This past weekend Stanford Shopping Center hosted the Electric Bike Expo, one of six taking place in the western US. Roger and I found out about it quite by chance and made last-minute plans to drop in on its final day, Sunday. The Expo hosts bikes by about twenty different e-bike manufacturers as well as adventure companies using e-bikes, and even a company making e-bike charging stations! There were a few brands familiar to US cyclists—Trek, Felt, Raleigh, and Focus—but most were either new companies or established European brands such as Haibike, Kalkhoff, and Gazelle finally bringing their e-bike goodness to the New World. The one major brand that was missing was Specialized, which is just down the road in Morgan Hill, perhaps because Specialized would prefer you to try their e-bikes away from the other brands. That’s too bad because that was the one model, the Specialized Turbo, that I would have wanted to demo.

In addition to vendor booths where you could check out the various e-bike models, talk to company reps, and pick up informational brochures, there was also a small, closed off track where you could try out a multitude of bikes. As expected most of the bikes were commuter or hybrid style bikes with a strong number of e-mountain bikes. There were cargo e-bikes too. If there ever were a sensible idea, it would be to marry the cargo bike with an electric system: you can get some badly needed assist when you’re carrying a heavy load or when you’re going up a hill. No one had a drop-bar road e-bike. Clearly manufacturers are aiming for the commuter and casual cyclist and not the recreational cyclist, and that makes sense: e-bikes make commuting by bike a much more tolerable affair not just be reducing the effort but also by speeding up the commute and reducing its sweaty aftereffect. Arriving at work a smelly mess is not a good way to impress the boss or your clients.

Although there were a few, well, let’s call them “less heavy” e-bikes, this was accomplished by using smaller motors and batteries, which are probably enough for a city-sized commute. Most e-bikes are pretty weighty affairs pushing 50 pounds or more. That isn’t a problem for the engine as you’ve got plenty of watts to propel all that extra mass. But it is a problem if you need to store the bike on anything other than the ground level. If you live in a walk-up or even have to schlep your e-bike up a few stairs, you’re going to find just about any e-bike a real pain, if not impossible, to lift. You better have an elevator at hand and a large one too because e-bikes are not small. The good news is that if you have to lock it up outside, removing the battery and in some cases the computer head will make stealing it a lot less desirable. But I wouldn’t leave a $3,000 bike outside unattended.

Speaking of $3,000 that’s the other thing I noticed: these bikes aren’t cheap. For “serious” cyclists, spending a few thousand dollars for a new bike sounds about right, but for everyday people that’s practically the sign either of insanity or profligate wastefulness. Who are these companies marketing too? Casual cyclists and a lot of basic commuters aren’t looking to spend tons of money on a bike, let alone one they have leave locked up outside in danger of being stolen or one they can’t lift up the front stairs. At these prices you’re either indulging in an expensive fad or you’re already into the cycling lifestyle in spades. For e-bikes to take off the prices will have to come down a lot before we see them jamming up the streets of San Francisco in large numbers. Until then they’re going to be a distinct minority. Now, for the cycling addicts out there, rolling big coin on yet another bike involves a lot less hesitation. But currently manufacturers don’t really make the kind of bike that Mr./Ms. Road Cyclist would probably like to own. I’m talking about something that looks like a road bike. But they are coming and when they do I’m really going to enjoy going to an Expo to try them out. Until then it’s mostly going to be more commuter bikes or full suspension mtb rigs.

The e-bike charging station caught my eye. At first glance it all made sense: solar powered recharging stations spread throughout the land so you can top off your battery while you work/shop/eat! But upon thought it didn’t make any sense at all. Most commutes by bike are under five miles. Roger’s e-bike in Eco mode, which is plenty for all but the steeper hills, gets 40-50 miles per charge. So unless you’ve got a long commute or you’ve just forgotten to recharge your battery at home, charging stations are charming but unnecessary. Second, each motor/battery manufacturer has a different, proprietary motor, battery, and charging port. How are these charging stations going to be one-size-fits-all? Until one system becomes the standard (or is mandated the standard), we’ll end up with either (a) proprietary charging stations, (b) lots of dongles at the “pump” to connect to your port, or (c) you carry a universal dongle that connects your battery to, say, a two- or three-prong plug.

