The first 2010 Different Spokes Organized Ride had a great turn out, out of 130 riders for the century route, we were almost 10% of that, and with nearly every rider in rainbow jersey, DSSF rode in style! I have to say I was worried about the weather on Saturday, on the drive to Vacaville in the afternoon it poured and poured. I guess it rained so much that the Chamber of Commerce moved the pre-registration pasta feed to a different location (were they having it outdoors?).

Steph Clarke, Jerome Thomere, Scott Steffens, Jeff Pekrul, David Goldsmith, William Bir, Evan Kavanagh and I all completed the Monticello Solano Century, a ride from Solano to Napa county and back in pretty good time too! David G was 4 minutes shy of a sub-6 hour century. And congratulations to Evan, who has now completed his first century! The overall vote, “this is a keeper”; even the headwinds we had for most of the day did not dampen out enjoyment. From the morning climb out of Fairfield on Wooden Valley and Monticello Roads (SR-121) to Napa, and the afternoon climbs up Sage Canyon Road past Lake Hennessey to Lower Chiles Valley Road, with a few more climbs on SR-128 out of the lunch stop at Moss Creek Winery, it was a great route with near perfect weather. We did hear stories of the previous year where it was in the 100s, so no complaints as it was in the 70s when we arrived back in Vacaville.

The only regret of the day, Evan started so early (6:15am he was on the road before most of us even arrived at the high school) and rode so strong, we never saw him all day till we were done!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/44371/embed

Following in the tradition of the Tuesday Night After Work ride, the monthly Meet-N-Greet ride kicked off in May to a cold windy evening (is May the new March?) But that didn’t stop fifteen of us from getting an after-work ride in out to Lake Merced and back, and eight of us opted for dinner at Tangerine’s afterwards. Please join us in June, check the Ride Calendar!

This years weather made up for last years rainy Wine Country, with nearly twenty members on one route or another: 5 on the metric, 11 on the century and 2 on the double metric. Winds proved to be a bit of a challenge, more so for Doug and Will on the double-metric once they got to the coast, but on way north to Lake Sonoma also. But all agreed, that it was one of the best Wine Country Centuries ever, with the fields still green from the spring rains, wild flowers still in bloom, and a gorgeous blue sky, made for a perfect day of riding.

Congratulations to Evan Kavanagh, completing his first metric.; on the way to the first century!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/38103/embed

The annual, and last minute, return to Half Moon Bay for a club favorite. I posted this ride during the week, instead of the route I had been working on (which proved to have a lot of challenges on RideWithGPS.com), so I went with a “classic” not sure if I would even get any takers. Scott, Steph, Nancy and Doug joined me for this abbreviated route (by majority vote, we ran short of time so the Lobitas Creek cut-off saved a couple miles.)

More pictures here!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/34405/embed

The forecast was 10% chance of rain all day, who knew that forecast was so wrong. Seventeen of us headed for Fairfax, most intending to do the full Alpine Dam-Mt. Tam loop as planned. But the weather gods were not pleased, for whatever reason because in Larkspur while we were at Rullie Gran Cafe for our first regroup, the skies opened up and it rained. And iPhones came out, various weather apps were launched and… none of the radars showed anything; nada, zip, zilch, not even pale blue, let alone the green we expected!

More than half the riders decided to bail out then, some heading back to the City by bike, others to the Larkspur ferry terminal. Will and Kevin hoped to get in the China Camp loop before catching the ferry. Cam, Doug, Joseph, Jon, Jerome and I opted to ride on to Fairfax, figuring whatever “it” was, will have passed us and then we can continue on.

We didn’t get rained on heading to Fairfax, but while in Perry’s Deli, the skies opened up once again. None of us wanted to be caught on the mountain in the rain, so we headed back, once again with different plans. Jon was parked at Mike’s in Sausalito, and Joseph wanted to stop there and get his chain replaced. Jerome and I opted to head for Larkspur also to catch the ferry, and Doug and Cam rode all the way back.

We had about a 40 minute wait for the ferry, not bad. Will and Kevin arrived drenched, having turned around at the entrance to the China Camp State Park when it appeared that the rains were going to continue. The ride back to the City was enjoyable, and all appeared dry. Post ride reports indicated that it stopped raining in Sausalito for Doug, Cam got rain halfway across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Reports from the gals doing the Cinderella Classic were vaguely reminiscent of 2006, the year the forecast was so bad the we postponed the Evil Step Sisters until Sunday. Rain and headwinds, not fun!

David and I were joined by Jerome, Will, Dave and Jon, and two gals from the East Bay, Jodi and Jean for the out and back/Point Reyes Station loop from the Millwood Community Center in San Rafael. While we had some headwinds along the way to Nicasio and past the reservoir, it was a pleasant day.

Leaving Point Reyes Station, Jodi and Jean suggested taking Bear Valley Road, which led to a bit of confusion as we got separated from Dave, Jon and Will. Bear Valley is a very pleasant road which loops around back to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Olema (can’t we skip the Olema hill one time?). Great ride and company!

More pictures here!

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/20939/embed

Yesterday was the first ride in a ride series promoted and put together by David Goldsmith; a series of progressively longer rides, leading up to a possible first century (the Wine Country Century in May), or just for those interested in getting out and to begin getting some miles in.

Thomas, Evan K, Anna, Rico and Joe joined David and I for “Our Destination is Destination“, heading first to Golden Gate Park, taking JFK to the Great Highway. We regrouped at the restrooms near the zoo, where Dennis caught up with us (actually, he was waiting for us; he missed us at the start and somehow got ahead of us.) Thomas unfortunately had a flat, and then Dennis joined him. Two new tubes later, we headed off to circle Lake Merced, then began the only significant climbing of the ride, up Sloat and St. Francis Boulevards, and over to Glen Park where we stopped at Destination Baking Company for a snack.

A delightful ride, without a doubt and great company! The next ride in the series is Saturday, January 16th, from Millwood Community Center to Nicassio and back!

Fortunately “de Heat” was not a full furnace blast mode for the riders who joined me today: Chris Contos, Doug Dexter, Jeffrey Kongslie, Cameron Ross, Jerome Thomere, and my friend Doug Flora.

It’s a quick jaunt down Santa Theresa Boulevard and up Bailey Avenue, past IBM, and we’re at the eastern edge of Calero Reservoir. Heading down to Chesbro Reservoir and back down to the valley floor we head over to Coyote River Park at the base of Anderson Lake and our first rest stop.

The return from Gilroy takes us up Watsonville Road to Uvas Road, where Doug F got a flat, I stopped and helped with the tube change, and then we were on our way again. The climb back up to Chesbro work. A while later Doug Doug F called, “I’m at the top of Bailey Road (huh?), but Jerome had a blow out and his front tire is trashed.” So from plan A, I’m on to plan B, rescuing Jerome on Uvas Road. This was his second blow out on the Specialized Pro tires on the new bike (the first was on the rear tire on Day 2 of ALC on River Road.) At least both tires are new now!