Baby Girl Gets NEW Shoes...and rides like the wind!

I've had bike shoes for a few months, but finally decided it was time to get them on the bike and in use.  So...I've got new shoes.  And we bought the latest in reflecto gear; the better to be seen by cars as we prepare for the trip down the coast.  So stylish...the latest at OSH Hardware!

New Dancing Shoes!

A Cycling Fashion Statement!

And we've been doing some longer rides.  Every ride becomes my new favorite ride!

One day we rode west of Petaluma along Chilino Valley Road and out to Tomales (the small town.)  Such gorgeous scenery but a real bugger of a head wind and cold at that!  But I would do that ride again for sure!

Riding Like the Wind, Except when I'm NOT

And then yesterday, I did a 53 mile trip!  My longest yet!  We drove up to Windsor (north of Santa Rosa) in a thick fog and 54 degrees.  I wasn't sure how the weather forecast was for 100 degrees, but true enough after a cup of coffee at the Bad Ass Coffee Shop, the blue broke through and off we went.  WOW!  Essentially we rode back roads from Windsor heading west.  Then up along Westside Road and West Dry Creek Road to Yoakim Bridge.   We then turned east and south.  During the trip we crossed both the Dry Creek (not very dry) and the Russian River.   The entire route was through vineyards (very little other agriculture); past wineries; scenery of the golden hills, through oak and redwood trees, 2 one lane bridges, and view after view!  An incredible ride through California wine country.  Only 1 hill in 53 miles (of course at the end of the ride but mostly in the shade); and not so much of a headwind.  Absolutely lovely.  Very little car/truck traffic and all most all of it was respectful and careful in passing us.  Many other cyclists out on the road with us.

And at the end:  soft ice cream to ease the car trip home.  I'm doing that ride again soon!

Dry Creek had plenty of water

One Lane Bridge

The Harvest is about to start, but we tried a few Grapes & YUMMMMY

Hop Kiln along Westside Road

a few road side stands

Lunch Time in Geyserville 

Double or Nothing at the end of the ride.  

Miles to Go

We've been riding...riding....riding.  Our goal is a 300 miles trip down the Central California coast in September.  Sunny days, no fog, and not much other traffic..but the hills and views will still be there.

So we are trying to work up to 50 mile rides.  My legs are willing but after a few hours in the saddle, well, my backside just wants to do anything but sit in the saddle.  Alan is a stronger rider and has done this trip before...about 40+ years ago!  Along the coast, probably not much has changed.

It is totally fun to ride and I'm sure we will get our act together by mid-September.  I plan to carry panniers and Alan will tow a small trailer.  This way he can use the bike (Shadow) he has been riding for the last 7,000 miles.  Shadow is in the shop for a major tune up and overall.  Like new cables, that should have been replaced 5,000 miles ago!

This last weekend we started talking to 4 touring cyclists along the bike route in San Anselmo heading south.  Seems it was the last day on the road for them:  after 3,000 miles they were finishing up in San Francisco.  Really fascinating story of meeting in Alabama and taking 10 days to build their BAMBOO bikes.  I am not sure their route to California but they were thrilled for gray, cool days....

Alan does the Red Horse Century Ride in Napa

Hi, this is a guest contributor, Alan. You may know that I have a passion for cycling, which was re-awakened 5 years ago when invited to attend the weekly Friday 6 a m Red Horse group rides. That Fall I completed my first Century Ride with them, and Oct. 1 rode my fifth Fall Classic, although I only did 60 miles this time.

Awaiting the 8 a m  start, just off Silverado Road, near Napa, here are about half of the riders.

At the first rest stop, getting refreshments.

Besides having a good long ride with many old friends, this ride is a fund raiser for "Team Swift", a young rider development team, and these are three teenage members of the team.

   I only rode behind them, young bucks!

David Warner, the owner of Red Horse Constructors, a high end home building business, and instigator of the Friday rides and Fall Century rides.

Thank you Dave for all you've done for us bike addicts.

That said, unlike the wayward professionals, we only use drugs for pain relief after these long rides!

Although we all wear the Caballo Rojo  kits(Red Horse for you Gringos), many of us don't work for the company. On the left is Dave Henderson, my hairdresser and on the right, Jason Hight a San Anselmo policeman. I'm impressed that he runs stop signs right along with the rest of us law breakers!

Here we are waiting for a green light in St. Helena. The rider on the right is Tom Knott, who has organized and put on the Century rides for years. Thank you Tom for all you've done for us! Each year it's been a new course, with sag wagon support, rest stops, lunch and a great meal at the end of the day.

At the last rest stop, this is me and Michael Houts, who is a long time friend, and it was he who invited me to ride with Red Horse some five years ago. Michael has worked for many years at Red Horse and is a key estimator and project overseer, and my great friend!

 

At the end of the ride, we relaxed at where we started, a home that Red Horse built.


A very nice end to a beautiful day!