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What Garry saw:
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I had it all planned, an early rise, all the kit laid out the night before, bidons in the fridge and the oatmeal by the microwave. The alarm went ¼ hour earlier than I would normally arise, I wanted to take it very easy on the 20 mile ride from Dublin to Niles. I knew it was going to be a long day.
And then the phone rang.
I should have said, "Sorry Brian I'm just out the door, but it's hard to say no to Brian, at least that's what Donna say's, so I hang around for the man to park in front of my place and 15 minutes after I would normally have left we mount our steeds and start the days miles About 5 minutes in, I mention to Brian that we had better get a wiggle on and so he whistles by on the big ring and the gentle warm up becomes a lung searing 23 mph along Foothill.
And then when we eventually get to Niles, there is only Mark K and Ziggy there. You cannot imagine what I was thinking. I had a quick chat with Sandra, Marks wife and low and behold, when I turn my head the gang has arrived. I'm saved!
Ride sheets distributed which no one except Andy and Richard reads and the sign up sheet autographed and we hit the road. Thankfully the preliminary ride instructions are adhered to. "I want to keep it mellow until we get to the base of the mountain and then help yourself, go on, knock yourself out". We keep it casual along the canyon, and boy did we look good. Eleven good looking men, bikes gleaming in the morning sun and EVERYONE in team colors, we turned a few heads from fellow bikies and passing motorists.
Through Dublin, my friend Mike Kauffman linked up with us at the top of Old Ranch Road between Alcosta and Dougherty Road. That made it a good dozen guys rolling along, enough of a critical mass to prevent cars getting too close along this narrow country road. What a shame that the character of the Dougherty Valley is getting bulldozed off the map. I recommend that if you want to get to see it in it's former glory, go within the next 6 weeks. Green hills and tranquility will be lost to 10,000 homes over the next 3 years.
Kent kept asking which way we were headed and as soon as it was registering he was off the front, banging away into the wind and determined to get a head start before the ascent. We cruised through Blackhawk, the golf course and Tennis courts unusually quiet and then the turn at the base of the hill to the Athenian School where we were supposed to stop and chat about the ascent. Well that plan went to hell in a hand basket. Richard rode by looking at his watch, we discussed our start time and he muttered something about going sub hour. At least I stopped to take off some layers, I know from bitter experience that heat and gradients are my enemies.
So I started the climb at the back of the fractured peloton. It was not long before I was picking my way through the bunch. Ziggy was first to succumb, or was it that he was taking a leek. The next scalp was my friend Mike, riding the titanium and nucleons with the 26 on the back but still at over 200 pounds having a tough time. I caught Andy, he was on the granny ring of his cross bike and he did not look comfortable, his injury from 3 weeks ago preventing any serious leverage being taken from the bars. Mark King hove into view, his legs rotating at a fast tempo to match the heart rate no doubt. He was in for a long ride on the mountain bike.
I latched onto Brian and then Ziggy caught up and we stayed in line astern for a few miles. We were caught by some lightweight cat 1 or 2 guys just before the junction but we going well, or at least I was. I swept around the hairpin, went on for about 300 yards, looked back to see............ no one. Apparently Brian was toast and in need of food and Ziggy stayed to make sure his bib was straight so that was it, I was on my own to the summit. I passed Carl about 2 miles from the top. He had to turn around because of a family commitment. So close and yet so far.. Just before that very tough last 200 yards, Santiago actually came down and turned around to do that section again. What a nutter!
Anyway, I topped out after1 hour and 18 minutes. Richard took the honours in 1 hour 3 minutes with Alan really close by and Tim about 30 seconds back. Kent was up 4th and Pritpal was next then me. Ziggy rode in and then Brian heaved over the brow, slowly turning his lowest gear, 39x23. So Brian, I honestly thought that a 23 was o.k. for you. Live and learn huh. We huddled around, took in some view and I took some photo's and then Mike K rolled in, well done Mike. I think this is the first time in many many years that he has ridded to the top. Word came up that Mark and Andy would not be enjoying the summit and instead wished to exercise damage limitation, which I think was really wise. It was getting cold and rain threatened in the afternoon so we began the descent shortly after Mike K arrived. Unfortunately we passed Andy has he was in the rest room and we became separated. And thus Andy rode into Walnut Creek to catch BART home, which he safely did. Mark K was suffering like a dog, which I have to say he is really good at, but eventually after receiving several pushes over those tough climbs back to Black Hawk, he called it a day and called his wife for retrieval.
So from the original 12 we now were 8 and headed back to my place for the promised pasta feast. I actually started to feel a little better on the way home and saw the front a little more, but by this time I was into about 75 miles and 4500 feet of climbing so was really ready to collapse into my favorite chair. Anyway we made it back to Dublin and my wife Linda had it all ready the cold drinks the pasta and garlic bread, salad and birthday cake. Robin, Patricia and Michelle arrived to join the festivities and we all sat around the room, watching ski jumping from the Olympics and saying how we could do that. With all the vehicles being there, no one had to ride home, which I am guessing was a welcome help at the end of a long day.
The Riders
Garry B, Brian J, Brian Z, (a.k.a. Ziggy), Alan C, Carl A, Santiago B, Paul S, Richard B, Tim O, Mark K, Andy P and guesting Mike K.
Also in attendance, Robin O' Hara, Patricia Bolon and bump, Michele and Aaron C and our most gracious host Linda B.
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