Riding in the Rain.... and Beau's New Bike!

All of us with bike envy!

It rained today... but more on that in a moment! Beau came out to ride with the Friday Riders on today's ride from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Tib Loop. Beau's bike is "special" (no I don't mean it THAT way). Beau has the limited edition Cannondale AIDS Lifecycle Bike -he won it at the Kick Off Party earlier this month. (see previous post with pictures).

We rode out of the Conzelman parking lot- down down down the Ft. Baker bike path toward and through Sausalito. I felt a few sprinkles on my face as we road over Camino Alto, but they stopped falling as we rode the rollers of Paradise Drive toward Tiburon. We stopped in Tiburon for a "snack" at Sweden House and as we sat snacking the rain really began to fall! By the time we finished eating and headed out it was once again a slight drizzle until we hit Sausalito and the climb back out of Ft. Baker. Right about there it started to come down a little heavier but nothing too miserable.

It wasn't bad, the rain riding- I just felt bad for Beau, whose new bike now needs a thorough cleaning!!

California Cold Weather Wear...

My thoughts on layers? Last Friday and Saturday I rode in 35-40 weather and had on a long sleeved base layer, long sleeve wool jersey, a windbreaker, shorts, wool knee high socks under tights, a fleece watch cap under my helmet, and long fingered gloves. Oh yes and Pearl Izumi Amfib shoe covers over my shoes (they're light fleece lined!)



Once I got moving this proved the perfect amount of layering, in fact eventually I took off the windbreaker only to have to put it back on on the downhills. You don't want to overdo the layering because you want to move, and even if it's cold you will sweat, and that sucks if you get all sweaty and then have to ride downhill in cold. Think "wind chill" on your sweaty body.

I think it's the toasty headcover, finger covers and foot covers that keep me warm.

Here's a pic of my favorite cap, which you can also monogram! Sorry all that was available was this teensy image from Land's End.

Consider signing this online petition...

California's "Share The Road" License Plate petition can be found here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/str1234/

How to warm up for a ride...

My routine is right here. Thank you michael. (it really does work to keep you warm!)

A cold day on Tam

Saturday the 13th we rode out from San Anselmo to the East Peak of Mt. Tam. It's only 37 mile loop, but with about 90% climbing. The day was sooo cold, but also so clear that the views were amazing. You can take a look at more photos on my Webpage

Here's a view of SF from the East Peak of Tam,

and us somewhere between the 7 Sisters... (before the East Peak though)

It sounds crazy to do so much climbing this early in the season, but to tell you the truth as cold as it was, it ended up being a really nice ride because you basically stayed warm (if not hot) during the entire ride.... until you descended the mountain.

We ended this fantastic day with lunch at Joe's Taco Lounge in Mill Valley.

Call me Crazy....

Call me crazy....

A couple of months ago, Daniel said he wanted to train for the AIDS Marathon (as well as AIDS Lifecycle) which takes place July 29 in SF. It also benefits the SF AIDS Foundation, so since I am a Foundation groupie I figured what the heck, I'm up for the challenge, and I've never run a step in my life!

Last Saturday after the Three Bears ride, he started talking about it again to a few folks sitting around eating at the Greek restaurant Alekos (in Orinda). Robert Blake (no, not THAT one) was sitting nearby and started thinking... this could be a good goal for the year!

So this past Wednesday, the three of us went to an info meeting for the AIDS Marathon. The training schedule didn't seem TOO bad, and we could cross train by cycling so all three of us signed up to run 26 miles in July.... after riding 545 miles in June!

Call us crazy...

I'm sure you'll be getting fundraising letters from us soon!

Cannondale and AIDS Lifecycle

Cannondale created this bike for AIDS Lifecycle.

It's ALC blue and orange and has "Ride to end AIDS" printed on the top tube. Mike's Bike's will be selling them here in Northern California with limited quantities. It was a pretty nice paint job and made the bike look pretty sweet! This bike was one of 6 assorted bikes and gear that were raffled off at the ALC Kickoff today.

