Kabuki12

Down here (SoCal)it held off . I went for my first full ride since my injury. I took a “patina” bike just in case but not a drop , just clouds. My usual ride is on Sunday and it is just starting to rain now and it is supposed to get much worse by tomorrow. I am glad I went out today instead.

bikingshearer 

Some of us did have a nice ride. And by "some of us," I mean me. All the forecasts I saw said rain was unlikely between 8-ish and 5-ish, and I didn't get the "cancelled" memo, so I was there at 10:00 a.m. at the corner of Edgewood and Canada with my fendered wet-road bike (1978 Eisentraut), wondering where my so-called friends were. (Truth be told, I figured it out pretty quickly.)

When I got to the corner of Willowbrook and Alpine, I turned right instead of left because (1) I'd never been on the part of Alpine and (2) because the entire group - again, consisting of entirely of me - agreed to calling an audible. I rode it to the dead-end. Bee-yoo-tee-full road up a lovely forested canyon with a quite full stream, almost no traffic, and a gentle climb that became a moderate climb until it morphed into a pretty hard climb. What a glorious road! How I've missed it all these years I don't know, but it is definitely on my radar now.

From the park at Portola and Alpine, I headed back via Portola Valley instead of the usual loop because that way is shorter and easier and the group was feeling lazy. It ended up being a 24 mile ride instead of the usual 28 or 29. I'm glad I had the fenders - the roads were pretty wet for the first half of the ride. A surprising number of riders were out (including the inevitable multiple Alto Velo terrorist pelotons blasting along Canada and Portola Valley Road).

Per the usual protocols, here is every bike that made the ride. (That is not a very accurate rendering of the green, at least on my monitor, but you get the idea.)

genejockey 

Well done , group!
I ride Alpine to the top every so often. It is nice, but the dead end aspect keeps me from doing it too often.

genejockey 

Well, gang, it's that time again! And the NWS is forecasting rain and wind.


I'm gonna look again tomorrow morning, but it looks distinctly discouraging.

SwimmerMike 

I was thinking the same thing, I'll make a call in the morning. If it's like today, there will probably be a window to get out, but that window might be really small and most likely won't line up with our timing.

bikingshearer 

I have other commitments this time (insert your favorite "you should be committed" joke here), so I can't be there regardless. You guys will just have to ride without any of my freakishly large bikes along.

ryanl092

I will skip this time “again”. If I remembered correctly last year’s first ride was in May. Is it?

genejockey 

Was everyone else's last night so LOUD? Sheesh! Between squalls and wind and even thunder, it sure was here!

We had a section of fence blow out last night, and I have a Family Zoom call at 1:00, so.....



Here's hoping April is at least drier!

cinelliguy 

Idea to consider. Nothing magical about this every firsts Saturday tradition. How about we consider that if the first Saturday is rained out, bump it a week? See who shows up? I mean, if it is nice, we are going to ride anyway.

Just an idea.

Guy

SwimmerMike 

You're talking like a crazy man!!

Based on the current forecast, next Saturday might be good (I see a 41% chance of light rain).

Mike

cinelliguy 

Bring back the magic!

Guy

cinelliguy 

Hi to the locals,

From the Classic Rendezvous a list member there helps organize the Wine Country Century every year. He posted this today.

Santa Rosa Cycling Club will host the 50th anniversary of the Wine Country Century on May 4th, in Santa Rosa CA. The first was 1973, and I have proposed a vintage bike display as part of the event. I have about 5 people, and looking for 5 or 6 more who would like to come and display vintage bikes of 1973 and earlier (as could have been ridden '73). Suggest about 2 bikes per, a few more will fit. The day will be from about 11-5 or 5:30 (somewhat flexible) and expect you to be with the bikes in a taped off area, we will have a booth, table, chairs and can take turns meeting people and to watch the bikes. Lunch will be included, a free T shirt, AND you then qualify for our fabulous workers ride ( 3 routes, free) the next day with fully supported rest stops including lunch mid-way also the famous after ride meal with beer, all free. You can use any bike you like for this ride.
Please contact Gary Weeks, for sign up information. garyweeks531@gmail.com

https://www.winecountrycentury.com

I am planning to attend, show my 70' Cinelli SC and another bike. I will be camping at Spring Lake campground from Friday, May 3rd, through the morning of Monday, May 6th. My site has room for a couple of tents in case others would like to share my campground space. Yes, the campgrounds have showers :-). I will be riding the Worker's Ride on Sunday, probably the 100K metric. Please contact me off the CR List forum for the particulars on that.

Here is the link to the campground if you are so inclined. https://secure.sonomacountyparks.org...-lake/camping/

Let me know if interested, looks super fun.

Guy

FrejusFlyer

You folks are not too far from Mt. Hamilton, so you might be interested!

Planning a vintage bike ride to the top of Mount Hamilton in San Jose, CA. The ride will be on Saturday, the 27th of April and will start at 10am at the corner of Alum Rock Ave. and Mt. Hamilton Rd. There's parking right on the corner. It's roughly a 36 mile ride up and back, with the worst grades around 6% with just under 5000 ft of climbing. There's a park halfway through the ride for water and bathrooms (Grant Park) and vending machines at the top in the Observatory for drinks and snacks (also a water fountain for refilling bottles). About halfway through the ride, it levels out and there's some downhill into a valley (Grant Park) so you get a climbing break. Ride at your own pace and rain cancels, but hopefully the rain will be long gone by then!
Here's the ride with GPS:
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/157531483

SwimmerMike 

It's looking like Saturday will have good weather. I'm in, most likely I'll bring one of my "new" British bikes.

genejockey 

I'll be there! I have to show off the new Schwinn Circuit! You know, the one I've been posting all over the place if I have even the slightest excuse? Like now, for instance....

SwimmerMike 

Wait a minute. I get to post a picture of the proposed bike for Saturday. Cool.

1940’s Fothergill with a 3 speed drivetrain. It’ll make the rollers “fun”.

genejockey 

That'll be fun on the Sand Hill climb after Whiskey Hill!

Imagine how much fun that would be on the Mount Hamilton climb!

squirtdad

my other money pit...er hobby in conflicting, sure you guys don't want to get wet and practice kayak rescues?

SwimmerMike 

For Hamilton I was debating a 3 speed fixed gear set up on my Hetchins.

ryanl092

I will ride the new acquired 85 Miyata 1000.

Ryan

bikingshearer 

I triple-dog dare you.

SwimmerMike 

I can usually walk away from a "double-dog dare", but when it gets upped to a "triple-dog dare" I will get entrenched and won't usually back down. Hmmm... What gearing could I put on it..... If I go to ultra low gearing, could I bring a chain tool to allow me to coast down hill as opposed to keeping it in "fixed"...... What if I adjust the Sturmey Archer to give me 2 gears and a neutral..... Can I change the adjustment of the S/A to a neutral for the descent by just moving the wheel in the drop outs.

Simplegoman

You da man! If you can pull it off Mike

Simplegoman

I will see y'all this Saturday. I think it will only be our 2nd ride of the year???

cinelliguy 

Hi to all,

Here are some images of riders and bicycles. Temps on my Garmin (always suspect), low of 48F high of 74F. Wind increased as the day progressed. Great group, fun time, thanks once again :-)