Ham and Eggs

Monday, on Valentine's Day, the library is conducting a fire drill. Oh goody, that means hot firefighters will be in the vicinity. Oh oh, I already hear The Boyfriend telling me to focus.

Today, after I ate my egg, the two of us did Mt. Ham again, having done it last weekend. Once the morning fog burned off, the climb was quite pleasant and warm with deer sprinting about, cows in the meadow, and blossoms opening. Which reminds me, ham, ham, ham, oh yes, that actor John Hamm, yummy. Focus, The BF says.

Only a few cyclists took on the challenge of Mt. Hamilton today. I felt calm and strong as I climbed with the hope of shattering my LKHC time of 2 hr 44 min in 2009. Once again, I lost significant time the last few miles and finished at the top with a time of 2 hr 52 minutes; yet, I felt stronger than previous rides. I'm shooting for 2 hr 30 min. Hey, I can dream.

As for The Boyfriend, he did the backside of Hamilton (Mines) and met me at the top only 5 minutes after I arrived. Perhaps I should refer to him in future blog entries as The Stud. Both of us were unable to do Mega Monster Enduro this year but today's outing made up for that.

A Knight in Shining Armor

Tucked unassumingly in a canyon filled with pine and oak, and ranches with horses, wild turkeys and cattle, lies Kincaid, a less traveled road of rolling hills with steep pitches, and seemingly forgotten by time.

After 2 hours of climbing Mt. Hamilton, on a day of an unseasonable warm spell, I turned onto Kincaid, and was soon joined by my friends S&P. Lookey below, it's The Boyfriend, leaving us. Doing this treasure of a climb fired up his juices.

With Kincaid done, P and I still had another 5 or so miles of climbing before reaching the summit. P shot ahead of me. I slowed considerably and the gusty winds didn't help either -- scary enough that I got off the bike and walked a bit. I made it to the top only because I was inspired by P ahead of me.

The changing light and position of the sun confirmed just how slow I was going down the mountain. As in 6 hrs later (my finishing time). I was not a damsel in distress just a slow rider aware that I was no match for the windy conditions. Alas, with 8 miles left to go to reach the bottom, who should appear before me -- a knight in shining armor, oh alrighty, a gallant cyclist, in sweaty shiny spandex (otherwise known as The Boyfriend) coming to fetch his fair maiden.

Me: Have you come to rescue me?

He: No, I've come to claim my booty.

Me: [ignoring him] Were you worried that I might be stranded atop the mountain?

He: No, I assumed you were delayed by your usual shameless flirtatious behavior.

Me: Well, there were these two gray haired good looking motorcyclists ...

He: Get in the car.

Me: Aren't you going to hoist me over your shoulder first and drag me kicking & screaming?

He: That and more.

Me: You cut a gallant figure on your white horse taking me off the treacherous mountain.

He: Next you'll be wanting me to slay a dragon.

Me: The thought crossed my mind. You're my dashing valiant hero.

He: You got that right, Missy.

Just the Stats:

44 miles

7 mph avg

27 mph descent

6 hrs

20-40 mph gusty winds

6965 ft of climbing

We'll Always Have Westridge

A 10am club ride start time. These people know how to party! These people being S&P who led today's ACTC ride through Los Altos Hills. We were a merry bunch, well, except for me because Captain Virus didn't want to leave me (who could blame him with a body like mine).

After introducing him to the joys of club rides, the club hopping gigolo (aka The Boyfriend) chose to ride with another group. So while he was puttin' on the ritz with other cyclists, he missed out on a hillclimb he's never done. Of course, with him not being in the picture/vicinity, this allowed me to do my queen's wave to all the male cyclists we encountered, and boy, they were out in force today. Waves and waves. I may be sick but some things never change.... Alas, I digress.

S&P provided us with a spectacular route that took us through the scenic rolling hills of Los Altos (Magdalena, Summerhill, Purissima) along with two significant climbs (Olive Tree Lane and Westridge). I was unable to climb all of Olive, regrettably. Peter Frampton, though, showed me the way up Westridge. This is a new climb for ACTC and we were the second group to do it, thus, making a little history.

Meanwhile, at Roberts Market on Alpine, we decided to cut the ride short a tiny bit due to a spitting rain, cloudy skies and a shift in the wind. I was to learn later that The Boyfriend's car was parked at the market and that he was up on the mountain above us, cold and wet in his moutain biking gear.

While I was a bit loopy in Los Altos, achy and out of breath, I shall forever remember (thanks to our ride leaders and for getting me out), in the words of S, "We'll always have Westridge." You betcha!

Just the Stats:

33 miles

3 hrs

28 mph on descent

11 mph avg