Sunday Morning - Squeezing In Rides Where I Can

Left the house at 5:00 am on the road bike - with lights.
Weather was less than ideal with fog spilling over the valley all night keeping temps in the low 50's at best.
Traffic through the valley was superb - otherwise known as - nonexistent.
Winds were stiff out of the south visibly whipping the fog past me as I climbed through 1000' on the north side of Mt. Diablo. The 2000' marker - nearly slipped past unnoticed, obscured by a vast wet blanket.

The North Gates had been closed at the bottom of the climb, so I skirted by, close to the sign stating that they wouldn't open till 8:00 am. I basked in the solitude, ever wary of the same. A climb to the very top seemed unwise now, since a spill could leave me rather cold and lonely for several hours. My plans changed over the next few miles, and I established an alternate route, that sent me down to the South Gate - avoiding the final climb to the peak.

I was completely alone for the nearly 7 miles to the ranger station and turn toward the South Gate. Not one suicidal ground squirrel scampered across my path.

The South Gate descent was brutal, exposing the wisdom of avoiding the summit. I was nearly blind in the fog and frozen within minutes.
I passed 3 separate adventurers cycling up the other side, and one other on foot. It was now getting light, and late.

8:00 am in the shower was the original goal, but the detour ended up extending that by 10 minutes.

Made it to church by 9:00 am.
Probably should have stretched a little more prior to sitting for an hour.

Energy Bars

I figured I would share the secret recipe that we found online.

We (My Wife) make our own energy bars for my many extended length adventures on the bikes.
We have yet to do the cost analysis to verify this supposition, but, I firmly believe that we save a HUGE amount of money by making these ourselves. Find the recipe below.

• 4.5 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup butter - softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
  
• 1/2 cup choco chips
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds.

(She puts double the dried fruit)


Mix first 4 ingredients first.
Add next 4 and beat with mixer.
Add rest, dump into "lightly greased" 9x15 pan, bake 20 - 25 mins or till golden brown.

Makes approx. 24 reasonably sized bars which we (My Wife) cover with plastic wrap for easy access on the fly.

We (Me) did the math and established that each of the 24 bars has approx. 235 calories each.
Not bad in comparison to other available energy bars out there.

If you are at all familiar with the other options for compact energy replenishment, you will know that taste, texture and chewability (new word) definitely take a back seat to shelf life and calorie capacity. I'm sure there has been exhaustive market research done to determine the viability of the many similar available products, but I have to believe that the corporate decision makers for the manufacturers don't consume their own products. I've tried various assortments, and have been rather disappointed. Hence the search for the cost effective, digestible, and palitable alternative.


The biggest problem that I can see to marketing our little secret is shelf life. Ours hang out in the freezer. Not sure if that's a marketable concept.
No matter - they work for us. And as long as I'm not gasping my way up a long hill, they go down pretty easily.

(Tip: Don't inhale the little crumbs)

WCC - Completely SOAKED

Saturday May 2 - 2009
Wine Country Century - 200 Kilometers.
It never crossed my mind that it might rain.
It didn't. It poured.

For several weeks we have been training with this ride specifically in mind. Known only as a moderately hard ride, it hasn't exactly dominated our lives or changed lifestyles. But paying over $50 to register, tends to make one want to at least make it to the lunch stop.

Within the week prior to the ride the weather report started literally casting shadows on the event. I would check the weather several times a day, starting on Wednesday, and by Friday afternoon it was getting harder and harder to find a weather report that my optimism could cling to. My companions (Vince, Kevin, Milt, and Dick) had begun jesting about cutting the ride short and settling for the 100 mile course or worse yet the 100 kilometer. I clung to the 200k threatening to ride it alone. It didn't seem to bother them

Friday it poured rain. By Saturday morning the first blast of the storm had saturated the Bay Area and the clouds were hanging ominously at around 1000'. The air was thick. But it wasn't raining. We said good by to Bec and Ella (who would spend the day with friends in Santa Rosa) around 7:00 am and started the ride not even needing the rain gear.



I was prepared to compose my perspective of the day's events. But before I was able to sit down, Milt sent the email seen below. He must have had far more energy left over on Saturday night than I did. So, with some of my own editorial comments embedded, here is Saturday's ride...