Speaking of proprietary, that’s another potential headache. There are about three systems currently on the market that are or are going to be widespread: the Bosch system (yes, the same company that makes your power tools), Yamaha, and now Shimano with its e-Steps system. Panasonic also has a system on the market. The rest of them are pretty much tied to one specific bike company. For example, Kalkhoff touted the fact that it had a proprietary, in-house designed motor and battery. (Specialized has the same for its Turbo, but its wasn’t present at the Expo.) That may have cachet to be designed in-house but what it meant to me is: (a) what if they stop making that system or their e-bike effort flounders? How then do I get replacement parts or batteries? (b) You mean I can’t get a battery from anyone else to fit your mount or whose voltage matches your motor? I have to order one just from you? How much will that cost? and (c) “What do you mean you don’t have a vendor in Schmoville?! I need to buy a battery there!” One manufacturer had bikes with three different battery designs (!). That’s taking customization to an absurd level. While for some that means choice, for me it means that maintaining one of their e-bikes for the long term is going to be either expensive or I’m going to end up searching on EBay for EOL parts or batteries. Right now the Bosch system seems to be the most palatable because it’s widespread (at least overseas), has a deep distribution network, and their system is used by a lot of bike companies. That means it’s not hard to get a battery or parts. Bosch also has come out with its new 500 watt-hour battery (the current is 400 WH) and they have kept it backward compatible with the mounts and the chargers of the older models, so at least they’re trying.

There’s no doubt that riding an e-bike is a lot of fun. But the current choices on the US market show that they’re not aimed at us for the most part. My guess is that in less than five years time the e-bike landscape is going to be different. Not only will there we rapid expansion in this country but there will also be some thinning out of the motor/battery systems. My guess is that Bosch will continue to do well and that Shimano is going to take off because it really knows the bike market and its e-Steps system offers potential integration with its Di2 electronic shifting system. Plus, we are going to see the spread of e-road bikes. Haibike already has one it is selling in Europe and the other companies are sure to follow.

David Gaus had such a good idea to ride Morgan Territory. The backside of Mt. Diablo can be a bitch during the summer when it’s insufferably hot, spring and fall being the best times to have a fun romp on the Rump. A wet winter made the grasslands lush and verdant but time was running out before they would all turn dun-colored. But we hit it when it was still crisply green, with the wind at Morgan Territory Preserve whipping the tall grass like something out of a Terrence Malick film. And, the weather was also picture perfect: sunshine with moderate temps to keep the climbing very pleasant and just a taste of headwind in the afternoon.

David had about 11 or 12 show including several faces I hadn’t seen before. If I remember correctly who was there: Will Bir, Doug O’Neill, Roger Sayre, Jeff Anhalt, Omar Manuar, Roger Hoyer, Jonathan, two more Jeffs, and a woman who showed up late and who didn’t connect with the main group until lunch. True to the ride listing David led it at a B-pace but overall the group must have been frisky because once on Morgan Territory most of the group rolled up the road. We regrouped at Morgan Territory Preserve, shot the bull, inhaled industrial “sports” food, and enjoyed the surreal view with high clouds rolling over the green hills.

The descent to Highland Road was most excellent and I believe Doug said he hit 50. Isn’t that kind of “death wish” territory, Doug? Luckily for me Doug was waiting at Highland because I love to sit on his wheel when he’s fighting the at-times enervating headwind on the way to Danville. Domenico’s was jam-packed leading to a prolonged lunch. Roger and I always eat from the deli side but the line was out the door so we relented and tried the panini/pizza side. Despite not having a wood-fired oven their pizza was a close facsimile of what you might get in Italy (I said close, mind you, not the same as); in other words, it was surprisingly good. Omar ordered a pizza just for himself but then realized if he ate the whole thing he wouldn’t have room for dessert, so he graciously farmed out some of it so he could go back and get some cookies.

After lunch we rolled up Danville Blvd. I committed a bit of a faux pas by leading this section a bit fast and it was more like a D-pace. Mea culpa. But nobody seemed fazed by the rapidity with which we returned to Concord BART. Thanks David!

Almost all of our Social Rides taking place in the immediate Bay Area originate at BART stations in order to make it easy and convenient for you all to get to the start without having to jump into a car—if you even own a car. Last Saturday’s ride started at Union City BART but only Roy came by train; everyone else drove! Perhaps BART’s many recent “challenges” swayed people into driving rather than risk another long delay in the system. As if on cue the elevator at Union City BART was out of order. So despite our generally effete efforts at living a quasi-green lifestyle Roger and I drove too because hauling his e-bike, which weighs like a kazillion pounds, up and down the stairs from the platform wasn’t an alluring prospect. Maybe next time we’ll just skip the pretense and start nowhere near BART!

