Here are two videos, produced by AIDS/LifeCycle, with footage from this years Ride. You can find a Team Different Spokes member in each one.

And here is yet a third video, with yet another Spoker to be found:

Want a hint?

Video #1 at 1:46
Video #2 at 3:49
Video #3 at 1:30

So it was the toughest ride I did last year, the Giro di Peninsula, and I was glad to see that this years date did not conflict with San Francisco Pride weekend. We did it last year as a Different Spokes club event, so there was a large group of us (well, two groups, the young and fast, and the rest of us.) What made it so hard? Well, a number of circumstances, I am guessing. A lot of climbing, coupled with several weeks (post-ALC) that I had not done any riding, and a very hot day (in the afternoon.)

Bill, Patrick, Michael were the only ones interested in doing it again, although I found out later that Jeff & Scott did a modified metric century. While it was a small group, that helped, as we moved along at rest stops much quicker. It’s a nice route, this year had a few changes from last year. The ride starts at Bay Meadows race track in San Mateo, and we head up to Crystal Springs Reservoir and then south on Canada Road to Woodside. We did not go to Portola Valley and then back track to climb Old La Honda to head to the coast this year. Instead, we went directly up Highway 84 from Woodside to Skyline Boulevard and down the other side to San Gregorio.

Then on to Stage Road (instead of the actual route, which told us to go to Highway 1, then head north) to Tunitas Creek. None of us kept track of the mileage, but I think Stage Road ends up being a short cut. Tunitas Creek is a 9 mile climb, not particularly steep, but long. Fortunately it’s shaded. Once we got to the top of Tunitas, there was no sign of Michael or Bill (well, we really didn’t expect to see Bill.) So we descended Kings Mountain Road back down to Woodside. We headed back to Portola Valley to do the other loop of the day, around Altamont Road down to Foothill Expressway and then back to Portola Valley. While it did get warm, it was no where near as hot as it was last year. On the second pass thru the Portola Valley rest stop, the food was not quite as appealing, in the hot sun.

It was nice to finish the ride at 3:30, instead nearly 5pm last year. They were pretty much out of food the year before. They had pasta with red sauce, pesto pasta, two kinds of ravioli, Italian sausage, salad, and ice cream. This may be what we missed out on last year. It’s a very scenic and enjoyable, albeit tough, ride covering a lot of Peninsula territory, and I’ll definitely do it again.

http://www.mtbguru.com/trip/iframe/2322?width=500px&height=500px

A week after AIDS/LifeCycle and I’m on the bike again, which was my plan after last years two week hiatus before attempting the Giro. Not this year. Rico led an alternate ride to Cory’s planned China Camp and Pt. Reyes Station. We met at Velo Rouge Cafe on Arguello, joined by Dave F and Wanderson, a nice group of four.

I thought of Erik and his planned Tam Quickie leaving at 8am, as we headed out; it was a typical foggy morning but it was quite windy. By the time we had crossed the bridge and made it to the end of the Sausalito bike path, we could see blue sky. Continuing on over Camino Alto on on to Larkspur, we turned on to Bon Air Siding Road thru Greenbrae to climb Wolfe Grade, which brought us to downtown San Rafael, with a quick stop at Starbucks.

From there we headed out Lincoln to North San Pedro Road, heading into China Camp State Park, where we will be having the Club Picnic in a few weeks. We continued on thru the park and had lunch at the Loch Lomond Market, which has a fabulous deli inside. After lunch, we headed back to downtown San Rafael to retrace our climb of Wolfe Grade back to the city.

Thanks again, Rico! Really enjoyed the ride, and great company too! Got a few more photos, but here’s a new “toy.” An interactive map of the ride:

http://www.mtbguru.com/trip/iframe/2005?width=500px&height=500px

Wanderson Eric and I met at 9am. Perfect weather. Post bridge all warmers and vests came off for the first time all year. Wanderson got distracted in Farfax. Drama? Eric and I pushed up to the dam; then to the east peak. After running out of water I needed plenty of fluids and rest. Post descent the test began.. I rode as hard as possible with nothing left at the end except exhaustion. I made the climb in 26.5. Eric played with my emotions and stayed behind me the whole way up the brutal push. As usual the hardest ride I could do was only his pre webcore warm-up. From there the ride was nothing short of get this shit over with.. I  laid in bed moaning for 2 hours popping aspirin and calories. Les Eric and I met for drinks and gossip later in the evening. Today me and Les did the traditional jersey ride.. very.. very slowly. Twas a decent weekend all in all.

Ann Dunn and I rode the Morgan Territory Circumnavigation route today.  This was my first time on this route, and the start of the ride was a bit of a comedy of errors (including an unexpected freeway closure, me mis-reading the route slip, and then me falling over ever-so-gracefully at the first stop light).  Anyway, after these initial goofs, we got ourselves sorted out and got underway.  The route was a mix of big roads and back roads.  The big roads we’re pretty much fine, but a few of the back roads were a bit rough in spots.  The climb up into Morgan Territory was pretty manageable, and the descent afterwards was nice and fast with good road surfaces and visibility.  The scenery through Morgan Territory was beautiful.  After the descent there was a lot of long, flat spinning – which is one of my favorite things. I’ll definitely be posting this ride again later this year, probably with a few tweaks to increase the mileage a little bit.

