September 14-17 was a superb weekend of biking, wine drinking and relaxing in Amador County. Five of us went up on Thursday. Phil B made the 90 mile trip from Pittsburg Baypoint BART by bike. The rest of us (Dave G, Michael S, Mark H and Bill) made the trip in a couple of hours by car. For those of you unaware, Amador County is east of Sacramento and is home to outstanding bicycling terrain including golden hills dotted with oaks, vineyards, pine forests and stunning vistas that stretch from the Central Valley to the Sierras.

We stayed in adorable cedar cabins at the 49er Village RV park in Plymouth. Despite the associations with blue collar retirees, the accommodations were perfect and allowed us to soak in the hot tub before walking to dinner each night in Plymouth. The Gold Country is dotted with little hamlets founded during the Gold Rush: Amador City, Volcano, Drytown, Fiddletown, Mt. Aukum and more. Take a look at the photo album!

Friday’s ride was the most challenging, about 75 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing, all within the first 50 miles from Plymouth to Cooks Station. Highlights including multiple crossings of the scenic Cosumnes River, an unintentional out and back on Grizzly Flat Road, Slug Gulch (with its sections of 15% grade) and a screaming descent into the pitch perfect near ghost town of Fiddletown. We rewarded ourselves with a fun dinner at Incahoots, a great BBQ restaurant with cheap local wines and lots of local color.

Saturday’s ride started with several small but difficult grades, but was well worth it when we arrived in Amador City at Andrae’s Bakery. Thanks to Phil for putting this one on the map! After many, buttery calories and coffee, we enjoyed more of the route from the Sierra Century on the way to another adorable town, Volcano. I think this was probably the most enjoyable cycling I’ve done all year.

After lunch we completed our 60 mile, 4,500 foot ride by descending to Sutter Creek (a cute town completely choked by the stream of cars on Highway 49). Overall, the road surfaces and shoulders were excellent and the views stunning. Dave G. did seem to draw several shouts of “get off the road” from local Yosemite Sam types driving in white pickup trucks. It appears there is a tension between the near-Deliverance woodsy past and winery/retirement mecca of the present/future in them thar hills.

Sunday saw our ranks dwindle a bit and Michael and Dave had to leave for the City on Saturday evening and Phil took a train back to Berkeley via Sacramento. Mark and Bill logged another 40 mile ride. We headed north from Plymouth on a most scenic stretch of Highway 49 to the town of El Dorado and then completed a counter-clockwise loop through primarily rolling hills. After a goodbye soak in the hot tub and a shower, we sampled excellent zinfandels, syrahs and viogniers at several of the local Amador and El Dorado wineries.

We enjoyed near-perfect weather, lots of local color and some of the finest terrain and vistas California has to offer. I can’t wait to do it again next year!

On Saturday, August 26th, Rico and Erik led a group of nine Spokers on a brisk ride over Mt. Tamalpais, down to Stinson Beach and back to San Francisco. In addition to the two leaders, others on the ride included Jerome, Jeremy, Jim, Bart, Ray, Les, and me, Patrick. We met at the Velo Rouge Cafe (http://velorougecafe.com) on Stanyan. We pass by this quaint neighborhood hangout on the Jersey Ride. I had never been there before, but since my velo is rouge, I feel a certain kinship with the place. (wink)

We hit the road about 9:30 under foggy skies, the first of several micro-climates we would encounter on the trip. Over the bridge and down to Sausalito. After passing the main touristy area, we heard a police siren behind us. The cop had nabbed Jim for running a red light. Later, Jim provided this information from a cycling website to help all of us when riding in that part of Marin: “The Sausalito cops are not only citing bike riders for running red lights, but officers will also be citing cyclists who do not ride in a designated bike lane, where bike lanes are provided.” (See below for more.)

While waiting, we were greeted by Roger who was on his way to a sailing party with co-workers. I think he would rather have been cycling with us, though.

We stopped in Mill Valley for refueling at some of the local coffeehouses, and then started our trek up, up, up Mt. Tam. Fog gave way to sun, but near the top at Pan Toll Road, the fog grew heavy and was dripping from the trees. After a brief stop there, we made the 3-4 mile descent down to the beach. These types of long, curvy descents are always a bit “white-knuckling” for me. Fortunately, traffic was light and the road was dry and in good condition. I often ask for advice on downhills, and am always open to hearing tips from others. I know a big part of it is experience. I only started cycling outdoors last November, and am feeling more confident on every long, steep downhill I encounter. Baby steps!

We bought lunch at the local grocery store and rode over to the picnic area near the beach. Wind was light but it was fairly cool, so we didn’t stay too long. Some went for coffee while some of us started up the 3-4 mile ascent back to Pan Toll Road. I believe Jerome said that according to his GPS the climbing was the same as the Tour of Napa last Saturday.

On the way back, we went a different route: Down Panoramic Highway to Highway 1. More wild descent, but while this one was not as steep, there was more traffic. From there it was back to the bike trail and into downtown Sausalito, always fun times dodging double-parked cars and jaywalking tourists in downtown Sausalito. Where are the cops now?!

Up and over the bridge and back toward Velo Rouge where the gang disbanded. Thanks again to Rico and Erik for leading the way. It was a great ride with everyone pretty much staying together the entire time.