Donald, Roy, Lamberto and Joe joined Roger and me for a longish Social Ride across the Dunbarton Bridge to the Arastradero Preserve above Palo Alto and then lunch at the heavenly Prolific Oven. Our rides, unlike almost all the club’s other rides, are oriented toward flatter and shorter routes in order to provide an opportunity for non-animals to ride together without fear that the group will vanish off into the distance. Last month’s ride up the Cummings Skyway had perhaps a challenging amount of vertical but reasonable distance whereas this month’s ride at 46 miles was on the long side yet the total vertical ascent was under 1,000 ft—unusual for a Bay Area ride!

We lucked out with the weather: it was sunny and not-too-hot, not-too-cool, with a light breeze almost the entire day. Starting at UC BART means riding through icky traffic but we managed to escape temporarily by cutting through Ardenwood Historic Farm, which just happened to have a Scottish Festival taking place. Ardenwood is right next to Highway 84 on the way to the Dunbarton toll plaza. I’ve probably passed it a thousand times in a car but until yesterday I had never set foot there. What a mistake! It’s a pleasant rural oasis in the middle of burgeoning Fremont: it’s like being in the countryside. And, unlike the farmland in Contra Costa County it’s in no danger of being turned into a housing tract or a business park because it’s owned by the East Bay Regional Park District. After a pit stop at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge we literally bounced along the decrepit Marshlands Road up to the bridge. The pavement is deteriorating, and with no reason to be maintained—it’s only used by cyclists heading to the bridge and by a few fisherman heading to a pier—it’s only going to get worse. We were hunting for the few smooth sections of the road, which mostly happened to be a thin, white strip no more than six inches wide—good practice at riding a straight line.

Once over the bridge we rolled through Belle Haven, which was the low income area on the other side of 101 from tonier Menlo Park. Perhaps it’s still “low income” if by the term you mean modest-houses-starting-at-merely-a-million-dollars. A quick hop over a pedestrian/bike overpass to 101 and we were in the “where the 1% live” zone. Eventually we made our way through the Midpeninsula suburbs to the outer reaches of Palo Alto and the Arastradero Preserve, another important piece of open space. Housing and business were starting to nibble at the edges of Arastradero Road until the Preserve put an end to such nonsense a few decades ago. While taking a break at the Preserve we ran into a unicyclist heading up the trail, quite a sight to see him ascend! We also ran into a women on a brand new e-bike with the Shimano E-Steps system. When asked what she thought of it she said she loves it! Shimano is the first big bicycle equipment manufacturer to get into the e-bike motor business and they are just going to clean up; the motor looks to be a bit lighter than Roger’s Bosch system and the batteries are comparable in size and power.

Eventually we rolled back down to Palo Alto to the Prolific Oven. Downtown PA was bustling with traffic but for some strange reason the Prolific Oven, which has been a local mainstay since 1981, was practically empty. That made it all the easier for six hungry cyclists to get their orders. The true hedonists were immediately evident because they ordered and got their pastries before their sandwiches. Donald shared his cherry strudel with the table—I mean, with those of us who didn’t immediately get a pastry. Roger then went to the counter to get his own but Joe and Domingo had apparently already snatched the last slice, so he came back with a fruit tart. Not having sampled the fare to their satisfaction Joe and Domingo then went back and returned with a chocolate covered cream puff. Oh yeah, and we had sandwiches of various sorts. How can a deli sandwich stand out? Use homemade bread, and the Prolific Oven’s is first caliber. Needless to say it was a long lunch, fitting for a long ride. Eventually we rolled out the door and saddled up for the tailwind-fueled ride back across the Dunbarton.

The next Social Ride will probably be at the end of the month during Memorial Day weekend. Stay tuned to the DSSF Ride Calendar for more details soon!

