tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137588495847028922024-03-12T17:28:46.902-07:00SF2G Ride ReportsThe wacky misadventures of the SF->Google/south-bay bike commuter gangSF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-19657586631001768582012-05-07T11:51:00.001-07:002012-05-07T11:51:03.533-07:00Midway("Fleaway") Ride Report<div class="gmail_quote">First off - never mock a fellow cyclist, I gave Lina some shit<br> yesterday and flatted twice today, suffering added humiliation that<br> the first was because I had patched a tube with a "Lame Ass Patch"(Tm)<br> and the second because I failed to follow my advice to myself to<br> "THROW THIS TUBE AWAY" and put a tube with an undiscovered slow leak<br> into my saddlebag, thus having to stop twice to add air just to get to<br> a bike shop.<br> <br> You may however mock triathletes at will. Don't ask me, ask BSNYC.<br> <br> Anyway - "Midway" also known as "Fleaway"<br> <br> <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/224309#" target="_blank">http://app.strava.com/rides/224309#</a><br> <br> Doing Joe Gross Monday I was thinking "There has to be a better way".<br> There is (IMHO, YMMV). I did a little recon yesterday on the way to a<br> train station, and today since Theo bagged but Bret didn't, we decided<br> to try it out. First, we took San Jose/Alemany which I very much<br> prefer to Mission. San Jose has a bit of a freaky factor but not too<br> bad, Alemany has a bike lane and great pavement compared to Mission.<br> In theory you can switch from Mission to Alemany post San Jose.<br> <br> We then took Hillside headed toward the hustle but took a right on<br> Lawndale, left on Mission, and then just past the BART station we got<br> onto the Centennial Bike Path. Joe Gross is basically 200 yards West<br> of this bike path the whole route, on El Camino. To be fair to Joe,<br> when he made the route, the path didn't exist. It dumps you off onto<br> Huntington at San Bruno BART, Huntington is actually a pretty good<br> road. Then you kind of wind around in a neighborhood, crossing the<br> tracks twice (once on a pedestrian crossing on a path) and then under<br> them and down a street that supposedly has no outlet but for bikes you<br> go through some poles into the Millbrae BART lot, then onto Rollins<br> which is very comfy. Right on Broadway takes you to Carolan where you<br> re-intersect with Joe Gross. We were spelunking a bit but I think it<br> will end up roughly the same time as Joe Gross but it's a lot more<br> pleasant.<br> <br> Carolan to right on Oak Grove, left on El Camino, right on Occidental.<br> It looks like we can avoid El Camino here as well and still get on<br> Occidental. We then took a very bucolic route through Burlingame and<br> Hillsborough subdivisions. So far the ride has been pretty flat<br> outside of the slow rise up Alemany and one tiny bump in the<br> Hillsborough section. Left on Crystal Springs, Right on Alameda De Las<br> Pulgas - Avenue of the Fleas (thus "Fleaway"). That's when it gets<br> fun.<br> <br> Stay on Alameda/Junipero/Foothill to your preferred exit. There are<br> many rollers on Alameda and one little bitch of a climb entering<br> Belmont, Strava says 3/4 mile at 8%. Ouch. There aren't a lot of<br> lights, there are some stop signs, nominal traffic but overall<br> reasonable riding. It's not Skyline, it's not Bayway - it's in<br> between. In climbing, in time, in scenery, in sketchy sections.<br> <br> I took Arastradero to see what the "To Google Time" would be, roughly.<br> I had 2:40 rolling time to Arastradero and Central. Then it sort of<br> fell apart with the two flats.<br> <br> Moderately recommended. I like it better than Bayway, less than<br> Skyline. Longer than Bayway for Googlers, probably shorter for Palo<br> Altans/Applers, FCHSMB.<br><font color="#888888"><br></font></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-28208004223300924322011-11-09T13:21:00.001-08:002011-11-09T13:21:14.117-08:00The view was worth the climb<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJePoOfKhYJHr415ebibDHsPZRghgm9A-v0FT-nHzhiVnPGYSRrolxHuVjuItkD1Z10fhHR7hWLW6s_7UIuTjaV6GBCLuUGTgOT7E5FAlGzOLYstZ4Wwj57-bN5jgOMukpC9C7RIU7Rw/s1600/photo-774119.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJePoOfKhYJHr415ebibDHsPZRghgm9A-v0FT-nHzhiVnPGYSRrolxHuVjuItkD1Z10fhHR7hWLW6s_7UIuTjaV6GBCLuUGTgOT7E5FAlGzOLYstZ4Wwj57-bN5jgOMukpC9C7RIU7Rw/s320/photo-774119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673109235025499874" /></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">Brief ride report:</span><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> <br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">5 of us braved the park and met at JBC for hot coffee and tasty pastries. Rolled almost on time at 0638. We briefly lost Chris Z who scurried back to fetch his credit card off the cafe table.</div> <div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> Together again we headed south and a reasonable pace. FF Bump three of us watched Brooks and Zap ride OTF while in conversation...</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> <br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">Skyline drive was uneventful and we had none of the visibility issues Murph had on his last ride of that route. After cresting Brooks and I headed to Pacifica while Chris Z, Jason and Mike stuck to the plan Standard + Portola (bummer for them). </div> <div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> Fassler both sucked and was awesome (in that 13-14% grade kind of way), but with two lanes, then one with a big shoulder, I never felt in danger (unlike Manor). The road part was over faster than expected and the dirt part (Banquiano) was well worth it. This was a totally navigable (due to tips from Yoyo and Ammon) on a road bike with 23c's and compact gearing (34-27 for me, 36-36 for strongman Brooks, though he had knobbies). </div> <div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> The view from the top was spectacular (see attached, with crappy iPhone camera).</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> <br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">I hit standard Skyline at about 8 (this added 45 minutes to the ride) and headed for work via unconventional route, Brooks headed back to the City.</div> <div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> I will do this route again, but only if it's sunny.</div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/2268349" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); ">http://app.strava.com/rides/2268349</a></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "> <br></div><div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); ">1T</div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-72656098070243594562011-09-02T20:15:00.001-07:002011-09-02T20:15:21.111-07:00Talking Tina<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">So, have you ever seen the Talking Tina episode of Twilight Zone? That's what happened to me today, only Talking Tina in this case is a a 30lb Rivendell Sam Hillborne.<div> <br></div><div>It started off relatively simply. On the way to BBQ, my front fender was rattling. I secured it at BBQ as tight as I could without a wrench and moved on. This was a horrible omen that I should have paid more attention to. Later in the ride my new bar tape started coming undone. I was a little annoyed, but no big deal, it didn't get worse. But now I'm slightly irritated. Then my seatpost started acting up. It's a crappy post and needs replacing, I just didn't know how bad. Every rough bump would send the seat backwards about thirty degrees. No amount of tightening worked. The hulk wouldn't have been able to keep that piece of crap together. Then, after another turn fixing the seatpost, I dropped my chain.</div> <div><br></div><div>I'd had it, and was swearing at my bike more than an episode of deadwood. Well, Talking Tina wouldn't take that sitting down. Right after the right turn to University, I hear the fender rattling again, and consider stopping to secure it. Before I had any time to really think about it, I see something shoot forward from the front tire. I look down, but I am not seeing the tire. I am seeing the fender. It has arced forward and the fender stays are flush against the fork. The fender is now a brake. I am suddenly higher off the ground, higher still, it's kind of in slow motion. Then I think to myself, "This is happening, and I cannot stop it." The bike is now nearly vertical, the front wheel firmly planted on the ground, and the rear wheel above me. The only thing I can do to keep my head and face safe is to roll all of my weight over my left shoulder. Then the bike and I were intimately wedded on the ground. Ouch, very ouch, but nothing broken.</div> <div><br></div><div>On another note, if you ever get in a SERIOUS accident and find yourself unable to move. You are more likely to die of starvation than actually have someone pull over to see if you're ok.</div><div> <br></div><div>Talking Fucking Tina.</div></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-85119889402477518742011-07-20T11:40:00.001-07:002011-07-20T11:40:30.127-07:00Ride (flat) report : tuesday 7/19 dsb+bayway style II RRR 07:00<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">THanks all for a lovely ride, minus the (in total 4) flats.<br><br>Lord knows what it was I hit, but it was big and hard and I heard the<br> explosion and stopped.<br>I then got to feel like a pro as before I could even properly dismount<br>Creamsicle, Scott had my wheel off, and there were tire levers and CO2<br>cartridges flying through the air as my awesome brethren changed my<br> flat in about 2 minutes. I felt like I was in the pit at a race :)<br>Anyway, as we tried to close the open valve stem, there came explosion<br>number two... something was clearly wrong. THe massive hole in my<br>tube was found, another inserted, and we were off, minus a HR<br> launching episode of me trying to pedal with my rear brake rubbing.<br>Stopped and fixed that, and phew, I can ride my bike! Of course, then<br>by the airport, came flat number 3. Ted once again identified the<br>huge hole in my tube, and then determiend that it had been caused by<br> the huge hole in the sidewall of my tire! That is $65 of brand new<br>beautifull 4000S down the toilet. Anyway, with a third fix, we were<br>on our way. I am incredibly grateful for everyone's magnamity, and I<br>owe Theo and Matt tubes and the rest of you brownies.<br> THings seemed to go ok to Google. I met my sister briefly, used the<br>facilities, and helped myselfe to a gift of odwalla choco protein, adn<br>hit the road. Well, just after Rengsdorf, I could feel another flat.<br>Indeed, I looked down, and I was not totally flat, but almost there.<br> Having no more tubes or ideas, I decided to blow the thing up with my<br>last CO2 cartridge in the hopes it would get me close enough to Palo<br>Alto to deal with the situation.