Week 35, 9/13/2010 - 9/19/2010 Goal 19

Saturday, 9/18/2010 Moab Century 19th goal hit

The day is here, the reason I came out to Moab.  My sister, bless her heart, cheerfully agreed to get up at 6 am with me so we could start out together.  She is doing the Rolling 68 route, she could very easily have started an hour or two later and still finished before me, but she is a good sport and great support.  We ride down to the start at the Aarchway Inn (not a misspelling by the way, I'll buy a beer for anyone who can tell me why they misspelled the name) for the mass start.

They had an opening ceremony and released the yellow balloons that everyone had written the name of someone they know on the day before.  Either those that had lost their battle with cancer or those that had survived, fond memories and good wishes went out to everyone named.  I put Melanie Brown's name on one balloon, a co-worker who died a few years back after valiantly fighting breast cancer.  I really wish I could have said I didn't know anyone to name.

They sent us off about 7:15, several hundred riders heading out all at the same time, I have never participated in a mass start, it was kind of fun. Highway patrol closed Hwy 191 through town and we had the whole road to head out on.  Robin and I go in opposite directions, I wish her a good ride and start out.  And, by the way, this was Robin's first ride by herself, she usually has friends at least starting out with her, I hope she enjoys the day.

I am feeling pretty good, I need to keep reminding myself that I have a lot of hard climbing ahead and 105 miles to complete.  I keep the pace reasonable, around 14 mph, nice cruise.  The route winds through town, pretty much a gradual climb the whole way.  The road is one of those that doesn't really look like it is rising, but is, for 20 miles it was rising.  I start feeling like I am pushing hard and going nowhere, I even stopped to make sure my brakes weren't rubbing.  Could not blame the pace on that, just my weak legs.

Hit the 1st water stop, which did not have water, just port-o-potties.  Except Team in Training, their support vehicles were there and they were fully stocked-- for TIT riders.  There were about 155 of them on the ride, they had raised $350,000 for the event.  Awesome commitment.  Riding with them was like riding with a big group of pep squad cheerleaders.  I have *never* had so many people so heartily lie about how well I was doing.  It was nice to hear, did help keep spirits up.

Keeping my spirits up was going to become more and more critical, I was starting up the serious climbing of the day, the "Little Nasty", the first of the three climbs that would cover 3,000 feet in 7 miles.  It was about 2 miles of some pretty steep uphill, I would guess at least a 10% grade over all that pitched up a little steeper on one slope.  I got through that one with only having to walk about 100 yards of the steepest part and then hit "Tom's Misery", a short, steep slope.  Finally a rest stop, with water, but not really much food.  Some pretzels, cookies, and orange slices, I was not really impressed.  There were tikko drummers, they were great.  I could hear them all the way up the next climb, "The Big Nasty", not quite as steep as the Little, but longer.  Just a grind and grind and grind all the way up, maybe 3 to 3.5 miles.  The next rest stop, number 2, finally appears around the corner.

As I am catching my breath a SAG wagon appears, fully loaded with riders that just could not quite make it up the climb.  I must admit I was a little irritated and envious, they pile out, all smiles and laughing, looking kind of fresh.  I am already crusty with dried salt and sagging just a bit.  But, I did it, so I shake them off and start out for the rest of the climb.

I have a really sweet downhill to take the edge, and then the next climbing hits, "Stair Way to Heaven" and then something else I can not remember the name of, till finally at 8350 ft up the mountain, I hit Rest Stop 3, and what is now truly a downhill!  It is 11:55 am, it took me almost 5 hours to get up the mountain, I spent approximately 10 minutes at each rest stop, so around 4.5 hours of riding time.  And, I have to get to Rest Stop 5 before 1:30 pm or I can't go on to the finish the full century, they will turn me at the 65 mile route turnoff.  Fortunately, it is downhill, I can't climb for diddley, but I can do a pretty good downhill.