Dick, Vince, Me, Milt, Kevin

Sent From Milt at 10:23 PM, Saturday, May 2, 2009

Hi All,

This is kind of long, so be warned....

Wellllllllllll, today's ride was great. It wasn't without it's trying moments, but it was a lot of fun just the same. I have to come clean with Vince, Scott and Dick though. I don't know about Kevin, but I only rode 111.?? miles today. I skipped the lunch stop and headed for the finish. Vince and Scott rode ESI (Every Single Inch) for 124 miles. By chance and misfortune ( for Vince) I found myself about 25miles ahead of Vince at the end of the day. I couldn't help it. When he asked I just told him I rode the whole thing. In fact I told him I got lost, and even rode extra miles :)) Soooooo here's the real story of a great ride. (Scott: Milt, I would have believed you, but boy I didn't think we had lost THAT much time working on the flat tires. I figure we lost an hour.)

We almost left my house on time this morning at 5am. After loading my new 4runner ( actually it's 9 years old ) with all the bikes, gear , and riders, for it's maiden trip. It wouldn't start. I now have a new pet name for it."Titanic". We quickly unpacked everything and loaded it into Kevin's trusty Ford 60000 Diesel and left for Santa Rosa at 5:20am. When we got there the parking lot was almost empty. Despite our late arrival, we were able to park very close to check in. We checked in under cloudy skies then walked back to the truck to put our gear together. Still no rain, and the temp was in the high 50s - low 60s. I remember telling Kevin I thought we'd get rained on because it was just too warm...

7:30am... We were off. (Scott: It was actually 7:00)







Light wind, still no rain, things were looking great. Then, about 10 miles into the ride we made a sharp left turn, and as I was coming out of the turn I could hear the sound of metal grinding across the pavement. Kevin was down, and he was in a group of about five other riders, including Vince and Scott. Turned out Kevin swerved wide to miss a metal grate, and his front wheel slid across some loose gravel. Vince narrowly missed rolling over Kevin's head and some how managed to keep his bike right side up. True to form, Kevin quickly got up, gave his bike a quick once over, and got back on the bike and promptly dropped everyone. We didn't catch Kevin for about 30 minutes. Vince thought Kevin was just working off the adrenalin, I think Kevin just didn't want any of us to see him cry:))

We rode over Grayton road, and as we did the rain came. Grayton Road is also where some of us would be tested.

Look Mom - No hands!!

Vince (in blue) Coming to the Top of Grayton Rd.

At the top of the first climb we became separated. Vince, Scott, and Dick, being the studly ones, rode over the bonus hill into Occidental. Kevin and I stayed on Grayton Rd figuring we would need a little edge to complete the Coleman Valley Rd climb with Vince and the gang. Did I say it had started raining?.... Kevin and I stayed together for the Coleman climb and when we reached the rest stop at the top we waited ( in the rain ) for Vince and Scott. After 15 minutes we left, thinking they would catch us along the coast. What we didn't know is that Vince would suffer two flat tires ( in the rain ) along that stretch, and his group would fall farther back.

Kevin and I descended Coleman Valley road in heavy rain. I can't ever remember using my brakes so much on any descent. The wheels stayed wet no matter how much water you scrubbed off by applying the brakes. It could take a couple of hundred feet to stop the bike while riding as slow as 20mph. Every time I rolled over a cattle grate I was worried I might drop the bike. (Scott: There were at least a half dozen of these - slick as ice. One rider went down just seconds behind us on the first one of the actual descent.) On the way down Coleman I stopped to put on my glove liners and Kevin pulled ahead, not to be seen until we reached Monte Rio.

Bottom of Coleman - Still alive, soaked, and now wearing the wind breaker

Once on the coast highway it wasn't quite as cold, and we did have a tail wind while we rode in the rain. I reached River road in about 30 minutes and headed for the second rest stop. The Russian River area is mighty nice, and the ride into Monte Rio was uneventful. At the second rest stop I rejoined Kevin and we filled our water bottles. We hung out a while waiting for Vince and the gang who never showed. By now we figured they somehow were in front of us, so we started to push a little. We rode through Gurneville, in the rain, and over the hill to Whorten Bridge where the next rest stop was. We didn't wait all that long now because we were sure everyone was ahead of us. We rode across Dry Creek Road in the heavy rain" with a mission", and skipped the lunch stop in a effort to catch up with Vince, Scott , and Dick. Then it happened again... Another left had turn, and when Kevin came up behind me he touched my wheel for just a moment.... Luckily, he saved himself at the last second. (Scott: I'm hearing differing reports of this. Some are saying that he actually cleaned another section of pavement. Hmm??)