<br>Went to PA Bikes, and apparently, in addition to the hole in the<br> sidewall, the boot that we used had rubbed a hole in the tube, so that<br>had caused the last flat. Since PA bikes sells my beloved 4000s grand<br>prixs for a whopping $70, and since they would have charged me another<br> $10 to put the thing on for me, I bought a $20 piece of shit tire, a<br>tube, and had them put that one on instead. it is the shittiest tire<br>I have ever seen in my life- epically shitty. It got me the rest of<br>the way to work, and will hopefully get me to and from the train<br> tonight, but that puppy is coming off as soon as I get home to decent<br>tires.<br><br>Anyway, that was way too much drama, and I have now set a flat record<br>PR at 4 in one ride, BUT other than that, it was lots of fun riding<br> with the bestest guys ever!<br><br>F<br></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-16019953969642725452011-07-06T11:03:00.001-07:002011-07-06T11:03:49.067-07:00Barway V!(I hope this doesn't post multiple times. I'm a bit drunk, and<br>computer illiterate)<p>I figure a nightcap recap is the most appropriate way to ride report<br>this episode of Barway, so away we go:<p>Fred's was a great spot to begin. Local's place in a really awkward<br>stretch of San Antonio and Middlefield. I got turned around trying to<br>find it and so did another group. We easily doubled the number of<br>patrons in the bar after only a few riders arrived. And that's their<br>busiest time. Dive!<p>Once 12 humans were assembled plus a big ass poodle in a trailer, we<br>took to the streets. Ben led us through the bike routes of Mt<br>View/Palo Alto to get to the Oasis in Menlo. Since it wasn't fricking<br>raining this time, the outside tables were open. Food was fast, and we<br>didn't linger too long.<p>Next on deck, a jaunt up Middlefield through the Atherton ghetto then<br>to Little Michoacan in Redwood City, my hood away from hood. Tons of<br>good tacos and and an all-female owned and operated garage called Lady<br>Parts. Neat Peninsula pocket. Like the Mission with no hipsters.<p>Rode through downtown RWC where we ended up picking up some random<br>extra riders on the way to Steamies. We've become a caravan! The<br>headwind to Steamies was no joke, y'all. Especially for those<br>dragging a big ass dog.<p>Steamies was as gracious as ever. The bartender remembered us from<br>Barway III. She gave us all pints of water along with delicious beer.<br> She wins.<p>On through the remnants of Bay Meadows to Burlingame and lovely<br>deserted California Avenue. That is except for the Camaro that gunned<br>it to pass the group. I mean, it is Friday. WTF, mate? The<br>eucalyptus trees are pretty cool through there.<p>DOG HOUSE!!!! Exactly as I had hoped. Quiet. Empty. Surly as fuck.<br> After a few folks ordered drafts requiring the old dude behind the<br>bar to use actual barware, he ran out of pints and started serving a<br>single beer in two glasses. I got the feeling he would have been just<br>as happy for us to either order bottles or not to come in at all.<br>Cause now he's gotta clean all these goddamn glasses. He did say<br>thank you when we left, so there's that.<p>I left the Dog House thinking to myself,"You know, it's been pretty<br>successful so far. No flats/mishaps/mechanicals...<br>SHUT UP!! Don't jinx it!" Not more than five minutes later, we're<br>riding toward downtown San Bruno, and I hear that sound of light metal<br>and plastic suddenly crackling together on hard pavement. Tom took a<br>dive after hitting a parked Corvette. A little blood, but all is<br>good, so we ride on.<p>Some darkness along Airport/Old Bayshore and the creepy Apple<br>billboard on the side of San Bruno Monutain. I never noticed it while<br>driving before, but against the barren, natural backdrop of the<br>eastern face, and ad for iPad 2 seemed really out of place.<p>7-Mile House. Yes! The highlight of the night. Beautiful moon rise<br>in the east. As we rode up, we could hear from the street some guy on<br>a mic talking about how women always close their eyes when they have<br>sex, and he likes real Mexican food because he's half Mexican, and<br>some other stuff about female genitalia and how he likes it. I later<br>realized this was supposed to be "comedy". Luckily, I could only hear<br>but not see him, since I was locking up my bike at the end of his set,<br>saving me from having to pretend to tell him he was good in case I saw<br>him at the bar. Awkward.<p>Then the funk band began. OMG. That was awesome. The kitchen was<br>closed, but they still had adobo for some reason. So we all chowed on<br>a plate of pork adobo and rice rocking to Funk Friday at the Seven<br>Mile. Serioiusly folks. A +150-year old roadhouse next to a power<br>station serving Filipino food and live funk. That's some real SF shit<br>right there.<p>Unfortunately Bender's was a bust. Some crappy band was playing.<br>Cover charge. No bike parking. The group splintered off somewhat<br>before that and definitely after that. A few die hards Tracy, Brian,<br>Danny, Janne and Muppet the dog detoured to the Uptown for a few more.<br> Muppet was a total chick magnet. Who wouldn't love a big white<br>poodle/retriever mix with a pink mohawk? Janne invited along his<br>Finnish mafia which made for a nice rounding out of the evening.<p>Final thoughts: distances between bars seemed appropriate. We got to<br>SF around 11ish which allowed for plan B and still ample drinking at<br>the end of the night. Success!<p>Can't wait for Full Moon Barway VI - 7/15SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-74871761068003171392011-05-04T22:36:00.001-07:002011-05-04T22:36:54.538-07:005/4 skyline style 2-3 - rrr - 630am<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6r6nLpHE0RUFvcnfGQBlsgNQVKa2s6nD8m5LtarhO7is9mqR5xBNktJ5TIgs_j72HJHNCynAVHibMqpmvtJfrOKg_zrUkQg02RXKpPMrwVpHZQUThuOcCKevA8vuxvibFaUyO4psi5o/s1600/Picture+23-714539.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6r6nLpHE0RUFvcnfGQBlsgNQVKa2s6nD8m5LtarhO7is9mqR5xBNktJ5TIgs_j72HJHNCynAVHibMqpmvtJfrOKg_zrUkQg02RXKpPMrwVpHZQUThuOcCKevA8vuxvibFaUyO4psi5o/s320/Picture+23-714539.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603101872238731842" /></a></p><div class="gmail_quote">RIDE REPORT!!!!!!!!!!<div><br></div><div>I never do ride reports, but I'm doing one today because this was my first Skyline... and I have Learned Lessons™</div><div>If you have never done Skyline, as I never had, here are my first impressions. Your mileage may very, I'm not a particularly zippy rider. Also, there may or may not be hyperbole in the following text.</div> <div><br></div><div>Got up at 6:10am, a LATE start for me on a ride day. Usually have to haul across the city, but today I get to join the ride in my turf. Awesome. Sadly, I have two songs stuck in my head, Friday by Rebecca Black, and some track by Black Eyed Peas with excessive use of auto-tune. Horrible. These do not exit my brain during the entire trip, but form a 3 hour, hellish medley of chaos and suffering.</div> <div><br></div><div>You know how they have recommended doses on Aspirin bottles? They do not do this on mojitos. This will become apparent later.</div><div><br></div><div>Nice, leisurely stroll from Stern Grove out to Skyline Blvd. Very pleasant, slight downhill, brisk. Feeling pretty good. Make it to John Daly & Skyline way ahead of the regular group, and have to pee already. Go to the viewpoint to take in the sights and give a what's-what to California by tinkling into the San Andreas Fault. Angst about having to leave Seattle now reduced a little bit more.</div> <div><img></div><div><br></div><div>DG, Darrin and Lance arrive. Time to climb.</div><div><br></div><div>From the SF2G Skyline description: <span style="font-family:ARIAL, HELVETICA;font-size:12px"><i>It's not easy, but not ridiculously hard either.</i>... <b>BATMAN'S BALLS!</b></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:ARIAL, HELVETICA;font-size:12px">This felt like the longest climb of my life, though looking through Strava later I found some longer one's I had done recently that didn't seem as difficult (see: Mojitos)</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:ARIAL, HELVETICA;font-size:12px"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family:ARIAL, HELVETICA;font-size:12px">The gang waits for me at the top and reassures me that this is the first of two climbs. I learn soon that this really just means this is the biggest climb and there is one more big one, but there are like 40 more in between them.</span></div> <div><br></div><div>Everything's going smoothly, lovely weather. San Andreas Trail is fun. Scenery is nice, hey this is great. Stop off to get some water... then... what... WHY ARE WE ON THE FREEWAY?!?!?! Adrenaline gets me safely to the next exit.</div> <div><br></div><div>Hillsborough Rollers next (not a fan.) At some point somewhere around here, I think, the temp drops to about -100 degrees for like 20 feet. I think I got snowed on. Then its instantly warm again.</div> <div><br></div><div>It is at this point that I Get It™. Awesome, fast descents. I've never done the dam, but I though the detour was fun (until the climb, again got to see my ridemates disappear into the horizon.) Cañada: 10.5 Megatons of YES. Crystal Springs Reservoir, hello. This ride makes Bayway now seem kinda gross.</div> <div><br></div><div>Moutain Home Road might be my favorite segment of the commutes I've done so far. One lane, mellowish flat or downhill in most parts. Enshrouded by trees like a scene out of Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Absolutely beautiful.</div> <div><br></div><div>Some more awesome descents. Wishing Bayway had descents like this, but as my CPA says "You don't have to pay it if you didn't make anything."</div><div><br></div><div>My takeaway, my opinion only: you pay your taxes in spades on this ride and get rewarded handsomely for the effort. A+++++ EXCELANT EBAYOR</div> <div><br></div><div>I plan to make this a regular part of my SF2G repertoire, but right now I just feel the legs burning.</div><div><br></div><div>Awesome ride, everyone, thanks for navigating me to the G!</div><div><br> </div><div>Update: After waiting 20 hours for the usual Strava iphone freeze-up routine and sync, I finally see my stats. JD to BGS, 131st overall. You may be thinking, Matt, that's horrible. Until you realize there are over 6 Billion people in the world. Then you realize 130 faster people doesn't seem so bad. ;)<br> <div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><br></div></div></div></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-77054029955710754722011-04-29T17:11:00.001-07:002011-04-29T17:11:48.171-07:00Speakeasy brewery - friday 4/29/2011 - 379 caltrainGet off 22nd, meet us at Speakeasy, 1195 Evans SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-42950309233426960972011-02-02T14:36:00.001-08:002011-02-02T14:36:29.590-08:00Hot Dog for Breakfast<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Ride report<br>subtitled "Hot Dog for Breakfast"<br><br>Important lesson: if you've been away for almost 2 months, prepare to<br> carry extra food!