Ride Recap -
I am a bit tired, so this may be brief...
The day started with 6 of us in the Fitness Journal Mobile leaving at 5:00am for the tour. I am suffering with a sore back that is gradually getting better, but still has sharp pains. First a BIG thank you to Tom for letting me use his bike. I swapped out the pedals, and did not have to adjust a thing.
We went out and climbed Mt Veeder. I knew that this would be a day of fighting with pain as I was unable to make good circles due to back pain, We made it up with no problems, snapped an incredible picture at the top, and had a great downhill - Well, sort of. Tom's bike does not exactly handle like mine downhill, and it beats the heck out of you. By the time we hit the bottom, my hand was stinging from the vibration.
We worked our way over to Big Ranch Road and that's when 2 riders had their tires fall into a large Chasm. I was second and we were in a pace line at just a bit below 20mph. The sound from the back sounded like a bad wreck. I turned, and saw every one standing. I was a bit confused - did they pop up that fast? Well no. The sound I heard was the grinding of pavement on Chris and David's rims. About 30-35 miles in and their day was done.
As we were repairing the tires to allow them to get back, another rider from a team falls in the chasm, but he does not handle the bike as well, and goes down HARD! His helmet, face and knee drive into the asphalt. We all gather around. There is blood and road rash all over him. Then he gets a golf ball swelling on his left cheek, and another one that look like a second knee cap.
David and John call for help. We mark the spots and ask race support to come out and mark it. It appears that he is starting to come about his senses a bit more, then his team starts jabbing him. "That takes it as the best crash now", "What do you mean? I was in traction for 3 days", then they start taking photos of him. Pat says, "Yeah - Now this is a group we can hang with."
The 4 of us now go on - Pat, Brian, John and me (Jim). I miss the team pulling off at the rest stop, and think that I saw them blow through. There were about 50 Benecia Cyclists blocking my view. I ride my butt off thinking Brian will soon catch me on the climb, and I should try to keep as close as I can to John and Pat.
Mile 70 or so I am coming into the rest stop, I am starting to feel zoned out from the push. Sarah, Matt, and Beecher ride by and yell "Jim". I never would have saw them. We go into the rest stop and start looking for Pat and John. Hmmmmm, no where - We wait for Brian... Hmmmm, nothing. So we take off, as we are coming out, here the 3 come. I could tell Matt, Sarah and Beecher were like damn, now we have to go back AGAIN!. But the 3 skip the rest stop and ride on.
Soon after little miss new bike with 30 miles in her legs takes the lead, and a-la Mush, never gives it up, pulling us to Ink Grade, up Ink grade, down Deer Park, and All the way back to Yountville at 22-25 mph. Just relentless. We get about 20 riders on us, all thankful that we are there to pull them. About 7 miles out I drop, then I see Matt drop and he waits for me. Soon Matt and I come accross more carnage from the pace line. One we know (Beecher) and he tags along and we create a mini more reasonable pace line and work our way back.
The food at this place was incredible. Veggie Burgers, sausages, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, chicken tacos. Fruit: Crenshaw, canteloupe, watermellon, bananas, necterines, peaches, red grapes, green grapes. Pastry's and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. This is the main reason I came back. It is a great spread!
All in all a great day, weather hit 95-98, totally clear. I do not have the elevation, but the 100 mile group had a ride time of about 5:25:00. Pretty good pace given the ride distance and climbs. 6,640ft of total climbing with lots of rollers.
Thanks to the Fitnass Journal Vehicle - AGAIN - for driving SAG and getting water, Coke, and post ride beer for us. Also, Chris provided true ride support helping people with mechanical issues and flat tires. Sorry you two did not get to finish the ride, NEXT YEAR!
JC2