Three weeks ago I was able to start riding with the club again, and celebrated this occasion by joining the Evil Step Sisters ride up Mt. Tam to Alpine Dam. It being early in the season for me, I knew that this ride would present a challenge… but I seldom let such considerations stop me. (I am probably what you might call “headstrong”. Or perhaps, “foolish”. I prefer “willful”, which I’m sure will come as no surprise to those of you who know me. But I digress.)
Full of excitement and optimism I headed out with the club on my new bike, gradually remembering the proverbial lay of the land. The ride started out beautifully but, (skip to the point) I broke a spoke on the Marin bike path just past Mike’s Bikes. I said my teary goodbyes to the club and headed back to Mike’s to wait for them to open. Now, much to my surprise, as soon as Mike’s opened they were able to throw my bike on the rack and repair that busted spoke. And though I knew there was no way I could ever catch up to the club (now and hour ahead of me), I was determined to make the most of the day. After a bit of solo jockeying back on the bike path I fell in with a random group of people and decided that I would ride what they rode. (I’m a bit shy, you see… and have positively no sense of direction on a bicycle for some reason.)

After a while, this nice group of folks decided that they would say hello to me (since I seemed to be stalking them). I introduced myself and explained my situation, and of course they were entirely pleased to have a well groomed, well behaved, and entirely too handsome rider join their paceline. (Ok, I think their exact words were something like, “try to keep up”… but try to read between the lines and you’ll see what I mean.) And then, as if serendipity itself had shined down on me, they informed me that they were headed up to Alpine Dam. And, even better, they were riding the REVERSE loop of the club. I thought, “This might be my chance to re-join the ride!”
So, I followed and rode and made a bit of polite smalltalk like you do. (Ok, not like WE do… but like I’m sure you would do if you’re a bunch of sorta boring straight people riding bikes.) And, lo and behold, I met up with the club on my climb up to Alpine Dam. Hooray!

Now, pay attention to this part because this is a key detail for the rest of the story. I did quite a bit of climbing. In fact, I was sure I must have made almost all the way up to Alpine Dam… and of course that must be the peak elevation of the ride because otherwise you wouldn’t call the ride the “Alpine Damn” ride. (Hey! Stop laughing!)

Fast forward to today where I had the good fortune to join Jeremy for the “i hate my sisters” ride. Finally, I have another shot at this mysterious “Alpine Dam”. The riders included Jeremy, Eric, Topher, Wundersen, a brit we picked up at Cafe Vela Rouge, and me (aka Turbo). It was cold and cloudy, but dry. And we were all ready to ride. Ok spokers… let’s show this dam who’s boss!

The ride started well, and we were cranking along. Through Suasalito, then Larskpur, then into Bolinas and Fairfax… man are we making good time or what! Then the climb began and it was exactly as I remember. It felt great to stretch those legs. And surely the dam isn’t too far. Around the next bend I’m sure. Yep, not far now. Hmmm… where the hell is the dam? Ok, maybe I didn’t climb as much as I thought had on my first excursion. But I’m a trouper and through willful determination I finally made it to the damn. What a beautiful spot! Definitely worth the effort. And boy was I ready for the descent.

And that’s when I noticed something slightly amiss. You see, the road out of the dam goes up hill. Hmmm… that’s odd. So I asked innocently, “So, there’s a bit more climbing then?” And a very kind (and mildly amused) Wundersen clarified the situation: “Honey, the climb is just starting.”

Oh.

Now, I’d like to believe that the color didn’t entirely drain from my quickly applied game face. But those who were there know the truth, and the rest of you will have to do that climb with me to find out.

And, with no further fanfare we were off like a shot. It got colder and foggier, and I relied increasingly on my willful nature. Slow and steady wins the race. One foot and the other… that’s what I always say. It’s not whether you win or lose… it’s how you finish the climb. And though I wasn’t winning any awards for fastest anything, I felt ok about how it was going. It is, after all, early in the season for me. And I’m not my strongest in the cold. And then… the unthinkable happened. And I’m ashamed even to tell you because this is something that has never, ever, ever happened to me before. I was focused intently on the road ahead (all three feet of visibility), and I was keeping my cadence even and smooth, and then I heard a most unusual sound. *pat* *pat* *pat* *pat*. And then I got passed. BY A RUNNER!

Yes, dear spokers, I got passed while riding up Mt. Tam by a man on foot. No bike. Just shoes. Passed.

In my defense, it was very close to the top.

Anyway, I stopped for a moment to have a very quick rest and bite to eat and to see if I had enough cell service to charter a helicopter to come and get my sorry self. Fortunately, no cell service… but the very kind ride leader Jeremy did pull up having turned around to come and check on me. One packet of Jeremy’s goo and one mile later, we were finally on our descent.

For the sake of brevity (as if I were capable of such a thing) I’ll spare you the details of my post-climb cramps, and my resorting to the ferry in sausalio to avoid the climb up to the bridge. Instead I’ll close by sharing with you all that I realized something today. Mt. Tam is my nemesis, and I shall conquer that little mound of a hill this summer. (n.b. I’m willful.) And, to the runner who passed me on the climb, wherever you are: thank you for not laughing… or even snickering. You’re a good egg.