<br><br>As I rolled into a Ritual overflowing with SF2G love this morning,<br>Trung mentioned to me that I already looked cold. That wasn't a good<br>sign, but I don't know sign language. Nevertheless, with the small<br> embarrassment of someone falling over (in front of a police car)<br>before beginning to ride, we the Skyline group departed ahead of the<br>Bayway group.<br><br>17, no, 19, no, 20 of us made our way up to Skyline on a blustery<br> sunny morning. When I got to work, my coworker from San Jose was<br>convinced we must have had great tailwinds because he'd experienced<br>headwinds. The only explanation for both of us suffering is that the<br>winds emanated directly from the Googleplex. (Not too far off the<br> mark: <a href="http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windarchive.cgi?hour=8&day=2&month=2&year=2011&data=wind&controls=image" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/wind/windarchive.cgi?hour=8&day=2&month=2&year=2011&data=wind&controls=image</a>)<br> <br>We stuck together until the San Andreas Trail head, where it appeared<br>the fast Skyline subgroup had already vanished into the lack of fog.<br>11 of us continued on to the rolling lumps and marvelously clear bay<br> views of Vallejo Dr, opting to skip the bone-chilling and narrow<br>Sawyer Camp Trail, with the sure anticipation of the bone-chilling and<br>broad Crystal Springs descent before us. How cool is it that our route<br>can now include what must be the 2 coldest spots on the whole<br> Peninsula?<br><br>After a difficult Polhemus and the bike path, we stopped at the water<br>temple on Cañada to refill water and hear a lecture on how not to<br>disobey civil codes from two recent victims of Woodside police stop<br> sign ambushes. Then we stretched out, and the miles stretched onward,<br>and onward... Soon I could see no one in front of me, and only Eimear<br>behind me. I noticed after the last rise on Cañada that she was gone<br>too. I waited, and there were enough passing cyclists expressing<br> concern for me that I learned she had a flat, so I headed back down<br>and we fixed it. (Obligatory cat picture:<br><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/01/12/wait-ill-fix-it-2/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/01/12/wait-ill-fix-it-2/</a>)<br> <br>I called Tracy, waiting at Roberts, to tell her and the rest to go on<br>without us, since we'd both been falling behind anyway. I took Peter's<br>Arboretum-way through Stanford to cut a bit of climbing on Junipero<br> Serra, but the headwinds did not relent. Neither of us was too<br>energetic, and my consensus of one, one who could scarcely keep his<br>head up, thought I probably had bonked. Eventually, on Charleston, I<br>sent Eimear ahead to make it to her 11 o'clock meeting (probably, but<br> a close call). With no such obligations, I sank further behind,<br>knowing at least In-n-Out could ease my ailment. Uncertain visions<br>cavorted through my head, or what little of it remained, since no one<br>ever told me what In-n-Out serves breakfastwise.<br> <br>But one the third-to-last block of Charleston, a light dawned---the<br>light reflecting off a hot dog stand. 'Tis not so deep as a tamal, nor<br>as wide as a taco, but 'twill serve. The cliche to describe how I ate<br> my hot dog is "with relish" even though that would literally be<br>untrue. It may not have made me any faster for the last mile, but it<br>did restore a smile to its rightful face.<br><br>It was a good ride, but for me, a wicked slow one, with my<br> disembarkation clocked at 11am. Next time I'll pack extra food, I<br>promise.<br><br>--<br><font color="#888888">Yoyo Zhou</font></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><br> </font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Sweet! I finally made it into a ride report...good thing I have a big ego because that spill was rather embarrassing (in front of 17 riders). Clearly one of those OK let's roll, clip in, look over shoulder, cars coming, no ones moving, stop moving, "oh, crap!", kind of moments. That one could make it <a href="http://sf2g.com/stupid-crashes.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">here</a>. Sadly, no coffee, bumper, cement, wave or even an other riders tire to blame...oh wait...maybe it was the lack of coffee.<br> <br>Great write up btw.<br><br>one-T</span></font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br> </span></font></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">-----</span></font></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br></span></font></span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><meta charset="utf-8">Yeah thanks for the write-up! Great ride everyone, I think we counted 21 people at the skyline/1 intersection. Greg and I also decided to stop at In and Out post ride :) Thanks for stopping to help Eimear with her flat. <div> <br></div><div>Maybe again next week?</div><div><br></div><div><font color="#888888">Tracy</font></div><div><font color="#888888"><br></font></div><div><font color="#888888">-----</font></div><div><font color="#888888"><br> </font></div><div><font color="#888888"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Great report Yoyo! I made it to my 11am meeting (well, 11.05, which is on time by my standards) after the fastest shower ever!<div> </div></span></font></div><div><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#888888"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">-Eimear</span></font></div> </span></font></span></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-84812398687223077752010-12-17T11:35:00.001-08:002010-12-17T11:35:18.609-08:0012/14 Style 2 Bayway, 6:45am @ RRR<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Sorry we lost you, Peter. We should've stayed to proffer you tubes.<br><br><div> Otherwise, fantastic ride today. Somehow, without any conscious effort, I've been 5 weeks off the bike (Barway exempted). With a week of travel and nearly a week of Thanksgiving, I'm amazed how easily the time slipped by.</div> <div><br></div><div>Even in that short time, I feel everything—mind and body—has reset. I woke up with absolutely no idea why my alarm was going off so early. Yet somehow after the second snooze push, I dragged myself up. Fuelled up with my free $5.75 Ritual coffee (thanks, "Heavy Drinker" card), I was feeling pretty good setting into the rain. Danny and I were the only 6:30 holdouts, so we upgraded to the 6:45. We were by no means pushing it today. Definitely on the relaxed/slow end of Style II. We had a few rain/cross bikes in the mix, and everyone was chill. Still, by the time we hit Gateway, I was really feeling it... heart rate up, legs unhappy. We took SFO easy, and I got my second wind after that, and from Airport all the way to the Wailing Wall, I was fine. We'd even picked up some South Bay stranger named Julian by then... :)</div> <div><br></div><div>Then, thinking my body had finally come to its senses, I tried for a pull on the Sun Sprint. Eh... not so much. Lasted about 10 seconds and fell back off the pack, utterly unable to sustain the required measly 21mph for even a second.</div> <div><br></div><div>So, it looks like I have a good bit more riding to get in before I'm back to speed, ... a few weeks off really sets you back. But damn does it feel really really (really!) good to be back on a bike after a break! SF2G how I've missed you!</div> <div><br></div><font color="#888888"><div>-BMW</div></font></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-11467737632567902662010-12-04T17:27:00.001-08:002010-12-04T17:27:15.965-08:00Midway("Fleaway") Ride Report<div class="gmail_quote">First off - never mock a fellow cyclist, I gave Lina some shit<br> yesterday and flatted twice today, suffering added humiliation that<br> the first was because I had patched a tube with a "Lame Ass Patch"(Tm)<br> and the second because I failed to follow my advice to myself to<br> "THROW THIS TUBE AWAY" and put a tube with an undiscovered slow leak<br> into my saddlebag, thus having to stop twice to add air just to get to<br> a bike shop.<br> <br> You may however mock triathletes at will. Don't ask me, ask BSNYC.<br> <br> Anyway - "Midway" also known as "Fleaway"<br> <br> <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/224309#" target="_blank">http://app.strava.com/rides/224309#</a><br> <br> Doing Joe Gross Monday I was thinking "There has to be a better way".<br> There is (IMHO, YMMV). I did a little recon yesterday on the way to a<br> train station, and today since Theo bagged but Bret didn't, we decided<br> to try it out. First, we took San Jose/Alemany which I very much<br> prefer to Mission. San Jose has a bit of a freaky factor but not too<br> bad, Alemany has a bike lane and great pavement compared to Mission.<br> In theory you can switch from Mission to Alemany post San Jose.<br> <br> We then took Hillside headed toward the hustle but took a right on<br> Lawndale, left on Mission, and then just past the BART station we got<br> onto the Centennial Bike Path. Joe Gross is basically 200 yards West<br> of this bike path the whole route, on El Camino. To be fair to Joe,<br> when he made the route, the path didn't exist. It dumps you off onto<br> Huntington at San Bruno BART, Huntington is actually a pretty good<br> road. Then you kind of wind around in a neighborhood, crossing the<br> tracks twice (once on a pedestrian crossing on a path) and then under<br> them and down a street that supposedly has no outlet but for bikes you<br> go through some poles into the Millbrae BART lot, then onto Rollins<br> which is very comfy. Right on Broadway takes you to Carolan where you<br> re-intersect with Joe Gross. We were spelunking a bit but I think it<br> will end up roughly the same time as Joe Gross but it's a lot more<br> pleasant.<br> <br> Carolan to right on Oak Grove, left on El Camino, right on Occidental.<br> It looks like we can avoid El Camino here as well and still get on<br> Occidental. We then took a very bucolic route through Burlingame and<br> Hillsborough subdivisions. So far the ride has been pretty flat<br> outside of the slow rise up Alemany and one tiny bump in the<br> Hillsborough section. Left on Crystal Springs, Right on Alameda De Las<br> Pulgas - Avenue of the Fleas (thus "Fleaway"). That's when it gets<br> fun.<br> <br> Stay on Alameda/Junipero/Foothill to your preferred exit. There are<br> many rollers on Alameda and one little bitch of a climb entering<br> Belmont, Strava says 3/4 mile at 8%. Ouch. There aren't a lot of<br> lights, there are some stop signs, nominal traffic but overall<br> reasonable riding. It's not Skyline, it's not Bayway - it's in<br> between. In climbing, in time, in scenery, in sketchy sections.<br> <br> I took Arastradero to see what the "To Google Time" would be, roughly.<br> I had 2:40 rolling time to Arastradero and Central. Then it sort of<br> fell apart with the two flats.