Doing the Diablo

(photo by Brenda and Ron Brunner)

Low Key Hillclimbs, Week 7, Mt. Diablo, North Gate.

You know that you've arrived too early when you spot the ride coordinator having a coffee at Peet's. No no no, I shan't whine about how The Boyfriend forced me to get up at some unheard of morning hour, thus, not allowing me to dream of men, I mean sheep. No, no, no, I won't whine about the lost beauty sleep, nor being so tired I had no desire to flirt or snap photos of fellow LKHCers during registration. Our drive from the South Bay began with a light rain, forcing us to cover our saddles with grocery bags. As we came into Walnut Creek, the sky turned blue, the sun appeared but the cold November day remained.



(photo by Carl Butler)

Today though was memorable because slower riders got to go first for the time trial up Mt. Diablo. Yes, for once, I was out in front, ahead of everyone else, Leader of the Pack, smelling the thrill of victory, for, wait, wait for it, all of 2 minutes before being overtaken by other cyclists. It was sweet while it lasted.

I had the rare opportunity to see everyone in action and that was truly enjoyable and something I will treasure. As people passed, they talked to me, some briefly, some for a few minutes. Then of course, there were the drivers who flirted with me. I swear, I do nothing to instigate these things. "The girl can't help it." In fact, with all these people vying for my attention, and the interference it causes, why, it's no wonder that I tend to finish last. :)

In 2006, my LKHC time was 116.44. Today's finish was 113.55. Perhaps a mass start vs. a time trial explains the difference. This year, I had to get off the bike to finish. Sigh. Note to The BF: I would like a boytoy, I mean, personal trainer for Christmas. A special thank you to my teammate for cheering me on to cross the finish line.

Ah, the piece de resistance: of the 137 riders who rode today, I placed 137th. Please, please, I don't think I'm up for autographs....

LKHC Bear Gulch

See the beams of sunlight in the photo above? When I was little, I would walk into the light believing it was God showing me Heaven on Earth. Bear Gulch is a beautiful ride and a slice of Heaven.

Well, I charged up the hill in the last wave, all gung ho, passing several cyclists, and prepared for the strain. (The Boyfriend gave me a debriefing earlier in the week about what to expect). And then the little engine that could (that would be me) overheated.

I had to clip out and walk a bit all the while thinking that you'd read about me in some magazine while waiting in line at the supermarket, you know, "Cyclist spontaneously combusts." If this is what I can expect when I get hot flashes some day in the not too distant future, then please, just shoot me now.

Once in the shade of the woods, the rest of the ride was a piece of cake. By then though, it was too late to catch up to anyone. Still, a lovely ride made even nicer by hanging out with the LKHC gang. See results and photos.

Quimby Road LKHC Week 3

Weenie Woman (that would be me) decided to be a volunteer for the 3rd LKHC ride. A good sized crowd of nonweenies of both sexes showed up for the Quimby Road climb. Of course there was some drama (the weather being the case for the last 2 rides), this time in the form of not having the roster of everyone’s numbers. So we improvised with letters and whatnot.

Scene 1: Show me the Money

Me: Forgot your number, eh?

Cyclist: Yeah.

Me: That’ll cost you an extra $10 payable to me. You’ll be contributing to my financial bailout!

Scene 2: The Bag

Volunteer: Here’s the large trash bag to take clothing to the top.

Me: Uh um, you sure it's not a body bag to collect those poor souls .... oh I know, I'm dreadful.

Scene 3: The photos

We positioned ourselves on Quimby to take photos, aka different angles of pain. Nah, everyone looked fantastic as they came up the last leg of the climb. Wow, the first several riders to finish were breathing heavily. What a sound.

Me: Say Mr. Cyclist, do you suppose if I practiced some heavy breathing exercises, I might improve?

Cyclist: Is it a feeling of oxygen deprivation or am I speaking with a nut case?

Me: Hmm, let me think about that and get back to you.

Scene 4: The Tarantula

Volunteer: Look, a tarantula.

Me: The bugger keeps crossing the road back and forth, again and again. Too much EPO?

