Vance, Cathy had to bail on the AC ride because of time constraints, so she may be at CSUN and I may go to Baldy, after all.

I'll be doing the college #1 ride with my two boys (ages 11 & 13). I have a race on Sunday, so am taking it easy.

I'm doing the #1 ride on Saturday as well. I want to make it home before it gets too hot and before someone swipes my copy of the new Harry Potter book off my doorstep.

Sigh, it's going to be depressing to get smoked by an 11-year old.

My kids don't smoke.

Anyone.

:)

Who should I look for? I'll be the rather large fellow (6'3" 255#) riding a Kuota Kharma w/two over-eager pre-teen/teen.

I'll be doing the #1 ride tomorrow as well. If your boys don't mind a couple short but steep climbs, I know a great way to avoid Ventura Blvd.


Yeah CSUN but the short route for me. My knees are still complaining if I ride more than about 1:30-2:00 :( At least that's an improvement, so I just need to gradually work my way into it... more gradually than I want to.

Yeah, that's fine (don't ya like how I quickly answered for them? :D ).

Although, I haven't even looked at what course it is 'cept it's 30-miles.

It's basically a rolling romp through the south western hills of the valley. Down Lindley (right by my apartment... hmmm if I oversleep I'll just latch on there :D ) then across Wells to Calabasas but stopping before any major climbs. I've done the route before, and the only reason they use Ventura is because of two climbs (one on Wells, one on Dumetz) that are probably 15% for 1/4 mile. I prefer those to traffic, and we'd probably still get to the rest stop around the same time.

I will be in CSUN, but I had to be home by 10:30 (going with the family to the Circus).
Sorry, hard-core cycling friends...

I was thinking ride/level 2 , the 180B, because it include the 15+% on wells.
But I can do level 1, the 180A too.

More than everything I want to see if Ovo still exists because I wasn't bombard with his BF messages now for a week :eek:

Don't forget the 30 minute breaks these people take if you're deciding on which route. Or make a pact with us to limit it to 10 min.

Ride reports please...
I did 1/2 of the level 2 so nothing exited to report.

here are some photos from the early mornning. I think I got 80-90% of the people that came so I hope 'you' are there too. If not... sorry
for the die hard BFers, the game is "find ovo" he is there (small blury, but he is there)

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-089.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-090.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-091.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-092.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-093.jpg

http://shai.impcash.com/07/july07-094.jpg

I did the 1 ride with Adam and his boys. We decided to avoid Ventura Blvd on the way out and went up Dumetz. Some others on the ride followed us blindly and were surprised at the steep (but short) climbs before realizing we had altered our own route. Met a few nice people at the rest stop then headed back. The boys sprinted to the finish while us older men were off the back. Other than that, it was pretty uneventful, until I was heading home down Lindley:

A car with an old couple in it honked at me even though I was to the right of the right hand lane. After a second honk, he passed me very close then slowed down to squeeze me into the parked cars. I went around to the driver's side and yelled "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!". He said he honked for me to move (not that there was anywhere for me to move to), and I explained to him that, as per California Code, I was entitled to that lane since there was no bike lane. I then said (still yelling, I gotta work on that) that if he didn't follow the law I'd report his dangerous driving to the DMV and that I had noted his plate number. The driver apologized and I thanked him for listening, then noticed an SUV stopped nearby with 2 guys in it yelling "YOU TELL HIM! THAT GUY'S AN IDIOT!" I waved at them and rode off.

THEN with about 2 miles to go, I felt the drivetrain jerk and then heard metal pieces flying all over the place. I stopped and noted that the rear derailleur had snapped in half and the pulleys and screws fell off. I put the pieces in my pocket and tried to soft pedal home, but the chain had bent and a pin was sticking out and got stuck on the rear cassette and frame stays. That had me walking with about a mile to go. Hoping I sold enough stuff on ebay to pay for a 9 or 10 speed rear and brifters, because I don't know where I'm going to find an 8 speed RD and the shifters are worn out anyway. Pictures for the hall of fame to be submitted later.

Oh, and I found Ovo on the last pic, top left, riding up to the crowd. What do I win? (A new derailleur? :D )

I also see Vance, Adam, his boys, and myself (thanks, your pics show how obnoxiously huge the back of my helmet looks on me!)

Thanks for the photos, Shai. Our group ended up going over (new) Topanga to PCH. Short break at the Coffee Bean near Pepperdine. Up Latigo. Down Mulholland to Rock Store. And then back via Agoura, Mureau, etc. I ended with about 82mi. Strong group, with Cassave, Keith, and Manny being the 'gators (instigators). RJ, Henry, Randy, Mel, Mark R., Mark D., Blahze, Andy, Lea, Kathy, Carrie, Ovo... who am I forgetting?

Update: Pics of the cranage. The derailleur literally sheared in half (I must have uber legs!!!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/Bike/RD1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/Bike/RD2.jpg

Here are the pieces I could find on the road. There's another pulley out there somewhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/Bike/RD3.jpg

Serious wattage!

at least 400 I'd say...

Wow!! :eek::eek:

I have never seen or heard of such a thing. Amazing.

you were looking pretty strong on those last two hills, though...:D

Oh c'mon, you know I can dial it up to 1,000 no problem :D Seriously, I was planning on upgrading the components on this used bike eventually, just not this soon!

How much shorter was the Dumetz route? You made it to the bakery so much faster than those of us who turned on Winnetka and went to Ventura. (Of course, I pretty much crawled up that hill on Mulholland.)

And Adam's boys really flew. As predicted, I got smoked by an 11-year old.

It was brisk for our group. Topanga to PCH, a nice stop at the Coffee Bean in Malibu then
a bloodletting over Latigo were Manny and I had visions of the grim reaper while trying to reel in Vance.
A short stop at Sierra Creek store and most went through Agoura, I continued on Mulholland and threw in a loop up Stunt on the way home; hot, seemed a lot longer and steeper than usual.
See you all tomorrow.

I would have preferred that route... but the way you bolted off, I thought you might prefer to go solo.

According to my Garmin, we rode a total of 29 miles. So it saved us all of one mile the way we went. :rolleyes:

That's depressing. I got the impression that you arrived a lot earlier at Corner Bakery than I did. Sigh, I need to improve my climbing skills a lot. On the plus side, yesterday was my first 50-mile ride (the level 1 ride plus my ride to and from the college). I've upped my distances in each of the past weeks.

A bunch of us stopped by Eric's house during the ride today. He walked out to greet us and was all smiles. He's wearing a back brace, but he said his back never bothered him. He still can't open his left eye, but he's confident it's coming back. He's thinking about trying to work a few hours this week. He wants everyone to know how much he appreciates the e-mails and well wishes.He also wanted to thank Mark for helping out on the road.
It was great to see him laughing. John

Yea it was nice seeing Eric. Glad he is doing better. I hope recovers quickly