<br> <br> Moderately recommended. I like it better than Bayway, less than<br> Skyline. Longer than Bayway for Googlers, probably shorter for Palo<br> Altans/Applers, FCHSMB.<br> <font color="#888888"><br> --murph</font></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-43908058202924659342010-11-17T14:52:00.001-08:002010-11-17T14:52:26.581-08:005d5w #3: Calaveras Way, continued<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><meta charset="utf-8">+1 to this being a great route. Thanks to Murph for leading. I'd happily ride this again, especially when I gain some climbing form (another longer than 200 meters and/or 5% grade is killing me right now).</span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">-brett</span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">-------</span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br></span></div>I was disappointed by the traffic on Foothill. Pleasanton has grown<br>South since I first started riding this/similar routes and there is<br> more housing along the Northern part of Foothill, and 680 is more<br>congested. You saw how traffic was backed up at the intersection just<br>outside Sunol - that is people who have been on 680 who are now going<br>to take 84 down Niles Canyon to Fremont. Since 680 backs up and the 84<br> exit off 680 backs up real bad, the Pleasantonians are now using<br>Foothill as a "back road" to 84. There is a parallel road called<br>"Pleasanton-Sunol" on the Southern half of Foothill, I've never ridden<br> it. Rather than testing it out I'll ask around. Of course, last time<br>there was substantially less traffic - could be that 680 was<br>particularly screwed up and we got bailout traffic.<br><br>Foothill used to really be the bomb - no traffic at all. Of course I<br> usually rode it at 10 AM on a Saturday, not 7:45 AM on a weekday.<br><br>But from the gravel pits to Felter Road I counted 1 car and 2 non-SF2G<br>cyclists in 10 miles or so. Word.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">-murph</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br> </span></font></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-9713793997238378512010-11-17T12:00:00.001-08:002010-11-17T12:00:51.172-08:005d5w #3: Calaveras Way<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">New, official thread.<br><br>Meet at 24th/Mission BART by ~6:10, to get on the Dublin/Pleasanton<br> train departing at 6:15. Arrives Dublin at 7:07. Caffeinate/feed<br>beforehand - no eating/drinking on BART - take a nap or watch the<br>Sunrise.<br><br>Route is BART->(R)Owens->(L)Hopyard->(R)Las Positas->(L)Foothill-<br> >(L)Kilkare->(L)Main->(L)84-SINGLEFILE->(S)Calaveras->Regroup at top<br>of 1.5 mile climb->(S)Calaveras->(R)Calaveras at Felter-Fast Descent-<br>>(R)Evans-becomes Jacklin->(R)Milpitas->(L)Dixon Landing- cross 880-<br> >(L)Sidewalk of McCarthy=BikePath->(L)Zanker-cross237->(R)Holger-<br>>(R)First-cross 237->(L)Gold->(R)Bike Path just past Gold Connector-<br>>(R)Carribean-(R)Levee Trail = Dirt->(L)Bay Trail - whip U-turn after<br> gate then left on Bay Trail Keep following fire road like trail to<br>gate then left on Steven's Creek Trail->(R) Crittenden->(L)Shoreline-<br>>(R)Ampitheatre.<br><br>If you want to go but don't like dirt roads, you can take San Tomas<br> Creek Trail at Gold to Walsh/Kifer/Evelyn to Steven's Creek Trail to<br>Google.<br><br>Last time I had 2:49 elapsed time to Nvidia, Google would be ~3 hours.<br>We rode a brisk pace but waited for a regroup and then fixed a flat. I<br> show 1,669 feet of climbing - for comparison Skyline is more like 2800<br>feet - this is easier than Skyline because there is a lot less rolling<br>terrain and we actually end up at a lower elevation than we start. The<br> one climb is 2.8 miles but it's a 3.8% grade - very similar to the<br>Skyline climb out of the city. So if we have a mixed group then No-<br>name breakfast will be a stretch, but hey.<br><br>The riding is very pleasant. There can be a little traffic on the<br> North half of Foothill and the 84 section is a bit nervy. The Milpitas<br>section has a big ass (TM) bike lane and is more mellow than most of<br>Bayway, except we get to do the 880 overpass which is marked for bikes<br>but always a bit strange. Other than that, it's either long obscure<br> roads with no traffic, or bike paths. Give it a shot.<br><br><a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/201503" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://app.strava.com/rides/201503</a></span><div><br></div><div>-----</div> <div><br></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Stellar ride today, guys! Perfect (if a bit chilly at the beginning) day for stellar views and a fun descent / fun dirt.<br> <br> <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/223112" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://app.strava.com/rides/223112</a><br><br>-- thorpej</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">-----</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><br> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Epic, beautiful, and the kind of climb I almost enjoy -- 3% grade, curvy, great views. Surprisingly only 45 miles, seemed like 60.<div> <br></div><div>and the dirt trails behind NASA were super cool with perfect hardpack aggregate.<br><br></div><div>a few pics: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/scrosby/SF2GCalaverasWay?feat=directlink">http://picasaweb.google.com/scrosby/SF2GCalaverasWay?feat=directlink</a></div> <div><br></div><div>nice ride, we'll have to do it again sometime.</div><div><br></div><div>-sc</div></span></span></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-61863906556021546732010-11-17T11:56:00.001-08:002010-11-17T11:56:19.413-08:005d5w #2: Grande Baywaye(R) - tues. 11/16 06:25 RRR style II<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Alrighty, time for day 2, the legendary, rarely(ever?)-ridden Grande Baywaye®.<div><br> </div><div>Tomorrow's ride is to be led by our own Brett Lider, founder of the Bayway, East Bayway, and Far East Bayway, among others. </div><div><br></div><div>The basic idea is to ride as much bayway as possible, including several parts that make the ride longer for scenery's sake. Thus the early departure. Total distance, I would estimate, will be ~55 miles.</div> <div><br></div><div>I'll let Brett fill in the details, but this will be a fun exploration mission, so try to have clear calendars until at least 10am. the good news is you can bail at many points if you need to get to a meeting, etc.</div> <div><br></div><div>oh, and MG, we are not going to do MSB/Radio Rd. for the sake of saving legs for wed/thurs, time considerations, and philosophical reasons.</div><div><br></div><div>mmm?</div><div><br></div><font color="#888888"><div> -sc</div><div><br></div><div>---------</div><div><br></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">That was sweet - perfect day for it too. Who knew plain ol' bayway could be that epic?</span></div> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">-Judd</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><br> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">-------</span></div><div><br></div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">yeah that had some really great parts, good times. the Maxxis Detonators lived up to their names, detonating twice, so they will be retired tonight, thanks for the extra tube Judd.<div> <br></div><div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/scrosby/SF2GGrandeBaywayeR?feat=directlink" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://picasaweb.google.com/scrosby/SF2GGrandeBaywayeR?feat=directlink</a></div> <div><br></div><div>-------</div><div><meta charset="utf-8">I think we rode about 30% of the total number of side trips out along the bay. Maybe one day we can organize a Super Bayway for those :)</div><div><br></div><div> -Brett</div></span></div></font></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-22866132131586795062010-11-15T10:37:00.001-08:002010-11-15T10:37:40.041-08:005d5w III #1: Joe Gross<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">so that was Joe Gross. fun in parts, right? sucky in others, tons of stops/starts/traffic. the seedy spine of the peninsula, as MG said. the not-as-glorious Route 66 of the peninsula says I... semi-forgotten, lost in time, left by the wayside by the newfangled 101.<div> <br></div><div>anyone take pictures? I forgot... or maybe there were no inspiring vistas, other than the somewhat beautiful cemeteries in colma.</div><div><br></div><div>my garmin showed a tranquilo average of 16.4, which isn't bad considering the million signals we stopped at. strava of course differs.</div> <div><br></div><div><a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/221488" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://app.strava.com/rides/221488</a></div><div><br></div><div>cool, 20% done with 5d5w!</div><div><br></div> <div>ps - nice recovery by Matt at the Garcia turn -- he clipped a pedal and very nearly sailed into a parked car at high speed, taking me with him. that would have been something.</div><div><br></div><div>-sc</div><div><br> </div><div>-----</div><div><br></div><div><meta charset="utf-8">was awesome ride down peeps. a pretty chill pace with a few pickups, but definitely shy of sprints. very conversational and fun. more please!<br><font color="#888888"><br> -steve</font></div></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-11683663454450790382010-09-25T07:54:00.001-07:002010-09-25T07:54:04.345-07:009/24 6:40 Skyline RRR fast train to breakfastAfter todays ride a few things became obvious.<br>1 - Max is capable of some serious power2 - Max is loves pancakes3 -<br>Max is scared to death of Beckett<br>I could spend time here trying to determine what this all says about<br>Max but mostly I keep picturing the elephant from Saturday morning<br>cartoons cowering in the face of a tiny mouse.<p>The morning train rolled up Mission to Cortland where the 7 Skyliners<br>bid adieu to Yuko and her Bayway rollers.  An uneventful ride up<br>mission to John Daly led to the first of the real sprints the group<br>was in anyway together for.  Max was talking some crazy about trying<br>to get everyone to 'keep it in their big ring', yeh sure homie :).<br>The climb up Skyline would be the first of many climbs that i unhooked<br>from the Brooks/Max train in order to save a little for later ( hello<br>not bonking! ).  At the top of Skyline Dave Blizard nonchalantly<br>rolled up saying something about having been chasing due to the<br>dynamic nature of this mornings departure time.  We regrouped multiple<br>times along the way with the last real time being just after SCT (<br>which we bypassed ) where Dave B turned off and Max ever vigilant to<br>Beckett-sign pushed us onward.  Max, Brooks, Jason and I did some<br>pacelining for the rest of Canada  ( at some point Jasons evil MTB<br>from the early 90s finally taking its toll and dropped him from the<br>rotation).  