[Cyclists coming]

Me: Brake brake, don’t run over the spider!

[The cyclists who encountered the little fella deftly maneuvered around it. Amazing.]

Me: Do you think he or she is in search of its lover or perhaps it wants to join in on the fun?

Cyclist: Is it a feeling of oxygen deprivation or am I speaking with a nut case?

Me: Show stopper! Scene stealer! We should make it an honorary LKHC member!

Scene 5: My Car

Me: Those extra bike wheels in the passenger seat are getting in the way of the gear shift. Guess I’ll have to put it in neutral on the drive down Quimby.

Volunteer: Um, is that safe?

Me: Got me a backseat driver, eh? Wait, you are in the backseat. Buckle up Mister, you’re in for a ride. [as I hit the gas pedal]. Oh by the way, I only brake for tarantulas ....

I bow to all that rode today. It was a joy to watch and to take photos. Fantastic job.

West Alpine LKHC Week 2

Last week we were caught in rain for the Montebello ride. This week, an icy wind greeted us for the West Alpine ride. I, along with 75 men and 19 women, decided to grin and bear it but more importantly “get over it.”

I made my way down Alpine from the Russian Ridge parking lot to the starting point at Sam MacDonald Park. Naturally, I missed the entrance.

The BF: How could you miss the big brown wooded sign?
Me: Socializing is such a distraction.

Truth is, I was zipping up the hill, going 6 mph (that’s racing for me) when a blur of white and black soared past me - Tim C. out for a stroll. Sigh.

I started in the back of the pack. Would I continue my streak of not finishing last? Having never done this ride, I had no idea how I would perform. Oh the pressure. But, I had a goal for this ride: to do it under 60 minutes. Within minutes, more like seconds, I wondered, “Hey, where did everyone go?”

Ah, the joy of cold air in one’s lungs for 6.5 miles. With less than a half mile to the finish line, I wondered, “Where are those frigging orange cones that James P. said to look for?” (a thought I imagine others had as well). Like the week before, I was the last to start but not to finish. And, I met my goal coming in at 59.25. Get results and photos.

Motivating factor during the ride: Bath time afterwards with my bath toys.

Thanks to the volunteers and for another LKHC adventure.

Montebello LKHC

Preface:

As some of you know, what I see during a cycling event bears little resemblance to what others experience.

Acknowledgements:

Thank you Dan, volunteers, and photographers. Also, great to see both regulars and new faces attend. Lastly, I'd like to thank myself for showing up.

Prologue:

Oh the drama -- would we be able to embark upon the first climb (results and photos) of the 2008 Low Key Hill Climb series? Would we "Get over It" if we didn't?

In the Beginning:

Woman: What's your name?

Me: Christine, aka the weenie woman who has the distinct honor of always finishing last.

Woman: Oh, I know who you are!

Me: Sigh.

Volunteer: Oh, a librarian! Will you be reading a book on the way up?

Me: Probably get through an entire 800 page Russian epic given the speeds of years past....

Joke of the Day:

Volunteer: You know, we can take your saddle bag to the top for you.

Me: Yes, that's sure to make all the difference. [nearby people laughing hysterically].

At the start:

Man: I like starting at the back of the pack.

Me: We get to look at everyone's tushies!

Man: Best seat in the house.

Middle:

Panting like a German shephard though not with my tongue hanging out, I climbed, mostly alone, until I came upon the cute AT&T guy repairing a line. Naturally, I had to stop for a moment to admire the view. The Boyfriend, also on this ride, is probably shaking his head as he reads this. Focus woman, focus to which I'd reply, "It's not about the bike, it's about me, me, and me flirting, I mean, socializing.

With about a mile or so to go, a steady rain began to fall covering the hairs on my arms in a glistening mist, much like fine droplets of dew settling on flowers. At the same time, I said to myself, "What is this -- a wet t-shirt contest? Cyclists began to descend saying nice things to me. Thank you.

End:

I was the last to start but not to finish, thanks to the boot camp (I mean biking holiday with The BF) from the previous week. OMG.

