Del Puerto Canyon Ride

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I met Chuck and Bill in Newman early... and it was already warm.  Bill rode the 20 miles out to the road up the canyon and then turned around and headed home (he had a prior engagement).  Chuck and I rode the 25 miles up the road... plenty of shade, few cars, lots of turns and subtle climbing (subtle, but long).  The last mile-and-a-half was harder than I remembered from the 9-20-03 ride.  I have ridden a couple of thousand of miles since being here but I still was not able to get that last big climb without a breather.When I finally got to the top I confirmed with Chuck that the junction store was only a few more miles up the road.  I did tell him that my big fear kept flashing before my eyes.... we get to the store and it's closed (for the record, it was 10 am and the store didn't open until 11!!!! "Don't worry, it's open... I was just here a couple of weeks ago" Chuck said.... famous last words of a fool.... you guessed it.... it was closed!!!! Chuck and I trespassed on the property and nervously filled one bottle each of the nasty yellow water that came from a huge tank.  I got up that damn climb partly because of Chuck's tantalizing account of all the wonderful food and drink that awaited us at the store... gatorade a plenty... powerbars... clifbars... rice crispy treats... cold water... it's a cyclist's heaven. We eventually made it back to Patterson and got refilled at the AM/PM... but after 70 miles. There were some nasty winds on the last 20 miles but overall it was a great ride.... about as great as can be expected as 6 hours or Chuck talking smack can be.... ha ha! 90 miles... a lot of climbing... Next week.... Diablo, Morgan Territory... etc.... 104 miles.... a lot more climbing.... ouch.... I can't wait!

 

Sierra Century 2004

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The early start from Plymouth was cold but by 8 am I was glad I started when I did because it was starting to get hot!Just like I was warned at the last century, the first 20 miles had a lot of downhill.  I was told to not push too hard... hard to resist... but I knew I had to save my legs for the  climbing.  The first rest stop came early but I still stopped. sc2004 Shortly after leaving the Ione stop I hitched a ride on a paceline with an Anne, 2 Steves and a Jeff (that's how Anne introduced them all).  I was happy to hook up with these four riders because they were very tall (great to draft behind them) and strong.  I took my turns pulling and had a good time going with them for about 15 miles.  Once the climbs came, however, they dropped me.  I saw them at the Volcano rest stop but left before they did.  I also saw Steve from Foster City (the Steve that helped pull me the last 20 miles in the Sunrise Century).

Leaving Volcano had some great climbs and it was getting hotter.  At the end of that climb came the 10 mile descent into Fiddletown... wow, what a descent!    I stayed too long at the Fiddletown rest and felt a little sluggish getting back on the saddle.

I stopped at a water stop to get my derailleur adjusted and then headed off again.

I found plenty of other riders to pace along with through the rest of the climbs but decided against doing Slug Gulch, opting for the bypass option.

Toward the end of that bypass climb I was already regretting not taking Slug Gulch... and then I caught a flat... first one in over 500 miles... I hate flats!!!!

Once back on Omo Ranch road it was an easy push back to Plymouth.  Little wind... hot, but a some shade.

Shortly after I got back, Steve N. pulled up who left a few minutes before me... I knew something was up if he was just minutes behind me... well I was right, he did Slug Gulch plus the extra 20+ miles (the Challenge - the Double Metric)... that guy is incredible!

Overall, my third century was great... my favorite of all...  SAG was everywhere (again, luckily I did not require)... rest stops were awesome... route was excellent... volunteers were plentiful and very nice.

 

Lodi Sunrise Century 2004

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Perfect weather today for a ride!  Left Lodi High at 7:00 and within the first few miles found a few guys to pace.  The first 20 miles into Clements was cool as the four of us took turns pulling to the first rest stop.  I grabbed a bagel and strawberries and threw some more food in my jersey and took off by myself... not wanting to wait around too long.  From there I headed up to Lake Camanche.  The climbs were mild but I could still feeling them,  I only needed my triple one during the whole ride.  The views going up were spectacular ... and the oddest... I've never before seen an ostrich and an emu on the same ride! After the lunch stop at mile 52 in Wallace I headed out on Hwy 12 looking for riders I could pace.  I didn't get to any other riders until Johnson Rd and rode with a group of guys for 8 miles or so.  That group flew past 4 huge painted arrows indicating a turn... luckily they heard me yelling, "HEY, TURN, TURN... ARROWS" or they may have ended up riding way out of their way.

