May 2004
Riding with Emily
What a trooper!!! Emily
had no problem taking a 15 mile jaunt with me to her
grandparents house... 3 pm on a day that hit 97
degrees.... pretty impressive! She's already talkin'
about doin' Centuries with her dear ol' Dad...
hmmmmm... perhaps a tandem someday!
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Lodi Sunrise Century 2004
05/22/2004 09:04 PM Filed in: bike
Perfect weather
today for a ride! Left Lodi High at 7:00 and
within the first few miles found a few guys to
pace. The first 20 miles into Clements was cool
as the four of us took turns pulling to the first
rest stop. I grabbed a bagel and strawberries
and threw some more food in my jersey and took off by
myself... not wanting to wait around too long.
From there I headed up to Lake Camanche. The
climbs were mild but I could still feeling
them, I only needed my triple one during the
whole ride. The views going up were spectacular
... and the oddest... I've never before seen an
ostrich and an emu on the same
ride!
After the lunch stop at mile 52 in Wallace I headed out on Hwy 12 looking for riders I could pace. I didn't get to any other riders until Johnson Rd and rode with a group of guys for 8 miles or so. That group flew past 4 huge painted arrows indicating a turn... luckily they heard me yelling, "HEY, TURN, TURN... ARROWS" or they may have ended up riding way out of their way.
Then came a 9 mile stretch of Clements road that was very long, straight, no shade and had a killer side wind. At one point there was a nasty dust cloud from a farmer plowing a field... visibility was cut to a maybe a hundred feet so I slowed down to cut through when there were no cars nearby.
Finally making it to the last rest stop in Linden I rested a full 10 minutes or so and then waited to find others that were leaving at the same time so I could draft. Heading West was difficult after 75 miles... right into a nasty headwind. No one else was leaving so I took off before this one guy that looked like he was leaving soon. Sure enough, he passed me a mile later and held on for dear life. Heading west, we traded pulls for 45 minutes or so, through the toughest part of the ride. He helped me get the next 20 miles and then I had to drop back and let him go on his way (thanks Steve!)
I finally rode back in to Lodi, tired but feeling great. I met a lot of other riders (most giving me great advice for my next century - The Sierra Century). I also beat my goal by 10 minutes so I was not disappointed at all.
After the lunch stop at mile 52 in Wallace I headed out on Hwy 12 looking for riders I could pace. I didn't get to any other riders until Johnson Rd and rode with a group of guys for 8 miles or so. That group flew past 4 huge painted arrows indicating a turn... luckily they heard me yelling, "HEY, TURN, TURN... ARROWS" or they may have ended up riding way out of their way.
Then came a 9 mile stretch of Clements road that was very long, straight, no shade and had a killer side wind. At one point there was a nasty dust cloud from a farmer plowing a field... visibility was cut to a maybe a hundred feet so I slowed down to cut through when there were no cars nearby.
Finally making it to the last rest stop in Linden I rested a full 10 minutes or so and then waited to find others that were leaving at the same time so I could draft. Heading West was difficult after 75 miles... right into a nasty headwind. No one else was leaving so I took off before this one guy that looked like he was leaving soon. Sure enough, he passed me a mile later and held on for dear life. Heading west, we traded pulls for 45 minutes or so, through the toughest part of the ride. He helped me get the next 20 miles and then I had to drop back and let him go on his way (thanks Steve!)
I finally rode back in to Lodi, tired but feeling great. I met a lot of other riders (most giving me great advice for my next century - The Sierra Century). I also beat my goal by 10 minutes so I was not disappointed at all.
Delta Century 2004
05/02/2004 11:08 PM Filed in: bike
My
first Century... what a blast! When I first
started riding 10 months ago I set this date on my
calendar as my first Century and it showed up on a
great day. I had always planned on riding it
solo but Chuck decided, the day before, to join
me.
I pulled up to the parking lot at the Mondavi Woodbridge winery at 6:00 am (noticing that the first vehicle in the parking lot was Chuck's), threw my jersey on and headed to the registration tables. At 6:30 we were on our way. I felt good in the morning and was happy to have Chuck with me... going solo on my first Century would've been boring. The first rest stop was at New Hope school in New Hope (I never knew this little town existed) at mile 18.
me and Chuck just before
mile 18
yours
truly
I
don't recall where this is ... I think leaving
Walnut Grove...
cell phone lady in the front, Noah, David, me, Chuck, ???, ???
From there we made our way through Thornton, Walnut Grove and Courtland for the lunch break at mile 48. At mile 66 (and not a moment too soon), there was an unofficial break at the ferry crossing. I don't think I've ever been on a ferry... certainly not with a bike. After eating and re-filling the water bottles we headed out to Hood and Clarksburg and back to Walnut Grove for the last rest stop at mile 78. Finally, home stretch! After riding 80 miles a few weeks prior I was feeling pretty good at this point and knew I was near completion of one of my first year's goals.
We met up with David and Noah from Oakland who were also riding their first Century. Chuck and I spent a lot the day trading places with this father and son duo.
The views were pristine and the roads sometimes bumpy. SAG was always around (knock on wood, we had no mechanical problems!) There were a lot of winding roads that made the ride very enjoyable.
Next Century... Lodi Sunrise Century 5.22.04... see ya on the road!
I pulled up to the parking lot at the Mondavi Woodbridge winery at 6:00 am (noticing that the first vehicle in the parking lot was Chuck's), threw my jersey on and headed to the registration tables. At 6:30 we were on our way. I felt good in the morning and was happy to have Chuck with me... going solo on my first Century would've been boring. The first rest stop was at New Hope school in New Hope (I never knew this little town existed) at mile 18.
me and Chuck just before
mile 18 yours
truly I
don't recall where this is ... I think leaving
Walnut Grove...
cell phone lady in the front, Noah, David, me, Chuck, ???, ???
From there we made our way through Thornton, Walnut Grove and Courtland for the lunch break at mile 48. At mile 66 (and not a moment too soon), there was an unofficial break at the ferry crossing. I don't think I've ever been on a ferry... certainly not with a bike. After eating and re-filling the water bottles we headed out to Hood and Clarksburg and back to Walnut Grove for the last rest stop at mile 78. Finally, home stretch! After riding 80 miles a few weeks prior I was feeling pretty good at this point and knew I was near completion of one of my first year's goals.
We met up with David and Noah from Oakland who were also riding their first Century. Chuck and I spent a lot the day trading places with this father and son duo.
The views were pristine and the roads sometimes bumpy. SAG was always around (knock on wood, we had no mechanical problems!) There were a lot of winding roads that made the ride very enjoyable.
Next Century... Lodi Sunrise Century 5.22.04... see ya on the road!