The March Social Ride was supposed to take place last weekend, but the forecast for light showers led us to postpone it. Good thing too because even though Roger and I had cancelled the ride we ended up going out and riding a different route anyway and got rained on. And apparently it was worse in the Martinez area. Yesterday was a completely different story: sunny, warm, a light breeze—in other words a perfect spring day. Lamberto and Joe joined us to make it a quartet. We had hardly gone a few miles before we passed Back Forty BBQ, which led to an elongated discussion of barbecue joints in the East Bay, lunch, eating good meals on rides, lunch, the virtues of unhealthy food, and did I mention lunch? After passing through suburban Pleasant Hill we headed up Franklin Canyon, which has the virtues and vices of “rural” Contra Costa County. On the one hand it it semi-rural with small farms, real open space made beauteous by brilliant green spring grass. But on the other hand it’s a fav place for miscreants to illegally dump their house refuse—sofas, old tvs, garbage bags full of who-knows-what, broken down chairs. All we need is a meth lab and some Superfund sites! We had a headwind but it was actually cool and refreshing and we were taking it easy anyway. After reaching the top of the Cummings Skyway—don’t you like that name?—we blasted down to Crockett and rather easily went along the Carquinez Scenic Drive. Strangely there were hardly any other people on the trail despite the spectacular weather we were having. The four of us reminisced about the old Scenic Drive before it was improved and turned into the George Miller Trail. Again it was a mixed bag: it was funky, decrepit, isolated, a site for illegal drug dealing, but it was incredibly atmospheric à la Planet of the Apes near Pacifica. Now it’s a smooth, paved multi-use path—much more pleasant to ride on—but it’s lost its isolation and has a completely different character, more tamed and safe.

Creek Monkey Tap House was crowded but, thankfully, for some odd reason most people were crammed into the inside bar rather than enjoying the weather in the outdoor courtyard. One reason I like Creek Monkey, besides the delicious grilled chicken sandwich and their beer battered onion rings I always get, is that you can bring your bike into the courtyard to keep an eye on it. Joe was the only one of us to enjoy a pilsner with his lunch but we ended up spending almost an hour and a half over lunch just chatting and chilling. By the end we were all thinking a nap would have made a nice coda to the afternoon but we still had about 15 miles more to go. So off we went through the side roads of Martinez and back to Pleasant Hill BART by the Contra Costa Canal Trail. Our average moving speed was 11.4 mph–right on the B-pace.

Next week: we’re going to the Prolific Oven in Palo Alto!

Some brilliant soul way in the past decided to combine fried chicken with waffles and to her/him I offer my heartfelt thanks. When I saw it on Assemble’s brunch menu, I knew immediately what to order among their uniformly delicious choices. The rest of our Social Ride group had other ideas: Ray and David wanted Assemble’s grilled cheese sandwich, and Derek and Roger went for the “Assemble Breakfast”, a house-made sausage patty, eggs your way with house-made bread turned into toast and home fries. And that grilled cheese sandwich was no Velveeta monstrosity; it was gruyere and cheddar—lots of both—along with poblano chilis to give it some spice, and of course French fries (or ‘chips’ as they’re called in the rest of the English speaking world). Anyway, back to my fried chicken and waffles: I must confess that the waffles were only so-so but the fried chicken—really large chunks of breast meat—was near perfect: moist inside, not overcooked, and deliciously crispy. Going to Assemble is always a treat, not just for the food but because it sits along the Bay Trail in Richmond it’s easily accessible by bike.

Before we had our meal the five of us—I, Roger, Derek, David, and Roy—rolled down the 40^th Street bikeway to Ikea and took the Alex Zuckerman Path up the eastern span of the new Bay Bridge. Despite a cold start the day was sunny, providing brilliant views of the entire Bay from the new span. The old bridge is steadily retreating piece by piece; enough has disappeared that a new vista has emerged: an unobstructed view of the South Bay! After oohs and aahs and obligatory snapshots—although none of us had selfie sticks—we descended back to Oakland and rolled up the Bay Trail to our fabulous brunch. Derek continues to amaze me with his riding. Here he is well into his eighties and he’s zooming along like a teenager. He complains about how he can’t climb hills anymore, fills me in on his latest e-bike research and then he blasts up the short hill at Golden Gate Fields like it’s a race, with David hot on his heels. Age has not diminished his competitive spirit.

Next month the Social Ride is heading to the Creek Monkey Tap House in Martinez for another tasty lunch. It will be a little more challenging with the climb up to Cummings Skyway but in return we get a blast of a descent into Crockett and then a great ride on Carquinez Scenic Drive. Check the Ride Calendar for details. See you March 20!

