First Fall Del Norte BART Training Ride

Distance 33.1
Moving Time 2:24:56
Elevation 692ft
Avg Speed 13.7mi/h
Max Speed 28.2mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 119bpm Max 159pm
Calories 844
Temperature 72

Thank you Hugo for leading today's first Del Norte BART training ride and to Angelica, Lark, Rachel, Jeff and Sam. I also met Dana, John's friend from college and a 2-time ALC veteran. Such fun meeting new riders and seeing familiar faces.



Got some shots of our ride. This one is with Dana.

Group shot - thanks, Rachel.

We're warming up with Rachel leading the group.

This video captures riders coming into our rest stop at Starbucks in Richmond.

Remember this photo for later. In the spring, this patch of land will be beautifully covered with wild flowers.

Lollygagging Training

Distance 22.7
Moving Time 1:47:09
Elevation 1,109ft
Avg Speed 12.7mi/h
Max Speed 33.3mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 115bpm Max 161pm
Calories 636
Temperature 66

My goal today was to ride over 50 miles. While I did not achieve this today, I had tons of fun with Carlos Rangel. We were supposed to meet at 7:30 a.m., but a text from one to to the other (I'm not mentioning which one) begged for a later meet time (reading between the lines/characters). So one of us texted, "Let's meet at 8:30am." The other responded, "Thank you." One could hear the relief that the start time was later.

I was up and ready to ride this Saturday morning. Out the gate by 8:00am and arrived at Starbucks in Montclair at 8:30am.



Carlos thought he was late arriving 8:07am. He couldn't remember the start time. So I had to take a picture of a proud Carlos thinking he was late, but really early.

We hopped onto our bikes and road down to the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. What a glorious day.

After posing and not posing for the camera, we headed back to what we thought was a continuation to the Bay Trail. At about 15 miles and 1:15 hours of riding with Carlos, we (HE) decided that it was time for a coffee break. We rode into Emeryville, but the coffee house we wanted to go to was a bit busy because of people lining up at the Apple Store for, you know what. I thought I had seen another coffee house at another part of Emeryville and we whisked away to, "Oh, it's Peets!" which was fine by both of us because there was eye candy (sorry no photos). But, I did get a few of Carlos munching on a much needed snack. 

And, yes, Carlos still can't part from his ALC 2014 rider numbers (his bike and helmet in the background).

After talking about everything and nothing (30 to 45 minutes), we started talking to folks around us -- we learned that a group of women was just on a walk. They asked about where we were headed and shared with us their bike training days. We told them we're off to ride up and over the hills into Orinda. With all that chatting, I realized I was late for an 11am meeting. We raced back to my place had the meeting, then lunch. Carlos got a call that he had to work. I drove him to his place (he was sagged). So what we thought would be a day of riding, became a day of LOLLYGAGGING and so much fun.

AIDS/LifeCycle 2015 - We are Team EDNA

I am honored to join Team Edna with her husband Richard Lagunte as Team Captain. Edna was a force and inspiration as an AIDS/LifeCycle rider and roadie veteran for thirteen years. We ride in her memory donning her ALC 2014 Rider #1371.

Oakland Grand Prix 2014 - USA Cycling

What a bit of treat when John and I approached our gym yesterday afternoon. Roads were blocked so we parked three blocks away from the 24-Hour Fitness in Downtown Oakland. We saw 200 cyclists whizzing by - it was a race in our very own Downtown Oakland. How exciting!

Did you count them? I didn't capture the stragglers, at least five of them. I most likely would have been a slower straggling straggler. The only thing I could find online about the race was this: http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2014-2619

AIDS/LifeCycle Kickoff Ride

Distance 37.5
Moving Time 2:40:14
Elevation 1,873ft
Avg Speed 14.1mi/h
Max Speed 32.2mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 131bpm Max 162pm
Calories 1,160
Temperature 66

What a great day on the AIDS/LifeCycle Kickoff Ride, which started and ended at Sports Basement in the Presidio! Loved seeing friends and making new ones. Started the ride with a Alf Victorio who was gracious enough to slow down for me so that I could kinda keep up with him.

Riding on the Golden Gate Bridge was great for the most part. Cycling the Tiburon loop was wonderful, especially passing John's cousins' home on Paradise. I yelled out their last name at 10:05 a.m. As beautiful as the Golden Gate Bridge is, cycling on the bridge is not a joy for me. It's officially official, I hate heights. Also, too many cyclists aren't aware of their surroundings or cycle safely - taking selfies while riding, stopping without looking behind them or where they're turning into, not leaving enough room for others to pass, blocking the bike path, the list goes on ...

So I'll be training mostly in the East Bay, where I just love, love, love cycling, especially since I don't have to put my bicycle on a bike rack to get anywhere.


Here are some memorable photos.

Aaron trying to take a photo of Steve and me showing off our TipTop jerseys.

Art and Alf

Alf and some new friends.

Golden Gate Bridge reminder.

Lunch

Steve and Art showing off our TipTop jerseys.

Jared Paul letting us know more about our wonderful volunteer Training Ride Leaders.

