Time Trial Test Ride

I was alone until I met you ... ha ha ha.

Omg, this horse wouldn't shut up.  I think he was crazy.

So what was I doing besides meeting wildlife (wasn't able to get shots of the goats and deer).  Well, I did a test run for next week's Low Key Hill Climbs - a time trial on Calaveras-Felter to the top of Sierra.  Today's conditions were not ideal.  There was a wind.  I was sloppy, not particularly aggressive, but, I got a good sense of strategy, yeah, like that's going to make a difference.  Still on the fence as to whether I'll participate. 

Look What the Cat Dragged In

What a lovely day for a bike ride.  Been a long time since The Boyfriend and I have been able to do a ride together, the last time being Horseshoe Meadows in the Eastern Sierras last month.  But today, we got together to do the Sunol ride, starting with going up Old Calaveras.

I said to The BF, "You know, absence does not make my heart grow fonder.  It simply allows my eyes the opportunity to wander."   Speaking of which, earlier in the week, I had a different dentist attend to me, and I must say, I fell in lust, as much as one can do given that one is in a chair having one's teeth worked upon.

Oh goodness, I guess I've wandered again.  The BF no doubt is sighing that I haven't stuck to the topic of biking.

One of the reasons we chose to do Calaveras, Felter and over to Sunol, besides doing Old Calaveras and The Wall, both challenging but short climbs was that we hoped to encounter Low Keyers finishing up LKHC Welsh Creek, and sure enough we did!  I saw Mr. Bill in his yellow banana electric hybrid and other cyclists.  The BF saw Dan C. freshly back from his European adventure including Paris and its Velib. 

It was a treat, both to be biking with The BF again and to be back on the bike.  I gave myself two weeks to get over some recent health stuff and I think I did swell.  Til the next adventure!

LKHC Week 2 - Sierra Road

Health issues prevented me from participating in this week's LKHC event, Sierra Road.  Oh phooey because I was so looking forward to finishing last.  I helped with registration and taking photos.

Perfect weather and much cooler than last week's climb up Montebello.  We have several newbies -- never done Sierra Road.  They were in for a treat.  Ha ha.  It was low key and really fun today.  Guess what!  At the top, there is now a paved parking lot.  Opened August 2014.  It's part of the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve and Bay Area RidgeTrail.  Yay.  We lamented that they forgot to install an expresso bar....  There is however equestrian parking.

The Smile

The BF calls this my Mona Lisa smile. I call it the smirk.  Imagine what I'm thinking.  Hmm, don't.  Ha ha. Usually the race ends when I cross the finish line ... occasionally I come in second or third to last. Don't everyone applaud at once.

From last weekend's LKHC Montebello ride.

LKHC 2014 - Montebello

Saturday, Oct 4th

The BF:  I am unable to attend the LKHC Montebello.  I'm doing another bike event.
Me:  You do realize that 150 cyclists, mostly of the male persuasion, have registered for the event.  And I will be there, unchaperoned.
The BF:  Oh oh.
Me:  You got that right, Mister.  Hardly Climb and Punishment (this year's tagline; love it by the way).  More like, a playground for me to flirt.
The BF:  Sigh.
Me:  You got that right, Mister.

As it turned out, it was dreadfully hot.  Having done nothing, other than flirt, I was already glistening in sweat.  I said to Mr. Bill, my teammate:  How about I sit in your lap (he has a hybrid electric) and we claim that we're a tandem ...  anything to get out climbing in the heat. 

And we're off.  Naturally, I was in the back at the start ... and naturally, all of the cyclists would beat me.  In my overactive imagination, I like to think that the huge turnout of male cyclists is because they are here to demonstrate their manliness to me.  Go on, go on, conquer me, I mean, the climb....

I was so impressed with myself.  When am I not.  Actually, I was really impressed with the women and the tandem riders.  Everybody rocked.  It was also wonderful to see friends I haven't seen in awhile, like Lisa and Dave and Adam Tow.  So, how'd I do.  Well, I thought I was steaming but I sort of blew the last mile and ended up being 4 minutes slower than last year's time.  My time was 57.47.

Ring ring

The BF:  How'd you get on?
Me:  Oh, I got it on alrighty, Mister.
The BF:  I don't even want to know the details....

Up next, Sierra Road.