What we didn't know is that Vince would have three flats for the day, and replaced a tire.

Vince flatted immediately upon leaving the Whorten Bridge rest stop. Good timing at least.

They were about 90 minutes back. Kevin and I continued to push ( in the rain ) as best we could. The final 30 miles was into a light but steady head wind, and it rained very hard at times. After the Whorten Bridge rest stop, Kevin and I rode the final 60 miles in without stopping. We just wanted it to be finished. I don't know about the others, but I rode for 5 hours today without being able to feel my feet. (Scott: Vince started complaining about numb toes about an hour in, and never got them back till 5:00 at the finish, 9 hours later - Mine came and went) At the end of the ride we found that Dick experienced knee trouble, and had found a quick way back to the truck. Vince and Scott came in late in the day, but looked like a million bucks despite having lots of road trouble.


Did I say we rode A LOT in the rain today ? It was a blast... maybe one of the best rides ever... my feet are warm, and I'm not riding in the morning ....LIFE IS GOOD.
Take Care, Milt.


And so there you have it.

1 Week till the Wine Country Century - 75.8 Miles

Rode on Saturday with Vince, Milt, and Mickey.
Talked a lot about next weekend's Wine Country Century.





Still a little sore from my 20+ mile mountain bike ride home from work on Thursday (including a stop for a quick 5 mile run in Briones), and then return on Friday with the road bike.


Took it rather easy at the onset.
Stayed with Milt and Mickey for a while, and then left them just before Bear Creek Rd.
Waited at San Pablo Dam Rd. where we finally left them for good.

They finished a loop back through Orinda and Lafayette, while Vince and I explored a new route to the top of the Oakland Ridge. 100 yards or so on a singular stretch of dirt road concerned me, but not as much as the abrupt climbs in the next couple of miles. Very steep.

Wind breaker on. Wind breaker off. ...all along the Oakland ridge. We would descend long enough to need it, put it on, and then sweat up the next climb. Once we came out of the hills, we were able to stash them for good.

Water stop at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.

We followed basically the same route as my century last week, but skipped the mountain to get home on time.

Led a spectacular tail wind from San Ramone to home. No complaints.
Total of 75.8 miles.

100 Solo

1 large Whole Grain Bagel - 1 oz Neufchatel Cheese.
1 cup Grape Nuts cereal
1 chopped banana - in noted cereal.
1.5 cups Starbucks Italian Roast Coffee.

4 homemade energy bars - designed, created, and wrapped by my wife.
2 bottles of Cytomax mixed a little too strong.

...Fuel for Saturday's 100.5 mile road ride.


The Course was not new. From Martinez, a slow climb to Pig Farm Hill and then the rolling hills of Bear Creek Rd, up into Tilden and abruptly up South Park Rd.

(I got a "good luck!" from a passing motorist as I began my climb up South Park. If I wasn't already intimate with this climb, I would have certainly begun having second thoughts about the relationship.)

Photo from my phone looking West over Oakland and SF Bay.
Taken from Skyline Blvd.

From SP the route goes south through the Berkeley and Oakland hills to Castro Valley, and then back to the Diablo valley through Crow Canyon.

I was hoping for an unseasonal "off shore flow" meaning that the warm air, assisted by a stiff breeze, would be coming from the east out of the central valley. Alas, this was not the case, though warm indeed. Head wind all the way to the foot of Mt. Diablo, and I failed at meteorology again. I did pick up a draft along this stretch though. A older gentleman caught me at a stop light, and I agreed to slow my pace, so that we could trade off drafting for a few miles, saving us both considerable energy.

I had determined early on, that riding Diablo was not optional - I would at least see the Ranger Station. I relegated the summit to an option, but after consuming the last of the energy bars, turned from the Ranger Station and ascended the last 4.5 miles.