The Saddle Challenge is our annual event, during the month of March, where members can challenge each other (and themselves) to get out on their bikes and ride. You choose your own mileage goal for the month, whether it be 25 miles, 100 miles or 800 miles, it’s your goal! Then use the Saddle Challenge Web site to log your mileage, watch your own progress, and see how other members are doing.

Historically, the Saddle Challenge has also been a way for members to raise money for Project Inform. Project Inform, is a non-profit based in San Francisco that provides information, inspiration, and advocacy for people with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. You can find more information about the life-saving work they do here:

http://www.projectinform.org/

Many years ago, a long time DSSF member, Ron Wilmot, organized an annual fund-raising ride for Project Inform. When this event ended, the Saddle Challenge was started as a way to continue doing our part each March. You can choose to pledge per mile, or as a lump sum, and this is entirely optional. No one is required to pledge money in order to participate. At the end of the month, we will ask those members who did pledge to mail a check (made out to Project Inform) to the DSSF post office box, so we can donate all money raised on behalf of Different Spokes.

This year, in addition to encouraging riders to make a pledge, we are also encouraging riders to find sponsors who are willing to donate on their behalf. Sponsors can donate a lump sum, per mile, or per mile with a cap. One of the benefits of donating through the Saddle Challenge is that unlike many other fund raising events, the Saddle Challenge has absolutely no overhead. That means 100% of your tax deductible contribution goes directly to Project Inform – not 70%, not 80%, not 90%, but 100%.

To sign up for the Saddle Challenge, use the link on the DSSF homepage, or go directly to:

http://www.dssf.org/dssf_html/sc/

To register, enter your first and last names and the password (to get the password, send an email to: president@dssf.org). Then, set your own mileage goals for the month of March. You will also have the opportunity to make your own pledge (per mile or lump sum) to Project Inform, but this is strictly optional.

If you have any questions about the Saddle Challenge, please contact me at: president@dssf.org

Thanks and hope to see you at the Member Kickoff and Social on Monday Feb 22nd (details on the Club’s Ride Calendar)! I’ll have more information about the Saddle Challenge at the meeting.

Sal
President, DSSF

Spokers,

Another Board election is over as a new year begins at DSSF. Thanks to everyone who has continued to support the Club by renewing their membership. The people who also give so generously of their time and talents to keep the Club going are a particular inspiration for me. I’m extremely thankful for the amazing group of thoughtful, friendly, generous, and fun-loving people that I’ve met here at Different Spokes. It’s a real honor and privilege to serve as president of what is probably the largest and most active LGBT cycling club in the country. And it’s great to know that we continue to provide a beacon of hope for people all over the world who find us on the Web or by word-of-mouth, wishing they could cycle with others, OUT AND PROUD, with friends who accept them.

Of course, as an all volunteer club, our continued success depends on YOU. Unfortunately, probably 90% of what gets done by the Club is due to the efforts of the same 8 or 9 people each year. During the past several years, there has been almost no turnover in the people serving on the Board, and in spite of our efforts to find volunteers, we still have 4 vacant leadership positions:

Ride Coordinator
Events Coordinator
Woman’s Outreach
Men’s Outreach

These positions don’t require a huge time commitment and it’s not too late to volunteer. If serving in a leadership position is not for you, there are plenty of other ways to contribute. Why not volunteer to lead some Club rides this year, or help organize a single Club event? At the Membership Kickoff and Social on Feb 22nd, David Gaus will be offering tips on how to organize an out-of-town cycling weekend. Come and find out how easy it really is. Yes, it requires some time, commitment, and motivation, but I think you’ll find the experience extremely rewarding. The first time someone says “Thank You” to you, you’ll know what I mean.

The fun all begins at our annual Membership Kickoff and Social on Monday, Feb 22nd. Details and a link to RSVP can be found on the DSSF Ride Calendar. Hope to see you all there!

Sal
President, DSSF

Those of you on the Resolution Ride this year unfortunately had to do without Mrs. Moy’s fabulous maple scones and hot coffee at the Junction. I’m sure it would have made a big difference because it was frickin’ cold on Mt. Diablo. Rather than play hostess Mrs. Moy decided he wanted to join in the fun and cycle up too. Here’s what happened.

