On the Bike (Again)
Maybe there will be another blog, just for matters of the bike.
Until then, there are items like this: Today's 200-kilometer brevet, from the Golden Gate Bridge out to the coast on Point Reyes (the very end of the point, a mountain rearing up at the southern tip of a 25-mile long promontory) up along a tidal estuary to the town of Marshall, which you'd never know was a town unless someone told you -- you know those two or three oyster places? -- and then back down to the bridge.
The ride was damp and un-rainy and un-windy and a couple riders I know put in amazingly fast performances, by my standards. I did OK, too -- more than an hour faster than my previous fastest time on this course because of the perfect conditions.
More later. But bottom line: Got home in one piece.
Technorati Tags: cycling, randonneuring
Suddenly it doesn't seem like such a chore to ride to the Mission, back to the Fillmore, up over Pacific Heights to Fort Mason, and home. Thanks for the push!
Posted by: judy b. | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Hey Dan, totally off the wall the question... did you used to hang out in a chat room on MSN called TMP? :D
Posted by: Wende | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 01:59 PM
I'm walking from the front door to the car, where I'll shiver in the 12 degree temp until the car warms up enough to get moving.
Glad you made good time and got back okay.
Posted by: Marie | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 04:33 PM
I suppose I should start logging my times and distances but I stop too much to take pictures, look at the horses, cows, or eagles, and I still need to get familiar with the bike. Not wild about riding in dampness, though. You're a more dedicated cycler than I. Glad you made it back OK, Dan.
Posted by: Rob | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Dan, one of the highlights of the ride
on saturday was seeing you in high spirits
and hearing you yell out encouragement
as we passed going in different directions. Check out the photos Cyclofiend took and you'll see one taken
from nearly the same spot as your iconic
photo from last year's very wet ride. This
year's version was better as well in that
we capped the day off with great company
at MBC while emptying pint glasses.
Posted by: rob hawks | Monday, January 29, 2007 at 08:32 PM
Thanks, Rob! I'm in the habit of shouting "forza" or "adelante" or "allez, allez, allez" or other words of encouragement (sometimes in English) to other riders. I know it plays well with some people and not well with others; it's just the moment, though -- I really do like being out there in those rides (also, I remember Jack Holmgren, who has more fun than anyone I know during these events, urging me on in the rain last year; this year, he let out a might whoop when our paceline passed him going into Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
Posted by: Dan | Monday, January 29, 2007 at 09:09 PM