Actually I went about 4.25 miles. The final 1/8 of a mile is an 18% death march. I had been seriously contemplating stopping short even as I approached the mountain - nearly 70 miles into the ride. Within a 1/4 mile of the top, an unbelievably obnoxious swarm of tiny flies made the decision for me. They literally covered my arms as fast as I could sweep them off. Ears. Nose. Forget it.
I was spitting bugs for a mile.
(No not like that - I can only spit about 10', and that's with a tail wind.)

I descended fast.
Not my fastest descent, as I did a lot of stretching and sitting up on the straights, but I felt very sharp on the corners, and managed to pass quite a few cyclists.

Got passed myself for the first time on the descent. He's lucky I had to keep stretching. Passed me on the flats at the bottom, where I reigned in with a long back stretch till he slid by, and then I basked in his draft till we hit some rollers. I don't think he was 85 miles into his ride.

OK, so in conclusion, full disclosure requires that I report...
I was passed by a girl on the way up. There were 3 other guys that passed me too, but the girl...

There are so many reasons why... And believe me, I rehearsed them all within the milliseconds after noticing the obvious. It would be pointless to list them here, since you would file them all under the label "excuse" any way - with the exception of the one reason, that I have settled upon. Though fatigued by many miles of riding; a far inferior bike; with no professional training (like she must have had); and weighing dozens of pounds more; I, was only passed for this one reason:



[Consider inserting photo here]


I don't shave my legs.
I'll never let this happen again.

Writing Not Riding

I am sitting at my laptop with my phone, credit card and driver's license in a plastic ziplock bag. I've been waiting an hour for the rain to let up so that I can get on my bike and ride to the regularly scheduled Tuesday Hike / Run event. My plan was to leave 2 hours early and ride the mountain bike as a training ride. The rain has gone from steady, to torrential with thunder and lightning. The thunder and lightning is actually pretty cool, since we almost never get it here in the SF Bay Area. However, I just got a call from Vince pulling out of the run, leaving me with a decision. So here I sit all dressed up with nowhere to go. I went out and took these pictures so I would have something to put in this post.



4 hours later...

Never mind, we went.
When the thunderstorm blew over, we decided to dodge rain drops and give it a go.

I changed plans on Pastor - who was going to come and pace us on his bike - a few times via text message...

Me (3:16 PM):
Don't necessarily have to bring your bike.
Mine will be there and you could ride it.
I plan to ride to the hike - rain or shine.

Me (3:17 PM):
Vince is looking at closer to 5, so don't wait too long or you may need your bike to catch up.

Me (4:23 PM):
Vince bailed out. (legit Swintonism - I just realized the play on words)
It is POURING!!!! And lightning.
May just wish I was riding instead.

Me (4:45 PM):
Nevermind we're going.
Yeah we're fickle.

Snow, Brent (4:47 PM):
ok ill see u there

So yeah he was there a little late and had to catch up - Not that it was all that hard for him. We ran the 7 miles and he rode it. We still got wet, 'cause the rain wasn't really gone.

Bec opted out of today's adventure. No complaints here, because I'm now dry, showered, and fed: Bean burritos, and chicken stuff (not sure what it's called - but sure is great to have waiting for you after riding and running in the rain).

The Rim Trail

As noted in the Biathalon post - the Lafayette Rim trail is a 5 mile hilly loop around the Lafayette Reservoir. There is a paved trail down at water level that makes the circuit in just under 3 miles, but the more adventurous brave the hills.

The map above is a track recorded by a cool piece of software I downloaded to my Treo. It uses the built in GPS receiver on the phone to track my coordinates and altitude during any period of time that I tell it to run.

The route is known for it's abrupt climb at around 2 miles. Locals refer to it as "Cardiac Hill," climbing over 250' in under a quarter mile. Basically, it needs steps cut into it. One of these days I'll post because I have run the route twice consecutively.

This picture was taken just before our "Biathlon Run"
I'm not cold - I'm just standing like that because...I don't know why.
Quit being so critical already.

We enjoy this spot because it offers a pace for everyone.
And...it has a HUGE playground for Ella at the end.

