Alpine Dam

It's December and skies are strangely clear. We all agree that it's not good, but we're all loving the extended riding season.

What happened to foggy Nor Cal?

That being said, on Christmas a friend of a friend invited me along for the Alpine Dam route, where we met clear skies and comfortable temps.

Dead grass climbs fall into lush tree lined valleys

Aki, Nuala, Jason, Jesse, and I started across the bridge, nearly devoid of cycle traffic on a Sunday morning (bizarre). Once over the bridge we wiggled our way over through Fairfax and into the first climb over the ridge to drop down toward the dam. Aki and Jason tore it up, flying up to the top of every hill. Aki doing it all in track pants and a backpack while jetlagged, just showing that you don't need $200 bibs to be the first one up the hill.

Dam good view.

This seems to be the cliche Instagram flick of this route, so I had to.

Nature is boring.

The ride was a relaxing 60 mile roll to the scenic dam and back over to Ridgecrest Blvd, otherwise known as the Seven Sisters, which overlooks the ocean on the backside of Tam. We dipped back down 1 ending up in a tourist packed Sausalito where Jason took off to press a 120 mile day.

The few times Jason was not climbing hella far in front of me.

Nuala, who put this shindig together, crests one of the Seven Sisters.

Seven Sisters ocean views.

Jesse hung on for some caffeine with us at Velo Rouge. After his quad latte he'd push on to a 110 mile day (and follow that up with another 110 mile day). Nuala, Aki, and I were happy enough with our scenic detour through the Headlands and called it a night after our own caffeination. This was my first time riding with all of these people, always enjoyable to ride with new people, which seems to keep happening here.

DFL Holiday Bandit Cross

Photo by TenderGreens on Flickr

Last weekend was the annual DFL bandit cross holiday race. I decided against taking photos in favor of racing. I showed up just in time for the race to start, giving me no time to prep, meaning I almost puked lapping around. The course was intense, but loads of fun. I was proud to only fall once. Booyah. I don't know if anyone was really counting, but I felt like I was near the back of the pack. Damn, these cats are fast.

That's me, grooving. Photo also by tendergreens.

More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bicigirl/ and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tendergreens/

Partners in Dirt

 

Marin is the contested birthplace of mountain biking (Crested Butte begs to differ). It's also a roadie heaven. With the contoured landscapes across the Golden Gate it is where most of the San Franciscan cyclists, road or dirt, go to escape. Which means that our own little slice of heaven here in the East Bay is usually free and open for the taking. 

Some eclectic bike choices, a Surly Big Dummy and a custom tall mountain bike. (The Big Dummy a week old and needed a few adjustments and unfortunately Tobe ran his deraulleur into his spokes).

Giant views are nestled in the hills hood.

It wasn't long from my house to the dirt when we started climbing. It was some rough rolling terrain but some beautiful stuff. Jillian knows the woods better than I do and pointed out some great added trails. Maleko pulled out his tall bike for the fun and Tobe took out his fresh new Big Dummy (which seemed at home on the steep climbs).

Cross Check in it's native dirt lands.

Always entertaining to watch Maleko get on this thing.

The final rollers.

We didn't quite hit the mileage we were hoping for, but the crushing ups burnt our legs good. It's great to be able to just leave the door and hit dirt so quickly here.

East Bay Mice

Last Friday was the East Bay Mice Friday the 13th Alleycat. I thought it was only track bikes, so I showed up far too drunk. It was also my first night with my new camera, in the dark, with fast bikes. So as every good photographer does, I'm making excuses. Anyway here are the few salvageable photos.

Checkpoint 1: Drink Beer

Skid competition

Skidding Kyle; after he donated his tubes to another racer.

P.S. Once we got going, I did start racing and in typical fashion I got lost. In even more typical fashion, I fell. I got wasted and had a shit load of fun, so even if I didn't win the Broakland frame up for grabs, I still won.

New Blog

For a variety of reasons I'm now calling Patrick's Velolog quits and instead starting a new at WornTreads.com.

So head on over there to check it out and remember to change your bookmark!


(This site will be active for a few more weeks til it redirects!)

Diablo Overnighter

It's winter. The days are short, making time to ride short. Of late, I've been finding myself wandering more and more after the sun has hit the horizon. When Manny invited me along for some Diablo bikecamping (which I have yet to do) I couldn't resist. We met at Walnut Creek and left long after the last shred of sunlight had gone.

The junction was so quiet.

Nightviews

The gate was closed at the front, which meant that Manny, Tony, Chris, Ely, and I had the road all to ourselves. We spun with our lights on for a bit, but we quickly realized that the moon was strong enough to hold the center line, so we shut off our lamps and rode by moonlight. At one point I pulled ahead of the group to feel that eerie sense of isolation that came on this dark mountainside. An incredible feeling.

Camp was a tad cold. Setting up my tent for the first time led to a rather sad pitch, but it did hold. I gnawed on a burrito and then tucked into my bag hoping for a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, the chilly December air kept me awake longer than I would have liked. Before I knew it, it was morning and we were pulling ourselves back onto our bikes, aiming for the summit for some incredible views with our coffee.

Bikepacked or Rando's doesn't matter, as long as you came to ride.

Manny has some of the most incredible photos. Check out his photos on his Flickr.

Chris completed this tough journey on his Specialized Hardrock from high school.

Manny's bike at the summit.

Can't think of a better place to have morning coffee.

Prospector's Gap.

Chris descends.

After breakfast and coffee we descended back to pack up camp. Once we filled everything back into the bag it came from it was time to hit some dirt, as any ride with Manny inevitably leads to. This was when things got real fun and real whacky.

This "road" was a straight drop down. I walked it. Manny and Chris rode it. They thankfully walked home with all their limbs in intact.

Those dots are cyclists.

This amazing detail is part of Ely's handiwork. Check out the rest of his work at Ruth Works.

Last week was one of the biggest mileage weeks I've had in a while and to end on such a fantastic trip with such majestic views will be hard to forget. Thanks to Manny, Ely, Chris, and Tony for the great ride!

Riv Hatchet/Bike/Book Shop

Before our camping trip to Diablo, I met up with Manny at the new Rivendell store that just popped open in Walnut Creek (opened due to the great interest the pop up shop had). Along with bikes there is a small but well chosen book selection, a huge MUSA wool collection, and probably the best hatchet selection in any store I've ever seen (I mean who really specializes in hatchets anyway?).

 

The store is at 1601 N. Main St. in Walnut Creek and is definitely an eclectic shop that is worth checking out if you are on your way to Diablo or Shell Ridge.

 

Welcome Aboard

 
Well, here it is. After my first experiment with a blog, I decided it would be time to start a new one, one where I have things a little more organized and put together. So this is it. The beginning of it all. I'll be blogging mostly about bikes. So yes, this is another god damn bike blog. Feel free to peruse, look at the pics, read the words, write mean comments, or just totally ignore it. I'm interested in almost every form of cycling from alleycats to randonneuring to bikepacking to downhill freeride. Anything fascinating on two wheels is what I'll be following. Anything that interests me really. At times this blog will turn into a travelogue as I hope to take more extended bike tours in the future, but for now it's ride reports and reports of things that are rad and interesting. So enjoy.

 

Some other places you can follow what I'm doing.
Facebook (get social)
Tumblr (for things I find cool)
Flickr (for more of the photos and such)