Racing returns in earnest

Ah, we are rolling into serious road racing now withParis-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico and racing on TV. I really enjoyed P-N in full HD the one day I was able to follow it. I am intrigued to see the new Vacansoleil team really showing their stuff. This is the outfit that for some reason decided to sign the just reinstated Ricardo Ricco. Fresh off drug bust he seems to have decided to try a little self transfusion of some kind and wound up in a hospital. The team really took it on the chin, but the boys have really made the best of it. These are a bunch of new pros that are all new to me. I am happy to see these guys digging the team out of a deep PR pit.
This time of year it is always a bit of a challenge to keep track of the riders, especially on TV, what with the rider transfers to new teams and new team outfits and even new teams such as the aforementioned Vacansoleil squad.
Had some nice road rides lately One in particular was a solo 50 miler. Solo rides lead to a much different flow of thoughts. This day I really fell in love with Sonoma County all over again. The scenery and terrain vary so much without even leaving the county. I rode over 5000 miles last year and don't think more than 200 were outside the county. Everything from ocean views, quiet Redwood groves, remote hilly pastureland and even some climbs that take up to an hour.

Daylight savings time returns, it sure makes me happy. I really like daylight lingering into the afterwork time. I will miss the morning light for the next month or so but that will change.
Let's ride!
Thanks for reading

My reflection

A little reflection on cycling and frustration. Not that cycling and frustration are collaborators or anything, but on this weeks trail ride I did encounter some frustration. I am an experienced, though hardly expert trail rider, and riding on rocky terrain is probably were I am the least expert. The park in my local is quite rocky. I was exploring another section I had not been on before, its called Rough Go on the trail map, need I say more? Trail riding requires a tripod of skill, power and confidence. Any week leg on this stool, shows up quick. You can hide some shortcomings for a while on a road ride, but trail riding brings the truth out quick. But I did have to grapple with frustration as I found shortcomings in my cycling that day, trail riding also can give rewarding flashes of satisfying achievment. A rider has to make split second decisions to clear a rough technical section requiring all three aspects of skill. Often this happens on a instinctive level, and of course this is where time/experience come into play. The rider has to bring all three aspects to play. A shortcoming brings a stall, a bail or worse a crash. On a demanding road ride the state of affairs is more pliable or fluid moving stightly from one corner of the metaphorical stool the the other and back. It make take covering several attacks befor lack of power finally overwhelms me and I am left witha dull sense of frustration. Conversly the rewards tend not to have that quick deep satisfaction either. That is one thing I like about trail riding and why I generally like to do it alone on my own terms. The following shot is a rather calm section.

This region is of ancient volcanic origin, which contributes to good vineyard soils. The mountain I'm on has very porous "boiled" looking rock on on side and hard and even glassy rock on th other side. It was quarryied for cobblestone in the early twentieth century. One can still see remnants of that work in blast holes and rock piles.
We had a snow shower today!! A cold front blew in from Alaska on the tail end of a rain event. Tonight is going down to 28 degrees brrr

Spring?

How's the winter been treating you? For those of you back East, the weather hasn't been conducive for cycling until just recently. In norcal land the bulk of Jan/Feb. have been great. Sunny, warm even into low 80's.Until this past week that is, now heavy rain even hail and highs struggle to hit 50. the other night we had snow at about 2500' ele.,the ridge that separates us from Napa had lots of white. Oh well this is needed for the dry six months ahead. So many rides are scheduled for the area. Every organization seems to try and tap into the money making potential of the regions cyclists and great riding.I just wonder if there will be a push back from the non cycling public at large.
I am not riding quite as much as last year, working more it seems, it is a long season, so that is fine.I try to get out on the mountain bike once a week. Some new pics

Been doing some bike maintenance on our fleet of bikes, but I tend to not take stuff apart that isn't acting up, if it ain't broke don't fix it. One does run a certain risk of a cable going out during an event, I've been there. Chains I am pretty good on twice a year. Between several wheels I've never had to replace a Campagnolo cassette. Of course I also have systematically transitioned from 8 to 9 to 10 speed drives too. Somehow I am not really compelled to jump to 11 speed, but I am sure time will come.
How about the likely arrival of electronic Ultegra from Shimano? Are any of you putting off a 2011 purchase to get it? I have ridden the Dura-Ace group on demo, it is very impressive, especially the front shift.
My only purchases for new stuff this year have been in the apparel side and general upkeep tires hb tape and such. Except my Giant Anthem full-suspension bike. It has been a lot of fun. I am very interested in going into a new 29r format bike, but since off road is not rely my main deal I will put that off. Working in a bike shop it is hard to not keep daydreaming about "the next bike" and the Giant TCR Advanced SL sure seems to be calling my name. Stop it right now! It's bad enough just with clothes and shoes and, and.......