Neil Giuliano sharing wonderful news about the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

My Geisha pose after people kept telling me I didn't blend my sunscreen into my face and that I looked like a Geisha.

TJ being goofy.

From cold to very warm

Distance 46.4
Moving Time 3:46:23
Elevation 3,862ft
Avg Speed 12.3mi/h
Max Speed 37.8mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 122bpm Max 161pm
Calories 1,584
Temperature 68

I left our place around 8:00 a.m. and cycled in the coolness of the Bay Area on the west side of the Caldecott Tunnel (Oakland and Berkeley). I decided to go up and over Grizzly Peak into Orinda, Lafayette and Moraga where the sun was shining. With cycling, what was in the high 60s felt much warmer. Approaching the bend on Skyline that has a great view of the bay, I wanted to see how sunny it was late morning. The bay was still overcast, which probably means the same for tomorrow at the same time -- the AIDS/LifeCycle Kickoff Ride from San Francisco Presidio to Tiburon and back (Paradise Loop). I guess no sleeveless jersey for tomorrow.



Video of the day is of goats grazing - taken at the corner of Happy Valley and Bear Creek Road.

Got my registration packet

Our packets were mailed yesterday and I received mine today. I need longer arms or I need to purchase that selfie stick.

More volunteering

Yesterday a group of us, volunteers, prepared over 1,200 registration packages that included these t-shirts. We'll be sporting them as soon as we receive them to reveal their greatness. 

I had a blast meeting new people and bonding with others I've met in the past. I really have to remember to take photos. I have Tea Dough to thank for these pics - where we're feigning being overworked and we have the unattractive poses to prove it. 

 

A short East Bay ride

Distance 35.6
Moving Time 2:49:14
Elevation 2,989ft
Avg Speed 12.6mi/h
Max Speed 34.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 128bpm Max 175pm
Calories 1,207
Temperature 72

I started this morning's ride with Bill Harwood in Oakland, through Berekeley, and up to Grizzly Peak with a short stop at Inspiration Point, which always has a breathtaking view. After taking our time downhill to Orinda, we headed to Lafayette where Bill left me and I continued onto Moraga up to Pinehurst and back down into Oakland.

Going downhill has become much easier for me. A few weeks ago, I was watching bikers (motorcyclists) take turns fast with their inner knees pointing into the curve. I decided to do the same and felt like such a kid who just learned something new. I became a bit more adept in taking these turns and cycling downhill became a joy instead of something that filled me with terror and stress - weeeeeeeeeeeee!

Eric Wagner ... the first

to donate after Marti Nemer. Kisses and hugs to Eric for his generous donation and support!

Bay Bridge to Richmond Ride

Distance 34.9
Moving Time 2:22:40
Elevation 735ft
Avg Speed 14.7mi/h
Max Speed 28.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 119bpm Max 143pm
Calories 920
Temperature 77

What an easy relatively flat ride to the Bay Bridge to Richmond and back home. I remember the first time I went out to Richmond with Bill Harwood and how tired I was when I got to the destination. I needed a more than 15-minute rest stop that time. This time, I hydrated, took a few pictures and was back on the bike headed home.



These pictures were taken from the Bay Bridge. This is the farthest I've been able to go on the East Bay Span bike/walkway.

Photos from Richmond short stop.

First ALC East Bay Wildcats Official Training Ride

Distance 67.1
Moving Time 5:22:36
Elevation 6,138ft
Avg Speed 12.5mi/h
Max Speed 40.3mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 139bpm Max 177pm
Calories 2,449
Temperature 73

Our first East Bay Wildcats official training ride led by George Head, with co-training ride leaders Aaron Lewis, Don Brown, Margaret Simon, Bob Katz, Mary Vencill and Guru Swamy. It was a short 12-mile ride out of Orinda BART to Valle Vista Staging Area and back. Justin Woojin Lee, Mark Tidyman and I started our ride in Oakland, up and over Grizzly Peak to add 14 miles. Mark and I joined the unofficial ride over Three Bears, but instead of making a left onto Alhambra Valley Rd, we made a right to Pig Farm to Lafayette. Yes, very much like last Saturday's ride.


Meeting at Orinda BART was a mini-reunion. Great to have 33 riders.

Marti Nemer $500 - the first to donate for both AIDS/LifeCycle 2015 and 2014

A huge thank you to Marti for being the first to donate for my participation in both ALC rides. A generous $500 donation for each ride.

Labor Day's short ride

Distance 18.2
Moving Time 1:40:36
Elevation 1,972ft
Avg Speed 10.9mi/h
Max Speed 34.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 126bpm Max 168pm
Calories 692
Temperature 77

A short ride up and over Grizzly Peak from Oakland into Orinda so that we could help Mrs. Goto pick apples. I met John and two of the boys to pick over 400 apples. Now, what are we going to do with them? Mrs. Goto didn't want them. We'll at least make one batch of apple sauce.

After picking apples, I headed down into downtown Orinda for big, juicy Nation's cheeseburger - yummy!