The water at Roberts was delicious and cold and we opted<br>for the shorter Manzanita road ( once we actually made the turn).  Max<br>and Brooks possibly sensing Becketts approach kicked in the turbos and<br>disappeared over the horizon once we hit Junipero Sera so Jason and I<br>finished to Page Mill where I abandoned to actually make it to work.<p>Total roll time for me was 2:06 which is a pretty quick Bayway time.<br>Putting it in on Skyline is friggin awesome.<br>thanks dudes!<br>will definitely ride this one again.<p>-s<p>On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:30 AM, Max wrote<p>Thanks guys, today was straight up awesome -- fast but mellow, not too<br>cold and not too warm, clear and gorgeous views. Wish all Skyline<br>rides were like that.<br>As advertised, we rolled at 18mph, and most of the flat sections were<br>handled at 25mph or less. Eggs and pancakes were plentiful at our<br>chill 9:15 arrival.<p><br><a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/190158">http://www.strava.com/rides/190158</a><br>Nice riding with you all, very much look forward to doing this route again.<p>--Max<p>P.S. I did occasionally insist we picked up the pace, for fear of<br>being caught by Beckett's ride 8-O<p><br> Dave<p>I've realized that by showing up at ritual 10 min after the group has<br>departed serves as a great training regimen. The effort expended<br>trying to catch the group had me in the "lung puking" zone for a bit.<p>Skyline doesn't get any better than today.. weather was epic! Good ride guys!<br>You can practice that on FFFF; start at the back of the pack, work<br>your way as far to the front as possible.<p>Gets a bit lonely at times, though.<p>D<p>On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 9:49 AM, Jason Thorpe wrote:<p>On Sep 23, 2010, at 6:54 PM, Max Levchin wrote:<p>> 6:30, RRR it is.<br>><br>> I will be there at 6:20, but won't roll until 6:30.<br>><br>> Pancakes!<p>Solid ride today, guys.  Pretty sure that was my fastest Skyline.<p>     <a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/190128">http://www.strava.com/rides/190128</a><p>17.8 ave for me, but I had a solo slog down Foothill with some<br>elevation gain that brought the ave down, so I'd say we were rolling<br>~18.1 ave or so before that.<p>Perfect conditions today, too!<p>-- thorpejSF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-84084301053769774472010-07-22T14:33:00.000-07:002010-07-22T14:41:46.322-07:00A Beginner's Middle East (Bay) Way Ride Report (Tuesday, 7/20)<div><div>Vital stats:</div><div>Departed 16th and Mission BART at 6:22 am, arrived San Leandro 6:54 am</div><div>Riding time: 2:28</div><div>Mileage: 35.6</div><div>Avg. rolling speed: 14.4</div><div>Full stats: <a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/139906">http://www.strava.com/rides/139906</a></div><div>
</div><div><p>Summary: I really enjoyed this ride and would recommend it to anyone who wants to change things up from Bayway or Skyline. It’s exhilarating to be on a commute to work where at times you can see no other buildings or people - it makes you feel much farther away from civilization than you really are. There are 3 dirt sections - sections 1 and 3 are easier technically, while section 2 is a little more challenging. If you haven’t ridden on dirt before, this is a good introduction. Section 1 gets you used to the feel of dirt and by the time you’ve arrived at section 2, you can handle the slightly rougher terrain. I have no special tires or equipment and I was fine.</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>Details: We got off BART, biked for about 10 minutes and then entered our first dirt section. It was definitely dirt, but I had pictured something much more intimidating - something like the deep grooves of BTN mud, which in my opinion, share some of the same tire trapping properties as MUNI tracks.</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>We exited dirt section 1, rode on pavement for another 10 or so minutes, and then headed on to dirt section 2. This section was more difficult because the stones over the path were larger than on the previous section. Still this was totally do-able for an intermediate cyclist like myself. I only slipped once here - and did not fall - w00t!</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>Somewhere during the ride, we rode through Hayward, where there is no bike lane and a few rushed and rude drivers came within a foot of our bikes. There was very little traffic on the road though, so luckily the cars were few and far between.</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>In Freemont, we entered a bike path, which started as a paved trail, and then transitioned to dirt section 3. This section was similar to the easier dirt of dirt section 1. By this time, I felt comfortable on the bumpy terrain and even found it fun!</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>As we continued on, we took our requisite photos with the Christina Maria:</p></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812860480/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812860480/</a></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812232923/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812232923/</a></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812852872/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4812852872/</a></div><div>(Now I know you all want to go on this ride for your pictures w/her!)</div><div>
</div><div><p>As we finished our last dirt section, we headed across 84 surrounded by the bay. Then it was back to our familiar Bayway stomping grounds - Sun, EPA, and finally Goog.</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>Brett insists that I tell you that I pulled him from Sun to GOOG ;) - and this was possible because I still had lots of energy from trying a new ride! For me, this ride was easier than a Millbraeway - it’s about 5 miles longer, but we were going significantly slower. This ride is more technically difficult than our standard routes, but that shouldn’t prevent anyone from trying it out. For beginners, you may feel a little wobbly on the dirt, but let’s face it, if you do fall (unlikely), it’s not going to hurt as much as falling on the Bridge to Nowhere...not that I know anything about that. ;)</p></div><div>
</div><div><p>The Bottom Line: If you’ve done Bayway and Skyline, this is the next ride to put into your ride portfolio. The ride is probably best in summer when it’s drier and the mud is less muddy, so you have plenty of time to test it out before the winter rains come back. What are</p></div><div>you waiting for? GO!</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664833684329359181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-34591225770018628412010-07-09T14:46:00.001-07:002010-07-09T14:46:35.307-07:00DOUBLE FAIL on Fri 7/9 Millbway style II<div class="gmail_quote">The day started out good; Made the BART train on time, snuck in a<br> coffee, and rode down to Millbrae listening to Le Show.<br> <br> Fooled around with the add-fare machine and managed to get rid of one<br> of my many $1.10 tickets lying around the house.<br> <br> There was a +1 followed by a -1 and I expected to ride solo, so I was<br> pleasantly surprised to find Michelle Cheng (hope I got your name<br> right!) waiting at the bottom of the escalator.<br> <br> Off we rode, and made the left onto Millbrae Ave.<br> <br> SNAP And there goes my chain.<br> <br> Michelle was very optimistic that between her chain tool and someone<br> more experienced than either of us eventually riding by, my chain<br> could be fixed. Looking at the missing link piece, I was unable to<br> muster such confidence, so I confirmed that she was cool with riding<br> on by herself, and said goodbye. I called my wife and asked if she<br> could throw the boy, the dog, and the bike rack in the car and come<br> pick me up, walked back to the station, and took the BART back to Glen<br> Park.<br> <br> They were waiting for me when I arrived, which was really nice, and I<br> went around the back, pulled out the rack, stuck it into the slot, and<br> turned the crank to tighten it into the hitch receiver.<br> <br> SNAP And there goes my bike rack.<br> <br> We made it home on the cotter pin and slow driving.<br> <br> This is the 2nd time the attachment system on my rack - Thule "Helium"<br> - has broken. I'm going to insist on getting it replaced with<br> something different this time. Never again.<br> <br> So much for my glorious return to SF2G. Next week maybe.<br> <br> --Andy<br> <font color="#888888"><br> --<br> store: <a href="http://sf2g.com/store.html" target="_blank">http://sf2g.com/store.html</a> | blog: <a href="http://blog.sf2g.com" target="_blank">http://blog.sf2g.com</a> | terms: <a href="http://sf2g.com/terms.html" target="_blank">http://sf2g.com/terms.html</a> | bike prep: <a href="http://sf2g.com/prep.html" target="_blank">http://sf2g.com/prep.html</a> | unsub: <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/sf2g" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/sf2g</a><br> </font></div><br> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-30965965291108726212010-07-09T14:45:00.001-07:002010-07-09T14:45:20.005-07:007/9 Regular Bayway Style 3, Philz @ 6:15<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNDLhQBaAUnfW9oECF46lunkO8Ncxwuquc9lhtre_tfmcauF7oBBw2vIJM8xgVdYf0-5tMas53uCbXudFaC1_d54n524Y5yk-DTJSFiIqem1yOQA0NqGxYYMcTDce87S8PfNmCF1Vs3c/s1600/IMG_20100709_090031-720006.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNDLhQBaAUnfW9oECF46lunkO8Ncxwuquc9lhtre_tfmcauF7oBBw2vIJM8xgVdYf0-5tMas53uCbXudFaC1_d54n524Y5yk-DTJSFiIqem1yOQA0NqGxYYMcTDce87S8PfNmCF1Vs3c/s320/IMG_20100709_090031-720006.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492025879759743330" /></a></p><div class="gmail_quote">Little chilly for a summer morning, and other than a small crash a<br> successful ride. 8 riders and we managed to pick up a few more along<br> the way, although we split into two groups by EPA.<br> <br> Photo is after John took a corner with his inside pedal down and<br> caught some minor road rash.<br> <br> Perfect style 3 pace at 14.7 mph, 3:05 (rolling time, including an<br> extra 3 miles that I rode to get to Philz).<br> <br> <a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/133733" target="_blank">http://www.strava.com/rides/133733</a><br> <font color="#888888"><br> Nick<br> </font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br> <br> On 7 July 2010 20:11, Nick Pelly wrote:<br> > Not quite a NRLB, but we'll be taking it really easy, so if you think<br> > you can keep up 15mph for the distance you should be ok. Already have<br> > 2 riders confirmed.<br> ><br> > Roll-out from Philz at Folsom & 24th.<br> ><br> > Nick<br></div></div></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-32831178822727049242010-07-08T12:15:00.000-07:002010-07-08T12:18:31.620-07:00Middle East (Bay) Way - Starting at West Oakland BART via the Posey Tube to Alameda Island<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><b>ToC (Table of Contents, not Tour of California)</b></div><div>1. New: West Oakland BART and the Posey Tube</div><div>2. New: Alameda Island to the San Leandra Marina </div>3. The rest of the way<div>4. Conclusion</div><div>5. Appendix
