March 25, 2007

  • I rode about 80 miles today. I left the house at 6:30 and rode scott to Sacramento to Arguello to Lake to 25th ave and then went through the Presidio past Baker Beach down to the Sports Basement for my lifecycle ride. It was very, very wet but luckily it dried out pretty quickly. We rode out to China Camp State Park outside of San Rafael and then up Lucas Valley Road into Nicasio Valley and then back to Fairfax and back to town. A lot of us had a tough day. I had two flat tires. Two! The tires on my road bike used to be awesome. They're Continental GatorSkins and I love them except that the I bought the ones on my road bike before I rode cross country last year and they have about 5000 miles on them which is a lot more than they should have. I ordered some new ones from REI and they weren't in before today's ride thus all the flats. I saw a lot of other people's flats as well and I also saw a rider with a broken chain on a brand new bike. My friend David, putting it perspective noted, "Better mechanicals than physicals". Ain't that the truth! Here I am in my capacity as pointer. Four years of college to get skills like this!

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    Despite all the drama I thought today was fabulous. I hadn't been to China camp State Park before and it's a beautiful stretch along San Pablo Bay. I'm hoping to get Jeff out here this summer. Will likely involve threats.

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    Lucas Valley Road is always a treat. Here are Kurt and Sandra at the lunch stop:

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    The sun finally came out again when we were in Fairfax. I was in the store getting a soda when I heard a tremendous boom coming from outside in the direction of my bike. It was my front tire going explosively flat but I didn't care because there was this car full of huskies keeping me company while I waited for someone with a spare tube:

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    Ben and I were treated to a glorious view while we were waiting for a rider at the top of Camino Alto:

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    At the end of the day, we ran into my friend Nathan's pal Nhon. He's doing the ride for the first time with his friends and they're going to do great.

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    I'm hoping the rain will hold off long enough for me to get a ride in the morning. And I'm hoping my new tires are going to be in at REI soon because I'm not riding my road bike again until there are new tires on it. Stay tuned!

    Chris and David took us out to the legendary Brothers II restaurant to thank us for watching Sofi.  Nathan and Daniel joined us for a barbeque spectacular.  I sat as far away from the meat as possible and enjoyed my Bi Bim Bop washed down with several of the big comedy sized OB beers.  The tofu soup was even vegetarian.  It was incredibly delicious and I ate until I was practically immobile.  Luckily Chris had driven.