 

We didn’t go with Different Spokes this time. Instead we (sort of) went up with Grizzly Peak Cyclists, which along with Valley Spokesmen, Veloraptors, and Diablo Cyclists is yet another club which celebrates the New Year by going up our favorite local mountain. We were going to escort some cycling friends who had just moved to Oakland from Colorado and were intrigued with going up Mt. Diablo with Grizzly Peak Cyclists. In their former hometown they had a New Year’s Day Polar Bear ride. Keep in mind this is in the high country of Colorado so their ride was often in snow and took place along a bike path that was snowplowed. And it’s at altitude! So going up Diablo seemed like just the way to begin a new year. But the morning of they bailed and Roger and I ended up pretty much going it alone. Our own Stephanie Clarke was one of the Grizzly ride leaders so it was much like doing a DSSF ride except bigger…and mostly straight. I was envious that Grizzly’s New Years Day ride had four ride leaders, all of them women including their club President. Way to go, Grizzlies!

The Grizzly ride was almost the same as Different Spokes’ but started at Pleasant Hill BART rather than Walnut Creek. Grizzly Peak, being a much larger club, had the luxury of several groups doing different routes: one group started in Berkeley and rode all the way up and back; another group started at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek and went up the north side and back (the shortest route); and the group we were with went the southern route and descended by the north, about 40 miles. Nonetheless our group was probably about 30 cyclists. It’s rare that a DSSF ride has that many participants (Mt. Hamilton last November had 33). Someone had planned a convoluted route through the back roads of Walnut Creek instead of barreling down Danville Blvd. Since most Spokers don’t ride in Contra Costa very often, zooming down Danville is a treat, but for those of us who live over here Danville Blvd. is our Tiburon Loop. So the idea of taking a ‘back road’ was appealing exactly until we got lost the second time. How this could happen with four ride leaders is beyond me but our Grizzly group already was splintered by the first wrong turn, as only part of the group turned around to find the right way. By the bathroom break at Livorna we were down to about a third of the original mass. At that point Roger and I decided we’d be better off riding on our own so we made our way through Diablo and up Southgate.

As had been the case for more than a week the arctic fronts made for brisk temperatures hovering around 40 degrees. Fortunately there was no wind and the sun was out otherwise it could have been a real sufferfest. Climbing keep us borderline warm but as soon as we stopped the intensity of the cold was immediately apparent. The rangers had recently installed a series of warning signs to increase bicycle safety, “Do not pass bicyclists on blind curves!” Although I personally have not had a problem with wayward cars in all the years I’ve climbed Diablo, I have heard enough stories of close encounters and of accidents to know that it’s a real threat. (Last New Year’s we were schmoozing at the Junction when we witnessed a cyclist and a minivan trying to occupy the same space on the road.) The rangers were out enforcing it too: I heard a siren go off and a car get pulled over by a ranger just before the Junction. At the Junction there was a crowd—everybody was going up Mt. Diablo (that is, everybody who wasn’t either going up Hamilton or doing the race up San Bruno).

We ran into Allison Stone replete as usual in pink kit. Most of you probably do not know of Allison since you don’t ride often in the East Bay—she’s a hardcore, old school tourist and is seen everywhere on her bike it seems. For many years she’s led tours for BAC including some monster tours in the Sierras and Cascades. She always wears pink and has four panniers with bright, pink covers all of the time. Years ago we were touring down Big Sur and who did we run into but Allison doing a solo tour; we could see her off in the distance—a glowing pink dot. She always goes up Mt. Diablo on New Years and fills her panniers with goodies to dispense.

We also had the pleasure of running into Bill Bushnell at the Junction. Most if not all of you don’t know Bill, a former DSSF Ride Coordinator. He’s lapsed and is now involved with Western Wheelers. For quite a while Bill’s been riding a faired recumbent and definitely adheres to the Jobst Brandt School of Cycling, doing mega-rides all over California. I rarely run into Bill these days because my riding is in contrast quite pedestrian and to boot Bill lives in the South Bay. But this morning he was escorting his recumbent club up Mt. Diablo. It was quite a sight; I rarely see recumbents going up Diablo (in fact I never had until now!) as they choose to race up and down Danville Blvd. where it’s decidedly flatter instead. We caught up on news and then bid our adieus.

Surprisingly as we closed in on the summit the temperature wasn’t dropping all that much and the wind, which was a constant 30 mph the day before, was dead calm. On the upper reaches we saw snow on the side of the road but it was otherwise clear of ice. Just days before the rangers had closed the road to the summit because of ice. I was having a not-so-great day. After not riding much this fall, at the last minute I decided to do the Rapha Festive 500 on a lark. With well more than 300 miles in my legs from the previous week, I was pretty much dead meat from the start. Slogging up a constant 6% grade was turning out to be grueling rather than inspiring. Of course that last hundred yards just below the top at 18% were the pièce de résistance and I completely groveled up it, slipping into the lowest gear I had. But we made it!