<div>
</div><div><div><b>
</b></div><div><b>1. New: West Oakland BART and the Posey Tube</b></div><div>The ride starts at West Oakland BART and heads down 7th Street. I started a little after 6:15 AM and the streets were relatively empty, so it made for a chill start, just like Ammon and I had done some months back.</div><div>
</div><div>Up next was locating the Posey Tube, which for car traffic is the easten direction of travel. By some genius of urban planning, only one of the four possible walkways in the two tunnels to Alameda Island is open to pedestrian and bike traffic, and so when we had in the past tried to cross under via the westbound Webster Tube, we were looking in the wrong place. Once you know to go for the other tunnel, it is easy to find. This photo kinda <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4774887334/in/set-72157624444878624/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">says it all</a>.</div><div>
</div><div>The Posey tube is loud and stinky and narrow. Stinky like sucking on a big rig's diesel exhaust as it gears down to climb up the highway 80 pass towards a Reno roadhouse. Loud like you can't even think to wonder where all this traffic came from. Narrow like the skinny jeans on an angry bike messenger working out their issues with authority while squeezing through FiDi traffic. (Enough with the poetics already.) The major concern for us bikers is the width. You can't ride fast, because there's a seam in the middle of the pathway that throws you off. And if a biker is coming the other way (like the dude with the motorcycle helmet and about 5 headlights I came across on this fine morning (sorry, no picture)), you both have to get off, squeeze to the sides of the walkway and slide past one another. It's totally doable, its just little bit of a pain. Kinda like the Bridge to Nowhere, it gives the ride some character. I recommend this ride for the mildly adventurous riding in a group of 10 or fewer. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div><b>2. New: Alameda Island to the San Leandra Marina </b></div><div>Once you are through the Posey Tube, you simply continue across Alameda Island to the waterfront and hop on the Bay Trail. There's a bike/ped bridge at the end of the island that takes you over to the land that the Oakland Airport is on. The only tricky bit here is that when you are just past the entrance to OAK, the trail starts up again, taking a sharp right out to the bay. From here to the San Leandro Marina was straightforward: just follow the trail along the water, and when the trail ends, stay on the surface streets next to the water until you reach the Marina.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><b>3. The rest of the way</b></div><div>Same as previously documented. This day happened to have a stiff wind (10mph or higher) out of the west, so the ride became quite a slog for me. But every other time we have ridden this route, the wind has either been calm or helpful. Even though it was windy, I was tired and took time to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4774845982/in/set-72157624444878624/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">take</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4748831365/in/set-72157624444878624/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">pictures</a> and do minor route-finding, I finished the ride in 3 hours for a 15mph overall average (total of 45 miles).</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div><b>4. Conclusion</b></div><div>I support adding this as a canonical SF2G ride. Thoughts? Shall we ride it together tomorrow?</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div><b>5. Appendix</b>
</div><div>Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/sets/72157624444878624/detail/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.flickr.com/photos/<wbr>brettlider/sets/<wbr>72157624444878624/detail/</a></div><div>
</div><div>Route: <a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/128490" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.strava.com/<wbr>rides/128490</a></div></div></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664833684329359181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-38611739870381833472010-05-10T13:48:00.001-07:002010-05-10T13:48:13.409-07:005/10 Bayway 6:45 RRR<meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Steel cut oats cooked in a crock pot overnight are awesome and made it easier to wake up when the alarm went off this AM. I rolled out of bed, checked mail, saw everyone was bailing on the ride, checked the windows for rain and wondered what people knew that I didn't. phone beeped and Kristine also -1'd, apparently she caught <span class="il" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Hobe</span> fever given the early hour. It was a bit un-<span class="il" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Hobe</span> like to call a ride for earlier than 7 afterall. That probably should have been the first sign he wouldn't be showing.<br> <br>I was hoping to intercept peoples around the time they got to Cortland but left the house a bit too early to catch at Cortland and didn't think I had enough time for Sandbox so skipped pastries today in favor of seeing some dudes on bikes. Cruised down Mission to Valencia and weirdly saw no other riders, I don't know that I've ever ridden that way and not seen anyone on a bike, freaky. Got to Ritual and was sure I'd see it empty of life but instead found Trinh, Scott, Ted and Nils having a civilized conversation. There was uncivilized talk about abandoning Colma way in favor of vanilla Bayway since our fearless ride-author was not to be found but eventually out of a sense of duty or hatrid of teh Cortland hurl we opted for Cemetery way.<br> <br>The ride was mellow as called, no real sprints, we stayed together, exchanging a warmed up Trinh for a cold LeBaron at midway. BTN was bypassed, Nils was flossing with his deep dish 808's in full effect. Rain sprinkled, bugs were massacred and all was good with the world. Let's do it again soon.<br> <font color="#888888"><br>-s<br></font></span> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-63368403032734607702010-03-09T14:19:00.000-08:002010-03-09T15:35:51.351-08:00tues 9 march 2010 TTTTTT MRLB RRR 06:30 DT4 - 22.0mph avg - bayway record attempt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBsPMumHYsY0U4o6y8Rt8J4r7MzPgtNxLMBq-2UAaVVjVYoDn55cRvcNYidXCPYg4mT3i9pbD8jDNf6ajGJ1DzMDKnmPoxsz_tsNQluO-ajui6IJV0bprx5jMXQMbcqzH98nwY8Rzynk/s1600-h/cannondale-tandem.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBsPMumHYsY0U4o6y8Rt8J4r7MzPgtNxLMBq-2UAaVVjVYoDn55cRvcNYidXCPYg4mT3i9pbD8jDNf6ajGJ1DzMDKnmPoxsz_tsNQluO-ajui6IJV0bprx5jMXQMbcqzH98nwY8Rzynk/s400/cannondale-tandem.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446781941501148898" /></a>
nice. excellent work, all. that was "hella" fun. marvelous riding by everyone. a couple of teachable moments but overall quite safe. needless to say, the rest of my ride to apple was significantly slower.
<P>
~xton
<P>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN4qoErqqpdZ6BepvZOiGpymyGXrq7odd02kSzWaISreqWpSaeJvlviBQUBfEf267dGVGoWeP-MetfNOrTAuuWsaMgmx5KZ7b75jfCZ7uPUE5S3E8fNKdfBezO_gL5VMtFVg-MZtINe0/s1600-h/bayway-record-TTTTTT-xton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN4qoErqqpdZ6BepvZOiGpymyGXrq7odd02kSzWaISreqWpSaeJvlviBQUBfEf267dGVGoWeP-MetfNOrTAuuWsaMgmx5KZ7b75jfCZ7uPUE5S3E8fNKdfBezO_gL5VMtFVg-MZtINe0/s400/bayway-record-TTTTTT-xton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446764549360497826" /></a>
<P>
sweet baby jesus, thank god that's over. stats in brief:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>dist: 42.43 miles (full bayway, including feral cats, plus the Lebariation bypass of the bridge-to-nowhere)
<LI>time: 1:54:24 (-2:27 vs. previous record)
<LI>avg: 22.3 mph
<LI>avg hr: 169
<LI>kcal: 1700
<LI>riders (12): faye, space, xton, ted, trinh, hobe, ben, josh, michael, murph, nils, yours truly
</UL>
detailed account, from my hazy twilight memory:
<P>
I must say it was with some trepidation that I witnessed the TTTTTT gladiators stride majestically into Ritual this morning, all grim-faced, steely-eyed, and girded for battle. would it be I to be first dropped? could the tandem live up to its billing as a man-mauler? or would it be trampled under the wheels of its erstwhile brethren? only Fate knew.
<P>
fearing cortland, it was suggested that we form a no-drop zone until Tunnel Rd., which to my relief was agreed upon. lucky too, as lugging the beast up the Hurl with skipping chain did not go well, and only by the gracious soft-pedaling of the host of riders were we able to reconnect with the pack.
<P>
making the right onto Tunnel, it appeared all was together, but then the hard men of the bayway let it be known that the time for jesting and mirth had passed, proceeding to put us all in the hurt locker, and shedding some riders as the pace ratcheted up.
<P>
it was then that my stoker, the powerful Faye, announced her presence by cutting in the afterburners and keeping us in contention with stroke after piledriving stroke.
<P>
approaching the hotelland ramp, I was privately concerned that all would make it thru safely due to unseasonably high speeds and the narrow, muddy, downright silly maneuvering required, and sure enough, a loud CRACK announced the demise of Nils' Zipp 404 (ouch), which introduced itself to the curb violently, yet soldiered on until terminally sidelined by a flat in feral cat land.
<P>
solid pacelining continued for miles without incident, until Ted's tire also gave up, and he was forced to abandon the lead group while putting in a career performance. it should be noted that he still recorded a blistering 1:59, despite the flat.
<P>
arriving at Sun, it was clear that the record was within reach, but xton was in no mood for celebrating. seeing fit to push the pace to a relentless 27+ mph, the remaining riders were made to pay for the privilege with currency they could ill-afford to spend, as the city limit sign of Lactate Land came into view.
<P>
exiting EPA, space suffered the third and final flat of the ride, and was forced to limp in only a few minutes back.
<P>
entering the bayshore super sprint, xton smelled blood and powered on with teutonic, terminator-esque efficiency, doing the lion's share of work while refusing to break a sweat or even breathe thru his mouth. as the group had been whittled to just 4 machines at this point, only the rules of engagement kept him from dropping his companions and basking in righteous solo victory.
<P>
at last it ended at charleston & amphitheatre, and then like keyser soze, poof! he was gone.