Off I go, settled back in the saddle, down on the drops, cruising around the bends.  I slow down to hit the start of some sharp s-turn switchback and discover a rider down.  He is on his feet, but in pain, probably a broken collar bone, maybe a head injury, his helmet is cracked.  A couple of his friends are with him, checking him over, none of us can get cell reception, so I tell them I will send a SAG from the next RS, and take off.  I have two goals now, get down to RS 5 before 1:30 pm and get to RS 4 at the bottom of the hill to send help up.  I hit RS 4 and send help up the hill, and get to the bottom of the hill to discover that Robin has waited for me to get down.  I feel bad that I don't have time to stop and hear how her ride has been so far, I manage 5 minutes then I have to get on down the road.  I hit RS 5 at 1:20, 10 minutes to spare!  Get some water and head on...

The "Rolling 68" route option is, well, more than just a little rolling, there are actually real climbs on this part.  Some pretty steep uphills, slopes at least 200 yards long.  I can feel my energy levels tanking, I put my head down and slog on to the furthermost RS, #6, get some fresh water and turn around to head back.  I hit a headwind, at least 15 mph, maybe more, definitely gusting up towards 20-25 mph.  I can barely keep my speed up to 12.  The heat is also quite a bit higher than it had been up on the mountain, at least 100 degrees.  The temps combined with the hot wind sapped every last bit of moisture from me. I actually bonked about 2 miles out from RS 5 on the return.  I was nauseous, light headed, getting chills.  The water in my bottles was too hot to drink.  I am really hating life about now.  I had to get off and walk the last 200 yards back to the rest stop, I couldn't keep a straight line on my bike, and traffic has increased.

I sit down for 30 minutes in the shade, sipping fresh water, and trying to get my equilibrium back.  I think I fell asleep for about 10 minutes.  I finally started to feel a little more clear headed and realised I had to get moving or I was not going to be able to ride at all.   I started out, moving slow, head down, trying not to stare at the mileage slooowwwly turning over.  The last RS appears, I am 14 miles from Moab.  I pour my water bottles over my head, down my back, soak my clothes, get fresh water and continue slogging on.

I dry pretty quickly, but the day is waning, it is after 4, and the shadows are starting to cover the canyon road.  The Colorado River is to my right, I really want to get in it, but am afraid if I stop I won't be able to get started again.  I dont' see any riders either.  I don't pass any, and none are passing me.  I know there are a lot of people behind me, everyone is really wearing down in this heat and wind.  About 5 miles out I see one, then another, and finally a third sag wagon pass me, all full of worn out riders.

I am starting to think I might start crying if I can't finish soon when I round the bend and see Hwy 191 traffic, Moab is just a couple of hundred yards away.  I come into the parking lot, the entrance is lined with TIT riders, offering encouragement to everyone coming in, they are a very welcome sight!  I cross the start/finish line 10 hours after I started, I roughly calculated with my RS down time, my riding time was about 9 hours.  I'll take it, this had to have been the hardest century I have done.

I hit the dinner line, choked down about two bites of taco, all that is left of dinner, and start back up to where I left my bike.  I look up and see the loveliest sight of the day, my sister coming through the door with a cold Dt. Coke and car keys!  I don't have to ride the last 5 miles back to the hotel.  I absolutely love my sister, she is a goddess!

Back at the hotel, a cold shower to get the salt crust off, across the street to Moab Brewery for dinner and the absolute best burger I have ever had, served by the greatest waiter ever.  In bed by 9 am, lights out by 10.  I don't think I moved all night...


This week is a big week, the road trip Moab.

Thursday, 9/16/2010

I drove up to Reno after swim class to my sister's house and arrived around 11:30 pm.  Thursday morning off we go, headed to Ely for the evening.   I drop Joey at Mom and Dad's for the week, and Robin and I hit the Squeeze In for breakfast on our way out of town.

My eggs really were not green, although a Dr. Zuess breakfast would have been fun, there was a green shade screen over our table, every thing had a slight green tint to it.

