A Sunday in Hell

Boulder Creek, 236, Jamison, Empire Grade, Alba, Hwy 9 ride 4.9.11

We'll call this the waterfall ride since there were at least 20 that could be seen from the road. Started out kinda late in the afternoon waiting for the weather to warm up but it never really did. Out the door down the hill into B.C. then up Hwy 236 for a bit and left on Jamison where a few really nice houses stood and then became another world, a world of water, creeks, falls everywhere. Wow - unexpected surprises my 1st time here. The beauty offset the suffering up this big climb, at least for me. It seems the rains are mostly over and now's time to start training for the season. What am I training for? Not really sure but know I feel physically better after a several weeks climbing and I guess it's mostly just for the challenge. The mental blocks are a hard hurdle the 1st time out on a new climbing route but it does get easier each time. After what seemed at least an hour of huffing & puffing I was happy just to make it to Empire Grade. This road is mostly flat and runs on a ridgeline with some great views of the San Lorenzo Valley poking through the trees. Was really cold up there around 4pm. After passing the Ben Lomond Conservation Camp I saw my Alba Rd. turnoff. Excited to see the 10% grade sign I was looking forward to less grunting and more coasting. Down we go and it's a bit twisty, narrow with not the best surface in some areas. As usual the scenery made up for the lack of road luxury. Passing Alba School and back into civilization Hwy 9 and the intense climb home came up too soon.

A few pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157626478262672/with/5611325166/

'til next time, "Have a Nice Ride"!

summer's coming - hang in there...

R.I.P. Albert Schelstraete

Albert was most recently known for his involvement in the Forest City Velodrome, where he was both the track designer and a ferverent support of the program. However, his palmares in the sport go back to the mid-1930s, when he rode his first bike race. Despite being hit by a truck when training and breaking both legs (at the age of 19), he came back to racing and won a number of significant races, including the Montreal Six Day as an amateur, before turning professional in 1940.

Read more here:

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=21040

Boulder Creek Big Basin loop 3.12.11

Wow, I can't beLIEVE it's been more than a month since I had a decent ride. Did the same loop as last time but on the Torpado. It is a pretty sweet machine for a gas-piper. I added the small Lezyne pump on the bottle bracket clamps - pretty good spot for it, just under the down tube, plus all the added weight gives me lower center of gravity for those tight turns...

'til next time "Have a Nice Ride"...

Boulder Creek/Big Basin 30 mile loop 2.6.11

Hey now... Alone for this sweet ride in the redwoods today. First time I did this route was on the Masi 3V which was a bit too racy for the terrain. The next time I vowed to use more of a touring machine so out came the '77 Colin Laing - it's built like a race bike with no fender eyelets, short rear dropouts, etc. but has fairly long touring style chainstays. It was a good choice and made the ride SO much more pleasurable, effortless almost. Next time we'll try the Torpado. 'Til next time, "Have a Nice Ride"...

annual Fausto Coppi ride 1.15.11

a few bianchis in attendance at the annual coppi ride, more info to come...

more pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericm/sets/72157625841171196/

'til next time, "Have a Nice Ride"...