Beau Thomson, TRL and Pos Ped and who has recently proclaimed that he has OCD for ALC was the winner of this bike.... so perfect for Beau!!

I look forward to seeing these out on the road!!

Training Rides... don't be shy or afraid!!

Let me clear about training rides:

When you come out to ride, we don't expect you to ride fast ( you can if you like but you don't have to), we don't expect you know what you're doing, we do expect you to try and we do expect you to be safe! (you know: wear a helmet no matter how dorky you think you look- believe me with this group you will look dorky if you DON'T wear one!)

You are a grown-up who makes daily life decisions, you CAN do this if you really want to, and we are here to help you do it.

ALC training rides are designed to help anyone who wants to become a cyclist, learn the basics. I didn't say "who wants to become a fast cyclist" or "who wants to become a hill climbing monster cyclist", just a cyclist plain and simple. The other stuff you can learn later.

With our help you learn how to get through riding 7 days in a row, an average of 75 to 80 miles a day. The shortest day on AIDS Lifecycle is about 45 miles, the longest day is 105 miles, and along the route there are rest stops every 20 miles or so to re-fuel. You have lots of help along the way.

But you have to start riding now, to get good at riding for 7 days in June. Come on , RSVP now for a ride, let the ride leader know you are really new and a little nervous, and we will make sure your first experience with us is a good one. (And if it's not, drop me a line 'cuz I really want to know if you DON'T have a good experience, in order to make it right!)

Don't be afraid- really- we all had our "first time" and we all remember what that felt like. Our goal is to help you through the nervous first time, and help build your confidence on the bike to get you riding riding riding! SO COME ON OUT AND RIDE!!

So come on out and ride while it's still early and everybody is still a newbie!

Mary Beth's first ride as TRL "Captain"

Today was the 22 mile "Three Bears Loop" in reverse. It's a nice route climbing Bear Creek Road in Orinda, winding down to Alhambra Valley Road out to Castro Valley Road back to Orinda BART. Mary Beth "captained" her first training ride as a Training Ride Leader (TRL) and she did great! We had about 18 riders who met us at 9:30 this morning to ride. We rode out at 10am and were back by 12:30. Afterwards, a group of us went over to Aleko's for greek food!

The group who chose to climb hills on January 6th.
(They're crazy)

By the way, on my way down Bear Creek as I was approaching the Alhambra Valley Road intersection, someone riding up Bear Creek (in the other direction) called out "Julie Brown!".
I have no idea who it was, so if it was you would you please let me know? I yelled out "Hey!" but I have no idea who I was yelling it out to....

See you at the Kick Off Party tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Riding on New Years Day is fun- especially when it's not raining! Today was a bit foggy in the morning on the way to the start (Mike, Donald, Mary Beth, Daniel and I rode in). We had 24 riders leave the Sports Basement in the Presidio after the necessary rituals for riding an ALC Ride. We headed over the Golden Gate bridge toward Mill Valley with a stop for caffeine and snacks at Peets Coffee.... a bikers haven!

Happy caffeine addicts... well ok, maybe not Lawrence (guy on far right)

Daniel, MaryBeth, George & Michael (definite caffeine addicts)
Khang & Albie

We rode back to SF only to be stopped at the Bridge by Bridge Patrol who told us that the pedestrian and bike paths were closed because of some protest march that got out of control.
Great. Just fabulous. Talk about a lively way to start the New Year!! And to top that- Khang (photo above pre-incident) was walking his bike into the parking lot to wait it out and was bitten by a dog!! No warning, no bark- just "CHOMP!" Our riders hurredly helped him clean the bite (which immediately started to swell) and cover it with a bandage. There was absolutely nothing else we could do for almost two hours...

Khang's dog bitten leg.

We eventually got to cross the bridge at about 3pm (we had left the Sports Basement at 11am to ride 22 miles!) and everyone returned safely. This was definitely a New Year's Day that we (especially Khang!) will not forget!