The drive was uneventful until we hit road construction right outside of Austin.  I see the signs a couple of hundred yards out and start slowing down.  I am approaching where I should be stopping, and I don't see the construction worker with his sign. I slow more, and more, and then, all of a sudden he pops up off of his car, just as we are about to move past.  He scurries out in front us, waving his stop sign.  After we stop he walks up to the side of the car and explains that he was watching for the wild horses to come down the hillside across the valley and didn't notice the cars approaching.  He then shares a lesbian joke with us, and jesus christ/tiger woods joke and makes some comment about getting his head out of his ass and walks on down the line of cars...presumably to offend all the motorists equally.  I neglected to ask his name, rude of me I know, so I have decided to call him Bob, Bubba Bob.

I believe the sign above his head says it all.

Friday, 9/17/2010  Ely to Moab

Up bright and early in Ely, the room at the La Quinta was great, comfortable and quiet.  All the racers in town for the Silver State Classic Challenge were already out on the road to participate in what Guinness Book of Records bills as the fastest open road race in the world, the whole world.  Amazing that it is right there in little Ely, NV.

Robin and I hit a quick breakfast at the La Quinta breakfast bar
 and are on our way by 9:15 am.  Great time for us!

The drive out to Moab is uneventful, but beautiful.  Hwy 50 truly is the loneliest road in the world.  We could go miles before we came across another car.  Saw some beautiful scenery on the way, really a nice day to be out on a drive.  Now off to bed, tomorrow is the Century, and 6 am arrives earlier.

Week 33 & 34 8/30 - 9/12

Week 33 work commute  71.37 miles, no goal

Week 34 Monday, 9/6/2010 40.5 miles
               Thursday, 9/9/10 20 miles (work commute)
               Friday, 9/10/10 20 miles (work commute)
               Sunday, Beale's Point 25.5 miles

106 miles for week 34, Goal 18 hit

Week 33 was a bust, I was too lazy to get out on Saturday and get in the 30 miles needed to met goal.
Sooo, this week, Week 34, the goal is too hit 200 miles, meet goals 18 and 19, so that when I ride the century in Moab on 9/18 I will hit goal 20.  It has a nice symmetry to it, and it will be really nice to come back from vacation and only have 5 more century goals to hit before the end of the year.  I need to get on it and get this done, riding in November and December can be dicey, the weather can be really bad.

Hitting goal this week is off to a pretty good start, I went out and rode down to see the Chalk It Up event at Fremont Park in downtown Sacramento on Monday, 9/6.  It was an absolutely beautiful day, warm, sunny, light breeze.  After riding Seamus into work for the last few weeks, Le Mond sprouted wings and just flew up the trail.  I made it from Sacramento Bar at the Sunrise Bridge to Fremont Park in downtown in an 1 hour 15 min!!  Really, really good time for me.  And, it felt really good, strong, easy.  I liked it!

And, I really liked Chalk It Up, a fund raiser for children's art programs in Sacramento, some really amazing chalk drawings on the sidewalk.  I wandered around, took pictures, had a cherry italian ice (one of my favorite treats on a hot day) and then started a nice leisurely cruise home.  I decided to not move as quickly back as I did out, kept it around 16 as I moved along.  The trail has pretty much emptied out by now, it is after 1:30 and most people are in out of the heat of the day.  I am movin' along rounding the last bend in the trail before hitting William Pond Park and I feel my rear tire slide out from under me.  Just a little, no danger of going down, but the rear feels squishy and unresponsive.  I stop and sure enough I have a flat.  The first flat I've had on this bike in over two years.  On new gator skins and with liners at that!  WTF? I should never have a flat, particularly on the bike trail.  I walk it up to the main stopping point at the Park and start changing the flat.  Get the tire off, can't find anything inside or out that would have caused the flat.  I check one more time, and then start the process of getting new tires back on the rim.  Five minutes later I finally feel the last 3 inches slip into place and I start pumping air.  And I pump, and pump, and pump and nothing is happening.  I remove my pump and discover I have somehow broken off the stem, and I don't have another tube. Crap, crap and more crap.  Lucky for me, two other riders, Rich and Jim, had come over to see if I needed assistance and saved my day.  Jim gave me a tube, would not take any money for it, and Rich loaned me his pump.  New tube in, inflated enough to get me back to the car, thank you Jim and Rich from saving me a 6 mile walk back to the car.  Good, good karma headed your ways guys, you are my heros.

