Before the Crash

On the telephone, the night before:

Me: I'm having hot flashes and night sweats.
BF: I bought another bike!
Me: To cool off, I stand naked on my balcony, in broad daylight.
BF: You know, the folding kind. No additional cost when I travel.
Me: At night, I walk the neighborhood in a see through negligee.
BF: I'll be able to bike when I go abroad on business trips!
Me: I hear there are extra police cars now, patroling the neighborhood -- I wonder why.
BF: I should get the bike in 10 days. I can't wait.
Me: Have you heard anything I've said? I'm hot.
BF: Hot? I know you're hot hot hot! You hot babe, you.
Me: Sigh.

Today, I joined a bunch of ACTC cyclists for a jaunt to Mt. Hamilton and part of the backside (though I only planned to do Mt. Ham). We began in fog and cold temperature. At mile 6, I was just about set to turn around, depressed by the weather, when upon a bend, the sky turned blue and it became increasingly warm! Green jackets, arm warmers and leggings removed.




Once past the fog, I have never felt so strong and energized going up the mountain. We had to skirt catapillars crawling in the road! Ah, Lick, a pretty sight. Donny and Joan, bless them, lugged up a trailer attached to their bikes (a bungee cord kept the two together) with our lunch. Incroyable. I met some wonderful people on this ride. Naturally I met some men, too.





Me at the top in my spanking 2010 Tierra Bella jersey. Going back down, just three miles shy of Mt Ham and Alum Rock Avenue, I crashed. I misjudged a corner and was surprised by a sudden burst of wind. I applied the brakes incorrectly. Total human error. It was either go over the hillside/cliff or crash into the shoulder. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which option I chose. I skidded on the road and smashed into the shoulder. At first, I thought I broke my leg. But here's how you know you're okay. You get up and scream obscenities. I had road rash on my hands and hematomas on my knee and ankle. Here's the positive aspect of psoriasis -- a bath removed all the skin and bloody stuff in one well swoop. Here's the positive aspect of being a dancer and gymnast when I was younger -- you know how to crash. Here's the positive thing about being a platelet donor (because you produce excessive platelets) -- you don't bleed. You simply clot.

Ah The Boyfriend. Bless his heart. Before his journey to Watsonville for the Strawberry Fields Forever tour tomorrow, he stopped by to assess me and any damage. I was hoping he would do a full body search. I guess I smelled. :)

Just the stats:

2 hrs 50 min to get up to the top from Kirk Avenue
1 hour and then some to get down (I crawled the last few miles)
26 mph max
8.7 mph avg.

Party at Mile 5

Coming around a corner, at mile 5, to my sheer delight, a lovely vision laid itself before me. There must have been at least 25 of them, cyclists of the male persuasion. Maybe they were Mighty Mice or Fremont Fellas but really, who pays attention to club names when there is so much more to notice. Naturally, I unzipped my pink jersey as far as it would go.

Cyclist: 3 Cheers for Femininity
Pelaton: Cheer! Cheer! Cheer!

Of course I had to take a break and hang out with the boys to relieve my tension of the impending climb up Mt. Hamilton. I can't believe I forgot to take a photo to show The Boyfriend that I don't make these things up.



The BF turned around and met me at mile 15. He's good for relieving my tension. Then again, so were the Mighty Men at mile 5. He was treated to my singing. Lucky him! I shivered with anticipation the last few miles up. Well, not really. The BF was impressed with my stamina. Me at the top. Check out my leg muscle.




The fake owl was a hoot. The weather was just down right perfect. Guess who I saw as I descended. Fellow LKHClimber Ron Brunner! At least I think it was him with his sweet smile.




The BF begins the descent. What a stud muffin. He did the climb up in 1 hr 50 min.

My stats:

37 miles
2 hrs 45 min to the top. I know -- not going to break any records but good for me.
1:15 for the descent
6.6 mph avg up
9 mph avg total
27.5 fastest speed descending

Thanksgiving Rides

Thanksgiving Day. Mt. Hamilton (photo shot by Stephen Fong), the last ride in the Low-Key Hillclimb series. Oh, I got up the mountain alright -- in a car. A lingering cold prevented me from participating as a rider but not as a volunteer. Next up is the LKHC series party. As I told the event organizer, "Yeah, so, you can climb, but eh, can you party!" For sure, I will take first place. What is always funny each year is whether we are able to recognize one another without our helmets and biking clothes.






Come Friday I was better so I joined friends for an ACTC ride in the Los Gatos hills. It was rather cold with a heavy fog layer. We rode 17 miles including: University --> Shannon -->Hicks West --> Reynolds --> Shannon --> Kennedy --> parking lot.

Above: A short stop on Shannon in Los Gatos vicinity.

Documenting the pain of riding up Reynolds (off Hicks West), a short but steep climb. A good ride to ease me back into cycling after 2 weeks of fighting a cold.

Waiter There's a Fly in My ....

BF: How about we do Mt. Hamilton Saturday!
Me: How about we take a nap instead.
BF: Napping is not exercise.
Me: It could be. hint, hint.
BF: See you on the mountain.
Me: Sigh.