Then came a 9 mile stretch of Clements road that was very long, straight, no shade and had a killer side wind.  At one point there was a nasty dust cloud from a farmer plowing a field... visibility was cut to a maybe a hundred feet so I slowed down to cut through when there were no cars nearby.

Finally making it to the last rest stop in Linden I rested a full 10 minutes or so and then waited to find others that were leaving at the same time so I could draft.  Heading West was difficult after 75 miles... right into a nasty headwind.  No one else was leaving so I took off before this one guy that looked like he was leaving soon.  Sure enough, he passed me a mile later and held on for dear life.  Heading west, we traded pulls for 45 minutes or so, through the toughest part of the ride.   He helped me get the next 20 miles and then I had to drop back and let him go on his way (thanks Steve!)

I finally rode back in to Lodi, tired but feeling great.  I met a lot of other riders (most giving me great advice for my next century - The Sierra Century).  I also beat my goal by 10 minutes so I was not disappointed at all.

 

Delta Century 2004

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My first Century... what a blast!  When I first started riding 10 months ago I set this date on my calendar as my first Century and it showed up on a great day.  I had always planned on riding it solo but Chuck decided, the day before, to join me. I pulled up to the parking lot at the Mondavi Woodbridge winery at 6:00 am (noticing that the first vehicle in the parking lot was Chuck's), threw my jersey on and headed to the registration tables.  At 6:30 we were on our way. I felt good in the morning and was happy to have Chuck with me... going solo on my first Century would've been boring.  The first rest stop was at New Hope school in New Hope (I never knew this little town existed) at mile 18.

first_1 me and Chuck just before mile 18 first_3 yours truly first_4 I don't recall where this is ... I think leaving Walnut Grove... cell phone lady in the front, Noah, David, me, Chuck, ???, ???

From there we made our way through Thornton, Walnut Grove and Courtland for the lunch break at mile 48.  At mile 66 (and not a moment too soon), there was an unofficial break at the ferry crossing.  I don't think I've ever been on a ferry... certainly not with a bike.  After eating and re-filling the water bottles we headed out to Hood and Clarksburg and back to Walnut Grove for the last rest stop at mile 78. Finally, home stretch!  After riding 80 miles a few weeks prior I was feeling pretty good at this point and knew I was near completion of one of my first year's goals.

We met up with David and Noah from Oakland who were also riding their first Century.  Chuck and I spent a lot the day trading places with this father and son duo.

The views were pristine and the roads sometimes bumpy.  SAG was always around (knock on wood, we had no mechanical problems!)  There were a lot of winding roads that made the ride very enjoyable.

Next Century... Lodi Sunrise Century 5.22.04... see ya on the road!

 

Diablo

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Back to the mountain!  What a perfect day for a ride up here! I met Chuck and Bill for a ride up the back-side of Diablo.  Going up from Walnut Creek seemed harder than starting in Danville... I guess the jury's still out.  I was very happy to climb again less than a week after the SBC ride.  This time I made it to the top with only a short (less than 2 minute) stop at the ranger station.  I felt very good today but was bummed to see Chuck resting on the side of the road with only a couple of miles to the summit.  What a crappy place to pick up a flat... without an extra tube.  When I passed him he just yelled at me to keep going and to catch back up with him on the descent (thanks, Coach!).  I was nervous about "the wall" but made it up just fine, rested and then went to get Chuck.  Well... Chuck's luck kept getting worse.  I gave him my tube and pump... my pump broke and then the tube croaked when Bill CO2'ed it!  So, now we had 1 tube and a 12 canister of CO2 between us... thankfully it worked. Bill made it to the summit (great job, Bill!) eventually we all got down.  What a great ride... thanks guys!

 

Folsom - American River Trail

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I finally made it out to the Old Sac - Folsom trail.  Since I heard there was flooding in the Discovery Park area I decided to start from Folsom.  This is one of the coolest rides in the area... no cars... a lot of other bikes, which I will take over cars anyday!  I only had time to go from Folsom (Beale Point) to CSUS and back.  Next time... Old Sac or bust! 2002-07_camping_10s

 

MHP's

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That's right... Stockton's own MHP (Mia Hamm Pups) are kickin' tail out there.  It seems like these girls are unstoppable.  With 3 wins in a row they are excited and are looking forward to the tourneys coming up next weekend [2/27/04 - tourney has been postponed Sad ].  Emily has moved to the goalie slot along with Jordan and Taylor and is doing great (1 goal allowed in 2 games... and it was a penalty shot!).  When she's not playing that spot she usually fills in at left-wing.P2210193s Stockton's MHP (Mia Hamm Pups) after a 2-0 weekend