Sunday, 9/12/2010

Okay I did not hit 200 miles this week, I did 106, hit goal 18, Moab will be goal 19.  A couple of work commutes and a cruise up to Beale's Pt from Sacramento Bar - with a side trip to watch Kent race in Cyclebration - put me just over the top.  200 miles was a stretch, I admit it, but one of these weeks I will do it!

Oh, god, next Moab, the "Big Nasty", it is making me anxious to just think about it!

Week 31 & 32 08/09 - 08/22 Goal 17 done

Le Monde taking a break

Week 31 - work commutes, Saturday ride, no goal
Week 32 - work commutes, Tour of Napa, Goal 17

I forgot to do a post for week 31,  probably because nothing really happened that week except for a Saturday ride that turned out to be a bad, bad date.  I got in about 80 miles that week, I probably should have gone out on Sunday and finished the week, but I didn't.

This last week, Week 32, however was a good week.  Commuted to work a couple of times, got in 48 miles and then hit the Tour of Napa on Sunday for 70 miles through the hills surrounding Yountville.  I drove up Saturday, took my good friends Mary and Rob to the Impressionist exhibit at the de Young and an excellent lunch at Sutro Bistro in the Cliffhouse.  They took me to a barbeque at friends in Petaluma that evening, a fun evening, some very interesting people.  Back to their house, a very charming craftsman in the old part of town, by 10 pm.  I had to get up early for the ride, and Mary was getting up at 4 am to fly out to Hawaii.  Poor Rob they only one that was not going out to play on Sunday.

Sunday morning arrived foggy and cold, a thick marine layer has been hanging over the wine country till about noon for weeks.  A good thing, I do better riding, particularly climbing, in cooler weather.  Met up with Jenny and Sue at the start and hit the road by 7:30 am.  The first 15 miles were relatively flat, we all moved out at a good pace, exactly what I can't tell you as I am on my third broken bike computer this year.  I am trusting that Eagle Bicycling Club has their mileage down pat, I had no way to verify it.  We got caught in the midst of the Benicia Cycle Club, their pace line moving between 12 and 15 mph, so we  moved out and passed them, all 12 - 15 of them.  Got ahead of them, held a gap for a while and then they caught us.  A few started passing us, and we were trapped in the middle again.  I hate it when someone speeds up to pass me then they slows down when they get in front of me.  Jenny (she is a racer at heart) scooted ahead of them.  I took an opportunity to do the same, picked up Sue along the way and again we were out in front and gapping them, and I'll be damned if they didn't pick up the pace again.  Evidently they needed the goad of three riders passing them to get them to move.

lunch stop

We arrive at the first rest stop, and decide that we are losing the Benicia group.  Fortunately by the time we are ready to go, they have moved on head.  We start to climb out of here and Jenny and Sue drop me pretty quickly.  Sue told  me later that day that Jenny took that climb at 18 mph, she really should consider racing, I think she would do well.  From here to the lunch break is a steady terrain of rise and fall, rollers progressively climbing up the hillside.   Pope Valley Rd was a steady climb for about 10 miles and then a nice downhill to lunch.  I stopped about a mile out of the lunch stop, a rider flagged me down, she has a flat, no tools and no one would stop to help her.  What is wrong with people?  10 minutes out of my day, and she was able to get back on the road.   Met up with J & S as they were leaving, and I followed them about 10 minutes later.   I start up the infamous Ink Grade two miles out form lunch.  I had been really apprehensive about this hill, but you know, there were two pitches that were too steep for me (I walked the second one), and the rest, the rest was okay.  My back was knotted by the time I reached the top, but, it wasn't as bad as I had feared.

the view half way up Ink Grade

From there it is a  really just a nice, sweet, sweeping downhill and some rollers to the end.  70 miles and what my educated guess tells me is around 4200' of climbing (ECC does not give a elevation change).  The barbeque at the end was okay, they had a veggie burger, chicken breast, sausage, or carnitas.  Black bean or green bean salad and fruit.  Tasted pretty good and I did not even think to get a picture of any of it.  They did have Ben and Jerry's ice cream, always a good end to a day.

