6.21.09 Father's Day fixed gear ride

We all voted on a ride roll out time of 9:30am and met at Woodside School. About half of the 13 riders showed up on fixed gear machines or trackies and there was some real eye candy to absorb. Peter brought his 1959 red Cinelli trackie and Guy brought a 1965 Bianchi Specialissima that looked like it was on it's 1st ride. We started out nice 'n easy through Woodside past the old store and out Tripp Rd. but by the time we hit the downhill section on Woodside Rd. there were some tires smokin' - Jan and Greg got a little competitive and the rest followed. I was just trying to keep up. Whew, these guys and gals can move! About half the group broke away at Rosotti's for Father's Day celebrating and the rest of us rode Arastradero, Old Page Mill, Foothill, Sandhill back to Robert's Market in Woodside where we grabbed bag lunches and headed back to the school for lunch out back on the picnic tables. A great time was had by all on another beautiful riding day. Thanks everyone for a fun time. Until next time, "Have a Nice Ride"...

pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157620284388071/

6.13.09 sf to fairfax ride

another great ride! they just keep getting better. this was probably the most eclectic crew i have ridden with so far - from Devin on his custom fixie to Bryan on his full modern quintana roo kit to Meli on her classic french Astra mixtie to Adrienne on her extracycle complete with panniers, ipod boom box and champagne cork stem cap to Veronika on her road tired mountain bike to the classic 70's racers we know and love it was a rolling caravan of every bike type imaginable.

Paul and I took caltrain to sf and rode to the ferry bldg. where we met Adrienne, Meli, Omar, Devin, Dusty and a few others. Bryan came rolling up a couple minutes later from Fremont on bart. we all rolled out along the bay through fishermans wharf, aquatic park and crissy field where we picked up Adrienne's friend Veronika. then it was up and across the bridge where Devin did a few tricks at the north end of the golden gate. the descent into sausalito is always a blast where we regrouped in a couple places for a pit stop and to pick up some of Meli's friends. we finally met Stephen just before the mill valley heliport where he proceeded to guide us all into fairfax. thank you Stephen! couldn't have made it to fairfax without you... we stopped for coffee and a bite in ross before cruising along the bike trails to fairfax. the eco festival was pretty cool - i'd never been before and didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to find a very big neighborhood block party atmosphere. there was a band, beer, exhibits, vendors, kids activities and a cool vibe. mcbc had a great bike parking area that was overflowing with 2 wheelers. we hung out for a while then some rode to larkspur and took the ferry. Paul, Bryan and I rode back to the city to bart and caltrain and finally home.

thanks everyone for the fantastic ride! i had a blast! and special thanks to Stephen for being our guide! 'til next time, "Have a Nice Ride"...

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Meli's pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meligrosa/sets/72157619808186620/

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Adrienne's pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33353980@N07/sets/72157619711747816/

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my pics are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157619672827775/

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chas talks story

The great thing about riding with Charles is break time when we stop for lunch or a bite. He always has some interesting stories to tell from back in the day. Here're a couple...

"Portrait of the artist as a young man ( ~32 yrs). This is a 73cm frame that I built back in 1976. I used heavy gage Columbus forks, chain stays and top tube. The rest was aircracft quality straight gage 4130 tubing. That's a meter stick I'm holding. The bike had a 38" standover height."

"Picture of me after the 1976 Sandia Crest Race in Albuquerque, NM - 7,500' to 10,600' feet in 25 miles, most of it in the last 9 miles. The bike is a custom Gus Betat frame that I had built for me in 1975. I wanted a bike for climbing and that's what they built for me. With the 39" wheelbase that's about all it did! The whole bike weighed about 20 Lbs. with a tricked out leather saddle. We had an Ideale 90 saddle with an aluminum frame laying around the shop. The leather was trashed. We also had a Brooks Pro with broken seat rails so I married the 2 together - an aluminum framed Brooks Pro! The only things Campy on this bike were the hubs and seatpost bolt! I eventually modified the forks and changed the rear triangle on this frame. That was the beginning of my frame building. BTW, I still have that CoolGear jersey."

6.6.09 Paradise Loop ride

wow! what a perfect riding day.

riders were:

meli on her kof torpado

stephen on his della santa

stephan on his "new" medici

chas on his "new" holdsworth

eric on his gitane sc

stephan, meli and i started out at the log cabin at the presidio and rode across the golden gate to meet stephen and charles at the mill valley heliport. steven and charles both brought new riding tools to show us - stephan had his new red medici and charles had his maroon holdsworth from across the pond.

we were sidelined for awhile at the mill valley bike swap where stephen found a couple bargains and both he and stephan had to peel off for afternoon duties. meli, chas and i continued up camino alto to larkspur then corte madera and out paradise drive to tiburon where we stopped and had a bite and drink. it was hard to get back on the road from the beautiful weather and people watching and conversation at caffe acri. but once we did we were rewarded with spectacular riding conditions. chas peeled off back at the heliport and meli and i soldiered on up the hills out of sausalito where she kicked my butt even with the semi-corncob freewheel on her gorgeous torpado. the ride back across the golden gate seemed short and effortless and the whole thing was over too soon for me. can't wait for the next one. until next time, "Have a Nice Ride"...

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meli's pics: www.flickr.com/photos/meligrosa/sets/721 57619416315294

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stephen's pics: picasaweb.google.com/stephen.bryne/EricSVintageRideOfJune62009#

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my pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157619316293287/

5.31.09 ride - fairfax to pt. reyes to olema and back on the cross marin trail

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ride call:

SUNDAY APRIL 31st Fairfax to Point Reyes and back Meet at JAVA HUT across from Sunshine Bikes 9AM meet up time and lets try to roll out promptly as close to 9AM as we can This should be about 35 Miles and 2800 feet of climbing PLEASE RSVP so we know whos coming This is always a popular destination BOB FREITAS CELL 415-531-xxxx

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some comments from the gang:

Hi Bob and all, We had a fun vintage ride out to Pt. Reyes Station and back to Fairfax today. Bob, we missed you and were sorry you couldn't make it--especially since you organized the ride! I posted a few photos at this link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.bryne/BobSMarinVintageRideOfMay312009

Good times were had by all. Stephen Bryne in Fairfax, Ca

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First, I want to thank you all for not making fun of how slow I am. But, damn, the old white Gitane can fly sometimes! I have done these rides many times and I think this route is the best, although going back to purple bridge and Nicasio at Platform Bridge Junction would add a few miles and another hill, the run through Samuel P. Taylor Park is so pretty! It was a joy to draft all of you speed demons and ride with so many classy people and beautiful bikes! My birthday is coming up soon, and if a Colnago, Rosa, or Cooper showed up on my doorstep, I could die a happy man!....When I'm 100! Thanks, Bob, for letting me pick the route! Carlo, White Gitane TDF

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more of my pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157619021092585/

Don't forget the Paradise Loop ride this Saturday. Start at the Log Cabin at Presidio at 9, roll out at 9:30, or start at the Mill Valley Heliport at 10:15, roll out at 10:30. Come on out and get some fresh air and exercise. Rain cancels.