PS: Jim provides a helpful link about bicycling citations from the Marin County Bike Coaltion at:
http://www.marinbike.org/Events/MGH/CitationRules.shtml.
And check out this comment that was posted on a bike forum: “Better yet 3 month’s ago I was trackstanding at a light in Sausalito, light turned green and I proceeded thru. Cop pull’s me and my buddy over, I ask him what’s the problem we stopped, he said we did not because we did not put a foot down. Tried to fight it in court to no avail, BTW there’s nothing in the CVC that say’s a cyclist has to put a foot down to stop. So I get to go to Bike school for two hours in Marin next month to get my $333 ticket reduced to $50.

Fellow Spoker Russ S. and I did the 30-mile route of the Tour of Napa Valley on Sunday. The weather was indeed perfect and the views spectacular.

After the ride it was off to my favorite Napa Valley winery, V. Sattui, for wine tasting (and buying). Ask Russ about the five nurses doing their own Girls Gone Wild in the tasting room. Let’s just say it seemed like they had been “tasting” a lot.

The 30th Annual Tour of Napa was held on Sunday, August 20, and eight Spokers (Bill B., Erik L., Michael S., Jerome T., Jeremy J., David G., David F., and me) joined a sold-out crowd of 2,000. Some of us stayed at the John Muir Inn in Napa and did a bit of wine tasting on Saturday. We hosted a relaxing Happy Hour at the pool with wine and appetizers.

Sunday dawned cool and foggy as our car caravan hopped up the road from Napa to the Veteran’s Home in Yountville. We were soon on the road, a long flat stretch back toward Napa and some rollers on the way up Mt. Veeder Road. Road was not in the best shape, but the Eagle Cycling Club had done a very good job of marking potholes and broken asphalt.

The climb was long (3-4 miles?), steep in a few spots, but a steady incline. The backside was a bit white-knuckling for me with the bad pavement, but it wasn’t too bad. The shade, fog, and downhill rush kept the riders cool. Back to some rollers before the first rest stop after 30 miles. Seemed a bit long for the first stop, but given the climb up Mt. Veeder, this seemed like the best spot for it.

Quick word about the rest stops: Nothing unique about the food, but it was plentiful. I was thrilled to see red licorice ropes! At the first stop they were cutting the ropes, but at others they were giving out whole ropes. Licorice and Gummi Bears are my favorite guilty pleasures on rides. Water, Cytomax, Gatorade, and lemonade were also available. There was only water at the lunch stop at Aetna Springs when we arrived, but Gatorade soon arrived. At one of the rest stops, they had a violinist and keyboardist, wonderful to hear some live music.

Ok, back to the ride. Following the first stop, we had many miles of flat riding through neighborhoods and highways. On our way back around Lake Hennessey, I started seeing more and more California Highway Patrol cars. We had heard at the start of the ride that the CHP was going to be paying particular attention to cyclists, watching closely for those not obeying traffic rules. But one advantage of all the cops was that it may have kept motorists in check, keeping everyone on the roads that day safe.

Speaking of safety on the road, I noticed a good number of SAG wagons on the course. Happily, none of us Spokers needed their services, but nice to know the SAGs were there. On the other two centuries, I don’t remember the SAGs being so present.

On to lunch at Aetna Springs around mile 65, we finally got to catch up with the Hammer Boys, Bill and Erik!

After lunch, we hit the second major climb up Ink Grade. This seemed a bit more challenging to me than Mt. Veeder. Seemed about the same elevation grade, but longer. It was also getting warmer as the fog had given way to clear skies. And yes, a bit of that 70-mile muscle fatigue was creeping in. But up, up, up. Every corner you turn you think “Ok, this has to be the summit.” Of course, you are greeted with another hill and another curve.

On the steep descent you need to make a very sharp hairpin turn onto another road, with only a few painted arrows on the road to tell you to do so. Pretty challenging to slow from 28 MPH on a downhill to make this turn. At the turn I stopped for some water, and saw a few people miss the turn. They heard people calling for them, and the cyclists were able to get back on course. Back onto the Silverado Trail for a bit of back-tracking from the morning and back to the Veteran’s Home. We hung around for a bit for the BBQ lunch. They had a live band, and a couple of the guys took showers.

On my drive back, I got stuck in a bit of traffic leaving Napa. Hot and thirsty, I suddenly got a craving for Jamba Juice. Just then, I passed American Canyon where a new shopping center was being built. Only one business was open. Yep, Jamba Juice! “Pineapple Pleasure with a double-shot of protein, please.” The gods were smiling!

I thought the Tour of Napa was very well organized and an enjoyable event. Sign me up for 2007!

Thanks to Erik, Les, and Jeremy (welcome to DSSF!) for joining me for my Birthday Ride today. We rode the Pescadero Loop from the Half Moon Bay fire station. Great weather, slighly more car traffic than I’ve seen in the past. I’m happy to report that Stage Road has been repaired. In the past the road has been filled with holes and chunks of asphalt, which made for a challenging descent on the downhill after lunch at Pescadero. Speaking of lunch, we did the usual: Ordered a sandwich at the store and relaxed at the picnic tables in back. But this evening a friend told me that there is a taqueria in the gas station on the corner which got written up in the New York Times food section. Must be good food. I’ll try that next time, a welcome change to a sandwich.

Also happy to report that, as you’ve probably heard, Highway 1 has re-opened at Devil’s Slide. This is very good news for me as I live on the southwest corner of San Francisco, and Hwy 1 is the quickest way for me to get to Half Moon Bay.

Here are a couple pictures from today’s ride. The hills were challenging as always.

Courtesy of gocomics.com