I would do this ride again, maybe try the century next year... god, can I get strong enough for Mt Veeter?

Week 30 08/02/2010 - 08/08/2010

Work Commute 44 miles
Marin Century - Metric route  60 miles

104 miles  16th goal hit (grudgingly)

Oh today was frustrating. I woke up 30 minutes late and could not quite wake up on the drive down.  In fact I had to stop and get coffee, I was having to fight falling asleep as I drove.  I had the metric route on the Marin Century, which by the way is quite a production.  6 routes all departing from the same place, thousands of riders, CHP doing lane closures to allow us a clear lane on the two climbs I had going out (unfortunately I didn't get them on the way back).

It is cold in San Rafael when I arrive.  A low marine layer is hanging over the area, but I was certain it would burn off as we move inland, so I take off with just my arm warmers and vest.  Sign in, and head out, starting the ride about 7:15 am. My route takes me up and around Petaluma and back via Lucas Valley Road and Nicasio Rd.  Lucas Valley Rd is a long climb going out, about 3.5 miles at 4-6%, and coming back 9 to 10 miles.  I am freezing coming into the 1st rest stop, there is a long descent to it, which was fun, but today was really cold.  My energy levels are also tanking, I can't even seem to get up any speed on the downhills.  Need to figure out why I feel so depleted, maybe I didn't eat enough the week before?  I didn't sleep all that great the night before, but I don't sleep all that great most nights, it doesn't usually affect me like this.

 

Anyway, off to Petaluma, traffic really picks up on Pt Reyes-Petaluma Rd, hit the 2nd rest stop around 9:30 pm.  I am not hungry, but I force some food down, the ride back involves several climbs, I'll need some energy.  I do toy with the idea of just saying to hell with it and sagging in.  I am tired, achy, a little queasy, really don't feel good.  But onward and upward, at least the sun finally broke out as I left the 2nd rest stop, not really warm, but better than before.  I slog through the rest of the ride get back to the finish around 1:30, have lunch, and then fight to stay awake on the way home.
                                                            

Kind of a disappointing day, my performance anyway, but I think I am going to do this one again next year.  The route is very pretty, especially Lucas Valley Rd, and I would like to do this ride and enjoy it a  bit more.  Marin Cyclists do a great job, the rest stops are well stocked, the food is good, dinner had some nice touches - roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie lasagna, 4 different pastas, pizza - really a good selection of food.  The volunteers are great as well, friendly, helpful, encouraging, I saw at least 1/2 dozen SAG wagons throughout the day, nice support.

Dinner

Week 29 7/26/2010 - 8/1/2010 Goal 15

Mt Shasta Summit Century - 60 miles

Work Commute - 20 miles

Saturday am ride - 25 miles

105 miles - 15th goal hit

Mt Shasta Summit Century rocks!

I had a great weekend up in Shasta City. It started out Saturday morning with a quick ride up the bike trail, 25 miles. Went in for a haircut on my way out of town and came out almost bald. Frank got a little excited, giddy even, when I told him "yea, you can cut it shorter, I'm going to let it grow out this winter anyway." It is so short I won't need a hair cut for 6 months. People tell me it looks good, I am going to believe they are not *just* being nice and it does look okay.

Had an uneventful drive up the central valley to Mt Shasta City. I was not sure about my hotel in Dunsmiur when I arrived, it looked like the Bates Motel, more in atmosphere than architecture, but still evoked a feeling, ya know? I almost drove on to try and find another room, but I figured the chance of that was pretty slim, so I checked in. The room was clean, didn't smell, had too many entrances to the room for my liking (3 doors, and two huge windows) but it seemed secure enough. I decided to avoid the shower scene flashback by just not taking a shower, an idea that made me very popular when I shared it later that evening.

