The Rings

Well Ron's ring has been chosen and purchased and now the rings are comfortably sitting side by side in their case waiting the special day on March 30

:)

R & L

Dillon Beach Ride with Team Donate Life

A beautiful day... 100 miles and 8000' of climbing through the coastal mountains and sonoma wine valley... what's not to like?

We stayed at the Flamingo resort - complete with neon pink 100 foot high sign... and met a bunch of the Team Donate Life Race Across America (RAAM) riders for some beautiful pain :). I was 2.5 weeks into being back on the bike after the crash and vacation - with most of my riding on the trainer in the garage so I was a bit apprehensive.

As expected my climbing pace was not up to the pace of the leaders but I felt pretty good. The colors were showing and we had cool but perfect weather for riding. The route took us from Santa Rosa over into Glen Ellen and back ( about 3500 feet of climbing and then on rolling hills to the coast and Dillon Beach / Tamales - where we were greeted with a bit of mist and lunch). At the 50 mile mark my wrist was screaming "ENOUGH" so I joined Rachel in the sag wagon and took pictures.

The big climb of the day was the ironically named Joy Road up to Occidental - A 3 stage monster with sustained climbs totaling about 4.5 miles of 14 - 18% ( I admit to being glad I was in the car following the riders!)

All in all a fantastic ride with a fantastically fit and friendly bunch... Thanks for the invite TDL!
And everyone if you need a cause to get behind consider TDL in their RAAM challenge for this year!

Keep the rubber side down!! ... really:)

Mount Diablo - climb and a half

October 31 - members of the Cycle Folsom Peloton and Performance groups tackled the ascent of Mount Diablo. Starting from Walnut Creek, we warmed up for 5 or 6 miles on the city streets and bike trails and then started up NorthGate. The weather was perfect with almost no wind and a temperatures in the 60's making the hard work of climbing 3900' in 11 or so miles much more comfortable.

After a number of weeks off the bike after the crash in Park City Utah - and the vacation in Canada I had a week or two of spin class and trainer riding in the garage under my belt - but no where near the fitness required to keep up with the rest of the group. But I kept the heart rate under my thresholds and made the top to the encouragement of the group.
The descent down Southgate was fun but a bit painful due to the strained ligaments in my left wrists - even with the brace so I took it easy.

One strange sight was tthe tarantuals on the road... really! Also we got stared down by a coyote.

We then pacelined out on Blackhawk Road for a few miles and returned to climb Southgate to the junction and then down Northgate back to the cars

We re-fueled at Chipotle afterwards with burritoes, tacos etc

All in all a great day, great ride with a great bunch of riders