook, we turned onto El Monte, and the gladiators decide to bypass the Natoma/Black Mountain route, and instead go up Moody. Bostic, uspspro, and kb5ql went that option, while taxi, bigbossman, and myself continue on the regular route.

Here's taxi as he catches up on Elena


followed very closely by bigbossman


We eventually caught up with the gladiators, and Bostic, went ahead and took uspspro and taxi up his hill climb from hell, going completely straight up ... as vertical a climb as you can possibly get, going UP Los Trancos, and coming down Joaquin ... Dang! Glad I decided to hang loose with kb5ql and bigbossman. Taxi is really going to be hurting tonight.

On we go towards Old La Honda, but not before I get a flat on Portola Valley Road. Surely, with this, I was expecting the gladiators to pass me on Old La Honda. But what I didn't know was they were going up Los Trancos the hard way, plus they went on Golden Oaks ... that would take them awhile. In the meantime, I keep trying to push for a better time up OLH ... I felt really good up till just before the wooded area before Upenuf. No matter how many times I do this climb, that portion of the climb always gets to me. My pace slowed down considerably ... I think I made up to the top in 29 min ... still, about the same time, no matter how good or bad I feel.

As I was waiting at the top, I do see Marco, Ramon, then Taxi arrive ... completely hyperventilating. So that's what they look like after they climb OLH in 22 minutes!

We later made it down to Roberts, for lunch and sandwiches ... mmm, that felt good.


All in all, a nice small crowd, and a great ride. The weather was terrific ... just perfect, not really hot, and not cold at all. I'd better let the gladiators tell you more about the escapades that Bostic led them on.

bigbossman 

I lost my Old La Honda cherry today - and like most things in my life, it was a drawn-out, suffering affair. 34:40.

This was a fun ride, but trying to keep up with you guys is both tiring and futile. I was too busy trying not to lose a lung to take many pics, but I did get a few. In no particular order:

Ron fixes a flat, while I get a much-needed break:


We get dropped and lost within the first five miles, and Pete calls in co-ordinates:


The beginning of Old La Honda. This is the last I see of my buddies for 34:40:


Chasing Ron:

spingineer

More pics!
Taxi hamming it up


Our loveable mascot, the pesky penguin


Taxi and bigbossman


Taxi and kb5ql




Bigbossman, sporting the hot new kits


Bigbossman and uspspro


Top of OLH


Too much EPO ... here are the effects of it

taxi777

To tell you the truth, It wasn't EPO...I've never seen someone 500lbs in Spandex!!

taxi777

Freakin A !

Great ride today everyone…

We had kind of a different mixed ride today, including the Bossman and I getting pleasantly lost!
The weather and conversation was great so we didn’t really care.
We finally got back with the rest of the gang.

Marco and Ramon thoroughly punished me on some pretty sick climbs!...Holy Crap!
Furgit aboud it! I felt like I was being hazed : (

The kits are great, but they get dirty pretty fast…
around me anyway.

I had a little trouble keeping up at the end after yesterday’s and today’s thrashing.
Got dropped on OLH and the descent down 84 was my favorite part.
Thanks Ramon for the new scenery.

Thanks for the company, conversation and laughs everyone.

Pete

taxi777

BlastRadius

Excellent! I wish I could have made it. I was slinging tri-tip sandwiches for the better part of the day. In hindsight, I should have post the directions to the festival; the tri-tip sandwiches were delish.

spingineer

I must have been out of it. I don't remember this chick being on our ride ... unless Pete kept her to himself. Damn

bigbossman 

From the background - looks like Pete was mooching off the organized ride rest stop.

kb5ql

Hey, great ride. I'm gassed after all that climbing. I've really cut back on the ascent miles lately.

I promise to bring the plastic bike next time...

taxi777

Who...Me?

Bostic

This was the modified route.

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...d-ring-of-fire

uspspro

Ramon to Pete: "LEFT!"

spingineer

2nd flat in a month, and both on the rear. Was going to ride into work this morning, but find my tire flat again this morning. I was lucky this lasted me the whole ride, including the climb up OLH, and the fast descent on 84. Time to replace both tires.