This page was exported from Almost-Daily Diary [ http://www.chainreactionblogs.com/diary ]
Export date: Sat Nov 23 11:13:16 2024 / +0000 GMT

Great pre-game ride with Jeff & Kevin


Mastadon Country (actually there's a family debate over whether it's a Wooly Mammoth or a Mastadon), just east of Pescadero Road
Mastadon Country (actually there's a family debate over whether it's a Wooly Mammoth or a Mastadon), just east of Pescadero Road. Why someone would put a giant sculpture of a Mastadon, facing off against another prehistoric creature, in a farm's field... well, that's what makes our rides so interesting, seeing things like this!


Click for larger Mastadon image
Click for larger Mastadon image


This was not going to be our typical Sunday ride, where we don't get out the door until noon. I wanted to see most of the 49er playoff game, and it also gave us the opportunity to ride with Jeff, friend & customer, who normally does his riding while Kevin would be dragging himself out of bed. And I wanted to see first-hand just how fast & fit Jeff really is; his Strava scores have been looking pretty impressive lately.

Steam on West Alpine
Steam on West Alpine


We had to put something fairy tough together for Kevin and I, since a bit too much winter weight has been showing up on the scales lately. Up Old LaHonda, out to San Gregorio, south on Stage to Pescadero, up & over Haskins the tougher direction, then Jeff went back the faster route, via 84, while Kevin and I took on West Alpine. 65 miles, about 6700ft of climbing, and, for the middle of winter, really nice weather!

West Alpine is a beautiful climb any time of year!
West Alpine is a beautiful climb any time of year!


Jeff proved to be the stronger rider on the climbs today, getting to the top a full minute faster than Kevin, even though Kevin's posted the fastest Strava times in the past. Me? Another minute or two behind Kevin. I was able to keep up, just barely, on the two Stage Road climbs, but watched them both ride away from me once again on Haskins. It was just myself and Kevin up West Alpine (Jeff having taken the shortcut home), and, nice guy/Dad that I am, when Kevin was in trouble a few times, I waited up. Of course, further up the hill it was Kevin feeling better, and did he wait for me? Not a chance. I asked him tonight about riding up a climb at a "social" pace, and he just looked at me with this quizzical expression and asked "Why?"
Post date: 2013-01-21 00:55:53
Post date GMT: 2013-01-21 08:55:53
Post modified date: 2013-01-21 00:55:53
Post modified date GMT: 2013-01-21 08:55:53
Powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin. HTML saving format developed by gVectors Team www.gVectors.com