All posts by Mike

It had to happen, but why on such a beautiful day?

Tues/Thurs 7:45am ride

Way up ahead is Jeff Z. Yeah, today I was Jeff’d. And Kevin’d. And Kevin’d again.
I blame it on benadryl. I’d been bugged by a few things that might have kept me from sleeping well, so I took a couple of benadryl before going to bed. And maybe it did help me to sleep, but curiously, it also seemed to put the things that were bugging me into suspended animation; I woke up feeling like I did before I went to sleep. Well, not exactly, because I really didn’t feel like I’d woken up. Benadryl does that to me, which is why I generally stay away from it.

I normally need about 6.5 hours of sleep, but have managed to have some really strong rides with as few as 3 or 4. Those nights where something keeps you up, and you think, no way can I get up and ride in a few hours. But you do anyway, and it goes well. Or… you can take the two 25mg benadryl and sleep despite whatever’s bugging you, but not feel like you really slept and/or not feel like you’re awake when you get up.

So yes, I’ll blame the fact that I couldn’t keep up with Kevin (former kid) and Kevin (former pilot) on benadryl. Making things worse? Just before we get to the park entrance, we hear something behind, almost a literal whoosh, and JeffZ goes shooting by! I was, at that point, still hanging on (just barely) but that was it. I couldn’t hold the wheels of the two Kevin’s and they gradually rode on away, finishing a couple minutes ahead of me. It’s not like I was slow as a dog; other days, either Kevin might be riding at a much slower pace than I rode today.

Once up on Skyline, it was a matter of sucking wheels to stay alive. There were a couple time I had to remind myself how much more difficult it is to lose a wheel and ride on your own than stay on it.

Descending 84 to West Old LaHonda was pretty fast, with JeffZ riding at the front and just a hint of a tailwind. West Old LaHonda was its usual beautiful self, at least once you get past the hairpin at the end of the valley. Even a turkey watching us from the hillside.

Hopefully, come Thursday’s ride, it will be someone else’s turn to be the weakest link.

And now for something completely different

Ride reports (not Tu/Th)

Los Lobitos Creek is one of the more-magical hidden roads in San Mateo County.
The plan (remember, there’s always a plan) had been to get Kevin (former kid, not former pilot) into gradually-longer rides with the hope of getting a Santa Cruz run in sometime in the next few months. The plan didn’t work out; Kevin had one of his occasional reactions to his anti-epilepsy meds, an issue where he loses his balance (generally not a good thing on a bike). The plan had been to ride reverse-Pescadero and add in West Alpine for a nasty kick at the end.

Nobody likes West Alpine as much as Kevin (former kid). Actually, between myself, Colin and Kevin (former pilot), it appeared nobody likes West Alpine! So we tore up the playbook and did something really different. Not so different at the start; the usual climb up Old LaHonda, descending into LaHonda, but then straight out to San Gregorio. From there, north to Half Moon Bay via Higgins Purissima, for a drink and snack, before heading back via Los Lobitos.

This was new stuff for Colin, and for the most part pretty fun stuff aside from the brief stints on an overly-crowded and noisy Highway 1.

Kevin (former pilot) initially wanted to head back via Los Lobitos cut-off, which isn’t quite as long or steep, but also nowhere near as pretty and remote-feeling. Los Lobitos feels like you’re really far removed from the cities, about as far removed as you can get in San Mateo County. And, no traffic at all, because so few people live out there.

Sad to think the 63 miles represents my longest ride in quite some time; this year I’m planning on doing more “real” rides. Last year I didn’t even ride a century. Longest ride might have been just 75 miles or so. But this year, with the plan being to head back to France again in July, I’ve got to get more miles in. Kevin (former kid) too!!!