The view from my hotel parking lot

Headed up the freeway 6 miles to Mt Shasta City, found the Goat Brewery and waited for everyone else to arrive. After about 10 minutes, I called Nicole, and discovered that I had the wrong restaurant. I really need to actually read my messages, not skim. Headed on down the road and met up with everyone at the correct place, the Trinity Cafe. Dinner was good, not too much. Dessert at Dan's room, the homemade s'more cookies courtesy of Jan were great. Just the right touch to round off the evening. New guy joined us, Jared, friend of Dan and Nicole's, nice guy, a lot of fun and Rob, friend of Jared's, also a good guy. Rob was going to ride the Super Century after a pretty hard crash a few days before, his tire actually came off the rim while he was on it. Of all the things I think that can go wrong while riding, that one had never crossed my mind. It does now.

Dessert at Dan's

Up at 6 am to get ready and load up the car and then to meet up with Tanya Vandrick at the registration. I was more than a little apprehensive that this ride was going to be more than I could do, even though I was only doing the metric (60 miles), the terrain from the freeway looks like it is all up and down, no flat. We hit the road by 7:15 am. The rest of the day was just awesome, this is one of the best rides I have ever been on. Tanya is great company, a solid rider, good challenge for me to push a little harder to keep up. And, the scenery, wow, more than I can describe. It seems like just about every turn had a new view of Mt Shasta, or some vista off over blue-green mountains, babbling brooks, flowing rivers. The weather was perfect, just cool in the morning, warm enough mid-day that the shade felt cool as you rode through it, but not so hot I was dripping a sweat trail behind me.

Tanya

The route was challenging, but all the climbs were doable. The ascent up W.A. Barr road was difficult for me about half way up, my lower back started knotting up. I really need to get back on my core work, I have been way too lax about keeping up with it. But I finally came up on that yellow turnaround arrow (and was *very* happy that I did not have to follow the orange arrow straight on further up the road!) and the rest stop. And, one of the best views of Shasta of the day.

W.A. Barr road

The turnaround!

Tanya and I headed back down the canyon, big smiles on our faces. Hit the finish at around 1:15, had a really good dinner (chicken/black bean burritos, oriental salad, veggies) and parted ways to head on back home. I ran into Will, Jared, and Rob at the second rest stop, and I saw Nicole come barreling down W.A. Barr as I was going up (that woman is absolutely fearless), but I didn't get a chance to ride with them this year. Maybe next, Tanya and I were talking about doing the century next year, maybe...

Lunch, turkey/avocado sandwich

Rob, Will and Jared at lunch stop

Dinner was great, chicken/black bean burrito, oriental salad, veggies

Week 28 7/19/2010 - 7/25/2010

The bike is in the shop this week, after dropping my chain multiple times on the Healdsburg Harvest Century, I took it for a tune up. Good thing I did, I had a cracked rim. I really need to start doing a more thorough check of my bike for mechanical problems.

But, there were big happenings this week in spite of no bike and no goal. 7/18 was my birthday, my 50th, good god, hard to believe I have been around that long. I had decided that I was going to do something this year, usually I don't make or expect a fuss. Wish me a happy birthday and I am very happy. But 50 doesn't come around more than once, so I gave it some thought and decided to rent a house in the mountains, invite some good friends up and just enjoy.

I finally found a place in Graeagle that was affordable and (just) big enough for the group invited. By the way, trying to narrow down the guest list to a group that could be accommodated was very difficult. If you are reading this, and were not invited, it is not that I don't value your friendship, I do. I finally decided to invite those individuals that I have been spending the most time with lately and that I knew had been in close quarters together before and could tolerate each other for a few days. But is was tough, I wish I could have afforded to get a place big enough for everyone that I know to come play and hang out.