Epilogue:

"Get over it." That we surely did. Until next time....

"Just Can't Get Enough"

(no photo for the time being).

"Just Can't Get Enough, 2007." Let me count the ways. Don't even get me started. Last night at the Low Key Hill Climbs Awards Ceremony, we were informed of the 2008 slogan and the "menu of pain." Come out next October and be part of the "pain" -- I mean fun.

Pete Heller, Master of Ceremonies, kept us entertained, especially with the use of "modern" technology in which a cell phone speaking to a microphone allowed us to listen to Kevin Winterfield on the East Coast give us his Top 10 Excuses for not doing a climb -- the best being, "I lost my yellow dot." Those climbers who made the 100% Club (all 9 rides) received signed certificates from Kevin. Wow, what an honor! :)

Oh, how I hoped that I might win the Endurance Award or the Most Improved Award (though neither really is an honor but hey, I'll take any award) but now, it might be a goal to achieve for next year! Sad, I know. I still have dreams that I'll motor faster than a speeding snail but it'll take effort and training and well, my favorite exercise after .... well my favorite exercise after reading is splish splashing in a bath. Still, there is always hope. Meanwhile, I received the Best Blog Award. Oh the pressure to be witty. But heh, the road to fame is paved and I might just eclipse The Boyfriend.

Awards were also presented to Adam Tow, Kwan, Ron, Tim, Pat and others. We watched videos and a slideshow. Marie mentioned something about how the guys are able to stand and stand on their pedals when doing climbs. Yeah, well, I said, "But can they stand in high heels!" Dan informed us that the website is undergoing cosmetic surgery (thanks to Luke). Say it isn't so. I think we've grown fond of its "look."

Thanks to Pete, Dan, Kevin and anyone else (oh yeah, the cookie woman) for putting on an entertaining evening. 317 cyclists did the 2007 climbs and a lot of money was raised and donated to 3 organizations. Hope you come out again in October.

But meanwhile, there's the Mega Monster Enduro next month.

Mysteries of Life

There are many mysteries in life. The sudden extinction of dinosaurs being one. Figuring out who will finish last in a Low Key Hillclimb event is not one of them. Sigh. Week 8 featured Sierra Road for the next to last Low Key Hillclimb. Results and photos are posted. When I arrived at the top, the nice volunteer said, "Are you the last? Is there anyone behind you?" Oh, he must be new ... sigh. What can I say. I fell behind, way behind. The photo below of me is classic -- a behind shot. Still, the event was wonderful with 104 cyclists participating and yes, that means I was the 104th person to finish. The Boyfriend (who looked mighty fine) was waiting for me at the top. Sweet, eh. The pain, the agony of defeat and all that other blah are worth it for the descent down the other side.

Gearing Up

Did the Earth move for you, honey? If you were in San Jose on October 30, it sure did! After the 5.6 Earthquake, doing Week 6 Low-Key Hillclimb Welch Creek Road seemed almost anti-climatic. :)

Lots of banter on the LKHC listserv about gears and schmears, compacts, triples, cranksets, aftershocks, ratios, cadence, cows, and road surface. Speaking of bikes and gears, The Boyfriend informed me that my 2005 Bianchi Eros Donna was designed with me in mind. Somehow I don't think that's a compliment.



The weather today was absolutely delightful. My assignment as volunteer was to stand at the intersection of Welch Creek Road and Calaveras. I know, tough going but someone's gotta do it. As I waited on the side of the road, I met lots of male cyclists wondering what I was doing. I often wonder what I'm doing, too. There were numerous offers of assistance. Ah, chivalry. Keep it up. In the nearby field, I watched two cows get on their hind legs and lock heads and shove each other. All this entertainment and the event hadn't even begun.

Eventually, the gang sauntered over from the school in Sunol to the start. What a brave lot! When Adam honked his horn, some of them shot off at a furious pace (Hello Tim Clark). Made me feel small. Wait, I am small. I was impressed that the tandem couple was doing the ride today.



I wasn't able to watch the gang do the climb nor arrive at the top due to logistics. I hope a good time was had by all. Thanks to the photographers Kwan and Pat.

