Sweaty in Sveadal

Once a year, I eat pancakes and sausages -- at the ACTC 4th of July breakfast -- and with our bellies full, club members, decked out in red, white and blue, set off to do various rides. I chose to go with S & P, the host and hostess with the most and mostess.

Our cool group of 14 riders sweated it out over to Sveadal, a Swedish American community tucked away on Croy Road in Morgan Hill, near Uvas Canyon County Park. Who knew!

Alas, I do not flirt in hot weather. Oh alrighty, just a little bit on Uvas as a number of SJBC cyclists flew by. Can't exactly say I was Susan Sarandon with the ice cube melting down her chest in Atlantic City or Kathleen Turner turning William Hurt's head in Body Heat. Then again ....

A good ride with fun people. I finally feel comfortable on the bike again as the memory of the bike accident recedes.

Just the stats:

54 miles

12.2 mph avg.

29.5 mph on descent

4 hrs 23 min.

Snippets from the Sequoia Century

Context: Annual Western Wheelers Sequoia Century, a route that includes Redwood Gulch, Hwy 9, Skyline, Alpine, Pescadero, Stage Road, Tunitas Creek, Whiskey Hill and more. I was dripping in sweat for most of this hot hot weather day unlike last year's event. I did the metric (6000 ft of climbing). The Boyfriend, stud that he is, did the 100 miler (9000 ft). Team Spike was out in force as were other teams. And lots of guys in Death Ride shirts. Not me. I wore an ordinary jersey, just pretty in pink and well, you know, naturally I met lots of guys....

At the firestation rest stop (someone obviously knows my firemen fantasies), I ran into David from the Low Key Hill climbs! He was doing the 200K! Great to see him.

Me: David, I'm hot!
He: You're always hot.

My, there's a man I like ... knows instinctly how to butter a woman.

And then who should appear but The Boyfriend! My heart fluttered.

Me: I couldn't do the steepest part of Redwood Gulch. I met a man as I walked.
BF: You don't say.
Me: At first, I thought he was you with his Livestrong outfit. He was so handsome.
BF: Oh please.
Me: And I did an Aly McBeal number, you know, my tongue fell out, panting.
BF: Sigh.
Me: Lookey, firemen. How about we stop to say hello.
BF: Get on your bike and ride, woman.
Me: Yes, sir.

Alas, this was the last time I was to see my man.




There's a farm with horses and donkeys somewhere on Alpine. I got off my bike to pet the donkey. Well, this horse was completely enraged and came storming over, demanding that I pet him, too. The demands placed upon me to satisfy every living creature. It's exhausting. At the lunch stop, people came up to me and said, "Oh, the horse whisperer." I kid you not.






Lookey, they know I'm doing the ride! A sign just for me. At the lunch stop, I ran into Lisa, another Low Key Hillclimb participant and one hot woman! It was great to see her. The food and the volunteers were outstanding. Thank you Western Wheelers.





On Stage Road, the fog blew in. The Photocrazy photographer was at the top. He told me that I could turn around and get more shots if I'd like. What a guy! At The Bike Hut, I ran into Bill Bushnell and Janet Martinez. Oh my God, the divine Ms. M spoke to me and again on the Tunitas Creek climb! She's a babe. An inspiration.

While on Tunitas Creek, a nice looking fella (who I later learned last did the Low Key Hillclimbs 2 years ago), approached me and said, "I like your blog." I practically toppled over. A fan other than my mother.

What a day. Running into friends. Men cheering me on. Men flirting, I mean, talking to me. Seeing The Boyfriend. He makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Alas, I was 26 minutes slower than last year's time. I don't know if this is due to the warm weather, the hesitation in descending after my bike accident, being out of shape, or flirting too much..... In the end, who cares.


Just the stats:

67 miles
6 hrs. 26 min.
10.4 mph avg
30 mph descent

The Girl in the Pigtails

"I know you! You're the girl in the pigtails who I saw yesterday on Sand Hill Road." And that is how today's bike ride turned into something quite unexpected.

The plan (I always have a plan that I generally ignore) was to bike Piedmont to Old Calaveras (pictured above) over to The Wall and Calaveras and then back to Felter and down Sierra.

I ended up walking the hardest part of Old Calaveras (the beginning). My calf muscles apparently were dead and I was already drenched in sweat.




Lookey what I saw on Old Calaveras -- these two rodents who thought they'd go after the big bird. It was hysterical watching the scene. I made it up the rest of the climb.

At Downing and Felter, I met these two guys ... and that's when the adventure began. Small world eh to run into someone who saw you biking the day before. They invited me to explore Marsh Road with them. It's on Felter, the next left after passing The Wall exit. Wow, what a fun road that leads nowhere. 2 miles mostly descending that leads you closer to the reservoir. The breeze felt wonderful. Of course the climb back didn't. The guys were swell and I may have recruited them to join the 2010 Low Key Hill Climbs!