We had the place from Wednesday 7/21 through Sunday 7/25. I sent out evites, my guests responded, I established a menu, my friends volunteered to bring food, wine, a good time. As the date approached, about a week out, I sent out a reminder email to everyone about who was arriving when and bringing what. I thought I was very clear and concise in my communication, but I must have been fuzzy on the dates. I received a call from the owner about 1 pm, Wed, 7/14, asking me if I was expecting to "hook up" with someone during my week, a guy was at the house looking for me. It took me a minute to figure it out, but I finally discovered that Will, good ole Onespeed, had jumped the gun and gone up a week early. Bless his little heart, it was so sweet that he was so excited to come up and spend time with me. And, he did provide good fodder for endless ribbing during the next week, when the rest of us arrived.

We spent the next 5 days eating, laughing, playing. I had a great time, I think everyone else did too. Dan loaned me his old bike so I could ride up Gold Lake Road, and he and Will road right with me the whole way. I do love them for that gift, it was so much fun. I managed to convince everyone to do the hike up to the Sierra Buttes with me, on what I think is a moderate hike, but I have been informed by everyone that my idea of moderate is askew. Ha, that will teach them, tell me the Ice House ride is just a series of rollers. HA! Seriously if it hadn't been so hot they would have just sailed up the mountain, and the views, god the views are spectacular up there. One of these days I am going to have to work up the nerve to actually make it up the ironwork staircase to the lookout it self. Maybe next year...

The week was amazing, I have the best friends I could hope for, and I am so happy they could make the time to come share my 50th birthday with me.

Week 27 7/12 - 7/18

Work commute - 42.41 miles

Healdsburg Harvest Century - 60 miles

102.41 miles - 14th goal met

This week's big ride was the Healdsburg Harvest Century, a fun little ride sponsored by the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce. The first year I did this ride was 4 (?) years ago, the last year the Sierra Century was held in Amador County, the year they had a rider fatality. I had come upon the dead rider soon after his accident, too soon, it was really kind of traumatizing, I was new to riding, didn't know if the down rider was one of my friends (thank god it was not), and I decided when I got home I need a fun, fluffy ride. Barry Marcus decided to come ride with me that year, I had a great time. He "took it easy" and stayed with me the whole way, it was a perfect remedy to the mess of the previous Sierra Century.

This year there was no tragedy prefacing the Harvest Century, just anticipation to a fun and pretty ride. We wind our way through wine country, thru the back roads. I left Sacramento at 5 am, the temps were already hovering around 75 degrees, the day in the valley was going to be a scorcher. But once I dropped into Vallejo and took off over Hwy 37, a marine layer had dropped the temps by at least 25 degrees. Healdsburg was cool, a wind breaker felt good, no wind, perfect riding conditions.

I hit the road around 8 am, feeling pretty good, well rested, really looking forward to the day. Everything is going as well as it can, until I hit a slight down hill and tried to shift back to my big ring and dropped my chain. Stop, put it back on, continue on, hit another hill, need to shift down to the small ring, drop my chain again. Again, I put it back on, finish the hill, do the downhill on my small ring, hit the flats, shift to my big ring, and.drop.my.chain...again. Stopped, put it on, again, and decided this time I am leaving it. Out of a 60 mile ride, I rode about 50 miles on my big ring. For you hard core riders that can climb this would be no big deal, for me, my quads were talking to me by the time I returned to my car! A good thing really, it has been a while since I have really felt a ride afterwards, good wake up to the fact that I need to push harder.

Still, the bike goes in the shop this week, I am definitely getting a new chain, and I think I am going to treat myself to new shifters and a derailleur. Need to be set up for Shasta, there is absolutely no way in hell I am doing those climbs on my big ring!

All in all, a beautiful day, a beautiful ride. The dinner provided by the Chamber is excellent, a fresh veggie pizza, black bean/corn salad, bow-tie pasta salad, a red potato/green bean dish that was awesome, fruit, and a cornucopia of other side dishes.

The only blight on the day was the drive home, Hwy 101 is a mess at the best of times, if there is a fender bender? Took me an hour to cover 8 miles...