As we rolled into the parking lot we ran into the remnants of the Different Spokes group—David, Nancy, Gordon, and Ellen. It seems that the others, whoever you were, had already intelligently forsaken the top for warmer climes. Oh, and the view at the summit was near-spectacular, with no clouds in sight and bright sunshine in all directions. The Bay Bridge and Mt. Tam could be seen in the distance but I had been secretly hoping the air would be clear enough to see the snow-capped Sierras. Alas, it was not to be—a bit too hazy from all the chimney soot it appears. Roger had lugged up a thermos of hot coffee, which we relished as we were rapidly cooling down in the brisk air. If the State Park were to install a food stand and coffee hut at the top, it would be an additional revenue stream for the beleaguered park and a perfect way to cap off a mighty ascent.

The Spokers were also planning to head down Northgate so we all left together. Unless it’s one of those freak winter days when it’s in the fifties, descending Mt. Diablo on NYD is, strangely enough, the most uncomfortable part of climbing over 4,000 feet. The cold air cuts through whatever you’re wearing and exposed skin aches from the piercing chill. Sweat soaked clothing becomes a massive swamp cooler for your body. Roger and I came prepared. We each had brought an additional layer—a wind- and waterproof shell—as well as neck gaiters. Since I chill easily, I had also brought a pair of Rainlegs repurposed as “Windlegs” to keep my thighs warm. Needless to say we also had neoprene booties. A typical summer weekend day has a fair amount of car and bike traffic to and from the summit, but New Year’s really brings the crowd out. So we descended sanely keeping our speed under 25 mph (incidentally the speed limit is 20!). Both cyclists and cars were on their best behavior perhaps due to the rangers being out in force. In any case we weren’t interested in going mega-fast because it just made the chill worse. Each thousand feet of descent brought a slightly warmer temp although not pedaling much meant we were going to get cold regardless. The road has also quite noticeably slipped due to soil instability, with at least one section in immediate peril of collapsing, so it was at times a bumpy ride. That’s another reason why it’s more fun to ascend rather than descend by Northgate! In a trice we were back on the flats.

Typically the Resolution Ride descends by the north so that we can descend southward to Danville and get some grub. Unfortunately on New Year’s almost all the eateries are closed in Danville, Lunardi’s Market and Chow being the notable exceptions. Descending on Northgate allows you to enjoy the eateries at the Ygnacio Plaza Shopping Center instead. The place to go on a chilly day was A Sweet Affair Bakery, which had hot soup. Personally I was dreaming of the wonton soup and roast pork at China Village but I got outvoted. We had to ‘settle’ for hot French onion soup. Surprisingly Ygnacio Plaza had quite a few open restaurants including the Peet’s, a burger joint, High Tech Burrito, and Mountain Mike’s. I guess closing on New Year’s is yet another ‘holiday’ that is eroding away to become like any other day. I can’t remember what Nancy was eating but David and Gordon were chowing down on the Navy bean soup and some hot dip sandwiches when we left. Refreshed and warmed we were slapped in the face by the cold air exiting the bakery. But with just a few flat miles back to Pleasant Hill BART it was a piece of cake!

For those of you who think that Mt. Diablo is just a bridge too far and would not attempt to ascend it on New Year’s or any other day, we need an alternate way to inaugurate the year. Tiburon loop again? Nope, too trite. Lake Merced loop? Nope, not even a reach. We need something inspiring and challenging yet not overwhelming. Maybe Mt. San Bruno? A late start would avoid the annual race and it would give some folks a chance to wake up and get over their hangovers. Now we just need someone to lead it next year…

It was remarkably frigid this morning for the Orinda-Palomares ride. We woke up to 32 degrees F at our house, and we’re up on a hill so it’s usually about five to seven degrees colder at the bottom during the winter. Riding to Orinda BART the leftover moisture on the road was gleaming and rimmed with frost—ah, the joys of black ice! It was just Roger, Jeff, and me. Others who had RSVPed all backed out, probably out of wisdom—hypothermia is a harsh mistress. Both Roger and I had decided to put on a fourth layer before heading out the door. For the record I had on a new Showers Pass wool/poly long sleeve base layer, a thin windproof jacket, then a thick Assos jacket, and on top of that was a thick Descente vest. Oh, and I also had on a Gore-Tex helmet cover with a skull cap to cover my ears, a neck gaiter, and thick shoe covers over my wool winter socks. I was cold almost the entire time regardless; my finger tips never did fully warm up despite having thermal gloves.