The Biathlon

The biathlon was an outgrowth of my "ride to the run" that I recently did on a Tuesday afternoon.
I rode through Briones from our house to meet up with the group that our family hikes and runs with. Vince contrived the real biathlon after our run that evening. We scheduled it for the following Saturday.

30 miles on the mountain bikes - from Martinez to Lafayette and back again through Briones Regional Park - split evenly in half with a 5 mile run around the Lafayette Reservoir Rim Trail.
The entire route was hills. I estimate 3,500 - 4,000 feet of climbing on the mountain bikes, and 1,500 running.

Most of the trails we rode were familiar, but the final descent of the first leg into Lafayette was a new one, and gave rise to a lingering foreboding. For the entire run around the reservoir, I couldn't get off my mind the fact that the descent into Lafayette had been really fast.

The foreboding was entirely warranted. The furthest extent of the Rim Trail circuit, our running "leg" of the journey, put us on the opposite ridge of the valley from our recent descent, with excellent views of the hills we would soon pedal back up. Even across the valley they appeared rather steep.

They were extremely steep. There were times during our return when even in our lowest gear, our cadence (pedal stroke) was well under 60 RPM. It's hard to just stay balanced going that slow - no less being at nearly 100%. Nonetheless, we returned through Briones in less time than it took us in the opposite direction.


Bec and Ella walked 4 miles around the lake while we ran, and met us back at the car before we pedaled away. The Pilot served as bike storage while at the reservoir.



And, Bec was the real Hero of the day, bringing home made quiche, muffins, and fresh fruit to the reservoir for a rest stop before and after the run.
Oh yeah, and we made a new friend on the trail...

He was kind enough to let us squeeze through the 18" that he had left between his rump and a tree. Going around the tree wasn't an option as that side was protected by a much more formidable beast - Poison Oak!!!

Daylight Saving - We Got Our Hour Back

Winter is not over, but we can at least pretend. Daylight saving has crept earlier and earlier it seems, and this year officially fell on March 8. I'm personally not a fan of the event. Why bother? - Ya know?

No matter - it happens, and we oblige.

March 9 Monday found us on an afternoon ride in celebration. Vince and I sped around the San Pablo reservoir - me sporting a new red walled gift tire, that Vince had conceded to reduce the risk of a repeat of our last double flat misadventure. Front tire is now all black with a yellow "Continental" logo on the side, and the rear is black with a bright red sidewall. It doesn't even come close to looking like it was meant to be that way. It looks like what it is. I don't care. I'm telling people that it's more aerodynamic that way.



Since that afternoon I have managed a few other solo rides, including a couple of trips to the top of our local 3800 foot hill - slipping beneath the radar of my new GPS enabled Treo Pro cell phone, and exchanging my bluetooth head leash for a helmet.

By the way, did I mention that I bought a new phone? The other was in active mutiny and the rebellion had to be suppressed before it spread to my other digital vessels.

While on the topic; I love my gadgets. I hate them too. I suspect I'm normal. I've owned a Palm Treo since when the 650 was new. That's at least 3 years, maybe 4. I've had more headsets than I can remember. GPS, laptop, external drives, stereo bluetooth headset, voice recorder, and a multi function pen that produces an ink pen with one twist and a stylus for the touch screen with the other and laser pointer at the top next to a blue LED flashlight. Carried the fancy pen for 1 week.

These things do not bring me joy. Much to the contrary. Most of them are fortunate to have avoided becoming projectiles during failed paring and synchronizing events. Among the worst, is when my computer and phone don't both convert to daylight saving correctly. All of my meetings become exactly 1 hour off. The computer says one thing, and the phone, another. I typically realize this halfway through a bad Monday, resulting from waking up to my phone alarm - exactly one hour late. I do not need these conveniences.

And then I think how simple a concept is the bicycle. But wait - Electric Dura Ace? Oh no.

Here we are full circle. Back to daylight saving. The more I ponder this, the more I think this may be a good issue for a sort of Civil Disobedience along the lines of a Critical Mass. If we all just said forget it, then we would all be right, and the only ones off would be the government. And that wouldn't be new.