<P>
the rest of us bedraggled sweat-caked survivors -- michael, murph, faye & yours truly -- rolled into no-name, and tried to eat. I for one had no appetite.
<P>
thank you to everyone who showed up today. I think we can all agree that was the longest, most bad-ass TTT that has ever happened. it was historic*. once Nils determines the crash replacement cost of the 404, i suggest we take up a collection to buy him a new one. suffice to say, losing his power for the last 20 miles was a detriment to the effort.
<P>
*apologies to bikehugger
<P>
http://www.strava.com/rides/79785 (note the stats on strava are slightly different/slower than my garmin... I think the "stop timer" didn't register for some reason.
<P>
Agreed, Xton is AMAZING.
<P>
(And thank you for the vest)
<P>
-faye
<P>
I'm pretty sure xton on his own could have come close to this. He did
the vast majority of the work. xton, you are an animal--very
impressive stuff, sir.
<P>
-michael
<P>
Personally I got a flat with 8 miles to go after somehow sticking with the lead group until then in order to have a chance to hang with Hobe and Ben for a while. Ended up coming in at 1:59 and change.
<P>
Here's my track: http://www.strava.com/rides/79787
<P>
afterwards, got to do this: http://www.strava.com/rides/79786
-Ted
<P>
I really wanted a strava KOM so I let a truck flick me before Coyote
Point so I'd have an excuse to get the KOM
of the "Lebariation"
<P>
http://www.strava.com/rides/79788/segment_efforts/710224
<P>
-murph
<P>
Meh, it's OK. I'll get a replacement wheel tomorrow and pay crash
replacement for it. I'm more frustrated by the fact that I didn't get
to help out to my fullest potential... I was really looking forward to
the long stretches of road towards the end.
<P>
-Nils
<P>
Sorry about the flat Nils, but it was a great excuse for me to drop off that slave driver of a pace. Wow. Here is my strava from SF, to Hillsdale. Had to cut off to go to my office in Belmont. That climb up Raulston was a beast after 30mph pacelining: http://www.strava.com/rides/79781
<P>
Good job to those who kept going to Google to set a new time!
<P>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmn7VhcqlWAh3EwYu7zxfQ1ZzHi6PnCBbOuEGrZwwER3lRlpLCF-8uIpwqRfejSS1WzrEBPljiNOUoq5Dz3AIDtTutbMHEP5S1fkrPdjsD8EhxmeqywbBm4mT45TmGV8tvMLgYY7Mvm8/s1600-h/nils-zipp-dead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmn7VhcqlWAh3EwYu7zxfQ1ZzHi6PnCBbOuEGrZwwER3lRlpLCF-8uIpwqRfejSS1WzrEBPljiNOUoq5Dz3AIDtTutbMHEP5S1fkrPdjsD8EhxmeqywbBm4mT45TmGV8tvMLgYY7Mvm8/s400/nils-zipp-dead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446763473525952850" /></a>
<P>
For glory. For Sparta!! Stupid Bayway.
<P>
-Nils
<P>
A new record: 1:54 and change. I was there on the patio to watch them come in.
-Brett L.
<P>
tuesday's forecast calls for moderate temps, strong tailwinds from the northwest (up to 37mph gusts), and it's time for some pain.
<P>
are you ready? then join us for the much-dreaded Terrible Tuesday Tandem Team Time Trial featuring the "Drop To 4" Most Riders Left Behind format.
<P>
myself and Faye will be piloting the cannondale tandem, and if anyone else has a tandem, bring it!
<P>
rules, should you elect to join this infernal pact:
<P>
<UL>
<LI>smooth pacelines, no attacks, sprints, or sudden accelerations
<LI>no pulls of greater than 2 minutes
<LI>no "pull" if you are going to slow down the group... just peel off, there is no shame in it
<LI>no waiting, no regrouping (except to DT4 specs), one possible restroom break if necessary
<LI>98% effort until all but 4 are dropped, then weakest rider's 100% effort will dictate speed; goal is to arrive at finish with 4 riders
<LI>full bayway including feral cats... BTN, maybe, depends on mud
<LI>safety is more important than records, so no putting others in danger by running red lights w/ opposing traffic
<LI>goal is >22.0mph average, and the average is a cruel mistress, which means in practical terms riding at between 24-28mph nonstop for just under 2 hours
<LI>if we're lucky, we'll defeat the current record, 1:56:51, and maybe take down a few strava segments while we're at it. if we can beat 22mph, we should get there in ~1:54.
</UL>
<P>
anyone interested?
<P>
-sc
<P>
ps - it will be hard to get the tandem over the hills at the beginning and we may well be dropped. c'est la vie.
<P>SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-6138010865468259022010-02-26T11:54:00.000-08:002010-02-26T11:55:30.519-08:00SF2G is awesome!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Even tho we mostly all kind of suck for hiding from the "rains" today, we do have some redeeming virtues.<div>
</div><div>1) there were no less than 5 rides called for yesterday, and I think they actually all happened (2 skylines, 2 bayways, 1 hmbayway(!)) It was<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="il" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">awesome</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to have a 15-person paceline for parts of skyline after the 2 groups converged. riders coming the other way were fairly flabbergasted. </div><div>
</div><div>I think this means we have reached critical self-sustaining mass, and that this organism will live on despite anyone's departure from god's green peninsula.</div><div>
</div><div>2) we are fabulous and popular: <span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Google-workers-saddle-up-for-daily-commute-84306917.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176);">http://www.<wbr>sfexaminer.com/local/Google-<wbr>workers-saddle-up-for-daily-<wbr>commute-84306917.html</a></span></div><div>
</div><div>3) we are in the SFBC's calendar: <a href="http://www.sfbike.org/?chain" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176);">http://www.sfbike.<wbr>org/?chain</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(scroll down to SF2G FFFF)</div><div>
</div><div>so this means we should have a big group for March 5th's FFFF. let's all try and make it for that one, I'll need some help with sweeping. Who's in for that? </div><div>
</div><div>4) our Strava club is pretty impressive. check out these mean stats! just imagine if Luddites like Eric actually got Garmins...</div><div>
</div><div>we have ridden 69,000 miles as a club, damn! and 2.5 million vertical feet!</div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://www.strava.com/clubs/sf2g?page=1" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176);">http://www.strava.com/clubs/<wbr>sf2g?page=1</a></div><div>
</div><div><div>Total Number of Rides 1,973</div><div>Total Distance 68,699 mi</div><div>Total Elevation Gain 2,499,109 ft</div><div>Total Commute Distance 24,281 mi</div><div>Total Number of Categorized Climbs 3996</div><div>
</div><div>I think we're the #2 club by miles, after Mission Cycling, which has 20 more members. So all ye who have garmins, sign up for the club on strava.</div><div>
</div><div>good stuff maynard!</div></div></span></span>SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-9990849030414926332009-11-05T18:02:00.001-08:002009-11-05T18:13:43.130-08:00Ride Report: Middle East Way - West Oakland & Coyote Hills Explorations & Some Setbacks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/images/thumb/d/d0/Ammon-20091105-190009.jpg/450px-Ammon-20091105-190009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 600px;" src="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/images/thumb/d/d0/Ammon-20091105-190009.jpg/450px-Ammon-20091105-190009.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<p><a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Track:A3TA">Map and photos</a> from Ammon (truncated showing <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Track:A3YW">just the route to Google</a> (46 miles).
</p><p>
</p><p>I met up with Ammon in car 2 of BART train that departed 16th Street Mission station at 6:12am. We were on the train for a mere 14 minutes and got rolling at 6:30 in West Oakland, which is pretty tranquil at this time of day. We pedaled down 7th Avenue in hopes of taking the tunnel over to Alameda island. Oops!: <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185656.jpg">no bikes allowed</a> (setback #1). Note to selves: we're gonna look into taking <a href="http://www.eastbayferry.com/when/sfam.html">the ferry</a> over, because the west and south ends of Alameda look awesome for riding. So we continued down 7th Street, which is probably crazy busy during the day but was chill for us. To get to Alameda via a bridge, we had to head down some unintuitive roads that made it look like <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185715.jpg">we were gonna get on 880</a> but worked out fine. I'm gonna research the best way from West Oakland to Alameda, because while not too bad, I'm pretty sure what we took wasn't ideal.
</p><p>Once in Alameda via a <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185724.jpg">cute old bridge</a>, we decided to cut across the island and get on the Bay Trail. Again, I'm not sure we took the most direct route, as we ran into a lot of lights. Once we reached the opposite shore, we were greeted with <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/images/thumb/6/66/Ammon-20091105-185753.jpg/399px-Ammon-20091105-185753.jpg">trail closure signs from the recent oil spill </a>(setback #2). We took our chances and got our first taste of dirt. Ammon squirted ahead with his cross bike. Next up was crossing from Alameda back to mainland via a <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/images/thumb/4/48/Ammon-20091105-185807.jpg/399px-Ammon-20091105-185807.jpg">bicycle drawbridge</a>. How cool is that? This section by the Oakland Airport was surprising very low in traffic. Right past the airport is the <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185822.jpg">easy-to-miss sign for the Bay Trail</a>, which we then hopped on.
</p><p>A little ways down the trail, we encountered <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185839.jpg">another trail closed sign</a> (setback #3)<a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185839.jpg"></a>. Apparently they're building a bridge across the creek <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+CA+94577&sll=37.761703,-122.425501&sspn=0.017863,0.020986&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+Alameda,+California+94577&ll=37.713086,-122.200418&spn=0.004469,0.005246&t=h&z=18">here</a>. which meant that we had to <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185847.jpg">detour inland</a> and ended up in the wastewater treatment plant with a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+CA+94577&sll=37.761703,-122.425501&sspn=0.017863,0.020986&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+Alameda,+California+94577&ll=37.714555,-122.19371&spn=0.002234,0.002623&t=h&z=19">high fence between us and Davis Road</a>. Huh (setback #4). We looked into hopping the fence but before too long, a vehicle drove out of the facility, opening the gate for us, too. (Sorry, no pictures here.)