Spoiled

Yikes, after a cold, dark, wet December, the last two weeks have been amazing, mild to warm and SUNNY!! Mustard is blooming in the vineyards, frogs are doing their thing, Loudly. The shop is enjoying a respite from quiet January days?! Registration opened for Levi's Gran Fondo. It has a cap at 7500 riders this year, see my post from Oct. 09 for a comparison. It is a century that covers some amazing Sonoma County territory, remote and hilly, often steep but with breathtaking views. We'll have to see how it compares to B2B and other NC events of my past. I have ridden all of the course but not all together. A significant portion of the profits go to Santa Rosa's Tour of CA financial obligations, with several other non-profits also benefiting. I better get some riding done, even indoors I hope you can too, HH

Big cycling news in Santa Rosa

Just announced in this mornings local paper, the Press Democrat, my new hometown will indeed be hosting the start of the 2012 Tour of California. This is big economic news because it means a week of buildup and gala events with officials,staff, athletes and tourists. The 2011 Tour will bypass Santa Rosa for the first time, but it was hinted that we would trade that for the start of the event in May 2012 We had to commit $190,000 for previous years stages, now we have to pony up three times that amount to host the race start. Levi's King Ridge Gran Fondo has committed $120,000. Registration opens Monday for this Octobers event You heard it here first I guess. If you're not a local. Oh, and come on springtime

New year

A lot has been going on since my last post. I ended the local four race cyclocross series here in Santa Rosa on a positive note. it was a tough year, all mud and rain, and I wasn't really enjoying my favorite sport. I finally came to realize how much the old routines and familiar faces made for my enjoyment. The last race I finally got my head screwed on right. No stellar racing, but just let it be what it is. I am getting to know some folks and the local races. Less than photogenic podium shot was for third place, series. Persistance counts. I was there for ALL the races

not me but typical conditions

Got out for a couple rides over the holiday period, it's been raining a lot this season, way ahead of last years totals by double, so riding has been curtailed somewhat.

Levi sighting.

While heading out to join a group on the day before New Years Eve, I came upon another group meeting up, containing you know who. I didn't invite him to join me. I had a very nice Chismas/New Years time spent with some friends, colleagues and family. That was really the highlight plus just having the house decorated. We have a week of sun and mid50's forecasted so I should get some more rides in. For 2011 I have plans to add some more of the local favorite rides to my done list and the Gran Fondo, which I skipped last year.

my favorite tree, it glows a fantastic green when the sun is out. I'll get another pic soon a couple recent shots in the park mentioned in many previous posts Sounds like y'all ( in NC anyway) are getting snow yet again, sorry, but spring is coming, we're already getting more daylight. 'til another time..... HH in Sonoma County

Slipping

Slipping down autumn into winter. Three of the last four weekends have been rainy to some degree. Letting my weekly mileage drop actually feels good and cyclocross doesn't require it anyway, so after a long road season those are deserved benefits. Starting some night rides on the mountain bike has been fun. Back in the mid- nineties it was a regular part of my weekly entertainment. Which brings me to the meat of todays topic. It's been a revelatory year in my life, the change to living in Sonoma County has been thrilling but has also been testing. The new cultural experiences, the new sights, new routines, have been exciteing and energizing, but they become sort of unsettling at a point. "All the comforts of home" as the saying goes, seem to reflect on the comforts of the usual,the expected. I feel like I have begun to have some of that "comforts of 'new' home" here now. I still thrill a bit to see bike riders out on a rainy Friday night. the beauty of well tended vineyards everywhere, and I love to see the amount of determination to support local produce, meats, dairies, seafood and stores in general. But it feels good to accept as common too. Last year as we slipped down into winter was a tough six weeks or so and home-sickness caught me by surprise. This winter should be a little easier. I am now driving a car with CA plates, still the VW. I had to turn in my "First in Flight" plate this week, it was a little sad giving it that last look. Drove down to the miniscule town of Marshall for some oysters a week ago. The place looks like a bait shack, but the food is delish. You can enjoy a meal nearly in the water This Thanksgiving I encourage you to enjoy the good things around you and the people in your life, it is so easy to take them for granted, but find some adventure too. Adventure isn't so much about new places as it is having yourself set for new experience, new tests if you will. Ride somewhere new, face a little more uncertainty and let your mind open up. It can be a great experience, adventure doesnt have to be climbing a mountain never climbed before. The real geography is happening in your head. Thanks for reading HH