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GranFondo

The GranFondo Adventure






I took off Friday morning with the Bleriot in the back of my car and headed up the desolate central valley, cut over to Walnut Creek and ended up here.





The ancestral home of the Bleriot













I had a nice lunch and headed up to Santa Rosa where I checked in at the start area and checked out some of the vendor wares.






Went to bed early figuring it would be a big day on Saturday. It was a cool morning as I rode to the start park, a couple of miles.





Each person choose their start position by their riding abilities. I figured I could keep up with the aero recumbant




































I rolled across the start line at 8:30



















We left the city of Santa Rosa and headed toward the sea, the roads were hilly, but the climbs not bad, from the look of the crowd, I thought I would be the only rider on a steel lugged bike, but I came up to a father son riding together. The father was on a Rivendell, a very early Rivendell. We chatted a bit about bikes and then I left them behind. There was a rest stop at an old train depot, very picturesque, I fueled up on bananas and fig newtons, they also had water and electrolyte drinks.











The road split and the 100mi guys headed to the hills. My ride went through the Russian river valley, and spilled out onto the ocean road, where there was a moderate crosswind, made for dicey bike handling. Little did we know what was coming.

After the amazing ocean scenery, we took a left turn into a wall. It was nothing more than a paved forest road, that went straight up;. I heard that it was 18%. I believe it was at least that. I put the bike into the 30x34 gear and just started grinding my way up, many were walking, guys were cramping and it went on forever, but I did get passed by the pros, and some guy on a LHT (that's for you Errin).

After that was over, there was some awesome descending and then through a very rural area, and finally a nice touch was added. They directed the riders to a 3 mi gravel bike path, which came out right at the park for the finish.

The after party had good beer, good food and an expanded vendor display.


























and the scenery was nice there too.






























Wish some others from the cigar band could have made it.

Scott Nydam, a pro from the BMC team I believe, finished fastest, He did the 103 mi with 6500 feet of climbing in 4 hrs 48 min. I did the 65mi with 3000ft( I think it was more) in 5 hours

If this link works, it should open the route in google earth, there are more pics there linked to the route

Levi__039_s_Granfondo_2009.kml

Bruce

le French Ride

Bonjour

This will be known as le French ride. The blog should be read with a bad French accent. Four intrepid souls met at la Starbuck. Gary, Seb, Geraldo and I. We took off about 6:30 down le Colorado Blvd, chatting and enjoying the overcast cool morning. All glad we weren't looking at a 25 mile 20% climb up some crazy hill.

We could tell it was going to be a good ride. We came down the hill from the freeway and hit both lights green getting us up to San Fernando Blvd. Quick trip down Sonora to le Griffith Park where we fueled up and headed up that nasty little hill from le travel town to the gate. I owned that hill, dropping everyone and getting to the gate in good time. We regathered and started up le trash dump hill. I knew it was going to be tough to take this hill. Le badger and I traded lead till about half way up, then he got a little gap that he held. I stayed on his wheel trying to save a little for that last steep 100 meters. We got to the last switchback together, but at that point I had nothing left. I started to claw my way back on the last hill, but true to le Badger's nature there were no gifts. Seb rolled in seconds later and Gary led le lantern rouge.

Down the hill through the tunnel to Figaros for some omelette Figaro and a round of maudites




an uneventful relaxing ride down le Sunset to Gare Goldline









Which takes us right to le grand L'orange for awesome bloody marys

The Badger and I did some bike shopping and if you are still reading this Michael, Geraldo didn't buy the Cervelo

See you all next week

The Bald Men on Baldy

Alright just got up from a nice nap.

The route: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/CA/Los%20Angeles/505124925978311662

This is the 3rd epic Sunday in a row. Four of us met at the Pasadena Starbucks at 5;30. Geraldo, Michael, Gary and Bruce. We drove over to, Gil's had some coffee, watered the horses and took off.

The 3mi ride from Gils to the base of GMR early in the morning is always a pleasant warm up. We started the climb about 6;45 The top of the mountains were still shrouded in mist as the sun was coming up from behind.

The climb starts out gradually and we stayed together for awhile. I was intentionally starting out slowly, so I wouldn't blowup like I did on Kanan road last Sunday. I felt good and got into a comfortable rhythm and started dropping people. Lucky the Kens weren't there. After a slow grind up the hill I was stoked that I made it to the top gate without having to get off the bike. I waited at the usual spot until Michael and Geraldo joined me. They stayed to wait for Gil. I took off for the next 10 mi of climbing on my own.

A lot of young kids were blowing by me and I kept looking over my shoulder for Michael. I know he can take my on climbs like this. What i didn't know is that they were being attacked by coyotes and Indians from the way they tell it.

About half way up I stopped to fuel and drink. The weather was still perfect for climbing. I was spurred on by the crowds by the side of the road and the commentary by Phil and Paul. After more grinding I made it to the top and waited. Michael showed up soon and we waited for a bit then rode down to the lodge in Baldy Village. What a relief to sit down and have a bunch of ice water. Geraldo made it and we had a nice light breakfast.

We got worried about Gil and Gary so we took off back down the mountain. It was starting to heat up which made the few climbs uncomfortable. 20 miles downhill is a long way and the crouch rockets carving the canyons were really annoying, but we all made it down safely.

Back at Gil's house we found out that they had come so close to making it to the top, before turning around. They had some issues with water and the heat. gary had to go down and get Gils car and come back up to pick him up Good job Gary.

Gil gets the climbing award for making it as far as he did on a mountain bike.

I suggest next week we do a group ride were we actually ride in a group.

Till Then

Kanan Road Extra

http://www.mapmyride.com/run//ca/calabasas/247124864984327641

Here's todays ride. 5 of us met at a Starbucks on Agura road. Michael, Gary, Geraldo, Tim and me
we rolled out about 7am. The weather was nice the riding easy, mostly downhill to the ocean. We lost Michael and Gary at the tunnel on malibu canyon road because of a flat. Tim, Geraldo and I reached the ocean together and then Tim set a blistering pace down PCH on the Madone. I hung back but still dropped Geraldo. At the Topanga turn off Geraldo and I waited for Gary and Michael for awhile but they never showed. At the old Topanga turnoff Michael finally caught up with us. I didn't see Gary again until lunch.The ride on old Topanga is very pretty, hilly but shady.

Then the fun started. Geraldo and I paced each other along Mulholland until we stopped at this quaint wine tasting shop in Cornell. We had a couple of beers and a nap while we waited for Michael. Tim and Gary bailed at the Las Virgenes intersection. smart!

The three of us took off toward Kanan Road, but for some reason Michael didn't want to take the easy way, and me not being very bright went along with him. Geraldo took a cutoff that took him back to Agura Rd. Smart!!

Then the climb started and it went up and up and up and it was out in the sun and got hotter and hotter. In the 5 extra miles we did I bonked twice. Michael said he was suffering, but he sure didn't show it.

We finally got to Agura Rd and dragged our asses back to the Starbucks about 3 or 4 hours after the others.

After a great lunch at Islands with some surf talk, everything was better

Carl zach

Shot from the carl zach crit. Cat 1 race
This was the final stage of the tour of dairyland. Beautiful night for
bike racing

Last leg

Another 65 mi day in high heat and humidity. They're advising sane
people to stay indoors. But this is the last day of riding until I
return to la next week