I started 30 minutes earlier than The Boyfriend but he caught up to me by mile 10. He darted ahead of me in his usual sporty manner while I continued to pant like a dog and crawl along like a garden slug. The photo above is around mile 17 which is when The Boyfriend came down from the mountain to fetch me. He escorted me to the top like the handsome gentleman that he is and bought me a soda, too. Enough of the mushy bits.



Me in my victory stance. This is only the second time that I have made it to the Lick Observatory, the top of Mt. Hamilton. I averaged 9.4 mph with 29 mph being my fastest speed for the 38 mile ride. The Boyfriend descended sections going 35 mph and 45 mph descents while doing The Death Ride earlier this month.



BF: Ready for the descent!
Me: Where's the limo?
[Motorcyclist eyeing me. Me eyeing motorcyclist]



At the parking lot on Alum Rock Road, The Boyfriend was waiting for me.

He: Let's do Sierra Road tomorrow!
Me: How about we take a nap instead ....
He: See you on the mountain.
Me: Sigh.

As to the title of this blog entry -- I found a fly in my tub while bathing after the ride. This site has some funny waiter fly jokes.

Me: BF, there's a dead fly in my tub!
BF: Not exactly a rubber ducky that makes bath time lots of fun, eh.
Me: Skip the duck and send me George Clooney. Love his 08 and 07 commercials.

Tour of California Stage 3

While The Boyfriend was stationed at the top of Sierra Road enjoying his view and the excitement of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California Stage 3, Lorraine and I were getting ours, up close and personal, in our cozy cubicles. Need I say more.... Thank you Adobe (my former employer) TourTracker for providing us with nonstop video and audio feed of the tour and of course the camera persons. The two guys covering the tour are fabulous as well. Lorraine and I remained and will remain glued to our computers except for restroom breaks and library related crises.

From the start of today's stage out of Modesto, it was nonstop action and breaktaking scenery. The aerial shots of Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Road were spectacular. Lorraine, a noncyclist, got it that the climbs were difficult. These guys make it look effortless as they glide gracefully like ballerinas in a beautifully orchestrated movement of precision and inner strength. It is a joy to watch.

Once the cyclists began their descent from Sierra Road, we walked over to the finish area near City Hall in downtown San Jose. We positioned ourselves at 2nd Street so we could watch them come along the corner and stream down to the finish. First the two leads came and then several batches and next, individuals alone and then, a lovely small peleton in a sweet formation and lastly, the few remaining souls. The crowd cheered for each and every rider and we hope they know that. Unlike last year when they came flying through in a blur, this year, they seemed a bit slower (caution, we're still talking soaring speeds) and we were able to distinguish who was who; clearly the addition of Mt. Hamilton had an effect on this year's route.

We salute the cyclists in today's arduous journey and look forward to the remaining stages. We hope the pros know that they have brightened our day and we're glad they're here in California.

Tomorrow is another day and we'll be right there with you.

Stormy Weather

"Keeps raining all the time." Won't be seeing much of the world this weekend due a severe weather alert for the Bay Area. I share a few photos taken in September 2006 of the climb up Mt. Ventoux also known as the Giant of Provence.



The photo above is the last stretch before you reach the top. A Frenchman on the road gave me a shove on my tushy and that was enough to motivate me for a stretch! A short while later, I heard the sounds of our touring group above cheering me on. It was an emotional moment.




The photo above captures the descent. The starkness at the top contrasts sharply with the start of the ride -- a flat dull beginning that gives way to lush woods leading eventually to a somewhat lunar scenery. Our Mt. Hamilton though has its own beauty and I look forward to seeing how the cyclists in the Amgen Tour of California handle it.

Biking Mt. Hamilton - A New Year's Day Tradition

Once again, I found myself on New Year's Day facing a ride up Mt. Hamilton along with The Boyfriend and some other notable Silicon Valley people, and a bunch of Western Wheelers (including the super cyclist James Porter) as well as countless others.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who saw the shirtless man on a bike. There must be a story there! He wished me a Happy New Year.

The day was warmish but not warm enough for Weenie Woman. After mile 5, I turned around and explored the suburbs of Alum Rock. I don't know why Mt. Hamilton eludes me (though I did get up it once). I've made it up Mt. Ventoux (on a trip with The Boyfriend - Graham Baxter tours). Sitting atop The Boyfriend's batmobile (aka his car), listening to music on my iPod Nano, I cheered on cyclists as they returned to the parking area. Mostly men. I didn't mind. Lovely scenery.

Mt. Hamilton and Sierra Road are part of the Amgen Tour of California route (Stage 3). I watched last year on the sidelines in downtown San Jose with my budette Lorraine from the library. It was very exciting and we look forward to it again this year.

Perhaps in this new year, I will shed my weenie wings....

Note: Photo borrowed from Ron's flickr album, main photographer for Low Key Hillclimbs.