Bohlman On Orbit Busters

Weenie Woman decided not to participate in the Bohlman On Orbit climb (Week 3, Low Key Hillclimbs).

I waited on the side of the road, not far from the start, for the gang to appear. What a sight! It was friggin' cool to see the group come up together. I was thrilled to see a number of women taking on the challenge.

I turned all girly when I saw The Boyfriend amid the wave.

I have no idea what it was like for the Bohlman Busters but I do know that it was sweet to see them at the start. Check out the photos from Clark, Joey, Calvin and Ron.

Next up, Mt. Diablo. If interested, read my report from last year.

Welch Creek Road

Weekend plans with The Boyfriend to Lake Tahoe for the Tahoe Sierra century were cancelled due to inclement weather. Spent Sunday biking along Calavaras Road to investigate Welsh Creek Road which is one of the planned Low Key Hillclimbs. Guess what, I don't plan to do it.



Saw cows, skinny brown tarantulas, a few
wild turkeys and a few cyclists. A cow wandered
away from its pasture and decided to hang out in
the middle of the road and stare at cyclists
passing by. Weird, huh.

Then again, I thought about hanging out on the
side of the road to stare at the male cyclists
speeding by ....

Page Mill Road

The photo was taken from the 2006 Low-key Hill climbs, this one being Page Mill Road. I, The Boyfriend and many very nice people and volunteers participated in the 2006 climbs, though the events goes back further than that date. Take a look at the 2007 climbs slated for this September. Saturday, I decided to bike Page Mill in yet another effort to develop climbing muscles in my weenie legs. The Boyfriend wasn't around to forget the camera this time. I met a lovely woman who stayed with me for a few minutes before she took off at a real speed (you see, I do wmph otherwise known as weenie miles per hour on climbs). The day was warm, at least in direct sunlight. Or maybe I just felt hot from all the good looking well built men coming downhill. At 4.5 miles, I was just about out of water, my head was on fire, I'd already done 2 gels and my legs weren't willing to continue. I turned around. I didn't even have strength going downhill. Oh but I did have the strength to wave and smile at those mighty fine male cyclists encountered earlier. I've done this road twice before and managed to make it all the way. Obviously something went very wrong. The next day I felt better and took the hybrid out on a 15 mile jaunt to Alviso. As Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day."

It's the Blog Lady

Saturday, November 18, 2006

As some of you are aware, I deleted my blog and started anew. Going forward, in the words of the opening narration to Dragnet, "The story (blog) you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent." To my surprise when I arrived at the parking lot for Week 6 of the Low Key Hillclimbs, people asked about my blog. One of the top female cyclists said, “It’s the blog lady!” Yes, well, what can I say. Oh, I know, I like my gatorade shaken not stirred. The attention caused my ego to grow. Now if only my leg muscles would as well.

Today’s ride up Page Mill Road (8.7 miles, 2130 feet, 7 % avg. grade with some killer sections) starting from Arastradero in Los Altos Hills was an individual time trial, with riders beginning at 20 second intervals. I wouldn’t be able to pull the old “Hey, wait for me” routine. As we stood in line, 43 men and 10 women, I began talking with a fella who told me his strategy was to start out slow. My strategy? Hmm, let's see. I think you know what’s coming. Start out slowly and continue going slowly. A woman standing near us was wearing a WordPerfect jersey. Wow. I mentioned that I used to use ClarisWorks. The unicyclist was a few people behind me. He said he had his work cut out this time since he’d be starting after me but somehow I suspected he’d pass me again along with most of the people behind him. Sigh.

As we approached the starting point, we could hear a volunteer counting down for each rider to head off. It struck me as ever so serious, kinda of like when you’re about to go under for surgery, you know, and the anesthesiologist makes you count backwards. “Okay, Ms. Giggles,” the volunteer said, “It’s your turn. 10, 9, 8, … Oh dear, I better stop laughing and get going.