Flats

A couple years ago on a very warm July 4th we were on the trail at Mitchel Canyon Regional Park in Clayton, CA. We were making good time up the Mitchel Canyon trail, and had been outbound for nearly 30 minutes when that unmistakable rough ride feeling telegraphed through the spokes and into the frame. I had a flat - back tire - and of course had no spare. The green slime, theoretically intended for defense of the precious pressurized gasses, was seeping out between the rim and tire. A change of plans was in the making.

Fortunate for me I wasn't riding - my daughter was. Unfortunate for me, I was pushing.

We were out for a family hike on one of the hottest days of the year, and I was pushing our picnic lunch, approx. 10,000 gallons of water, and our 35lb 5 year old in the jogging stroller.


Down by 1 out of 3 wheels, I resolved to the likelyhood of replacing a tire along with a tube, and sat down with 2 great hiking companions along a very dry creek bed and consumed some of the 10,000 gallons with lunch.


Patches and slime have become a part of our life. The reason Slime was oozing out of the tire, was that by the summer of '07, all of the 3 tubes had been replaced at least once with Slime tubes since they left Toys R Us 4 years earlier. We estimate that we have over 3,000 miles on that stroller. Yes, 3,000 - and that's conservative.

It's not just the stroller though. All of our bikes have had their turn.

Bec has walked her crippled bike over a mile, to finish our "quick ride up to the store" while Ella and I returned home for the rescue vehicle.

There was the time I took my mountain bike, with the trailer bike and Ella in tow, off the paved trail while my wife looked on from the dull safety of the asphalt. We regained the pavement with a coating of Puncture Vine seed pods covering our tires. Look at the link and you will see what I mean by "coating." We spent easily 10 minutes puncturing our fingers trying to remove the beasts from the treads. The trailer bike's only wheel was deflated instantly. But, here is where I give Slime a reprieve. I'm still riding my bike on the same front tube and tire. At least a couple dozen of the seed pods were escorted out of the tire with a little green bubble, but it never went flat. The back tube survived too, but later met its demise on the bottom mile of Downieville downhill. No slime was going to fix that gash.

Two recent episodes bear noting, and were frankly the impetus for this post.

First:
I was to meet the guys for our monthly ride to the men's prayer breakfast (February), but was redirected halfway to the rendezvous by a phone call from Dave with a flat tire. He was calling off, but I convinced him to let me come and replace his tube with the spare I was carrying. That done, we altered our route, and headed for breakfast. Within 3 miles of the destination and already running late, I flatted the Downieville tire again. "No way." I had given my spare to Dave. There we sat, wishing I had remembered to put my patch kit in the Camel Back pack also. A kind group of cyclists riding by bailed us out, after rifling 3 of thier saddle bags for a patch kit without dried glue. We snuck into the meeting approx. 1 hour late, ate cold eggs and sausage, and listened as we were lifted up in prayer for a safe arrival. God answered their prayers before they asked, and provided enough hot coffee to meet my deepest current need. I bummed a ride to Performance Bicycle in Walnut Creek, bought 2 new Slime tubes, installed one, and headed off to meet the group for the balance of the ride.

Double Flat

Second:
Vince and I opted for a quick "Crocket Loop" ride before dark last Thursday in leu of a run. Riding to meet him, I had one of those thoughts. You know - those thoughts which you know you shouldn't think, but allow to breach consciousness anyway. I actually gave thought to the fact that I hadn't had a flat on the road bike in some time. Within 20 minutes I was sporting a chainring tattoo on my calf, grease on all ten fingers, and was squatting beside Cummings Skyway removing a 700x 23 from an aluminum rim. All went reasonably well, with the help of Vince's frame pump, but I hadn't seated the tire well, and was off again within 100 feet disassembling. On again, and off again. Still didn't get it seated right. We now opted out of finishing the loop, and returned on the same route in the approaching twilight. Halfway back I deflated the spare on a lonely stretch of Franklin Canyon Rd. "No way." Ironically Bec called as we were commiserating and pondering our options. Vince was cool, and stayed around for a while, but as darkness settled in, took my blinking tail light and headed for home. I was soon rescued from whatever it was that kept rustling the leaves behind me.

I've patched that tube, and will be procuring another prior to my next ride, because it will happen again.