</p><p>After riding through <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+CA+94577&sll=37.761703,-122.425501&sspn=0.017863,0.020986&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Williams+St,+San+Leandro,+Alameda,+California+94577&ll=37.708473,-122.196336&spn=0.017876,0.020986&t=h&z=16">Oyster Bay park</a>, we were finally back on the "familiar" part of Middle East Way and figured we were safe...
</p><p>Not so! It seems all this Federal stimulus money is going to bicycle infrastructure, so we again <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185941.jpg">encountered trail construction</a> (setback #5). We pleaded with the workers and they kindly let us pass. We did get to <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-185953.jpg">hop a fence</a> this time, though.
</p><p>The rest of the ride was pretty chill. Instead of riding way out of the levees, Ammon rode the ridge of the Coyote Hills <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-190101.jpg">as far as he could</a> (setback #6)) and I <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chCbLbKMMqw">rode the Bay View trail [video]</a> along the base<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chCbLbKMMqw"></a>, where Ammon later joined me. This dumps out right by a scary/cool <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/brettlider/4079425922/">old mine</a> and at the Dumbarton Bridge Toll Plaza. Bay View trail is a totally valid alternative, with less dirt and slightly more climbing (if you don't ride the ridge<a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-190118.jpg"></a>). Once past the toll plaza, you ride along 84 on a frontage road with cool <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-190148.jpg">foam</a> on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH6C9pE361Q">road [video]</a> and and cross the bridge and rejoin Bayway by Sun.
</p><p>The last treat of the ride was learning about the <a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-190209.jpg">amphibious (they float!) backhoes</a> that are being used to restore the salt water ponds by East PA.<a href="http://www.trailguru.com/wiki/index.php/Image:Ammon-20091105-190209.jpg%28"></a>
</p><p>Many thanks to Ammon for the GPS track and excellent photo documentation, and for being as into finding new routes as I am.
</p><p>Assessment:
<p>- More riding + less BARTing = good
<p>- Viable as a full-fledged route once they finish the bridge construction (the other construction project is short-term)
<p>- Research a better way to and through Alameda
</p><p>Your route finder,
<p>Brett Lider
</p><p>P.S. A couple more videos I took:
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwlU9JxCZfA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwlU9JxCZfA</a>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5aGrvBB7oE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5aGrvBB7oE</a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02664833684329359181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-61689321619877029102009-09-17T15:44:00.000-07:002009-09-17T15:45:26.893-07:005D5W: 9/17 Skyline 6:30 Peet's<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xqs8QcLNsA5mrgogEs9cwLlVam6xPLMuM_lgP0RTrkyFnyAeLUAtodvWG0Qn6aCPZn-Zgk7F9H7Z5TcYwd-Gg2E7YBpHeGBLZmpiMOKJL8mpFXfFeMN90wAOa-Qck7Dhh1K-twbVjgU/s1600-h/space-treats-peets-726894.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Xqs8QcLNsA5mrgogEs9cwLlVam6xPLMuM_lgP0RTrkyFnyAeLUAtodvWG0Qn6aCPZn-Zgk7F9H7Z5TcYwd-Gg2E7YBpHeGBLZmpiMOKJL8mpFXfFeMN90wAOa-Qck7Dhh1K-twbVjgU/s320/space-treats-peets-726894.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382571239453955506" /></a></p>ride report:<div><br></div><div>it's really someone else's turn to write this, but you are all just as shelled as me it seems, so here you go, a 19% effort to go with my 19% legs.</div><div><br></div><div>12 sorry saps staggered into peet's about 06:20, devoured space's latest baking extravaganza (homemade strawberry pop-tarts, of sorts, see attached), and rolled into the mire of golden gate park, where the sinister Trinh awaited.</div> <div><br></div><div>upon reaching the first hills of skyline, it became abundantly clear that my legs' "muscles" were more akin to waterlogged 50-lb. gunny-sacks of portland cement, mixed with lead shot and ingots of plutonium-238, and attached by heavy iron shackles to the Queen Mary's dual anchors, which weigh over 30 metric tonnes each.</div> <div><br></div><div>ThEPO, on the other hand, had without question applied not one but two testosterone patches to appropriate places and beer-bonged a 12-pack of CERA and HGH, garnished with ice cubes of his own blood, which had been harvested and concentrated by centrifuge after 30 days of continuous mount everest hill repeats.</div> <div><br></div><div>other noteworthy events included a surly police officer hurling a torrent of insults at mild-mannered xton, who graciously stopped and chatted while the rest of us escaped to Cañada.</div><div><br></div> <div>for breakfast, I enjoyed two abandoned and partially burned bagel halves (both bottoms) topped with dessicated lentil paste. best example of that dish i ever had.</div><div><br></div><div>-sc</div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13758849584702892.post-3672983265408822982009-09-16T14:28:00.001-07:002009-09-16T14:29:00.156-07:005D5W: 9/14 Joe Gross 6:30 RRR<i>Editor's note: Yours truly was remiss in not posting Faye's hilarious & compelling account of Day 1, which is herein presented.</i><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; ">Ride report<br> <br>Bueno Serra. Not sure about anyone else, but I didn't sleep a wink<br>due to excessive consumption of chocolate cake while watching Breaking<br>Away and, of course, anticipation of the first day of 5 days 5 ways.<br> I made it to ritual in good time to caffeinate before rolling, and<br>acted on some strange impulse to get a tea instead of a proper<br>machiato- inausipicious decision that no doubt contributed to my flats<br>later on. Trinh was already present and Brian Kemler and Brett Lider<br> showed up shortly followed by Ted and maybe Eric. Everyone else<br>straggled in later... even later than usual. Our fearless leader<br>looked particularly dead with his eyes rolling back in his head as he<br>consumer his small coffee. A complicated flat repair was taking place<br> outside... Mike G. was riding his Felt and went through a good 3 inner<br>tubes outside of ritual. I went out to ask if he wanted a coffee, and<br>encountered Shoumen on his folding bike in sneakers and running<br>shorts! This did not stop him from motoring up the grades on Mission<br> at break neck speed, however. Space arrived with amazing blondies and<br>beautifully and individually wrapped protein bars (that I did not<br>sample due to their healthy sound). Who would have thought he could<br>top that salted chocolate layer cake, but the blondies were just<br> amazing. Anyway, we started off with 15 riders, I think, including<br>Scott, Brian, Trinh, Theo, Space, Jim (on fixie), Xton (on fixie),<br>Eric (on fixie), Brett, Yoyo, Shoumen (on folding bike), Ted, Mike,<br>Mark, and me (on Creamy, my beautiful creamsicle bike). I think we<br> hit about every possible light as we slowly made out way up Mission<br>and somehow to El Camino. On the stretch of road before Colma, land<br>of the dead, Scott authorized me to "attack" or as I prefer to think<br> of it, try to take the pace up a notch. Just as I thought we were<br>rolling at a decent clip, I had my first flat. For anyone who was not<br>there, on Friday, I got a flat just before the steepest part of<br>tunitas, so I thought I did my time! Grr. Anyway, the flat was<br> annoying, BUT the scene around it was definitely the highlight of the<br>ride for me, and I sure wish someone got some photos... as I yelled<br>out that I had a flat, there was this mass frenzy as no less than<br>Mark, Ted, Xton, Theo, and Space with encouragement from a few others<br> rushed to fix it. It was an impressive scenewith tire levers, pumps<br>and tubes flying everywhere and I felt like a Very Important Person<br>with a harem of flat fixers. I was informed that my tires are crap<br>and told to get new ones pronto.<br> <br>Anyway, we continued down El Camino stopping and starting about every<br>75 meters and with a few stares of wonder and comments of<br>encouragement or alternatively explicatives from drivers on their way<br>to work. Soon after we hit the side streets that Parallel El Camino,<br> my tire went flat again. Everyone very dutifully and politefully<br>waited and I was very grateful. Xton and Space again fixed the flat,<br>with Xton transferring a metal splinter from the tire to his finger.<br>After that I was really paranoid that my tire was flat and kept<br> touching it to check at every stop sign. I thought for sure I would<br>be relegated to the caltrain and 5 days 5 ways would be over before it<br>began.<br><br>The ride continued in the same vein... stopping and starting and<br> stopping and starting with us hitting about every possible red light.<br>We rode through the old race track- a wider space with no cars where<br>the fixies decided to race each other. Not surprisngly, Xton won that<br>little sprint. When the construction noise did not drown it out, I<br> noticed the impressive noises Mike's bike was making. The sun was<br>shining and it was pretty warm, and despite our very late rollout and<br>my 2 flats, breakfast at No Name remained within reach.<br><br>After turning off of Middlefield in PA, we re-grouped to wait for the<br> folding bike and Yoyo, and debated invoking the <a href="http://sf2g.com/terms.html">4-k rule</a> on Bayway.<br>The invocation was overruled and we continued on at a civil pace.<br>Brett Lider was particularly dilligent in calling out all of the turns<br> and the moment at which we needed to down shift to make it up the<br>pedestrian bridge on 101. The bridge was slippery as hell and I<br>almost bit it, but I made sure to be behind everyone so that I could<br>hide any evidence. With breakfast in sight and miracle of miracles, no<br> lights, we cruised at 23ish mph down bayshore, with Shoumen spinning<br>so fast on the folding bike that he looked like a wind-up toy, but<br>managing to mostly hang on to Scott/Mike's wheels, and were rewarded<br>with victuals and sun at Google.<br> <br>Having been told repeatedly what crap my tires were, I plotted my<br>immanent trip to SB to get new ones (done!). Aside from a couple of<br>tubes, no casualties that I know of on this ride, and an entertaining<br>and light hearted start to 5 days 5 ways.</span></div> <div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">-FF</span></font></div> SF2G Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06434961972063565525noreply@blogger.com0