Off the Back Again.....: Just Enjoying the Bike!

Well, if you read that last entry, you'd think cycling really sucks. But I want to ensure you, that's not true! I've been doing some great rides lately and hope to continue so through the rest of the year! I had a chance to ride with a number of friends from the "Memorial Day Ride" in Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Cruz lately. Lots 'o hills, varying weather and great company with invariable fun!

It hasn't really rained for months, but we started one ride in the sun in Napa, but got caught got in a little downpour at the top of Trinity Grade in Napa. Rainbows and thunder were the order of the day too, which are not typical here in predictable California. Descending a 10% corkscrew road in the rain is no fun. But moments before we got to that stretch, the rain slowed and the roads dried for us on those steep sections back to Napa on Dry Creek Rd. Later that weekend, we headed south to Santa Cruz to ride down in the flats of Watsonville and Aptos to the steep redwoods where the fog enveloped us, to the loop of Swanton Rd off Hwy 1, where we discovered an old steam railroad. We enjoyed roads I hadn't been on for years (or at all!).

Mike and Kathleen goofing around at the Swanton Railroad Museum

Keeping a saw horse at the RR museum safe from accidents.

Then last weekend, the Bay Area Indian summer kicked in with temps in the high 90s, and I did a couple of rides where pouring water on your head made more sense than drinking it. One started in San Francisco, with thick, low fog at the bridge (and 63º), followed by sunny, sweltering 97º in Petaluma about 40 miles later. And finally, today we did the classic (almost) century ride from Berkeley to Davis, returning on the train. We had great weather, favorable winds (most of the time!) and fun pacelines heading up to Davis.

So, it's been a time to just enjoy the bike! Soon, there'll be a chance to ride different roads with opportunities in CT and the southwest of France. Keep an eye out for a report soon!