This is a benefit ride, raising money for diabetes research. Diane did a great job - ensuring that Team Lockheed won the team overall fundraising championship while recruiting our inner circle in the effort. Me, I just tagged along. Team Lockheed, with the great blue jerseys.... would we also dominate on the tough hills of this ride? Well, we did OK.
Diane and Joyce. Bracing for 120 kilometers of fun |
Jonathan and Maria, bracing for 70 kilometers of fun |
The Delucchi's, and the Man in Red |
We migrate towards the mass start |
Biking by this historic Woodside mercantile |
Just before starting the steep Kings Mountain climb, Diane offers me some rubbery thingies; if you bite down hard enough, then a sweet goo comes out |
Team KLA-Tencor had sunny jerseys |
Amazing sunbeams at the summit greet Nancy, Diane, Joyce, and me |
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I'm positively angelic |
Fast ride down to La Honda |
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The south bay Horseless Carriage Club, with wheels dating back to the turn of the century (the LAST century) streamed by us for most of the ride from La Honda to Pescadero. |
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we inhale sweets from the Pesdacdero rest stop |
Broken chain. Bummer, dude! |
Stage Road, on the way to San Gregorio |
The original San Gregorio stage stop dates back a long time |
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Diane scored some salty chips - exactly the right choice |
The last aid station before the fearsome Tunitas grade. This old farm converts to "the Bike Hut" to serve the many Bay Area cyclists who ride these roads on weekends. |
Tunitas Creek Road has miles of consistent 7-8% grade, and my legs were smoked by the time we hit the top. Then, a fast descent on Kings Mtn Rd, through the foothills, and winding through Palo Alto to a... |
Bike's eye view of the finish line |
77 miles and 7,000 ft of climbing gave me a BAAD case of HelmetHead |
time to reload |
"V" for victory, from Diane "The Fly" Delucchi! |
It took some doing, but with enough Coronas and carb-filled plates, Joyce and Diane are finally reloaded |
