The Return of Weenie Woman

Route: Piedmont -->Felter-->down Sierra

The last time I rode my new bike, the Specialized Ruby Elite Carbon Compact, was August 28th. Yesterday, when I did sit ups for the first time since the surgery, I knew it was time to get back on the bike. I love this bike, people! I felt strong and light (the removal of 4lbs of tumors probably helped) climbing Felter, as though the surgery and post recovery never happened. I love this bike and its SRAM gearing system.




Oh the things I saw on Felter. Two squirrels doing something the nasty. Eek. Lots of horses and cows. And then the pond with the frogs frolicking. I only got a photo of one as the others dived below surface. Too adorable.

Then of course, as usual, I met this guy ... I was singing songs from The Sound of Music.

He: So, do you go to the hills when your heart is lonely?
Me: I go to the hills to meet men like you, Mister!

He was hot, like the actor John Hamm, and with a five o'clock shadow. We played tag with one another, he out front for awhile, me overtaking him for a time but he blew me away going down Sierra. I lost a lot of time on the descent after feeling so triumphant about my outing.




Perfect weather conditions. Lovely views. The hills were alive with the sounds of cyclists, including me.

Just the stats:

16.54 miles

8.3 avg mph (my best a year ago was 8.8)

29 mph on descent

1 hr 58 min

Let's Go for a Spin

LKHC Portola State Park / W. Alpine - Week 3 Report

After seeing Patrick Dempsey biking last weekend at Levi's GranFondo, I wondered how I might top that experience.

Well ... let me count the ways:

Friday --

First, the Earth moved ... oh alrighty, we had a teenie earthquake in San Jose.

Next, The GF contacted me:

GF: Want to go for a ride in The Car Sat? assuming you don't have plans with what's his name?
Me: The Boyfriend? What BF? You betcha!

Saturday --

A sea of male cyclists clad in tight fitting spandex milling about after the LKHC Portola State Park climb. Let me repeat. A sea of male cyclists clad in .... How I so enjoyed listening to the first batch of cyclists as they came across the finish line -- such heavy breathing. Made me wonder if it was any indication of .... by now The BF is making faces ... alas, their efforts/breathing reminded me of why I always finish last. I simply save my energy and breathing for other activities. Oh oh, The BF is undoubtedly making faces.






Oh lookey, it's The Boyfriend off to do another ride after the hillclimb. Earlier we had a conversation which of course I shall share with you:

Me: Are your legs fresh for the climb? [last weekend, he did the GranFondo]
BF: I hope so
Me: Because I like fresh men
BF: I bet you do
Me: And sophmores, and seniors, undergraduates, and ...
BF: Listen Missy, the only man you need is me, a real man.
Me: Ooooh, assertive. And you look good in tight fitting spandex.
BF: Damn right, Missy.



Ah, the piece de resistance. How to top all that had come before? The GF took me for a spin in The Car, a wee bit bigger than the one shown above. She put on her driving gloves, I wanted to wear a race car helmet. Oh my God, dare I say it, it may be on par with chocolates and sex. I thought we were in an airplane taking off on the runway. Loud, fast, two women, hot damn. Vrooom vrooom.

And finally, the last spin of my tale. Sunday, The BF and I went out on our Specialized hybrids before the rain came. It was my first outing since the surgery. We made our way to Shoreline on a flat course. 12 miles at 8.5 mph avg. Sad, I know, but I have to start somewhere.

Cheers to the men and women who did the LKHC Portola/Alpine ride.

Impressions

How I so wished to participate in the second year of Levi's GranFondo but surgery has put a dent in biking activities. Still, I had quite the day in Santa Rosa.




I walked 3.3. miles from the hotel to the event. Along the way, I encountered many a tattoo parlor, palm reader rooms as well as a memorial park for Luther Burbank, a prominent and world renowned horticulturist at the turn of the 20th century.






I came across plenty of tributes to the characters of Charles Schultz's Peanuts. Go Snoopy!








Perhaps it was a good thing not to participate in this year's GranFondo. Not sure I could handle biking with 5,999 other cyclists. I was thrilled when I saw biking buddies P and C come across the finish line. I was so proud of them. Another great moment that everyone seemed to enjoy was watching little cyclists (kids under 10) finish. Quite the show.










Last year, I snapped a photo of Levi. A thrill. This year - the big surprise.... Oh my God, it's Patrick Dempsey! What a frigging hunk. No different up close and in person. Frigging hunk, people.






I waited and waited in the hot sun for The Boyfriend to cross the finish line and I completely missed him! While he is not a Hollywood celebrity, he is well known in other circles and world renowned too, and a frigging hunk up close and in person. He had just gotten over a cold, and returned from a speaking engagement the day before, yet, he did the 102 mile course, averaging 15 mph. Wow! What a day for interesting characters doing this event -- later The BF told me that he saw The Fat Cyclist and his wife The Runner.

2010 LKHC Montebello Week 1

Another season, another reason, for making whoopee....

Alas, I intended to make a splash this year but I may be out for the entire series. I even have a new bike and more importantly, it matches the color of my teammate's bike. Great turnout for the first week, along with new participants! We're off to a super start.

Photos and results available at the LKHC website.

Highlights:

1. Our first 80 year old participant. We should all aspire to his level of fitness.

2. Lisa, unable to participate because her 100lb+ Golden Retriever accidentally fractured her hand.

3. The Park Ranger. 'nuf said.

4. Me flirting. 'nuf said.

5. It's Dan the Man, our host, birthday!!

In honor of Dan, the series, and Kevin, the other founder:

My take on All Summer Long, Kid Rock’s tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd Sweet Home Alabama

It was 1995, Dan’s thoughts were short, his hair was long

Caught somewhere between a boy and man

Then there was Kevin, a cyclist, and friend of Dan’s

It was Fall time in the Bay Area

[chorus of cyclists cranking their pedals]

Checking out the first hill climb, talking about having a series

It's the simple things in life like when and where

They didn't have much Internet but man they’ll never forget

The way they met and came up with the name Low Key Hillclimb

And they were trying different things, they were taking in funny gel things

Climbing hills to their favorite song

Sipping gatorade out the water bottle, not thinking 'bout tomorrow

Singing Low Key Hillclimbs series all Fall long

Singing Low Key Hillclimbs series all Fall long

The local cyclists came out from all over
And more over,
That first year will forever hold a spot
inside Dan’s and Kevin’s souls

They sweated in the sun, they couldn't wait for the next ride to come

To take in another hill, crank the gears and roll

And they were trying different things, they were taking in funny gel things

Climbing hills to their favorite song

Sipping gatorade out the water bottle, not thinking 'bout tomorrow

Singing Low Key Hillclimbs series all Fall long

Singing Low Key Hillclimbs series all Fall long

[chorus of cyclists cranking their pedals]

Now nothing seems as strange as when times began to change
They thought those LKHC days would never end
But Dan left for Texas, leaving the gang behind
The series came to an end in 1998, a hiatus had begun,
No more blistering in the sun, no more fun
Sometimes they remember those days and they’d start to pedal along
Singing about the LKHC series all Fall long
And think, man, the series must live again

Fast forward to 2006, it was time once more to get their kicks,
The series started up again with our favorite hosts
Though Kevin left in 2007 for the East Coast
Only to return each year for the Mt. Ham Thanksgiving roast,

Thanks to Dan the Man and Kevin our man from Connecticut and all the volunteers
Who once again give us the Low Key Hillclimbs in 2010 all Fall long

One, Two, Three, Turn it Up …. Big wheels keep on turning ....

Happy Birthday to Dan the Man