Off I shot and sure enough, cyclists who started after me, passed me and eventually the unicyclist did as well. Sigh. I was alone with no one to play with unlike the time when I rode up Page Mill Road for the Tour de Max. At mile 5, there was a sign for Happy Elves. Okay, I made it this far, so where, I ask you, were they? I got off the bike and looked around. I began to question the existence of Santa Claus, Rudolph, the Snow Queen, the Sugar Plum Fairy and of course, the elves. Lest you think I’m missing a few marbles, I do acknowledge and accept that there is no tooth fairy. Let me also remind you that you can visit Santa Claus in his village at the Artic Circle in Finnish Lapland. I even have a postcard from there with a Santa Claus postmark.

It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to finish. Yes, once again, I managed to finish last among the women and of course, the unicyclist got to the top of Page Mill before me. There’s an art, you know, to being slow. It takes real talent and skill. Anyway, I truly enjoy reading the results of the other cyclists; it's darn impressive but more importantly, everyone appears to be having a good time. This is a fun series. Thanks again to the volunteers responsible for these rides and photos.

Oh yeah, The Boyfriend, pictured above, also attended. I accepted his offer to escort me down since the elves weren't available.

Should I Stay or Should I go?

Saturday, November 4, 2006

The saga continues with Week 4, Low Key Hillclimbs, Highway 9. For another view of the day's event, see the Low Key page or Adam Tow's report.

I awoke to overcast skies and the threat of rain. "Should I stay or Should I go? This indecision's bugging me" (The Clash). Off I went to bike Highway 9. I arrived to blue skies in Saratoga!

This time there were 62 men and 7 women. I was rather enjoying the view especially since The Boyfriend wasn't present. I looked at the men, sizing them up, noting their muscular legs. I looked at my 26 inch legs. I looked back at the guys' legs realizing that some of them had calves bigger than my thighs. I was beginning to feel small and intimidated until I realized that I have a bigger chest. Yeah, take that! I met a woman shorter than me. She was driving a custom built purple colored bike, smaller than my 44 cm. I felt big!

I was at the back of the group talking to a woman about something when 67 cyclists shot off. Yes, once again the group started without me. Hey, wait for me.... Yes once again, the unicyclists pedaled past me. Sigh.

There was some road work being done and the construction workers waved us along making sure that we were safe. As I passed the guy in charge, he asked if I was the last one. I believe I could hear snicker snicker. Sigh. I put on my Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) Sunset Boulevard face and replied, "Listen Mister, I planned it that way." I believe he got small before my very eyes.

I did the 6.8 mile climb, 2090 ft, 5.8% grade in 61 minutes which is impressive for me. Would you believe that some woman had the audacity to usurp my position of being the last woman to finish. The nerve!

Once again the event organizers, the volunteers, photographers and participants were fantastic.

Oh, before I forget, I received the distinction of "most improved rider." Of course when you're pretty much at the bottom, where else is there to go?

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Saturday, October 28, 2006

So, all 54 of us were at the start line for the Mt. Diablo Low Key Hillclimb when I, fiddling with my computer clock, toppled over, unable to clip out in time, resulting in a very red, bloody and bruised scrape on my knee. Brilliant, eh. While I was still trying to get my computer clock to work, the timed ride to the summit started. Hey, wait for me.....

There were 10 women on the ride, including the women who had responded to an email I sent earlier to the Velo Girls list. Take a look at the results to see how hot these women were! But so were the 2 unicyclists -- they stole the show. This was one fit and fabulous group. The event organizers and volunteers were encouraging, funny and just downright super; I look forward to attempting more of the rides.

The weather was clear, sunny and quite warm as we climbed a total of 3,849 feet and 10.9 miles, affording us scenic views of the Bay Area. The final 250 meters tested all of us with its 15% grade. See more photos of the event and commentary of a past ride by a few Chain Reaction cyclists.

I finished just under 2 hours with an average of 6 mph, a good time for me, though I was the last of the women to finish. There were cyclists, female and male, who had to walk that final stretch. What about me, you ask? Well, there was my knight in shining spandex (aka The Boyfriend) waving to me as I stayed on the bike all the way to the top.

Naturally I smiled for the camera.