I looked over the temperature readings on the Garmin and most of the day it was 34-38 degrees and only warmed up (!) to the mid-forties along Danville Blvd. In the end I decided to shorten the ride because the weather forecasts were mixed as to when the rain would start. Since the clouds were dark and ominous from the get-go, I wasn’t up for playing in frigid conditions and rain. I’ve been caught in the rain in the mid-thirties before (I was on top of Independence Pass outside of Aspen) and it was a heinous memory burned forever into the fear center of my brain. By Castro Valley it was looking about the same, so we cut out Palomares and headed directly to Dublin instead. The ride was still a respectable 56 miles. In the end it didn’t rain this afternoon but I ain’t a gambling man! The moving average I got for our ride was 14.3 mph, which is right on target for a C-paced ride (= 12 to 15 miles per hour moving average).

Speaking of gambling, it looks like New Years Day is going to be sunny and clear, which bodes well for everybody’s favorite NYD ride: going up Mt. Diablo. When it has rained, only the truly hardcore (and you know who you are) went out and rode it anyway to start the year right. This year we are apparently being spared that difficult choice. But it’s going to be righteously cold: predictions are for below freezing temps in Walnut Creek on New Years. For you City folk heading over who aren’t used to freezing weather, here are some tips for the ride: wear more layers than you think you need and be able to shed them or put them back on easily; don’t even think of doing the ride without good gloves and shoe covers; and no one’s going to serve you hot coffee at the top unless you bring it yourself. If you suffer from fingers that chill easily—as I do—bring some disposable hand warmers to put in your gloves. On a positive note the forecast for Walnut Creek is for a high of mid-fifties on New Years. So by the time we’re back at the bottom it should be more than tolerable. See you on Diablo!

I was a bit concerned about scheduling a social ride for December and added this ride at the last minute and hoped the weather would hold. Well, it did! The ride to Hideout Kitchen this past Saturday may have been chilly but at least we were more fortunate than Stephanie, who scheduled her Geysers ride for the following day when it poured up in Santa Rosa. In contrast we had overcast skies but no precipitation whatsoever, making for a pleasant ride through the Lamorinda suburbs. One minor hazard of fall riding in the hinterlands is the at-times massive leaf dump especially from the sycamores that provide well-needed relief from the sweltering sunshine during the summer. There were leaves everywhere but not enough to cause a problem, even on the Lamorinda Regional Trail. The clouds occasionally gave way to brief hits of sun allowing an eventual warming to the mid-50s.

Eventually there were eight of us as the beginning was somewhat chaotic with three folks missing the start. David met another group of cyclists in the parking lot and thought we were gathering there; Omar missed his train; and Laura arrived by car and saw us already heading out. Eventually we all caught up and Adrienne and Sheila met us up the road in Moraga after coming over Pinehurst from Oakland.

Cut to the chase: the brunch at Hideout Kitchen in Lafayette. Hideout Kitchen is a new restaurant—I think it’s not even a year old—off the main drag in a strip mall albeit pleasant. With an outside courtyard it’s a convenient place to park a pile of bikes out of sight from the road and easily seen from the inside. We had a reservation and a table for nine—Adrienne’s girlfriend also joined us—was waiting. The service was excellent and gracious. Hideout ain’t no greasy spoon yet it serves a traditional southern dish, country fried steak, with a twist: the steak is sandwiched between two waffles. Grace said it was like her Oklahoma home cooking and Omar, as thin as he is, inhaled the whole thing. Is that praise enough? Keeping to the comfort food theme, I had a—get this: chili cheese omelet. Not only was the omelet itself perfectly cooked but having it generously stuffed with homemade chili and cheese was, well, it reminded me of how it used to feel back in the day when I arrived at the top of Mt. Tam and got a chili cheese dog from the shack that used to be there: the perfect way to top off a ride.

Want more food with your social riding? Stay tuned for the 2016 schedule: at least one A-paced ride a month with a really yummy place to eat! Here’s a preview: in January we’re going to lunch and baked goodies at Bear Claw Bakery in Pinole…