thomson

I have to say the TdF is one of the best rides I have done. The route is nice, very little traffic, but what set this ride above the rest is the people!! Both the volunteers (thank you so much) and the riders, everybody was just so friendly.

Ok, the word of the day was COLD. I started with a jersey, vest, jacket, shorts, long pants, and a balaclava. And I did not take off one thing for the entire ride. I finished around 2:30 (I think) and it was still chilly then!!

Cassave, Vance, Vertical Bob, Big John,, and Shai were all there and looked strong. BF was well represented!!

I think Keith and Vance probably finished first.

I thank Vance, Stan, and Keith for getting me in for this years ride.

Stan, btw, figured not shaving for a few days would keep him warmer, who knows, maybe it worked.

I met a few new people from SFVBC. All pretty girls, I just live right I guess.

Met Afaustoa at one of the rest stops. Great guy. He is having surgery in a few weeks to remove some screws from his shoulder but hopes to be ready for the Big Joy ride on January 12th.

VanceMac

It was, quite simply, the most organized ride I have ever been on. Major kudos to Francis and the entire Adobo gang.

And despite all my fretting (and whining) the weather was glorious! More after a shower...

merider1

Well, now you boys know why I think Francis is the very best and I love his rides, although I was not on a single one this year as I'm a pile of poo. Missed a great ride, I'm sure. Congrats on finishing! Vance, I got your text message - I knew you'd love it.

And Francis, if you read this, I'm sorry I bailed. I missed you guys and I still think you should organize rides for a living. Your TDF last year was the best (privately) organized ride I had ever attended. Reviews so far seem to echo those sentiments for this year's ride.

thomson

Mary, you were missed. The addition of you would have made this ride perfect!!

VanceMac

Heh, the first acknowledgment of one my texts or calls. I was beginning to figure you (wisely) gave me a wrong number!

You were, indeed, missed -- several people asked about you. Thomson was telling people you were anti-Filipino.

Shprung

I don't know what are you talking about. It was so cold; I thought I am getting sick (or am I?!) for the first like 40 miles I wanted to quit, but after 50 there is no point because the route reverse.
The Filipino soap in rest stop #2 (we only had 2 rest stops) was super and kick me into gear, so while the weather staid below 45 the return was easier for me; the sun was out for part of the way and few of us from SFVBC rode together and regroup.
Because it was soooo cold, I didn't take many photos, but I did few (Upload later). The food at the end of the ride was extremly good. I don't exactly what I ate (Filipino good stuff), but I loved it.
98.5 miles and 9.5k elevation + very cold = hard ride, but very suportive and perfectly orgenize.
I even went and purchase a T-shirt to donate some cash to this guys. It was amazing.

VanceMac

I never felt cold all day. And by that last hill up to the parking lot (whose idea was that?!?), I was sweating.

I think the heated seats in that AMG are spoiling you.

thomson

As for the cold, I was glad it was cold the whole day. If the sun came out I would not have known what to do with all my clothing.

merider1

As sweet as that is, Jim, I'd still be out there pedaling right now if I had gone.

spingineer

How cold was it? It was 29 F at the top of my climb to Mt. Hamilton.

merider1

Shai, I mean this so sweetly as you are one of my favorites, but with your accent and unique style, the above is hysterical. Sweetie, I doubt Francis served you Filipino soap at the rest stop.

merider1

What are talking about? I haven't gotten any texts or calls from you before.

And I doubt it was Thomson telling them that, but for your info, those boys love me so they know it's not true.

Shprung

ME, I hope you are going to enjoy my 'shai-english' on this post too...

You bet ya! I put it on level 3 with lower back massage for the 1/2 drive home. I think every cyclist need this type of seats in his AMG; beyong that... I need recomendation for clothing (especailly something for my bold head)
I had skin-layer long sleaves + Jersy + arm warmers, full leg warmers, shoes covers, yet - I was shivering. John thought I am going to drop dead and gave me his wind breaker. This was 2 sizes biger than me and going down hills I felt like a kite in testing, but it did help some. Laura offered me something for my head but it was too small :-(

thomson

I don't really know Ron, maybe 65. But it was windy so the cold air just got colder.

Just kidding on the 65. My guess is high 30's/low 40's. With wind chill, -460 Fahrenheit.

thomson

The soup was Won Ton. I don't know what the soap was, I didn't use the facilities.

merider1

I love your Shai-English and don't ever change it.

Yes, your bold head needs something to keep it shy and humble.

merider1

Doh! I missed the soup!!!

VanceMac

Shai, anything on the head will help keep a lot of heat in. I happened to use this today -- cheap microfleece, but I think it made a big difference.

Other than that, I had a medium-thick underarmour turtleneck as a baselayer, and this outside. Nothing fancy, but the combo kept me very warm. I also wore some surgical rubber gloves under my bike gloves, which I thought I would need to remove after the first hour, but kept them on all day.

mkadam68

Sorry I missed you all. I rode with my LBS group (Newhall Bicycle Company). We were invited, but we left a little bit late to see you all (I managed to catch one person just as he was leaving the 1st KOM point). We rolled through Castaic at 8:20.

Although, I'm glad I didn't commit to doing the whole thing!! The climbs killed me!! I must be so outta shape!! Mary woulda dropped me for sure!

We rode until 9:15, then turned around so our LBS owner could get the shop open. All told, I completed about 56 miles and 3,900 feet of climbing, 3,100 of it between miles 20 & 37! The hardest climb was the first just going up past Castaic Lake. The others weren't so bad, but my legs were already shot by then. Then we got hit with that slog up to the 1st KOM--man!!

Hope you all had fun. I need to start concentrating on more climbing to strengthen up for the Planet Ultra KOM Challenge.

thomson

Sisko, I have no meaningful stats. I don't even know my ride time.

I can say it was colder than 50°. In 50° starts, I don’t usually even use a vest if it is going to end up being warmer.

Glad you had a good ride.

thomson

Well, my brain doesn't need an excuse to be off but I was actually trying to be funny, you know absolute zero and all.

VanceMac

Kidd, I would have come in at 99.5, but did a little extra to get the 100 even. I don't have an elevation computer, but Keith said he had 9500 feet (others had 9700). It's an odd 9500 ft, too... nothing too steep, but it feels hard... I think because the longest descent is a long, very gradual descent, with a headwind -- so you are working fairly hard even on the descent.

mkadam68

Just sounds funny to hear you call somebody "Kid" even if it's his screen name.

Shprung

Here is one and only Francis himself as he (with his red bell) linning us up for the start at 7:40AM

Shprung

I never had so much (good) food at the end of a century/orgenized ride. Of course, free refill!




Part of the SFVBC gang enjoying the food. As you can tell from the shadows it all ready late (3:54 to be exact) but everyone still cold.