Jersey Ride with DSSF

Rode with the Different Spokes club on Saturday April 9. This is their monthly Jersey Ride. It was pretty much perfect for me - 47 miles, mild hills, some of them significant, good lunch spot and INCREDIBLE scenery. The ride is here.

Rode out from Peet's in the Castro, through Golden Gate park, through the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge. First time I have ever ridden over the Golden Gate - been under it many times (in a sailboat), but never over it on a bike. It's a great experience, incredibly pretty and, requires alot of attention. Pathway is not that wide and there are plenty of other bikers on it. Getting around the towers is an 'interesting' experience! But, I did it fine. Followed the group down over the bridge, down the hill into Sausalito. Then, along the bike path towards Mill Valley. Love the path, good riding. Have seen it for years from Hwy 101 - now, finally rode it. Up over Camino Alto - long hill, but not a bad climb. Felt good to make it to the top, then a nice downhill. Gotta thank Joseph from the club for being the BEST sweep ever - guy just watched out for me, knowing I'd be going a bit slower and did not know the route that well. Super guys in this club!

Lunch at Cafe Acri

David - One of the ride leaders

Evan - Performed my
wedding

A short ride now to the Tiburon Peninsula. Rode this with my hubby Ross and friend Pete in October of last year, nice ride. No flat this time and, I was more warmly dressed. Incredible ride - views are killer. On the way, get passed by a woman in a DSSF jersey - imagine that. It was Nancy - she was catching up with the group, started late. We chatted as we rode and it wasn't long until we pulled into Tiburon to eat at Cafe Acri. Good lunch and good rest.

Resting in Sausalito

The fountain in Sausalito

Then, off to ride the hills (gentle ones) of Belvedere. Another place I have sailed around and seen for many years, but have never been on the peninsula. Love my bike - it's gets me to places I have never been to before! Continue riding and soon pull into Sausalito. Catch up with Roger and Frank and take an ice cream break with them - well, they had the ice cream, I had a Cliff Bar (forever being healthy!). Then, we mozie across the street and lay in the grass, by a fountain and rest/nap for a bit over 30 minutes. Just what the doc ordered - perfect! Felt so good and gave me the energy to ride up Alexander, a significant hill up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Nice ride across the bridge with an INCREDIBLE cross wind - I was really surprised how strong the wind was, probably 25-30 knots and at a cross angle. Made for some interesting riding!

Back to the car around 4, ahh, tired but felt good to have ridden this far. A nice goal to have achieved.

Ride Statistics

• Total Distance: 50 miles
• Time Riding: 4:20
• Elevation Gain: 2380 
• Average Speed: 11.5 mph
• Average Cadence: 70 rpm
• How I felt: Good steady ride. Felt a bit tired after 20 miles. Good rest at lunch. Some minor lower back pain, left side, as usual. Did Camino Alto hill slowly, but no problem. No severe discomfort. Did Belevedere hills fine. Decent speed on flat lands - around 13-15 mph. Took a long rest in Sausalito (30-45 minutes), ate Cliff Bar. Was able to make it up Alexander Ave. fine - slowly, but did it. Some climbing too in the Presidio. Lesson for next time: walk bike around towers on Golden Gate if windy or crowded. Next day, just tired and sore muscles, no problems though. 
• Definitely tired the next day, sore legs, both of them. Noticeable increase in tingling on Monday. Remember to take Ibuprofen before I ride to keep inflammation down.