Day on the Ride - ALC (Saturday April 23)

What a day this was! This is an event that ALC puts on to give us an idea of what a typical day on the ride is like. It's a fully supported ride - rest stops, lunch, marked route, maintenance help, sag wagon - it's all there, including the people and the lines! The route is here. Was to be my longest ride yet and, with more hills than I have done, period. Over 4000' total climbing, yikes!

Inside Mike's Bikes

The ride started at Mike's Bikes in downtown San Rafael. Fantastic support from these guys, basically lend their store and parking lot to ALC for the day. Lots of people, food, and starting speeches to get people going. We took off around 8:20, in waves.

Rest Stop One

Nice ride through San Anselmo, then out Sir Francis Drake Blvd. First significant hill was, well, significant. Quickly peeled off all extra warm clothing - leg warmers and coat. Quickly adopted a good strategy to keep me safe, injury wise that is. Would stop on hills when I felt tired - just rest for 3-5 minutes, walk it out. Then continue riding. Seemed to be a good strategy. Rode out past Woodacre - past Spirit Rock Meditation Center, then up Nicasio Road to the reservoir. First rest stop just past Nicasio. Got some chow, drink and got to talk with some of the Poz Peddlers - I am curious to learn more about them and look forward to talking with some members during the ride.

Some Different Spokes Friends

Cheese Hill

Out on the road again, it's around 10:30. Off to the Cheese Factory, which means climbing the Cheese Hill. Pretty long and challenging, but again, with a stop midway, not too bad. Besides, the green carpet that spreads in every direction, the singing birds and sweet air - well, they all are a great motivation to just keep peddling. Absolutely stunning countryside.

Atop Wilson Hill

The most significant hill of the day was Wilson Hill, about 1/2 way to lunch. Killer steep hill and pretty long. But, with a rest midway and motivation of a coworker, Steve, made it to the top! Felt very good to get up this hill.



After lunch, was starting to feel the tiredness. Slow pace for a while. Some hills to climb, but I knew we were headed home. Rest stop 3 was a charm - by Stafford Lake near Novato, very pretty and very relaxing. Nice to sit down for a while, stretch, eat and relax. Ride from this point, back to San Rafael was pretty easy, pretty flat too. Pulled into Mike's Bikes around 5. Not a super fast pace, but I did it - my longest ride so far and other than very tired, felt fine. Happy to know my back/leg were able to take it.

David, checking us in at the end

Ride Statistics

• Distance: 65 miles
• Time: 5:50
• Rest stops: 3 including lunch
• Avg speed: 11 mpg
• Avg cadence: 67
• How I felt: very tired, but no undue pain. Lower back pain for sure, tight and sore quads, but not overly so. Took ibuprofen before and during the ride (2 pills). Stretched before and after ride and iced after ride. No bad affects on Sunday nor Monday, seems like my body took to it pretty well.