That's All Folks

Knowing that LKHC volunteers would miss their Thanksgiving dinner if I participated officially in the Mt. Hamilton climb (the last event in the Low Key Hillclimb series), I ventured out on my own, starting 20 minutes earlier than the other cyclists and made it to mile 4.7 before the herd overtook me. A blink of the eye and the first wave zoomed past me. I cheered and waved and then resumed biking. A little while later, Adam, Marie and Pat sailed past me. As usual, I was distracted by the men I met, the cows I saw and the lovely scenery (the hills are just beginning to turn green). The day was clear and the view of Lick Observatory looming in the distance was stunning. Of course, it only loomed and remained in the distance for me....

I made it to mile 15.5 before I met The Boyfriend coming back down along with most of the other participants. In my mind, I finished ... in fact, I have so once before. Back at the parking lot, rumor had it that James P. was on his way to doing Mt. Ham again. "Out of shape dad?" I don't think so, Mister. Results and Ron's photos are posted.

Later, The Boyfriend joked that when we come back from our 2 week biking holiday next summer in the French Alps, I'll be buffed and no doubt will move up in the ranks to place next to last in the LKHC series. That'll be the day. Shed my weenie wings? No more weenie miles per hour? Turn into a speeding snail? We'll see.

Meanwhile:

Goodbye Stranger

It's been nice

Thank you Dan, Kevin and all for the LKHC

I'll be seeing you

On and On

That's me taken a few years ago but it's the same outfit I wore Saturday as I biked around the Bay. The Bay always has a calming effect on me. I got to race a train while on the Bay, well sort of, and once again, on the way back. The Bay showed signs of a dry winter and there was a lot of yellow colored algae as well. I managed to do 25 miles in 2 hours.

Sunday, The Boyfriend was keen on doing Mt. Hamilton. Naturally I was keen on being lazy but I agreed to go even though I knew that I wouldn't make it to the top. The day was very clear, affording us views of Lick Observatory and of the valley. UC Observatories has wonderful hamcam shots.

Taking Stephen Bishop's song completely out of context but how I often feel when attempting Mt. Hamilton or Henry Coe:

On and on...
I just keep on trying
and I smile
when I feel like dying
On and on...

After 2 miles, my hair was soaked and I wanted to call it a day but I kept plugging away and I was rather pleased that I did 11 miles with an average of 7.1 mph before having to stop on account of the polka dots I kept seeing everywhere. Some people see stars when they're dizzy. I see pink and purple polka dots. As I waited for The Boyfriend to come down the mountain, I contemplated Aristotle's 19 syllogisms that I'm reading about in a book about logic and the human mind. Fascinating read but .... Naturally my mind drifted to the shirtless runner with the tattoo on his chest who smiled at me yesterday as I biked along Guadalupe River Trail. Then there was the ranger in uniform who opened a gate for me. I bet the writer of the book I'm reading would have a field day with me.

The Boyfriend was delayed a bit as he encountered some people who recognized him and wanted to take photos with him. Oh, the life of a celebrity.

The best part of the day -- the french fries, hot and salty from Johnny Rockets. I wish though that I had gone all the way because the prettiest part of Mt. Hamilton comes after those 11 miles. Another time when I feel I can go on and on.

Excuses for not Biking

Here's one reason why I haven't been biking outdoors. This is a photo of Mt. Hamilton and Lick Observatory in the SJ Merc front page.

Mt. Hamilton

New Year's Day, 2007

Biking Mt. Hamilton New Year's Day is apparently a tradition, started by the guys at Chain Reaction Bicycles. Read their stories from prior years.

The boyfriend and I started at 10:30am. The sky was blue and the temperature coldish but the sun warm. On the highway, we saw the mountain range but not Lick Observatory because it was covered in a heavy mist. We were lucky that it cleared up and our ride was not hampered by any visibility issues. After a few miles of climbing, we parted and I was left on my own to smile and wave and wish Happy New Year to other cyclists.

Occasionally a gust of wind blew and frightened me as my bike swayed this way and that. I made it to mile 15 (of 19) before meeting up with The Boyfriend who was on his way down from Lick Observatory. At this point, I averaged 7.5 mph which is pretty good for me and 9.5 when I finished. A year and a half ago, on my Specialized Hybrid, it took me something like close to 2 hours to do 4 miles! I simply stunk and kinda still do when it comes to climbs. I was afraid to do this climb as part of the 2006 Low Key Hillclimbs back in November because I thought it'd take me all day to finish and they'd miss their Thanksgiving Day dinner on account of me. Oh by the way, I read somewhere that Gary Erickson who created Clif Bars was inspired to do so after cycling Mt. Hamilton. Couldn't verify that this is fact.

On the way down, at a bend, I saw a bunch of cyclists and some cars. A cyclist told me to stop. It was then that I heard the helicopter. I found The Boyfriend among the group and learned only that a cyclist had been injured and no one was permitted to bike or drive (cars) until the paramedics were finished. Despite the unfortunate situation, I met two women and enjoyed their company. One woman has a Bianchi Eros Donna baby blue, just like mine.

Eventually we were allowed to continue our descent. It was beautiful to watch the cyclists in front of me in their colorful clothes snake down.

Don't know when I will next write an entry unless you are inclined to be bored with indoor trainer stories. :)